Today was our last day on the school trip. I awoke very early to go hiking for the last time with my friends in the Swiss Alps then, we got on the bus and proceeded to the airport. Once we arrived, a few others were also going to be in Zürich for the day so I guided them on the trains to Zürich Hauptbahnhof and said goodbye to everyone else. Once there we walked around Bahnhofstrasse and down to Lake Zürich. After eating at the Manor Restaurant I guided them back to their correct train where they would be continuing to Paris. After they departed, I returned to the apartment to rest because I was so exhausted from the day and busy trip.
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Today was our first morning at Hotel Badus in Andermatt. We ate breakfast quickly and then went for a hike because our hotel is in the Swiss Alps. After getting back, we got on the bus for the drive to Lucerne. When we arrived we had a short walking guided tour and then were allowed to roam freely for two hours. This is when I stopped by the Migros (For some groceries of course) and saw the Kapellbrücke (A walking footbridge from the 1200s). After the free time we all gathered on a boat for a ride to the base of the Pilatus, a mountain in Switzerland. Once we arrived there we took a cog railway to the top where there was a view of maximum 5 feet in front of oneself. There was so much dense fog it was difficult to see the entire group of people I was with. After taking the Gondola back and returning to the hotel, I walked to the nearby Coop (A grocery store) with about 25 of my friends to help them choose the “best” Swiss chocolate. When they all saw the chocolate aisle it was pretty crazy. They ended up spending about 600 Swiss Francs on Chocolate alone! Later we returned and I once again went for a quick hike up the mountain where there were beautiful cows and scenery, before going back to the hotel for the night.
Today was our last day at Hotel Leonard in Munich. After my usual breakfast we began our first bus ride out of three today. We traveled to Innsbruck, Austria and arrived in about three hours. When we arrived we were immediately given free time to explore for the next two hours. While there I visited the Goldenes Dachl or Golden Roof in the town square, one of the largest Swarovski stores in the world, and interestingly enough a Austrian McDonalds. After returning to the bus we began our second bus ride to Vaduz, Lichtenstein. When were arrived in Lichtenstein we had about twenty minutes to get our passport stampted and then get back on the bus to get to Lucerne. After beginning our final bus ride for the day we saw plenty of beautiful sights on the way. The trip took about three hours, and then we got to our hotel, Hotel Badus for the evening. There we had dinner and we will see the city of Lucerne tomorrow.
Today was the first morning at Hotel Leonard in Munich. We departed the hotel and began a tour around the city. There we saw some people surfing on a small river, a variety of buildings and ended in the Marienplatz where the famous Glockenspiel plays. The Glockenspiel is a collection of church bells that play in the town square while figurines “dance” up above. After eating lunch at a local Bavarian eatery we hopped on the bus for a two hour ride to Neuschwanstein Castle. Once there we were allowed time to explore before walking to the top. Once we arrived at the top, we took part in a guided tour where at NO TIME may ANYONE take pictures whatsoever. That part was not disclosed and almost killed me (Not Really). Then after the tour I took plenty of pictures which consisted of the view and the castle itself. Afterwards we walked back down the hill and got back on the bus to get dinner. We ate dinner at a local Bavarian restaurant and returned to our hotel preparing for our three bus rides tomorrow.
Today was our second morning at the Hotel Golf in Prague. Breakfast was similar to yesterdays and after quickly preparing our bags, everyone was back on the bus for a four hour ride to Dachau. When we arrived we had a quick short tour and then were allowed to explore the site for ourselves. It was a very sombering and moving experience to be so close to something which caused so much distress and destruction to so many lives. After the experience, we took another short one hour ride into Munich. Once there, we went to the Allianz Center to see where the FC Bayern Munich football (soccer) team plays. Afterwards we traveled to dinner and checked into the Hotel Leonardo for the night.
Today was our first morning at Hotel Golf in Prague or as we learned is known as Praha. After another similar european style breakfast we quickly hopped on the bus and traveled to the Castle Prague for the start of a three hour walking tour. We learned about The Castle itself, St. Vitus Cathedral, as well as medieval time period homes. After a traditional Czech meal of Goulash for lunch, we arrived at the Prague astronomical clock. There we had some free time to explore and walk around Prague. We met up later for a tour of the underground as well. After that time we met up for a dinner crusie along the Vltava river. There we were able to see some more sights and views and later we returned back to the hotel to play some soccer and get some rest before our five hour ride to Dachau tomorrow.
Today was our second morning at Tryp Hotel in Berlin City East. Breakfast was the same traditional style as yesterday and I tried some new foods. After departing Berlin we rode on our first bus ride for about three hours until we arrived in the city of Dresden. There we were greeted by a local guide and a bus tour of the city. Afterwards we had a short walking tour which showed the main parts of Dresden as well as the Frauenkirche, a symbol of the Saxon capitol [Dresden] which was and still is one of the most important baroque buildings in Germany. After a local lunch we returned to the bus for another three hour bus ride to Prague in the Czech Republic. When we arrived we went on another short walking tour before arriving at our dinner location for the evening. Later we checked into Hotel Golf where we will be staying for the next two nights.
Editor's Note: Due to internet issues at the Tryp Hotel in Berlin City East, photos could not be uploaded from that location. That issue has been resolved and now both Berlin Days 1 & 2 have pictures. Today was the first morning at Tryp hotel in Berlin City East. For breakfast there were lots of traditional German meats and breads, which is what I expect to see for the next week. After breakfast we took a bus tour around Berlin, including one of the largest pieces of the Berlin Wall that still stands, the Brandenburg Gate, and the Berlin Jewish memorial. After being let go for lunch and free time, a few of my friends and I walked around central Berlin. We also traveled by using public transportation and by doing so, we were able to see the Berliner Fernsehtrum (Berlin TV Tower), Berlin Hauptbahnhof (Berlin Main Train Station), Checkpoint Charlie (Which might I add has too much American stolen valor if you ask me), as well as the Topography of Terror Holocaust museum. After eating dinner we walked around for a guided tour before returning to the hotel for the night. Tomorrow we leave for Dresden and Prague.
Today I had the pleasure of waking up at 4:45 in the morning to get to Zürich Airport for my 7:20 flight to Berlin [Yay -_-]. I arrived at 8:45 and walked around the terminal in Berlin for a while. At around 11:30 I met up with my classmates from Orange Lutheran High School in California for our EF Tour to Berlin, Prague, and The Alps. We met our tour guide Ysanne and she spoke us through a small sight seeing tour on our way to the hotel where we would be staying at for the next two days, Tryp in Berlin City East. After a small break and orientation at the hotel we made our way by U-bahn and S-bahn into the city center. There we had dinner and walked around the New Synagogue in Germany. We also visited the Jüdischer Friedhof Berlin-Mitte a Jewish cemetery from the World War II era. Afterwards we returned to the hotel for the evening.
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Alexander KitanoAlexander Kitano is a talented photographer with a passion for photography. Here are some of his journals he has made throughout his carear. Archives
August 2016
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