Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Amsterdam & Berlin

We were in Amsterdam for about a day and a half. We got in around 3:00 am, got changed by the car, and went to downtown to see the nightlife. There weren't any hostels available, so we were planning on partying through the night and checking in to our hostel as early as possible. Luckily though, we met some people from Scotland and they had an extra bed, so I got the bed and Brian slept on the floor. Brian now has herpes in his eye. Saturday was fun - I rented a bike and rode around and explored the whole city.



The Original Heineken Brewery

The National Monument

The Royal Palace

Cows grazing on a ceiling


Central Station

Sign congratulating the soccer team's win

The bike I rented

Famous "I amsterdam" sculpture

 A field outside our hostel after the Ajax game

One of the many, many rivers


There was an Ajax game during the day, and the celebrations turned into a riot and by 8pm the police had blocked off all of downtown. All the bridges were blocked by mounted police, a giant wall, and then more police. I had to bike around for over an hour to get back to the hostel.



Now I am sitting in my hostel in Germany. It is really cool, really fun, and dirt cheap. It's great. We got in this morning around 2:30am, crashed, and then I went on a free tour that lasted about 4 hours while Brian was at the hospital for his eye. Later tonight we are going to find out what a beer garden is, and then maybe go to a club or something. Tomorrow I'm going to go back to some of the places I saw on my tour today because we weren't at each place for long enough to really appreciate it.

Here are some pictures I took on the tour:


The Old Museum


Once world's largest piece of granite, sculpted into a bowl, termed the 8th wonder of the world, and they dropped it.




The armory. Yes, it is pink.



Inspired by The Pieta - Mary holding Jesus. Above is an opening, so when it rains the statue gets wet and it looks like she's crying. Below the statue is the grave of an unnamed soldier and a Jew killed in WWII. 


The university


Symbol of communism built by the Soviets - but when the sun hits the sphere it forms a cross. Some call it "The Pope's Revenge"

The university

Plaza in front of the university where the book-burning took place

Memorial built to remember the book burning - you can't see it too well in the picture, but it's a clear window and beneath it you can see enough empty bookshelves to house all the books burnt that day. 

Same memorial







A sign from Checkpoint Charlie


line where the Berlin Wall used to be


A remaining piece of the wall

Previously Hitler's office

Site where Hitler committed suicide

Memorial built to honor the Jews killed in the war





Brandenburg Gate


That's all I've got for now - It's getting late. I'll check in again in the next few days! Love always.

1 comment:

  1. Love your shoes along the wall, what a great shot. You are seeing things we only view through the Young Indiana Jones.... The monuments are inspiring. Your great Grandma would be happy to hear you are visiting a Beer Garden, she had one in Cleveland!
    And of course I LOVE the COWS.

    Mom

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