A Week Full of Travels

Last week I packed up my backpack and made way to Amsterdam and Berlin. Early Monday morning a group of six of us flew out to Amsterdam where we stayed at the Flying Pig Hostel. As my first hostel experience, it was much better than anything I would have expected. It was well kept and had a very fun vibe. We spent the first day walking around the town and in and out of all the little alleyways. Day two we rented bikes and got to see most of the city.

One of the many canals throughout the city

Amsterdam is a gorgeous city with a really great atmosphere. We were only there for a day and a half before two of us took a painful six hour train ride to Berlin.


Of course we needed some snacks so before we left we stopped by a Dutch cheese shop and bought some of the best cheese I've ever had.

 I of course had to buy an entire wheel of cheese. I mean who could pass up the opportunity to buy delicious traditional Dutch cheese?! SO GOOD!

 

 

Our train ride meal. Giant cheese wheel and smoked cheese. YUM

  

We arrived in Berlin around 7pm and made our way straight to the Heart of Gold Hostel. After some direction confusion and a language barrier we made it to our cozy home for the next few days. Luckily for us there was only a couple other people staying in the room so it was like we had it and the bathroom to ourselves.

  On Thursday we went out for some sightseeing in the beautiful city of Berlin. I am completely in love with this city, such an amazing place with so much to see. The only downside was that it was freezing. Literally freezing. It was never warmer than 32 degrees Fahrenheit and there was no sign of sun, ever. Other than the cold it was a great trip and I am so glad I got the opportunity to go!

Berliner Rathaus. Similar to a town hall.

Reichstag. Government Building.

Part of the Berlin Wall

There is an entire area of painted pieces of the Berlin Wall.

Whats left standing of the Berlin Wall

BRRR

The Soviet War Memorial

Brandenburg Gate

Check Point Charlie

Check Point Charlie.

Lasagna and Tortellini at Roma Italian Restaurant

  We had a plan that while we were Germany we would eat German food, but that turned out to be much harder than we thought. We asked friends for advice on where to go and not a single place was German related so we ate some very delicious non German food.

Burritos at Que Pasa Mexican Restaurant

   


          





    For the temperature shock we were in I'd say we got in a lot of great sightseeing. We definitely put some serious miles on our feet. Our "study week" from Griffith was an incredible week of traveling to places I wouldn't have been able to see if I wasn't studying abroad. It makes me more and more grateful that I was able to spend an entire semester in Ireland.