The End.

Today I woke up early, took a bus into the city, and walked through the crowded streets of Madrid one last time. I bought a few last minute souvenirs and went to "San Gines" for one more order of chocolate con churros. I spent some time in Puerta del Sol and Plaza Mayor, where Christmas vendors and decorations are now set up. And I thought about how strange it was that I'll probably never be back here again.

I don't even know what to write right now. Reflecting back on the last two months there are so many things that I think and feel. There are good things, and there are bad things. There are exciting things, and embarrassing things, and amazing things. How does one begin to sum up an experience like this?




The tutoring thing didn't quite live up to my expectations. I only
tutored one of the children, and only helped him with homework five or six times during the entire ten weeks spent in Madrid. We had a few  tutoring sessions where we played games in English or he taught me how to play a game giving me instructions in English. Yet there were also many days where I sat downstairs, waiting to see if I'd be tutoring today, and the three hour time slot would come and go. Or there was one week when Santi didn't have school, and so I had the whole week off. I simply didn't do a whole lot of tutoring, and even when I did, there was never any consistency.

But I got to travel. That was why I'd chosen to sign up for this program in the first place, and that made it all worth it. London, Oxford, Madrid, Segovia, Barcelona, Toledo, Dublin, Granada, Bilbao, San Sebastian, Hendaia, El Escorial, Rome, Brussels, Brugges, Munich, and Austria. I can't believe I made it to all those places. It's unreal. Even after all this time it still feels like a dream.

Madrid has been nice, but I honestly don't think I'll ever come back. Maybe once you live in a city for an extended period of time, it loses its charm. Or maybe Madrid just isn't for me. I've been here. I've seen it. But I haven't fallen in love with the city like I have so many other places. I love London. And Rome. And Ireland. I'll definitely be back to all of those places someday. And there are still so many places I didn't get to see: Paris, Prague, Edinburgh, Oslo, Copenhagen, Amsterdam....all were on my list, just didn't work out this time around. But being here has shown me that the world isn't all that scary and travel really isn't that difficult. If you make it a priority, you can make it happen. My first adventure to Europe will not be my last :)

While it's sad to leave this life of travel, I am so anxious to be home. I miss it. I miss family. I miss coaching. I miss the trees and the mountain, and clean air that isn't filled with the smoke of a hundred cigarettes. I miss being able to cook my own meals, and drive a car. I miss being able to understand everyone. I appreciate all those little things so much more after being without them for so long.

This trip has been absolutely incredible. I've seen WAY more cities and countries and sights than I'd ever dreamed I would. There have been some difficult and confusing moments, and I've gotten lost more times than I can count, but everything I've experienced has taught me something about the world or about myself. The memories I've made over the last eighty days are ones that I will cherish for the rest of my life. It's been an amazing ride, and I wouldn't trade this experience for anything.



My suitcases are packed, my room is clean, and I'm all checked in for my flight. My plane leaves Madrid tomorrow morning at 11am. I'll change planes in London and take off at 2:15pm London time, getting into Seattle at 4:30pm Seattle time. If only the flight really was only two hours long!

And...that's it! At last, the end. I've loved writing these blogs about my many adventures to various cities and countries. I'm going to miss it. But like I said before, there are so many places I'm going to go back to. And there are, of course, the many, many places I haven't yet seen. Which means I'll eventually have more adventures to write about. Until then, adios blog readers! And to everyone back home...see you soon :)


The end.

"Raindrops on Roses and Whiskers on Kittens"... Salzburg, Austria

I woke up early on Sunday and headed straight for the train station. I bought a one day "Bavaria" ticket, which would take me anywhere in Bavaria or to Salzburg on a regional train, and went to find the right platform. At 8:54am I boarded the train to Salzburg. 

The ride was two hours, but it was a pleasant two hours. The train wasn't very crowded and the view out the window was nice despite the light fog. At 11am the train arrived in Salzburg central station. I picked up a map at the tourist office, exited the station, and started walking.

The map wasn't very helpful. It was all in German which made it difficult to find the places I wanted to see. But I got the general idea of where to go to get to the center of the city from the station. Ten minutes of walking brought me to my first stop: Mirabel Palace and Gardens. 

I walked around the outside of the palace to the gardens. They were nice, though I'm sure they're beautiful in the Spring and Summer. After all, Winter isn't really a great time to visit gardens. There were statues everywhere of unicorns and lions and people in various poses. Though it was freezing there were still plenty of flowers throughout the area. I went from one end to the other on the paths weaving in between the plants and flowers. Part of the "Do, re, mi" scene in the Sound if Music was shot here, so it was neat to walk through.

Once I'd seen the gardens I walked towards the bridge to go to the town hall, older buildings, and main Christmas market on the other side of the river. I walked across the bridge and looked out at the city spread on both sides of the water. Salzburg is really beautiful. On the other side of the river I walked through an arch way and found myself wandering through small, pedestrian streets lined with shops and restaurants. I passed by Mozart's birthplace as well as a couple of small food markets before finally finding the Salzburg Christkindl Market. 

Set in a square surrounded by beautiful buildings and decorated with garlands and stars and lights, the market looked amazing. I walked from stall to stall as choral Christmas music played, looking at all of the ornaments, decorations, toys, carving, and food for sale. The pretzels here looked way better than any if the pretzels I'd seen in Germany. I hadn't had breakfast, so I bought one to eat while I continued to explore the market.

I spent about a half an hour there, but I wanted to see more of Salzburg, not just the Christmas markets. Without a helpful map or guide, I decided to head towards the giant fortress that sits atop one of the hills. When I arrived at the base at the hill there was the option to buy a tram ticket to ride up, or to walk. Always up for a good hike, I decided to walk.

It took awhile, and was quite tiring, but the views along the way were well worth it. Once at the top I bought a ticket to go inside the fortress. I looked around and took pictures of the city down below. There was a small market going on up there (they're everywhere!) so I took a quick look around that before heading back down the hill. 

I took a different route down and ended up at Nonnburg Abbey, the convent where the actual Maria lived before going to teach the Von Trapp children. I walked around the outside but wasn't allowed inside the main doors. So I made my way back down the hill to a main street.

I was cold, I was tired of walking, and I wasn't sure where to go or what to see next. I stopped walking at a bus stop to look at a city map and realized it was a stop for the Salzburg "Hop on Hop off" bus tour. My last Hop on Hop off bus hadn't worked out real well (Rome) but this one was only €15 and a way around the city, so I decided to give it a try. 

It was well worth it. Not at all crowded, warm, comfy seats, and the choice to listen through headphones to the "Salzburg city tour" or the "Sound of Music tour". I chose Sound of Music, and as we drove I listened to facts about the real Von Trapp family, movie filming locations, and how the book became a musical became a movie. The first few stops were places I'd already walked by or to. But further on we stopped at various filming locations used for the Von Trapp house and the different musical scenes, including Leopoldskron Palace, Frohnburg Palace, Mozart footbridge, the Horse Bath, and the Festival Halls.

The last stop was Hellbrunn Palace, whose gardens were used in the movie. A Christmas market was going on there (like I said, they're everywhere!), and I walked through it on my way to see the Sound of Music Pavillion. It was smaller than I remember it being in the movie...

The bus stopped near the main market in the center of town and I decided to get off and walk the rest of the way. It was now 4:30pm and dark out. I came across another part of the market I hadn't seen before, complete with Christmas tree and ice rink. I bought a few souvenirs and then made my way back towards the train station.

Stopping outside Mirabel Gardens at a Christmas Market I hadn't seen earlier I ordered a gluwein to warm up before my final ten minute trek to the station. It was better than the gluwein in Munich, not as syrupy sweet. When I arrived at the station I saw that the train to Munuch was leaving in twenty minutes from platform three. I went to the platform to find a seat and wait.

It was cold, and I was tired and ready to get on the train. But the train wasn't there. Another train had pulled in and wasn't leaving, and the one to Munich was supposed to leave in two minutes. I realized then that it was quite possible that I'd been waiting at the wrong end of the platform. I ran to the other end. I'd been right... and about twenty seconds too late. I watched the doors close as I approached them, and then I watched the train move slowly out of the station. The next train didn't leave for another hour.

I was so mad at myself. Why couldn't I have used my common sense a minute sooner and made that train?! I went back into the station to get out of the cold and paced back and forth down the long walkway. I was so tired and just wanted to be on the train in a comfy seat headed towards my comfy hostel bed. But then I thought of raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, and simply remembered my favorite things. And then I didn't feel so bad. In fact, I laughed at myself. Sure I had to wait another hour, but I would make it back eventually. And I'd had an awesome day in Austria. I'd been on a lot of trains and planes in the last few months. To only miss one is pretty darn good :)

I was on the next train as soon as it pulled into the station. I got back to Munich around 9:00pm and walked five minutes to my hostel. I was ready to sleep, but I had told my roommates I'd be in Salzburg for the day and they wanted to hear all about it. In return I got to hear all about their misadventure to the middle of nowhere, which made me feel like I'd done a pretty good job with my day after all. 

Monday morning I gathered up my things and checked out of the hostel. My tiny backpack was as full as it could be as I walked to the tram and got on the S8 towards the airport. Security was quick. I bought breakfast and found my gate, and got really excited when I found out Lufthansa offers free coffee/tea/cocoa to its passengers. My plane left Munich just before noon.

It was a really great weekend. I loved both Munich and Salzburg for their markets, architecture, history, and people. But I didn't have nearly enough time in either city. There was so much that I didn't get to see! Oh well, I guess I'll just have to come back! ;)

"Jack Frost Nipping at Your Nose"... Munich Day 2

I started Saturday with a hot breakfast at the hostel with the girls in my dorm. When we had finished we checked the time of the free city tour. The tour left at 10:45, which meant we had an hour to kill. I decided to use that time to go shopping :)

I'd planned to buy a good coat in London, but it was 70 degrees and I just couldn't bring myself to do it. I looked for one while in Madrid and Dublin, but they were all so expensive. On my last trip while in Europe I finally found one! I bought it and went back to the hostel happy to have a real coat to wear on our walking tour in the cold!

Feeling much warmer with another layer on, I went downstairs to wait for our tour guide. She showed up a couple of minutes late but was very enthusiastic and a good tour guide. We were a group of nine, and started out in Karlsplatz square. Throughout the tour our guide told us interesting historical facts about the various landmarks. For example: Karlsplatz was named after a guy named...you guessed it, Karl. He was a duke who tried to sell Bavaria to Austria. The people of Bavaria didn't really appreciate that and began plotting against him. So he fled North, taking much of Bavaria's wealth with him. With Karl gone, other countries began attacking Bavaria. Munich was failing financially. The people of Munich realized their mistake and sent him a letter asking Karl to come back. He did, and upon realizing that the people still didn't really like him all that much, started making some major changes to the city. He knocked down the old city walls so that the city could expand. He named the place at the entrance to the city Karlsplatz. Although, since the people didn't like him they renamed it Stacchus. It's still referred to by either name.

From there we walked into the "old city". We stopped to hear the history of St. Michael's church and went inside to have a look around. Then we left the wide pedestrian street and turned down a side street, stopping quickly to rub the nose of a statue of a boar (it's supposed to bring you good luck). We then went to the largest church in Munich, and were told the tale of how the devil supposedly helped build it. Inside we got to see his "footprint" in the floor near the church entrance.

From there we walked to Marienplatz. It was 12:00, so we watched the figures in the Glockenspeil put on their show. Then, after a quick walk through St. Peter's church, we stopped at the Viktualienmarkt (A year round food market) for lunch.

It was so cold outside. My fingers, though I was wearing gloves, were frozen. And I was really hungry. Everyone went there separate ways to find food and agreed to meet up at the gluwein stand in half an hour. 

Aunt Amy had mentioned a soup kitchen at the Viktualienmarkt, and hot soup sounded amazing after being in the cold for so long. So I began wandering the many rows of food stalls looking for the place. I found it a few minutes later and got in line. I didn't know what anything on the menu was, so I turned to the people behind me speaking German and asked if they spoke English. They did, so I asked what their favorite soup was. The lady told me to order the gulaschsuppe. Once I'd ordered I simply held the bowl for awhile to warm up my hands. The soup was delicious, and I got to eat it under a tent that blocked the wind, and next to a warm heater. By the time I met up with the tour group again I was feeling much better. 

Our tour continued on to the Hofbrauhaus Beer hall. I'd already seen the place Friday night, but it was neat to learn a bit about it. From there we walked to Max-Josephplatz, named after Maximillian I Joseph. He was Karl's son, and he also the first King of Bavaria. Here we saw the National Theater and the Royal residence. We walked along the street next to the Royal Residence and stopped next to its entrance, where our guide told us a bit of history of the square and church we were looking at. We finished with a brief history of Oktoberfest (A King got married and the party was so successful they decided to have another one the year after, and the party became an annual event).

I thought the tour was great. I got to see a lot of the old city and learn a lot of it's history at the same time. What really impressed me about Munich is that even though so many of the buildings and churches I saw were damaged or destroyed in the war, the people rebuilt them in their original architectural style. Most of Munich's buildings really aren't that old, but they still look old, which is cool. :)

After the tour I got a hot chocolate and walked around the main Christmas market for a few minutes, but eventually decided to go back to the hostel and warm up. When I got back and sat down i realized how tired I was. I felt like taking a nap, but instead spent an hour listening to music and resting up. At 5:00 I went back out for dinner and more Christmas market shopping. 

I listened to Christmas music as I walked down the pedestrian street from Karlsplatz to Marienplatz. All of the buildings were decorated with lights and the market booths were all lit up and festive. It was really crowded, at times it was difficult to move through the crowd. But I just loved the atmosphere! I bought an ornament from one of the vendors and looked around at many of the others. Around 6:00 I went and bought a bratwurst for dinner. I don't really like bratwurst, but I do in Germany! Yum!

I continued walking through the market. I bought a few more souvenirs and gifts to bring home as I made my way back towards the Royal Residence. I went into the Residence Christmas Village and again looked around at all they were selling. I bought some knodel from a stand there. It was a large, sweet bread roll or dumpling covered in cream and cinnamon sugar. German food is all so good!

After that I made the long trek back to the hostel. I'd wanted to ice skate at the rink in Karlsplatz, but it would've cost me fifteen euros and I wasn't going to pay close to twenty bucks just to ice skate by myself. Plus, I was SO COLD. My three "roommates" were there when I got back. They were heading down to the hostel bar so I went along with them. We were all freezing, so though we felt a bit silly we used our complimentary drink coupons to order hot chocolate. We drank our hot chocolate and talked about all sorts of things, including the fact that Australia doesn't celebrate Halloween and that Americans are the only ones who learn it's called the "French and Indian War" rather than the "Seven years War ". I'm glad I ended up meeting such fun people here. It was a nice end to a great day in Munich :)