Prague, Czech Republic

My weekend in Prague with Jessica could not have been more perfect. We arrived by train on Friday around 2:30 and checked into our hostel. The hostel was not as nice as our previous stays, but it was inexpensive. We had one last stop on our to-do-list was to pick up the opera tickets. Finding the ticket portal became an adventure, but at least people in Czech speak some English. We got the tickets and were on our way to see the sights of Prague.

We started at the beautiful Charles Bridge built by Charles IV in the 1300s. Although it cost 60 crowns (2.5 euro) to tour one of the towers, Jessica and I decided the view would be worth it. A couple showed us a card you can buy that allows you to see about 10 different sights in Prague. It pays to be a student because we bought the cards for half price and were on our way to see as much of Prague as you can in 3 days.

We climbed 3 towers and saw 3 incredible views of the beautiful city. We ate dinner in an underground pizza restaurant and had fresh gelato for dessert. On Saturday we climbed the tower in The Old Town Square, which is the largest square in Europe. From the top of the tower, we spotted a restaurant on top of a building and decided that is where we would eat after the Opera. We came down from the tower just in time to watch the astronomical clock chime and the man to play the trumpet from the top. This happens twice a day, once at 11 and once at 5. We had the privilege of seeing it twice from outside and once from inside during the tour of the Old Town Hall.

While wandering the streets of Old Town Prague, we found a huge open market with lots of handmade items like wooden puppets, artwork, jewelry, and more. I got a few presents for friends and family at home for great prices. At 12 we made sure to be back at the hostel to put on our opera outfits that we found at a secondhand store in Regensburg a few days earlier. I found a black dress with 3/4 quarter sleeves with pearls around the edges. We curled our hair and ate pb&j sandwiches before walking to the Estates Theatre.

We saw Mozart's Cosi Fan Tutte for a cheap ticket price of 200 crowns (about 8 euro). I printed off a synopsis of each act but the show provided English subtitles projected onto the upper part of the curtain which were very helpful. I love going to any type of show so this was a great experience for our Prague trip. We ended the evening on the restaurant on the rooftop followed by a traditional Prague dessert: I call it the cinnamon cylinder. Jessica and I split the sweet dessert as we walked around and took in the city at night. Two of our other friends, Zane and Jorge, were in Prague on the same weekend. Earlier in the day they had seen the filming of Mission Impossible 4 by one of the bridges, so they took us there. When we got there, they were filming and evidently it was a 'battle scene' because there was some shooting that sounded like fireworks. We stayed for a couple of takes, then Jessica and I went back to our hostel.

On our last morning in Prague, we toured the Old Town Hall and got as close as we could to the mini Eiffel Tower. However, time ran out and we did not have time to climb the huge hill to view the tower. At least I'll see the real Eiffel Tower in about 2 short weeks over Fall Break. I cannot believe I have been in Europe for over 2 months!

Debrecen, Hungary

Although Hungary is not my favorite country I have visited so far, the countryside of Debrecen was beautiful.

Jessica and I arrived in time to shower and eat lunch before the evening balloon briefing. We sat with Chase and Jamie in the back while Chase updated balloonpong. Jessica and I enjoyed seeing all of the countries represented at worlds and following Nick in the chase vehicle. For dinner that evening, the American pilots had a nice dinner at the hotel before going to sleep to wake up at 4:30 a.m. for the morning flight.

I woke up to many 'Happy Birthdays' from friends and family. Later that day I opened cards and presents. I got a balloonpong t-shirt, some American goodies like oatmeal, m&ms, a cake mix and frosting, and my favorite movie on dvd, The Young Victoria. One thing I missed most about not being in the states was not watching movies. Since I spent the summer in Orlando and practically went straight to Germany, I had missed my chick flicks. My dad compiled the greatest chick flicks in one container, with one exception. He put Top Gun in the very last slot. I still need to ask him about his logic with that one because I'm confused myself. Chase said, "it's a classic."

My sweet mom asked the hotel's permission to bake the cake mix she had brought. So at dinner that night, the lights went out and the birthday song started. I was really just expecting the yellow cake and chocolate frosting, but there were 2 huge firework sparklers coming out the top and candles for me and Jessica! I guess that's how the Hungarians celebrate for birthdays! I cut the cake for us and the rest of the Americans on the trip. We all appreciated a taste of home.

At the end of the weekend, Nick took 2nd in the 2010 World Hot Air Balloon Competition. I am so very proud of him! Mom dropped Jessica and I off at the train station for a very long day home. The trains did not go as planned, but we finally made it home at 1 a.m. The weekend to Hungary is not one I would repeat, but I'm glad I got to see my mom and brothers and turn 20! Looking back on the past year, I have made it through my first year of college, lived in Orlando where I grew immensely in my faith in the Lord, and survived 2 months in Europe!

Getting to Hungary

Rarely do two girls leave for a weekend trip to Hungary at the ages of 19 and 20, and both return 20 and 21. Jessica and I decided to celebrate our birthdays with our friends on the trip at a little mexican restaurant called Margaritas before getting on an all night train to Budapest on Wednesday evening. I split some spicy chips and salsa and a quesadilla with a friend. Mexican food in Germany is more expensive than in the states, but it tastes a lot better!

We left the restaurant with plenty of time to go home and grab our suit cases. Briona and Jennifer surprised Jessica and I with a cookie cake with sprinkles in the shape of the letters "A & J." We didn't have time to eat the dessert, but we put in a zip lock back for later. It was a very sweet gesture of them and very thoughtful. We said our goodbyes and walked outside to the bus stop....

I failed to check one detail of our trip, the bus schedule. It was 9:15, no bus came until 9:33, and our train left at 9:41. The time did not add up and we were forced to run to the train station. Normally, I just use a back-pack for weekends, but this weekend I had extra bags to give things to my family. Jessica and I both start running, only stopping when we have to cross a street. We literally stepped off the platform and onto the train at 9:41 just before the train left. It was a crazy beginning to our trip. We sat in the first seats we came too and drank some of my huge bottle of water. Once we laughed off the beginning to our evening, we worked on homework until the transfer at Munich. Finally in Munich, we pulled out our smooshed bag of cookie cake and took 2 spoons to the dessert. Even though the trip did not goes as planned, we had a great time laughing at the effort it took to get to Hungary.

Once in Budapest, we had to get on a bus and metro to transfer to another Budapest station. The Hungarians feel no need to know German or English so it made communication quite complicated. Almost by pure luck, we got on the correct train and arrive in Debrecen at 11:52 a.m. on Thursday! I looked around for a balloon vehicle while Jessica asked if we should call somebody. I scanned the cars and saw one with huge magnets of U.S.A. and 'Balloonpong' and I knew who was in there, my mom! After 2 months apart, we were very happy to see each other!

Berlin Trip

The group trip to Berlin left early Thursday morning. Hans, our bus driver, drove the 6 hour drive in his "coach." We made one stop on the way to Berlin in a town called Wittenburg where Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses against the Catholic Church. I had taken a test earlier in the week in my World Civilization class about the Protestant Reformation, so actually seeing Luther's town and church made history all the more real. We arrived at the hostile in Berlin about 5 p.m. I shared a room with Briona, Jennifer, Jessica, and Kelsey. The group took the U-train, which is like a subway, to Zoologischer Garten for a bite to eat. I went with a group to mexican and had good chicken fajitas. We walked around the downtown area for a while, then went back to the hostile for the next busy day.

Day 2: On Friday we had a walking tour that lasted about 6 hours. The tour guide was born in Bulgaria, moved to New York when he was 7, and has been living in Berlin for the past few years. He did a wonderful job explaining the long, long history of Berlin. It just so happens that we were in Berlin for the 20th anniversary of the reuniting of east and west Berlin. I stood on the memorial of The Wall near the Bundestag, the "house of representatives" branch of government. I saw Museum Isle, the Brandenburg Gate which is a staple symbol to Germany, the American Embassy, Checkpoint Charlie, the Berlin Dom, and many other landmarks in Berlin. I was most effected by how many buildings have only been re-opened since the 1990s because of repairs since the bombings in WWII. I also went to Ritter Sport, which is a German chocolate brand and bought a few different flavors to bring home. Mrs. Ritter invented the bar because it would fit inside a pocket and would not break easily. The old "design" of the chocolate bars were too big for a sport fan to take to a game and would melt easily. I helped myself to a chocolate bar for the full experience. The group also had a tour of the Bundestag at 8 p.m. The outside of the building had been repaired since the burnings by Hitler. However, the inside was all brand new with only a few pieces of vandalism on the walls kept as a reminder of old Germany. I took a test the previous week in German Culture over politics so this field trip was very interesting.

Day 3: I woke up early and got on the bus with Griffin and 10 other students to visit the Postdam to see the Palace of Sanssouci built by Frederick the Great. I walked around the outside of the palace and surrounding gardens for 2 hours and still didn't see all of it. The grounds consisted of tons of small paths with fountains and tree tunnels. When I got back to Berlin, I went with Toby and Kelsey to 2 museums: Pergamon and Neuses. The Pergamon museum housed the Gates of Ishtar by the Babylonians. Seeing these gates is another example of how I had no idea the amount of historical landmarks I would see when I decided to study abroad in Germany. I ended my last night in Berlin by going to Potsdamer Platz where the Sony Center is located. We saw a movie and brought sandwiches in for dinner. I was so happy to see a movie in English because going to a movie is my favorite!

Day 4: The intent to leave Berlin was suppose to be at 1, but because of some speculated security alerts in Berlin, we left early at 1o to drive back to Regensburg. The 20th anniversary of Berlin was taking place so it was best we said our good-byes early. My plan was to see a Jewish museum, but at least I conquered lots of Berlin the days before. In all the weekend was wonderful and I loved seeing the biggest city-state in Germany!

Ephesians 2:8-9 "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast."