The Adventures of Grover and Tylene: Ireland to Berlin

As I settle in to begin the writings of my trip to Europe, I wonder what would be the best way to express all that occurred. One thing I was diligent in doing whilst travelling was recording my travel experiences in the form of a journal/collection of "odes to Europe". I will post them in three or four parts, in part because the meter with which I was writing changes part way through, and also because that way I can get posts up in a more timely fashion, as I am sure you're all sitting on the end of your seats waiting for more!



In the meantime (I am at school...it's after school now, just killing time before planning with Jessie) I will share with you my Top Five European Adventures!



In no particular order

1. What I did:

Tobogganing down Mt. Pilatus in Lucerne, Switzerland on this fun, little, wooden sleigh, only to discover that the bone heads who went first decided we ought to take the "Difficult" route down instead of the "easy" route. Considering many had never seen snow before, nor had they gone sledding, we were certainly in for an adventure.

What I learned:

Mission Ridge is nothing compared to the Swiss Alps. No matter how many times you've tobogganed down a hill - regardless of how steep, nothing prepares you for the descent down a mountain. There is a reason new sleds have brakes!

2. What I did:

Partook of the refreshments offered at a traditional German Beer hall. Our tour guide said that no matter how much you drink, you will not have a hang over. FEAR NOT...I didn't test this out. I simply enjoyed 3 litres of beer mixed with Sprite (which, in all other parts of the world is called "lemonade") The drink is called a Radler. It's actually quite tasty. Furthermore, apple strudel and pork knuckle made the evening unforgettable...especially when we broke out into a rousing rendition of "My favourite Things". OOOOh, and the band played Beer Barrel Polka!

What I learned:

Germans like their beer!

3. What I did:

Partook of a traditional Tuscan dinner in this little restaurant on a mountain near a monastery (perhaps used to be part of the monastery...I don't remember). Anywho, there was more food than you could beat with a stick. After first course of salads and such, followed by the second course of penne and lasagna (which, for the record, most consider the meal, but in Italy is only a "starter"), then I think we were onto some beef thing followed by, of course, dessert. Endless supplies of wine and some really rank pre-dinner drinks (well, the blue one was Delicious, the red one was like turpentine!) made for some really intoxicated tour members...present company excluded.

Oooh, I almost forgot about the opera singer...there was this dude who performed for us. It was incredible.

What I learned:

Italians like to eat! Still can't believe the number of times that we received lasagna or a large pasta dish as the "starter".

4. What I did

Stayed in Rome for an extra day to visit the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel. Having spent the previous morning (Boxing Day) in Vatican City visiting St. Peter's square, the Basilica and of course, getting blessed by the pope, I figured that a trip to Rome would be incomplete without at stop at the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel. I am so glad that I ventured off on my own, took a train to Florence and took my time to visit the museum and chapel...four hours wasn't enough time. I'm sure I could have easily spent an entire day there, but I did need to meet up with my tour group in Florence.

While in Rome, I also spent considerable time visiting the ruins and the Colosseum...it was quite incredible to be walking on such historic grounds.

What I learned:

Two nights in Rome just isn't enough! Oh, I also learned that when you go into a little diner and the waitresses seat you (by waitresses, I mean 4 of them!) turn and run the other way, because if you don't one piece of pizza, a coke and gelato will cost you about $50!

5. What I did

This is a three in one...Anne Frank Huis/Berlin/Dachau

Anne Frank Huis was a "must see" when I was in Amsterdam. I really didn't care about anything else there, having just been there in November, but a tour through Anne Frank Huis was needed. I was moved beyond belief as I made my way through to the hidden annex. It was the first of many moving walks through history on this tour.

Berlin...a city with more history that you can grasp in two days. From the place where the Hitler built the bunker that he later took his life in, to the East Side gallery, to the longest remaining stretch of the Berlin wall, to standing under the Brandenburg Gate and of course, to walking through the Jewish Holocaust memorial, to visiting the Checkpoint Charlie museum, visiting Berlin has forever made a huge impact on my life. Such history!

Visiting Dachau. On the way to Munich from Prague, our tour guide and driver made a special stop at Dachau. We spent a few hours there...again not enough time! I didn't make it through the entire museum (would have needed an entire day there) Yet the images, stories and sounds of that experience will stay with me forever. There was an eerie silence as people went from room to room. As we got back on the bus we took while longer to reflect on what it was that we witnessed!

What I learned:

Reading about places and events that are significant in history pales in comparison to walking in the places where this history was made!

And on that note, I shall sign off...stay tuned, the first of four accounts of my tour experience will follow!