Capitalism, but mainly cookies

Wednesday I picked up Danielle from the airport!!! It was so nice to see her after so many months. I brought her and all her things to the apartment and we started to unpack and settle in. Then we walked around the entirety of the center of Prague. We saw Old Town, Wenceslas Square, the Infant of Prague and Charles Bridge. That night we had everyone over for DJ's birthday so the apartment got a bit crazy! After everyone left for the club Danielle and I stayed behind to clean it up before heading to sleep. Thursday I had my living history final before I  headed back to the apartment to pack for the weekend away in Amsterdam. We caught the tram to the airport and off we went! Danielle and I got these amazing sandwiches at Paul's before boarding the plane. The flight was really nice. We sat next to a man who had lived in Amsterdam his entire life and therefore told us the entire history of the city as well as a great places to eat while there. The wind was so bad that the landing was rather scary, but we made it! The whole plane clapped once we reached the ground we were all so glad just to be on land.
Friday we woke up nice and early to get some apple pie at a place that Grace's friend had suggested before entering the Anne Frank house. It was a really moving place to have the opportunity to visit. The part that struck me was the video of her father, Otto, saying that after reading her diary, he realized that parents will never actually know their children. It was so hard to watch his face as he said it. You could feel his pain not for his experiences, but for the experiences of his children. Afterwards we strolled through the town a bit before heading into the cheese museum! There were so many cheeses to sample there and they were all so delicious! I had too many favorites, and hey, free cheese! Then we walked through Jordaan, a nice area of town before stopping for some coffee and soup before walking over to the Van Gogh museum. On our way we stopped by the infamous IAMSTERDAM sign for some photos. Van Gogh was good. We watched a film about him before walking through the works of art. We then met up with a bunch of other UPCES students for indonesian food. After dinner we walked through the Christmas market in town and then went through the Red Light District briefly before going to sleep.
Saturday we slept in a  little bit before heading over to the Pancake Bakery for breakfast. I was fooled. It was crepes and not nice fluffy pancakes like I had hoped they would be. But it was still really good so I was satisfied. We all went on a Sandeman's free tour after and learning more about the city. One especially fun fact is that the word cookie comes from Dutch! So we have cookies because of the Dutch influences in America. Who doesn't love cookies?!?! After the tour we went the Sex Museum in Amsterdam. It was really intense. They mostly showed how sex has been portrayed and developed through photos over time. There were also many old artifacts about the depictions of sex from ancient times. It was interesting to see how something could be so unchanging historically. The only thing that changed was the medium it was shown with. Then we had chinese food at the restaurant that the man from the plane had suggested to Danielle and me. It was really good. I haven't had a good fried rice in months and I had the opportunity to. Afterwards Danielle and I took a boat cruise through the Lights Festival. It was so nice to see the city from it's famous point in the canals. We went into areas we had not walked through as well as places I had seen while walking around. Then she and I went back through the Christmas Market and having some amazing french fries before walking through the Red Light District and just talking about our weekend so far while eating some delicious gelato.
Sunday Danielle, DJ, and I woke up early and went to Hillsong Amsterdam. We met so many friendly people especially this one woman while I was in the bathroom. Turns out, she was the one giving the word that day. She spoke so well about the struggles people all face on their way to trusting God and having faith. She really inspired the room and was so kind. She used to drive from Belgium just to go to Hillsong in Amsterdam. It was a really great sermon about not being intimidated or scared and just being ourselves as children of God. After church Danielle and I met up with Dani and the three of us went to the Rijksmuseum to see some lovely Dutch art! After we took pictures in front of the IAMSTERDAM sign which at this point was covered in holiday decoration!!! It was so pretty. Then we headed back and went to the airport. Our flight was unfortunately delayed all the way to the time we were meant to be landing in Prague. That was quite unpleasant, but we did make it home at a decent time!
Monday I got Danielle up nice and early and we went to my last day of internship. It was fairly easy to say goodbye to the children, but not as easy to say goodbye to Mrs. Carolyn. I really enjoyed working with her this past semester. She got me a bunch or macaroons and a cup and plate from bakeshop. I have to write her and the students a nice thank you when I get home so that they can have a stamp from the USA for their wall. Now it's two more classes to go and then I will be all finished with my semester of studies. Flying off to Milan this weekend, but there are so many things to do and see in-between!

We're in Amsterdam!!! Bikes and canals

CHEESE

Typical tourists

Van Gogh self portrait

Sex museum!

Beautiful view of the church from Red Light district

Rijksmuseum

…they have a holographic tree

Christmas Market Palooza!!!

This past week was Thanksgiving!!! We had a huge potluck with about 20 people all bringing something for everyone to enjoy. We were able to live stream the parade and everything. It was a really nice dinner. We were even cheesy enough to play a charades like game after we had finished all of the amazing food and desserts. There was hardly a scrap of food leftover.
Friday we headed up to Dresden in Germany for their Christmas markets. While I was there, I had to opportunity to visit three of the different markets. But first we took a nice guided tour of some major points in the city, first by bus when we saw a Guinness World Record holding milk bar and some lovely Elbe castles. Then we took a walking tour of center city and saw the massive Zwinger Palace and a lovely mural of the history of the city. Then it was time for the markets!!! The first Rachel, Lindsey, and I walked into was a Medieval Market with men dressed up and acting in character. It was lovely. We stopped there for some hot chocolate and Rachel asked the man behind the counter. He very honestly replied, "Because I have to taste them all I don't like any of them." So we had to make decisions on our own. I then bought a cut up and friend apple which tasted delicious and Rachel and Lindsey bought these pizza like things that ad cheese and assorted toppings. Then we walked over to another more classic market that was a long stretch on the other side of the river. In the center of the long walkway was the most beautiful tree, lit up all blue and it had dripping lights. After we walked past it all and took pictures we then found one more amazing market. It was more like a fair. There was a ferris wheel and a bridge to climb and get a whole view of the area. Of course panoramic pictures had to be taken!!! Then we were off to home and some homework.
Saturday was an essay writing day. I needed the time to relax and write my papers before Danielle comes this Wednesday and then we go to Amsterdam this weekend!!! But I digress. After doing some work I met up with Lindsey and Rachel and we went to the Prague Christmas tree lightening! Old Town Square was more crowded than I have ever seen it in my entire stay here. It was literally impossible to move about once we found a nice spot in view of the tree. All the lights on the monuments were turned off right before the tree was lit and then one small strand lit up after we finished counting down. Lindsey, Rachel, and I were all underwhelmed. Then suddenly, the whole tree was lit, every last branch. Classical music starting playing and the tree lights did a show for us. The whole crowd oohed and aahed. Such a sight it was to see. Afterwards we made our way through the crowds and had a lovely Czech dinner of fried cheese in a restaurant nearby before heading over to Wenceslas Square. That market also had a really nice tree as well as a pretty nativity scene. Then we walked over to Namesti Republiky and saw another smaller market where Rachel tried grill cheese (not what we have in America) and I had some Hungarian fruit cake. Then we parted for the evening, very full, not just of food, but of Christmas joy. There was still more to come!!!
Sunday Rachel and I met up in the afternoon and headed out to Plzen, where they brew Pilsner beer. They were also having a tree lighting and we had to see that one as well! So we headed over to the train station and got our tickets and off we went. We spent the afternoon wandering around the town and studying for our final on architecture styles this upcoming week. Then we stopped over in the market and watched a choir of children sing carols while we sipped on some hot wine. Afterwards we got some dinner at a small restaurant that had pictures of New York City inside of it before heading over to see the lighting of the tree. We counted down just as we had the day before, but this time the tree did not light up right away! There must have been a delay because after about a minute and a couple jokes it lit up and it was lovely!!! After we stood about for a little bit, we headed back home on the tram.
Monday was a lovely day of interning with the students. I learned the Mrs. Carolyn's husband owns a bakery that is really popular among the American students. I was so surprised! Tuesday night Dani came over and we continued to work on some final edits and essays so we can be done with our work. As a break we went to the local chain vegan restaurant in town called Loving Hut. There was an all you can eat for 70 krowns special. We were so excited!!!

Zwinger Palace, Dresden

Christmas market, Dresden

Amazing lit tree in Dresden

Dresden Christmas Market

Prague Tree

Prague tree all lit up!

Nativity scene in Wenceslas

Beer Museum, Plzen

Plzen Market

Plzen tree :)