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Cork & Alli's Trip Report

Allifunn avatar
FunnChef - AlisonCooks.com
8,067 views
All right gang this will be an on going thread. We could not possibly recreate our entire trip in one long drawn out boring :roll: :funn: thread, so we will report daily on each day spent in Europe. I'll start and Cork can refute ...I mean collaborate.....my efforts!

Days prior to the adventure
Cork was sending me emails and websites fast and furious....ummmm excuse me Cork...I have been packed for days...all her "last minute" instructions were of not use to me....:funn:
Dec. 27th 2007
I get to the airport in Columbia SC 3 hours ahead of schedule...per Cork and US Air's advice....MAYBE if I was leaving from JFK, Laguardia or ATL I would have needed to be there that early...but in little ol' Columbia SC it was a waste of 2 1/2 hours....:roll: No matter...It was GREAT just to be on the first leg of my trip!!!! I called Cork's cell as I was waiting, just to say Hi and to let her know I was on my way! EXCEPT...no cork...:eek: she had forwarded her phone to one of her associates...OH great I thought...what if something happens in Charlotte and I have no way to get in touch with her......:doh: I worried for nothing...she was waiting at my gate as I stepped off the plane!:wub:
We had a long 9 hour flight (took off 7:30 pm our time) We did get food on the plane...:roll: We each got head sets and watched "The Devil Wears Prada"...I tried to get some sleep...but I didn't get much. Finally started moving around 8:30 European time (3:00 our time) We landed in Frankfurt around 10:00. How EXCITING!!! I could not believe that I was actually doing this! I put my faith in Cork...and she didn't let me down! I did not know prior to this trip (I found out in the airport) that the reason that she knows so much about European back packing is, she and her ex conducted travel tours (the inexpensive way) for many years! She really knows her way around the Eurail system...And would have been much better if only she had a COOK BOOK!!!!!!:bang:
We got on a train bound for Amsterdam...how funn!!! I learned to LOVE trains...gosh how I wish we had such a wonderful system here!
Our train was taking many commuters home and as we were nearing one of our stops, the train stopped moving. Finally they made several announcments "the train's computer system has crashed" We are dead on the tracks. Cork and I cracked up at this announcment..."Please do not smoke in the smoking car any more. The air system is not working and there is no oxygen in the smoking car" I had visions of the people in "Total Recall" gasping for breath as the oxygen is sucked out of the car by smoke.....:floor:
The final announcment was "Well I guess you know this train is DONE" we waited for a tow to come and take us to the station.....
We finally made it to Amsterdam. In the station we found the travel agency (I amsterdam) and found a hotel to stay in. We were first told we had to book 3 nights....:eek: because of the New Year, but the young lady found us a one night hotel! We bought a 24 hour bus ticket and went to our hotel. Amsterdam is a wonderful old city..but very busy and modern as well. We got to the hotel (my backpack was KILLING my back....do you think maybe, just maybe, I had packed too much? :eek: ) We decided to forgo a shower and just hit the town...Mistake! We walked all around our hotel area (Princengrad? Cork will have to fill in all the names and places that I miss or miss spell :blush: ) We walked through Rembrandt Square and through the tulip/flower market..(pictures to follow)
As it started getting later we hit a brown cafe, enjoyed the menu, and walked around the red light district...:shock: We sure weren't in Kansas any more...:floor: There is so much to see and absorb in Amsterdam! A truly amazing place!!!!!
We were trying to decide what to have for dinner...the only places in Amsterdam are Pizza joints or Argentinean resturants! I wanted authentic food...NO SUCH THING!! We had some frites with mayonaise (best thing we have ever tasted...esp. after the brown cafe.....:clap_1: ) We finally gave in and had pizza...it was good, but NOT amore's! We took our leftovers to the hotel and crashed. It was about 1:30 by this time so we had been awake for about 24 hours by this time. We did not leave a wake up call....BIG MISTAKE......about 11:30 the next morning the maids tried to get in, and then the desk clerk stuck his head in and told us they needed to clean the room for other guests! I have never scrambled so fast in my life! I had torn my backpack apart the night before to shed some of the clothes I had packed...so I had clothes all over the place! I shoved them into the backpack, rinsed off...alas...NO SHOWER FOR ME....:( And we flew out of the room leaving our pizza leftovers for the cleaners....apologized (as cork says We are surely not the first people to do this....JET LAG!) We stowed our stuff at the hotel, got directions to a post office and took off. I got a box to send my stuff home in. Back to the hotel...then back to the post office and I lost 10 unneeded pounds for the mere price of 32 Euros...well worth the money! My back was HAPPY!!!!
We found a wonderful resturant that served pancakes (AKA crepes) and we feasted!
We found an internet cafe, where we posted our first SoWal posts and Cork took care of some business. By this time it was 4:00 and time to move on. We got our backpacks...AHHHHH mine was so light....:biggrin: We stopped in at a "deli" style market and bought dinner...salads, cheeses, meats and fruit.
Took a bus back to the station...but wait! Did we get on the right bus....NOOOOOO...we went about 20 minutes out of our way.....:floor: OH well...that is all part of the experience! When we got to the station we picked up some bread and wine...:biggrin:
We hopped on a train headed for Belgium. Had a wonderful dinner in our first class seats!

Tomorrow you will hear about or stay in Brussles and our 4 1/2 hour whirlwind tour of Paris......
OK Corkie baby...you need to chime in here girl!!!!

Edited

Replies

162
Allifunn avatar
FunnChef - AlisonCooks.comAuthor
#52
Bring it on, baby! Wonder if Fraunk and Danny Boy are reading it
The gang will just have to wait for this explaination :biggrin:

Allifunn, don't think the train went thru Germany this time. Not that it matters but I kinda remember checking the route and we headed due south from Amsterdam, through the Netherlands and into Belgium.
You were the navigator...my mistake....:bang: No sense of direction...but I got better!!!!!

Yes, I LOVE Brussels station. Will post a photo that I have. It's Beautiful. Berlin is a close second but I love the quaint feel of Brussels.
Berlin WAS a great one!


:floor: How true, but maybe the chef should have been able to read the menu and the navigator the signs

:blush: :blush: Thats why we made a good team!

Showers - I'm used to it and since Ali was a little more freaked about getting rousted out of our hotel in Amsterdam, she just threw her stuff in her bags while I did a quick wash up of pits, etc. :lol: I learned how to "non-shower" years ago. . Don't see it now but this wasn't the flooding shower but a good observation comes up here. WTF is with our water pressure over here. EVERY hotel, in EVERY country Ive ever been to over there is like having a firehose hit you in the face when you turn it on. :wub: I think my next tour will be "European showers I have known". Are you ready Allifunn? :lolabove: Great idea! Those showers did have some niagara qualities :wub:

I can't even believe that I missed that internet connection while you were in the bar. I did get my first call to my parents from this room so looks like you made calls to the kids etc from here. Yep


I have a photo of this little cafe that I will post. The website for the cafe is: www.tearoom-carpediem.be if you want to revisit it girl.
I tried to get on the site...I had written it down, too, but I guess I did something wrong (computer genius that I am :roll: )

OK, this is where I have to add a VERY special experience.



When the steward came around with sandwiches and drinks, we assumed that we had to pay like most trains so we declined. THen he kindly advised us that they are gratis and we chowed down on our free sandwiches, wine and dessert! (another person that was saying in his head "silly Americans"!!!!:floor:
I felt like I was one of the rich on the Orient Express! Me too...It was funn!

You forgot what a PIA Paris station was (as usual) Paris Est is under renovation. We arrived at Paris Nord, walked about 5 blocks with our frigging bags to Paris Est (cause we wanted our bags in lockers at the station we'd be departing from.)Only to find that the lockers at Paris Est were closed and we had to drag them another 5 blocks back to Paris Nord to lock them up only to go through metal detectors to get to the lockers.
Not exactly funn...but all part of the experience! :lolabove: :wub:

Arc de Triomphe, baby I CAN'T spell worth S*$T :blush:
At this point, I wanted to chop my feet off cause my damn shoes hurt so much. :nono1: The one thing that Cork was not prepared for.....:( Invest in a new pair next time...and DON"T STUB YOUR toe prior to a trip like this! Wear a pair of wooden shoes to prevent this from happening :biggrin:



You think the She Male Hooker could have been the problem. I'm a safety kinda girl and the seediest part of Paris warants a little nervousness. Remember those ladies in their minks, saying "I don't know, it still looks a little rough" :rofl: Too funny!!!!:floor:

OK, mom needs me. My dad drove her to meet a friend to get out of the house and he just hit a curb and blew the tire so I gotta go take her to her friends. Then I have to meet a friend which I now have to delay an hour so I will try to finish tonight.
Poor Pop.....:(
Allifunn avatar
FunnChef - AlisonCooks.comAuthor
#53
Here are a few more pictures of Brugge. Cork has others. The first one I took in the Tea Room Window. It does not do it justice...the pastries were incredible looking, and I am sure they were wonderful tasting!:drool: Cork is right though, I am not a sweet lover..I opt for savory!
dbuck avatar
Beach Fanatic
#54
This trip report is so much funn, it almost makes me feel like I'm there.
More, more . . .
Beach Crazy avatar
cracker
#55
I am most impressed, I haven't gotten to much of this until today!!!! Y'all are giving the best trip report SoWal has ever seen :clap_1: :clap_1:
Allifunn avatar
FunnChef - AlisonCooks.comAuthor
#56
I am most impressed, I haven't gotten to much of this until today!!!! Y'all are giving the best trip report SoWal has ever seen :clap_1: :clap_1:
:wub: :wub:
Telling about it is funn....living it was amazing!!!! :biggrin:
Miss Kitty avatar
Meow
#57
:wub: :wub:
Telling about it is funn....living it was amazing!!!! :biggrin:

It isn't over, is it???? :(
picky
#58
It isn't over, is it???? :(

No, silly gull, this is the gift that keeps on giving. :clap_1:
InletBchDweller avatar
SoWal Insider
#59
wOW I am loving these stories.......more more more!!!!!
Allifunn avatar
FunnChef - AlisonCooks.comAuthor
#60
It isn't over, is it???? :(
Not hardly!!! We have about 10 more days to post about! :rofl:
I am just waiting on cork......:drink2: :popcorn: I don't want to post the next day without her since this is the cork & alli adventure!...till then sit tight...much more to come....:biggrin:
Miss Kitty avatar
Meow
#61
:blush: ...yes ma'am.
Allifunn avatar
FunnChef - AlisonCooks.comAuthor
#62
:blush: ...yes ma'am.
:biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin: It will be worth the wait...I guarooonteeeee!!!;-)
Cork On the Ocean avatar
directionally challenged
#64
Day 2 in Europe


Before we got to the station, I bought a bottle of wind and cork got some rum (for the train...since it was an all nighter...I figured I'd need something to help me sleep)

Nastiest darn rum I've every had :puke:After my buzz i threw it out. We never made it to Monmartre which was on the 4 hr tour. We got close but no cigar. Had to get back to station. Monmartre is best in warmer weather though. It was rainy and I doubt there would have been any of the local artists there anyway.



We made reservations for the all night train and we ended up sharing a compartment with a really cute (but YOUNG!) guy. He was very nice and we talked for a while. I drank my wine (I forgot that European wine has a MUCH higher alcohol content than American....:blush: ) I slowly got smashed! (or maybe it was quickly!!) The young man was from Gremany but was Greek (so you know I loved him!) At some point I managed to devour all the chocolates that I had bought in Brugge and drank all my wine. We pulled out the seats and slept in a line. Good thing Cork was between me & Demetrius :lol: (J/K...I am not that bad!) Around 5:30 or 6:00 he got off at his stop and we went on to Munich to switch trains. In Munich we got on a train headed for Salzburg, Austria!

This was a good evening wasn't it. When Alli says Demetrius was cute, she's not kidding and don't really have a special attraction to Greek men but he was one cutie patootie. About what? 32? Just Alli, me and Demetrius all night long. It was so funny cause in the middle of the night I'd feel him lay his head on me or touch me with his hand and he'd wake up and pull away. He was so cute. Good thing he didn't realize it was me pushing my breastesees towards his hands and face :floor: :rofl: Just kidding but felt like it. Just one of the perks of train travel - sleeping with handsome young guys or not! (like nasty old couples :blink: )

Tomorrow you'll hear ALL about Salzburg!

Cork...BTW...I LOVED LOVED LOVED the ride from Frankfurt to Amsterdam! The castles on the hills along the Rhine were amazing! I was very impressed! The train is a great way to see them ...but next time lets take a boat! :wub:

Now I am going to go pull some photos to post!
We're there gull and the boats on the Rhine are free with the railpass.

Bring on Salzburg. I can't wait to hear about Achmed :bang:

I got to get my photos reduced in size to post.

PS: One magical moment that we forgot Alli. Our first night in Amsterdam. Dreaming Fog hovering around the steeple of the old church. As we were admiring the site and trying to figure out how to photo, music came from the heavens, just for us. One of my best moments, even did a sketch

Edited

Cork On the Ocean avatar
directionally challenged
#65
Originally Posted by Cork On the Ocean [ame="http://www.sowal.com/bb/showthread.php?p=196548#post196548"][/ame]
Bring it on, baby! Wonder if Fraunk and Danny Boy are reading it
The gang will just have to wait for this explaination

:floor:


Allifunn, don't think the train went thru Germany this time. Not that it matters but I kinda remember checking the route and we headed due south from Amsterdam, through the Netherlands and into Belgium.
You were the navigator...my mistake.... No sense of direction...but I got better!!!!!

Better?? By the end you were leading me around :clap_1:


Yes, I LOVE Brussels station. Will post a photo that I have. It's Beautiful. Berlin is a close second but I love the quaint feel of Brussels.
Berlin WAS a great one!

Yes, but as we said, almost overwhelming and difficult to navigate



Showers - I'm used to it and since Ali was a little more freaked about getting rousted out of our hotel in Amsterdam, she just threw her stuff in her bags while I did a quick wash up of pits, etc. :lol: I learned how to "non-shower" years ago. . Don't see it now but this wasn't the flooding shower but a good observation comes up here. WTF is with our water pressure over here. EVERY hotel, in EVERY country Ive ever been to over there is like having a firehose hit you in the face when you turn it on. I think my next tour will be "European showers I have known". Are you ready Allifunn? Great idea! Those showers did have some niagara qualities

How the heck do they get that water pressure any way. Also, did you notice the pressure in the toilets? It was like you better get your a$$ off that seat before flushing or you'd be sucked into the bowl :shock:

When the steward came around with sandwiches and drinks, we assumed that we had to pay like most trains so we declined. THen he kindly advised us that they are gratis and we chowed down on our free sandwiches, wine and dessert! (another person that was saying in his head "silly Americans"!!!!

You think we were the only 2 idiots on the train that didn't know the goodies were free? Once we caught on to the free goodies we were filling our pockets though, weren't we? :floor:

You forgot what a PIA Paris station was (as usual) Paris Est is under renovation. We arrived at Paris Nord, walked about 5 blocks with our frigging bags to Paris Est (cause we wanted our bags in lockers at the station we'd be departing from.)Only to find that the lockers at Paris Est were closed and we had to drag them another 5 blocks back to Paris Nord to lock them up only to go through metal detectors to get to the lockers.
Not exactly funn...but all part of the experience!

Paris will always be Paris. That's what made you so perfect for this type of travel . I promise you, FEW people see the downs as part of the experience but some of the funniest memories I have were nightmares when they were happening - like my mom and the sink :floor: (I didn't say that:cool: )




Arc de Triomphe, baby I CAN'T spell worth S*$T :blush:
At this point, I wanted to chop my feet off cause my damn shoes hurt so much. :nono1: The one thing that Cork was not prepared for.....:( Invest in a new pair next time...and DON"T STUB YOUR toe prior to a trip like this! Wear a pair of wooden shoes to prevent this from happening :biggrin:

You mean, BREAK your toe before backpacking europe. Still hurts :confused:


OK, mom needs me. My dad drove her to meet a friend to get out of the house and he just hit a curb and blew the tire so I gotta go take her to her friends. Then I have to meet a friend which I now have to delay an hour so I will try to finish tonight.

Dad has been great the last couple of days. One more chemo Thursday. Yeah!!!!!! :clap_1:

OK, here we come salzburg

Brussels Station and a seasoned railer :-)

Edited

Cork On the Ocean avatar
directionally challenged
#66
In fact, I'll start off Salzburg with a photo.....
Cork On the Ocean avatar
directionally challenged
#67
Brugge, complete with the front of the Carpe Diem cafe. I think that was a big gingerbread house in the window.
DD avatar
SoWal Expert
#68
Beautiful! :clap_1: :clap_1:
Allifunn avatar
FunnChef - AlisonCooks.comAuthor
#69





Paris will always be Paris. That's what made you so perfect for this type of travel . I promise you, FEW people see the downs as part of the experience but some of the funniest memories I have were nightmares when they were happening - like my mom and the sink :floor: (I didn't say that:cool: ) :eek: :eek: :eek: :funn: :funn: :funn: :funn: poor mom & the sink......:lol:







Allifunn avatar
FunnChef - AlisonCooks.comAuthor
#70
I promise...Salzburg in the morning!!! What a city...what a time!!!! (except for Amhed....:eek: ) :floor:
Cork On the Ocean avatar
directionally challenged
#71
I promise...Salzburg in the morning!!! What a city...what a time!!!! (except for Amhed....:eek: ) :floor:

I live in Salzburg, no I;m from Aphganistan (?), No, I mean I came from
rome :floor: :rofl: What a jerk :rolling: You were too sharp for him though allifunn :clap_1:
Allifunn avatar
FunnChef - AlisonCooks.comAuthor
#72
PS: One magical moment that we forgot Alli. Our first night in Amsterdam. Dreaming Fog hovering around the steeple of the old church. As we were admiring the site and trying to figure out how to photo, music came from the heavens, just for us. One of my best moments, even did a sketch
this was most beautiful!! It was early evening in Amsterdam....we stumbled across a beautiful old church that was glowing in the fog and as we were looking at it and commenting on how beautiful it was...the bells began to play music...JUST FOR US!!! :wub: Neither one of us had our camera...:idontno: but it didn't matter because I truly believe that we were not meant to capture this moment...it was only meant to live in our hearts and minds!

Edited

Allifunn avatar
FunnChef - AlisonCooks.comAuthor
#73
I live in Salzburg, no I;m from Aphganistan (?), No, I mean I came from
rome :floor: :rofl: What a jerk :rolling: You were too sharp for him though allifunn :clap_1:
I dodge very well.....:biggrin:
Cork On the Ocean avatar
directionally challenged
#74
this was most beautiful!! It was early evening in Amsterdam....we stumbled across a beautiful old church that was glowing in the fog and as we were looking at it and commenting on how beautiful it was...the bells began to play music...JUST FOR US!!! :wub: Neither one of us had our camera...:idontno: but it didn't matter because I truly believe that we were not meant to capture this moment...it was only meant to live in our hearts and minds!

You're such a poet or something :wub: It was a once in a lifetime moment, wasn't it?

I dodge very well.....:biggrin:

He was going down if he tried to put his nasty mouth on you one more time. but wait, I'm getting ahead of ourselves :rofl:
InletBchDweller avatar
SoWal Insider
#75
You're such a poet or something :wub: It was a once in a lifetime moment, wasn't it?



He was going down if he tried to put his nasty mouth on you one more time. but wait, I'm getting ahead of ourselves :rofl:


ok, now we all have to get together cuz i know there is a story here....:biggrin:
Allifunn avatar
FunnChef - AlisonCooks.comAuthor
#76
ok, now we all have to get together cuz i know there is a story here....:biggrin:
cork was ready to go for his jugular.....:eek: :biggrin:

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