Archive for August, 2008

Aug 26 2008

Jordan

Published by Jill under Jordan

We ended up waiting at the Amman airport for about an hour and a half in order to take the public bus, to our executive suite at the Le Meridian - how about that for an oxymoron?  You can imagine how utterly ridiculous we look walking in, where formal wedding receptions are taking place, with […]

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Aug 13 2008

The land where anything is possible - Dubai

Published by Matthew under United Arab Emirates

We left Istanbul to go to Dubai.  But instead of flying southeast we flew northwest…to London.  Then from London to Dubai.  Apparently oneWorld thinks it is more profitable to send us on a 5 hour flight then a 7 hour flight, instead of one 2 hour flight.  All of which had empty seats, but no […]

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Aug 09 2008

Istanbul, Not Constantinople

Published by Matthew under Turkey

Even old New York, was once New Amsterdam.  Traveling from Romania to Turkey was a 20 hour odyssey from Bucharest to Istanbul in a vintage 1950s train car with no air conditioning with the summer sun beating in to the window from noon until dusk.  We stayed not far from the famed Hagia Sophia and […]

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Aug 09 2008

Romania

Published by Jill under Romania

Brasov, Romania is home to Bran Castle, better known as Dracula’s Castle.  Even if Vlad Tepes (the real-life Dracula) didn’t actually ever live there, they still very much play up that myth with crazy amounts of vampire paraphernalia available and people walking around like it’s Halloween in masks and black robes.  The castle itself was […]

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Aug 09 2008

Budapest

Published by Jill under Hungary

We left comfortable Western Europe in pursuit of Eastern European flavor (no, not like in the movie Hostel) and away from the dreadful euro.  Budapest, Hungary was a simple four hour train ride from Vienna.  The impressive Castle Hill overlooks the city and gives a pretty spectacular view of the city.
The baths are a long […]

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Aug 09 2008

Austria

Published by Jill under Austria

After leaving Germany, we briefly ventured to three Austrian cities: Innsbruck, Graz, and Vienna via the ever reliable train system. 
Innsbruck is situated along the Alps and used this advantage to host both the ’64 and ’76 winter Olympics.  The ski jump built for the occasion, Bergisel, is now used as a tourist attraction (trap) […]

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Aug 03 2008

Freiburg, Stuttgart, and Rothenburg

Published by Matthew under Germany

This one time in college, I wanted to go to Freiburg to study a semester abroad.  I got into the program, passed the German test (I don’t know how), went to a few classes for the 1 credit course to prepare me to go, and then bailed.  I figured it would be a great experience, […]

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Aug 01 2008

Dresden, Hamburg, Köln

Published by Matthew under Germany

After we left Berlin, we spent 6 days in 4 cities throughout Germany. 
From what I remebered in German class, East Germany (in 1998) was still living in the ’60s, kind of like Cuba, and many of the buildings had not been repaired since WWII.  Fortunately for Dresden, this was not true.  It has been rebuilt […]

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Aug 01 2008

Das alles ist Berlin

Published by Matthew under Germany

So who knew trains could go onto ferry boats?  So that is how we got to Germany from Copenhagen.  We made our way to Berlin after entering Germany.  Apparently Germany is very trusting when it comes to S-Bahn usage.  S-Bahn is the above ground urban railway system.  You can just jump on without going through […]

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Aug 01 2008

Køpenhavn

Published by Matthew under Denmark

After leaving gorgeous but expensive Sweden we landed in Copenhagen, Denmark, which is probably more expensive and less gorgeous.  Walking out of the central station you look upon the Tivoli Park walls, where you can see the some of the rides rise above them.  This park has been the most popular tourist attraction in Copenhagen […]

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