Europe 2012

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Back From My European Adventure

Greetings from the Charles Bridge - Prague, Czech Republic

Ok, so I know I have been gone for a while but I have had soooo much going on these past couple of months. I even have several blogs that I started, but just didn't find the time to finish and post. I'm sorry about that.  I have definitely been slacking. But it has been a whirlwind of excitement.  First as I mentioned before I went to Europe for 2 weeks in September.  OH MY GOD, what a fantastic time I had.  I have tons of pics but to be honest... I haven't even had a chance to get them uploaded from my camera yet.  Yeah... I've been that busy.  But I promise soon I will get them posted.

I went to Prague, Czech Republic; Vienna, Austria; Bratislava, Slovakia  and Budapest, Hungary.  Loved them all!!  I would have to say as far as city beauty goes, my favorite was Prague.  It was Gorgeous!!  Loved it.  Charles Bridge is magnificent.  I was in complete AWE! There really are no words to describe the beauty of the city and it;'s architecture.  The people were a little different than I am used to.  They weren't mean or rude at all.  They were very kind and pleasant just very different.  As an American of course I am used to 2 specific things. Smiling at people when you make eye contact with them and personal space.  Well these are two things they do not believe in over there. They don't do superficial smiling or hugs towards people they are not close with. At first they may come off as rude when you smile in their direction and they look at you straight faced and keep walking or going back to what they were doing, but you soon realize this is just how they are.  They are as kind and nice as can be, they just don't smile at random strangers they don't know.

Now for the personal space thing,  well that was hard to adjust too.  I am used to people moving to the side to not run into you.  Avoiding knocking people over in the street when they were standing in their spot before you got there.  In Prague, they don't seem to care.  If you are standing still in a place or walking down the street and someone feels you are in their way or path they will just run you right over.  They don't seem to care if you were there first.  That was something I don't think I would ever get used to.

Vienna was amazing as well.  It made me feel so at home with how similar it is to Germany.  The people, the language, the food.  I love Germany so much and Vienna gave me that same comfortable feeling.  Of course everything about the food was fantastic.  I liked Czech food as well, do't get me wrong, it was just much richer and heavier in the Czech Republic than it was everywhere else. Viennese food is very similar to German food.  Well at least to me it was in comparison to the other countries I visited this trip.  So everything about it was wonderful.  I didn't really try any food in Slovakia for the afternoon we were there but I do have to say that Hungarian food is AMAZING!!!!!  Their food appears to be rich and heavy fut it is actually light yet filing and soooo flavorful with their Hungarian Paprika.  That stuff is AMAZING!!!  So flavorful.  Nothing like anything we have here in the states.  So I don't have too many pitctures yet but I do have some food pictures on my phone.  So I will give you a little quick sneak peek. :)

 A Renaissance Dinner in Hungary.

Some MONSTROUS Tortellini in Prague.

A very heavy and very rich but VERY tasty traditional Czech Goulash and Dumplings dinner.

A pretty amazing Hungarian Fish dinner with a pretty tasty bread-like dessert. 

They do get pretty creative there with their weiners. :)

Yummy Viennese Wiener Schnitzel and Potato Salad with Pumpkin Seed Oil.

Some various European coffee.  Now they definitely know how to do coffee over there.  No comparison. lol 

Almost time for vacation!

Holy Cow!!!!  It's almost time for me to get on big plane and fly the heck out of here.  I leave in 2.5 days and today is actualy, as my BFF "A" called it today, my Vacation Eve!  Love it! lol. I am so excited and kinda stressed about it at the same time.  Anytime I take a large chuck off from work and start to freak out about hwo much is needed to be done to prepare for me to leave and how much work will be piled up for me when I get back.  Ugh.  Oh well,  In a few hours I can just push that to the back of my head and not worry about it till I get back. 

I did get most of my packing done last night.  All except the last minute things are ready to go. 

Clothes - Check
Comfy shoes - Check
Converters - Check
Passport - Check
Plane tickets - Check
iPad and Kindle charged - Check
Notebook for some writing (which I can never really go anwhere without) - Check
Phone Plan changed - Check
Bank called - Check
Toiletries - Well for the most part is a Check

I really only have some shopping left to do.  I have to go this weekend and stock up on the cat food so my house sitter doesn't have to worry about running out.  Then pick up some healthy snacks for the flight. 



Then it's Vacation Time!!!!  Europe here I come!!!!!

Vacation!



Via



Hey everyone!  Just a quick little note here. 

Well, It's almost vacation time.  I leave in 11 days.  I'm not gonna lie... I am pretty freaking excited about it.  I think I have gotten all of my last minute stuff for the trip and I have taken care of the details of the house/cat sitter, bills and work.  Almost time to start thinking about packing.  Yay!!

Prague Here I come!!! 

Imperial Cities, Here I Come!



http://www.collettevacations.com/link/510628


Well Now that I have made my final payment I guess it's a good time to share my exciting news.  I am going on another big vacation.  Back to Europe!!!!  Yay!!! I have been keeping this pretty hush hush for a while now.  I decided as soon as I got home last year (December) from Europe that I would be going back this year.  I booked the trip in January. I am leaving in September for 2 weeks in Europe.  I will be starting in Prague, Czech Republic for a few days, then to Vienna, Austria for a few more days and then ending for a few days in Budapest, Hungary. I am very very excited.  I have been wanting to visit Prague for such a long time now.  I always hear such wonderful things about it.

Now that I have finished paying off the trip I feel I can really start getting excited about it.  So now is a good time to start finalizing my shopping list, and organizing everything.  Less than 2 months now!!!! 

Imperial Cities, Here I Come!

Europe pt. 1

So I thought it was time that I post a few pictures of my trip.  Now I have to admit that I was really bad about noting where each picture was taken or even what exactly they are of specifically for that matter.  But while I was taking the pictures I was more focused on the beauty that I wanted to capture so I could remember what I was feeling and experiences every time I looked at them.  So forgive me now but to be honest.  I don't really care.  The pictures were taken for ME.

Oberammergau, Germany

Oberammergau, Germany

Oberammergau, Germany

Oberammergau, Germany

Oberammergau, Germany

Oberammergau, Germany

Oberammergau, Germany

Oberammergau, Germany

Oberammergau, Germany

Oberammergau, Germany

Oberammergau, Germany

Oberammergau, Germany

Oberammergau, Germany

Innsbrook, Austria

Innsbrook, Austria

Innsbrook, Austria

Innsbrook, Austria

Innsbrook, Austria

Innsbrook, Austria

My mom and I sampling some local food in Innsbrook, Austria

Innsbrook, Austria

Hey I think I did pretty good knowing the location of the pictures.  Haha.. Don't Judge me! :)  I was trying to take notes of it all but I noticed that I was spending more time writing and less time soaking up all the beautiful scenery around me. I deciding it wasn't worth missing anything. 

Well this is Part one of the pictures.  I will work on getting the rest up soon.