"Up In Smoke" In Amsterdam...and Beyond

Since our last post we have zig-zagged around southern Germany, taking in the sights while bombing around in our newly acquired BMW 1 series (ok, it's a rental but it's ok, I can bag it all I want!). We've been to Munich and took in the sights, including the Hofbrauhaus Beer Hall (Craig, this is where Hitler held his alcohol-soaked NSP meetings in the 30s) and then down to Neuschwantstein (see pictures) castle which is one of the most dramatic places I've been to. The castle was apparently used by Walt Disney to create the one which stands in the Magic Kingdom now. It was so cool! From there we drove through the "Romantic Road" (a series of well-preserved Medieval walled towns in southern Germany) and on to the Mosel and Rhine river valleys. Now we are in Amsterdam taking a bit of a blow (ha ha ha) before heading back to England for Christmas at my brother and sister-in-law's place where my parents will join us. We have still yet to secure employment for 2006 however we remain optimistic. Hey, I can always realize my dream of becoming a cage dancer. Somehow, I don't think this would enable me enough money to live, so perhaps I will stick to the teaching!
On another note, I'd like to wish everyone who faithfully reads this blog a very Merry Christmas and an exciting New Year! We will be thinking of you! Grandma and Gramps, Jan and Rene, Jim, Delee, Jeff, Keith and Melissa, the memory of last Christmas always makes me smile. It was so good to spend time with family that I see so little of. I treasure those memories. To my Dad's family, I'm thinking of you all too and hope the holidays are great for you! Reggie, Marg, Wendell...keep the flashlights hidden the next time I'm over, for God's sake!! Blair and Claire - well, you know that Christmas just wouldn't be the same without a few rum and eggnogs at your place. I will have one on Christmas eve for you! To my friends, have a drink for me this year and think of me 'cause I'm thinking of all of you!
Well, that's enough for now I suppose....now I'll hand it over to Isabelle...Peace!
Few words of French for my family: Je veux juste souhaiter Joyeux Noel et Bonne Annee a toute ma famille et amis (es): maman, papa, Martin et Michele et Maxime, Claude, Annie, Sophie, Fred (biomed) et Fred (grandfrere), Marc et Gi, Kim, Louise et Paul et tous les mononc et matantes et cousin cousines qui seraient trop long a nommer. Bonheur et prosperite. Penny and Ryan, Aaron and Sarah, have a Merry Xmas, Happy New Year and good luck in all your future projects. Hope to see you all sometime again. Love,
Isabelle.

More pics from Prague

Prague, Czech Republic

Our itinerary changed a little since we wrote the last blog. We decided to bypass Eger and to go to Bratislava (Slovakia) instead. We arrived at night in the rain and the second day was raining as well, which eventually changed into very wet snow. Not very pleasant to sightsee in these condition....we ended up in an Irish pub with a fire place trying to dry off sipping on beer and wine. What a wonderful afternoon! The only real sight we visited was the castle hill in the morning before we headed to Krakow (Poland). 2 trains and 2 buses later we finally made it into Krakow, land of cold and snow. Krakow is a beautiful city that has been virtually untouched by WWII so all the buildings haven't been reconstructed like most of cities in Eastern Europe. The Central Square in the old town is vibrant with colors and the Xmas market snugged right in the middle of it. Hot spicy wine anyone? We spent 2 days exploring the city, the castle and the old jewish town (old synagogues with very old cemeteries, museums and what not). Our hosts Piotr and Marzena were amazing in Krakow, giving us load of information, making us discover the real way of eating "piroges" and letting us try some great sweet treats. Thanks guys, you made our stay very worthwhile! The last day in Krakow was spent at Auschwitz and Birkenau concentration camps. You're never ready to see something like that. The desolation, cold, sadness and emptiness feeling you experience is bone chilling. The fact that there was snow on the ground and that it was - 15 degrees outside didn't help either. We left this place shook up inside. When you see this place, how big it really is and how disgustingly badly these people were treated you have to wonder how some managed to survive for more than a month. :( The day after, I headed out to Prague while Nick continued in Wroclaw (still in Poland) because he had already been to Prague 4 years ago. prague is another one of these cities that have been saved from bombing in the WWII so the architecture is absolutely out of this world with different colors and sculpture for each building. The first thing I noticed in Prague is the amount of tourists present....thousands!!!! We've been spoiled in the past 2 months, the places we chose were not swarming with them but here is different. It is also very hard to manage down some streets so I can just imagine how it is in the summer when it is nice and warm!!!! Anyway, this blog is getting a bit lenghty and unhumoristic so I better stop there and write some other time when I see more things here. Pictures: 1- Krakow square 2- Krakow castle 3- Auschwitz entrance gate (work gets freedom) 4- Tyn Church in Prague