Kaland: Spring Break

It is hard to believe I am already writing about what I did on Spring Break. This year has gone so fast and it doesn't seem possible that it is almost May. I'm not sure where the time went! I know the rest of my time in Hungary will go so fast and I'm not sure how I feel about it. Part of me is excited to get back to my family and friends and summer in Michigan, but the other part of me is really sad to leave the friends and life I have here.

Anyways, back to Spring Break. I have been excited about Spring Break since before I even left the USA because this is when my friends Chelsea, Megan, and Elaine planned on visiting. We decided to go to Vienna and Prague because we could get to each of those cities by bus and train and wouldn't need to do the extra expense of flying. In addition, Spring Break over here had weird dates - a Thursday to Tuesday - so we didn't have a lot of time. My principal was kind enough to let me leave on Tuesday, so I had a full week off of school which made traveling much easier.

The girls flew in on a Saturday morning and we spent the first weekend in Budapest. I showed them around the obligatory tourist sites: Hero's Square and the nearby memorial to 1956, Parliament, Buda Castle, Fisherman's Bastion, St. Matthias Church, St. Stephen's Basilica, Andrassy Ave, etc. We had a packed two days! It was my first trip up to Buda Castle and I was not disappointed. The views overlooking the city and the bridges on the Danube were amazing. We also managed to get to an Easter Market the first night which was great. I have really enjoyed the different kinds of markets that spring up around the holidays. The Christmas Markets were festive and fun and the Easter Market was the same way. They always have little things to buy which make great souvenirs or gifts.


Megan and I on the metro right after arrival! Headed to the city!!

In front of St. Stephen's Cathedral

Top of St. Stephen's!

Halfway point of the Chain Bridge

Chelsea and I at the Easter Market in Budapest on the first evening

Hero's Square on day 2

Near Hero's Square

Walk over the Chain Bridge up to Buda Castle

Top of Buda Castle

One more at the top of Buda Castle

View of the Chain Bridge, Parliament, Margaret Bridge and Margaret Island from Buda Castle

We went back to Békés on Sunday so they girls could be a part of the America Day competition. We had dinner Sunday and Monday with Nora's family, which was really great. I think it was nice for my friends to get to see life in a small town instead of just being tourists in a big city. We had a great time with Nora's family and had lots of good food and drinks.

Walking back home after a successful America Day at the school

Of course they had to try Palinka...

...and homemade sausage (for those keeping track, this sausage is from the pig killing I attended a couple months ago)

From Békés , we traveled by train to Vienna. I really enjoyed seeing Vienna in the Spring since the previous two times I've been it was December. The gardens at Schönbrunn Palace were lovely with the flowers starting to bloom. We also got to go to the top of St. Stephen's Cathedral which had great views over the city.

First Class on the first train ride to Vienna

View from the top of St. Stephen's in Vienna

At Schönbrunn Palace

Gardens at Schönbrunn

Looking back at Schönbrunn from the Gloriette

Chelsea, Megan, and I at the top of the Gloriette

While we were in Vienna we took a day trip to Salzburg and I have to admit, this was one of my favorite places I have been so far this year. The scenery in and around the city is spectacular. I felt like I was in a painting the entire time! The day we went to Salzburg, we got up really early to make the 5:40 AM train out of Vienna because one of my friends really wanted to go on a Sound of Music tour. I admit, when the idea was first proposed, I wasn't that thrilled because I am not that big of a fan of the movie, but it ended up being awesome. I will have to make time to watch the movie again now that I have been to some of the famous spots, but more than that I loved getting out of the city and seeing more of the countryside. Too often when we travel we only go to the big cities and don't have the time or inclination to venture out to the smaller towns. Often getting to the smaller towns and places "off the beaten track" are the most rewarding parts of traveling for me. Even though I wouldn't consider an organized tour "off the beaten track" we got to see some towns and scenery and speak with some people we wouldn't have otherwise. We had some extra time on our tour so we got to see the town of St. Gilgen which isn't usually even part of the tours. The little village sits right on a lake shore and has stunning views of the mountains over the lake. This ended up being on of our favorite places we visited the entire trip and it was just a random thing!

Von Trapp House and the lake from Sound of Music

Sound of Music Gazebo

Overlooking St. Gilgen

St. Gilgen

Just some of the beautiful scenery

St. Gilgen

Salzburg

Salzburg Castle

At the top of Salzburg Castle

Looking down at Salzburg from the Castle

Panorama of the view from the castle

Another panorama because I couldn't get enough of it!

From Vienna, we traveled to Prague. I knew I wanted to go to Prague from the minute I applied for Fulbright. In fact, when I originally applied, I had dreams of being placed in Prague for the year. After visiting for 3 days I am really happy that didn't happen! Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed my time in Prague; the city is beautiful and there are many things to see and do, but the sheer number of tourists is overwhelming. People have warned me that Prague is always busy with tourists, so I was kind of expecting it, but it didn't make the masses of people any less annoying. After seeing Prague once, I can say I really have no desire to go back simply because I have no desire to deal with the tourists. Even though I am a tourist, I can't stand them! haha. While we were in Prague we saw the castle and cathedral, walked over the Charles Bridge (only once because it was always teeming with tourists!), watched the Astronomical Clock chime the hour and went up the Clock Tower, enjoyed the Easter Market in Old Town Square, and went on a beer tour which was one of my favorite things! The tour took us around to three different pubs, two microbreweries and one larger distributor, where we got a lesson on how they make their beer and free tastings.

Astronomical Clock in Old Town Square

Old Town Square....you can get a small idea of the amount of people

Crossing Charles Bridge

View of Prague from the Castle

At the top of the Astronomical Clock Tower looking out over Old Town Square

Megan and I paddle boating on the river

Charles Bridge and the Castle from the paddle boat

Castle at night

The end of a successful beer tour!

My favorite thing we did in Prague was get out of the city and take the train to Kutná Hora where there is a "bone church." About a 5 minute walk from the main cathedral in the town is the Sedlec Ossuary, which has been a cemetery for over 700 years. In the year 1318, there was a plague that killed many people and during the 15th Century there were wars with the Hussites that killed many more. These people, plus others, were buried in the cemetery. In the 1700's the cemetery was closed and the people were disinterred and their bones were piled in the basement of the small church next to the cemetery. In 1870, the priest at the church decided he was going to use the bones as decoration. He took apart two of the huge piles and used those bones to make a chandelier, coat-of arms, decorations on the walls and many other things. The other four piles of bones remain the corners of the room. It really is something to see. We were all creeped out at the same time we were fascinated.