FLASHBACK: Arnhem, The Netherlands

This was one of my favorite days of all time. Arnhem sits in a beautifully green area with forest all around it. First, we ventured to the Open Air Museum (picture This Is the Place state park Dutch style). I loved it. Plus, the wedding that day meant that everything donned white bows. Darling.
Have you ever tried to ride an old-fashioned bicycle? Let me tell you....TRICKY.


Then we sped off to the Kroner-Muller museum, which houses some of the greatest van Goghs and contemporary sculpture I have laid eyes on, before closing time. On bikes. And I had to convince a guard to let us in because the museum was closing.


To get to the museum you have to ride bikes through a gorgeous park for like 15 km (I saw a pregnant lady doing it...so it wasn't that hard.) Inside the park the Dutch genius gardener decided to make mini-biomes (the picture features my desert meditation) and it is SO STUNNING. Go there if you ever have a chance.

PS:


see previous post

je t'aime

Paris. It overwhelms and charms you all in one breath. I posted a picture of a typical morning eating a pain au chocolat for breakfast....I am so healthy, I know.

This week I finally arrived in Croissy-sur-Seine where I am living with Madame and Monsieur Nottin-Dufour. I LOVE THEM. You know those snobby Parisiens that you imagine smoking and fashioning and hating America..? Well, they don't really exist....or they are in hiding. The French have welcomed me with open arms and especially the Nottin-Dufours! Both have grey hair and sunny dispositions. She is a Classics professor who golfs every Friday and plays Bridge every Wednesday. And Christian just says sarcastic remarks in broken English and obsesses over his 5 grandchildren. And they live a simple life with kindness interwoven in everything. I want to be like that someday. The universality of basic human courtesy and love never ceases to amaze me.
Au Revoir

HELLO AGAIN

I will begin posting again. Finally, I have internet access. YES. Look forward to both the day-to-day magic as well as "FLASHBACKS" highlighting my past few weeks in Croatia, Italy, Belgium, The Netherlands (Holland), oh and London #2, and PARIS PARIS PARIS.
xoxoxoxo

ABCs of Eastern Europe: PART TWO

N- Night trains/boats. There were 5 total. At first I loved the romantic idea and how we saved money with moonlight travel. However, the actuality proved completely different. On a night train from Budapest I froze to death...I cannot even express the hysterical humor and laughter that we experienced that night when I woke up and found Katharinee draped in skirts with multiple hooded sweatshirts. On top of that K got robbed of over $700 by some old man that I LOATHE. Then we took a night boat to Italy. OMG. On the deck....freezing...I heard the echos of "I won't let go Jack" like every 5 minutes and woke up as a parapalegic.
O- Oktogon area on Andrassy Street in Budapest has GREAT restaurants and comes straight from a storybook.
P- Prague. Oh, Prague. Why do tourists come in and spoil everything (even though I am well aware that I am one such tourist)? The city still has echoes of Pinocchio charm and the Charles Bridge and castle enchant every visitor. Yet, I must say that the food, the people, the costs, and the cleanliness fell short of my expectations.
Q- Queens...I have had many dreams about royalty while in Europe (in my latest I became the next Medici princess) because of visits to so many amazing castles and palaces. Maria Theresa of Austria captivated me when K and I visited Vienna's Schonbrunn Palace.
R- Reading! I have loved the time that I have had to read books that I had on my list.
S- Szechenyi Baths in Budapest! After long days of walking this was PERFECT. Picture this: old men playing chess in mineral water, children swirling in a weird whirlpool, all (no matter body type or weight) in little bikinis all enjoy a day in the old, bright yellow baths. I loved the massage in spite of some hilarious moments of miscommunication between the masseuse and I.
T- Tours. Especially free tours. We got a great taste of cities via student-guided tours. Thanks!
U- Undergrounds/Metros/Ms/Trams. I heart public transportation and have become a pro navigator.
V- Vienna! I felt a yearning to stay longer. In less that 2 days K and I did all of the major sites....ask me and we did it. I don't know how but we went from place to place because it all blew me away. I loved the Hopsburg and Schonbrunn Palaces and the Museum area.
W- walking and walking and walking until my legs melt and my feet crack.
X-Xtra bonuses like free breakfasts at hostels have saved my wallet and my life. I esp. loved the one in Krakow's Mama's Hostel with fresh veggies and bread.
Y-The Young Old. On our Eastern European escapades I felt so lucky and gutsy BUT my joints ached and back hurt; and our bedtime (esp. due to lack of partying) made us like grandmas.
Z- Zagreb.....The capital of Croatia.....I will post about the Mediterranean trip soon!