Hi Ya'll,
If you haven't already, you may want to begin reading my first week before starting this one, it will make more sense!! Hope you enjoy! I know it is a lot of reading, it was a lot of typing!
In Groningen, I met Annika on my platform!! It was so great to see her!! We quickly headed to the buses and found our way to her place. She has a really nice apartment where she has a roommate and a nice place to live. We had some sandwiches and I put some clothes into the washer and we just sat around having cappuccino and talking. We then went to her college where she had a meeting and I just used the Internet. Then, we took bikes into the city center. My bike was a little too big, and at one intersection, I kind of fell. But, I was safe and nothing happened, so don’t worry about me!!
In the city center I saw the main town hall and there was a market going on. We bought scarves and found a really cheap store which we looked around in and dreamed of all the things we could buy for so little. We also had some sweets which were really good. Before heading home, we bought groceries for the night to make lasagna.
We made it home and made the lasagna. It was super good. After a week of eating out of a loaf of bread and a jar of jam, lasagna was spectacular! We then watched some TV and I learned how to do JUMP STYLE, a way of dancing. It was so fun. Annika’s friend came over and then we all went into the city center to find some night life. We later found out Fridays are not the night to go out in Groningen. We had fun though dancing in some bars and hanging out, but then we made it back to Annika’s and we went to sleep.
Saturday morning, we woke up and took showers and then headed to Annika’s hometown, Papenburg, Germany. She only lives about an hour away from her family in Germany. I met her mom and her brother. Annika heard about my planned trip to Egypt and she got really interested in going. So, we looked up flight fares, and she decided to come too. Now we have a group of four going to Egypt in December, I am so excited!
Annika took me into her town to do some shopping and see some cool old ships and the city center. Outside of the town hall was a bunch of people. I was really curious as to what was going on. Every day I am amazed at the random traditions Germans and Austrians have…most of them revolving around a reason to drink beer. Annika said the people in front of the town hall were celebrating the birthday of a guy who turned 30 and is unmarried. So, they party and drink beer and collect money and then the guy has to sweep up the front of the town hall.
There was a big pile on the steps when we walked by!! Then, the money that they gather, they stand around and wait for a girl who is a virgin to kiss the birthday guy on the cheek or lips and then give her the money. We saw two girls about 11 years old kiss the guy and get the money. It was so interesting.
Back to Annika’s we went. We ate some really good supper of chicken and other good things. Then, we got ready and went to Annika’s friends house and I got to meet them. As they all speak German, and not all English, I got to try to listen to the conversations as best as I could and try to catch onto some. It was a really good chance for me to work on my German. After hanging around for a bit, we all headed out to the dance club. It was so fun here. I got to dance with Annika and her friends and just have a good time. We also got to try out our JUMP STYLE! That was super.
The night was late, so we headed back home then. Sunday morning, Annika and I met up with her friends again for brunch. We went to this café place with a real brunch buffet. It was so good. But, as I don’t speak very good German, one lady was a little over helpful in telling me what things were in English. She obviously didn’t know how much I knew or didn’t know, but she was definitely VERY helpful. It was just a little funny. Oh well. The way Germans eat though is they get a plate and eat it and then sit around and talk. Then they get another plate and eat, then sit and talk. They get food, eat, sit, talk and repeat for about 2 to 3 hours. It was just so crazy. Definitely not how we do buffets in the States.
After the buffet, Annika took me to the windmill in her town that used to be used to make bread. It was really neat to see how it would have worked at one time and to go to the top and see her town. We then went and got tickets to go to the Cruise Ship Manufacturing Facility.
It was so neat; I got to go to the exact place where those huge fancy cruise liner ships are made. I had no idea they were made in this little town in Northern Germany! The tour was in German, but I was able to understand most of it, and Annika was a great translator when I needed her to be. I hope to go back again to the tour when my German is even better, I will probably learn even more! The main thing I picked up was the fact that American cruise ships always have to be the biggest and the brightest and the most elaborate. The tour guide made many jokes about Americans. It is pretty neat though how this company used to make those old big wooden ships until a son came home one day and told his father they needed to use steel. The rest is history. As I understood it, the company has been in the same family since it was born.
After the tour, Annika and I went back to her place and had some supper. We then went to the movie rental place and got “Save the Last Dance 2.” We went back home and watched that in English. It is a good movie!! We then were off to bed.
Monday morning, we went into town and did some more shopping. Things are so much cheaper up north than here in Salzburg. I didn’t buy too many things, but I did find a coat for only EURO 60. I couldn’t pass up that deal; it was a 2 layer jacket that was waterproof and a really pretty teal blue. Annika also had to find herself some devil horns for her Halloween costume.
Back to her home, we made some awesome pizza and I figured out how I was getting to Dronten, Netherlands and where I was meeting up with Craig. Annika’s mom took us to the train station and we got into Groningen around 4:00. I said good-bye to Annika and then was off to Dronten. I had to stop in Zwolle and take a bus to Dronten, but I finally made it there around 5:00 Monday evening.
I had a map of how to get to Craig’s, but it was a little tricky to figure out at first. After my first attempt failed, I found the right way and made it to Craig’s place on the CAH (Christelijke Agrarische Hogeschool) campus. He goes to an International Agriculture College. There are 130 or so international students and many more Dutch students all studying livestock management, food science, and rural development. Shortly after I met up with Craig, I met some of the other Americans from UW-Platteville who were also studying at this college.
I met Liz, Noah, Chris, Jodi, and also Jenni. They asked me how long I was going to be in Dronten and I told them I didn’t have any plans till the next Monday. They said I was welcome to stay with them in Dronten and then travel with them to Dortmund, Germany that weekend. I was totally thrilled and so happy!! Needless to say, I spent the last week there in the Netherlands with everyone.
I had a great time. Monday night I got to help all the Americans carve pumpkins for their party on Halloween night and then go to their campus pub 6- (six minus). I got to meet people from all over there; from Poland, France, Turkey, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Spain and other places I don’t remember. I also learned how they hand out beer in a very unique way. They have things long boards that are a meter long and they have holders for 13 beers. So, someone would go up and get a meter of beer for EURO 10 and everyone would drink up that meter before a new person went and got a new one. It was a really new way of distributing beer.
Craig was nice enough to go stay with other friends, and he lent me his bed for the entire week. It was super. He even made me a great egg, ham, and cheese sandwich for breakfast Tuesday morning. I just chilled around at the apartments Tuesday. I also then went into town with the guys to get some things to grill out. So, Tuesday night we made a BBQ out of a little charcoal grill and made brats and hamburgers. It was the best meat I have had since I got to Europe…just a good ole real hamburger on the grill!! After standing around the grill all night, we finally made it inside and watched the great movie, EuroTrip. I had never seen this movie and now I realize some of the great misconceptions people have about Europe and traveling.
Wednesday was a great day to sleep in. When I woke up, I went into town with the guys and they got some great Halloween costumes for the rest of the parties that week. We chilled all afternoon and then I went to Dutch lessons with Liz and Noah that evening. It is so neat how similar Dutch and German are. I don’t know any Dutch, but I was helping Liz out! Pronouncing words is just half of it, and that is so close between the two languages. But, I did learn some Dutch words like how to say Thank You and Please and I don’t know.
Everyone was eventually dressed and we were off to 6- again. Craig was a Pirate, Noah was an Indian, Chris was a Referee, Liz was Daisy Duke, and I wore shorts under a big shirt of Craig’s. I let everyone come up with their own ideas as to what I was. We all had a great time dancing the night away! I met some more of the people from the college and had a good time with Liz dancing all over the place! At the end of the night, I even met some Dutch guys. They were really fun and Liz and I had a super time dancing and chilling with them. After 6- closed, we headed out and hung out with the Dutch guys for awhile at Liz’s place. It is amazing to me just how many typicality’s there are for Dutch guys and Dutch people in general. They are all their own breed! That night I was locked out of Craig’s house, so I crashed on a mattress on Liz’s floor. The next morning I got up and went on my way to Amsterdam.
I was able to explore Amsterdam for a few hours by myself and see many different sites. It was a really crisp, breezy, fall day; but it was nice out. I had no idea, but Amsterdam is such a nice city. It is literally a city on the water; a Venice up north. There are canals everywhere and ‘love’ bridges and nice places just to stroll by at. I just walked around seeing the old buildings and boats and harbors. I also checked out a big street market where any tourist can find their heart’s desire of typical Holland and Netherlands apparel and souvenirs. I also was near where Rembrandt lived and then sat around in the famous and busy Damrak square.
Around 3:00 I was able to go on another free walking tour of the great city of Amsterdam. I had to meet Liz and Craig and Noah at the train station around 5, so I didn’t get to hear the full tour, but I still learned a lot. They tour began by going through the old town. Surprisingly, the old town consists of the Red Light District. This Red Light District has been a part of the city since the very beginning when sailors needed someone or something to pleasure them.
The Red Light District is full of women who are just running a business like any store keeper or business person. There are a lot of rules that go along with this business and it is highly regulated. There is the minimum age of 18 and Pimps are Illegal. However, there is no maximum age, and the oldest lady is 73. She is said to be very experienced! Besides that, the Red Light District really is not the place one should specifically go to see when they go to Amsterdam.
After meeting up with the others, we all just walked around and I bought some really good fresh fries and they bought some souvenirs. We were able to go see where Anne Frank lived and her family’s secret hideout, The Annex. It was almost closing time and we all didn’t want to pay for the tour, so we just got a pamphlet and saw the outside. It was still pretty amazing to see. We walked around some more then headed back to Dronten for a good night of sleep.
Friday came before I knew it! I was so tired; I slept in through most of the morning. After I got myself going, I went into town to do some shopping. There are a lot of cheap stores in Dronten, and I found some really good deals on things I needed that they didn’t have in Salzburg, or were super expensive. I also picked up some food for goulash that night.
Later in the afternoon, I was able to go to the discount store again for their once a month sale. The first Friday of every month, they have an hour where everything in a back building of this discount store for free. So, instead of paying for souvenirs; I got some children’s books in Dutch and some Dutch music. I also got a little wooden shoe! It was super that I didn’t have to pay for any of it!
After that excursion, Jodi, Liz and Noah took me out to the campus farm so I could see some animals! It was so nice. I got to see their milking parlor that is a double 8 herring bone that has been altered to have a different angle for the cows to stand at, so more can fit. It is such a tiny area for 8 cows. But, animals here are just not as big as those in the states. I also saw their sheep and calves and the milking cows. I believe they milk around 70 to 90 cows, I can’t remember very well right now! It was just way great to see the cows! I wished I could have seen them milking and even done some myself, but we had to get back to make some goulash and get ready for another Halloween party.
We made a huge pot of goulash and Jodi had made some delicious cheesecake. I was so stuffed. Everyone was read again, so we headed over to a campus building where the party was to be held. I didn’t dress up this night; I just wore some clothes I had yet to wear on the trip! It wasn’t a huge party, but it was still fun. We stood around and talked and watched the crazy Spaniards be crazy. They really go wild when they party…and they really can not hold their alcohol.
Three Dutch guys had shown up at some time and they were dressed as Dutch Farmers. It was great. They all 3 wore wooden shoes, blue coveralls (it’s a Dutch thing), and then a red handkerchief around their necks. They were superbly dressed! We all just got talking with them and it was so nice! I got to talk about cows and agriculture and those things rather than Mozart and German and History. They were all really nice guys and super to talk to. I think some of them are going to go to the states someday, too.
So, the night was over and we all went home to go to sleep in order to get up and ready to leave in the morning. We all were ready to go and got on our train and made our way to Dortmund, Germany. We were so lucky when we got there that a city festival was going on. We walked around for a really long time and saw amazing food and lots of little handiworks. There were pretzels, brats, potato pancakes, more brats, fresh fries, steaks, and wine and beer. There were tents of people with wooden bowls, potpourri, hand-made baskets, and pens everywhere with calves, goats, chickens, or donkeys. We all ate way too much because it was all so darn good and you just walked around smelling these amazing smells and no one could resist.
We didn’t have much else to do Saturday night, so we went shopping for other things to do. Earlier this week I had asked about prices to get my hair done with color. It was going to cost me an arm and a leg for half of what I wanted to get done. So, I needed my hair done because of my awful roots, and we had nothing else better to do, Liz, Noah, and I bought hair dyeing stuff. Back at our amazing hotel rooms, we went to work!! I did Noah’s full head with blond, Jodi did Liz’s hair in blond highlights, and if you look at the pictures, you will find I now have short, RED hair!
It is something totally new and exciting and I really like this adventure! Oh, and it will come out in 2 months of washings.
So, that was our excitement for the night. We were all dead tired, so we went to bed. Sunday morning, because we were in Germany, there was nothing to do. We walked around the town and then found the festival again. It was starting to open when we got there. So, we walked around again and I bought some really good bread spread and the most amazing Butter Streusel. I was hoping for some French fries, but they hadn’t opened when it was time to leave.
A little before 12, I said good-bye to Craig, Liz, Noah, Jodi, and Chris. They were back to the Netherlands to begin classes again in Dronten then next morning. And I found a train and its connections to Salzburg only a half hour after they left. It was a long ride, but I finally made it home to Salzburg around 9:30 Sunday night the 4th of November.
I had an amazing trip through Northern Europe. I hope to visit Eva again and see the rest of Berlin. I can’t wait to go to Egypt with Annika and then party at the Prom in Dronten in January. I learned so much and I feel like a true traveling champion! I am back at classes here in Salzburg and it is going to be super hard to stay focused for the last 5 weeks of class. I have 3 more days left on my rail pass that I have to use this weekend, so I have another adventure lurking behind the corner! Also, with my college, I will be heading to Vienna in less than 2 weeks, too. I can’t believe I have been over her for over 2 months and time is flying faster and faster as the semester goes on! It is crazy to think, but before I know it, I am going to be flying back home to the States. Wow, I don’t want to think that far ahead…time shouldn’t fly THAT FAST!!
Well, I hope everyone is good and ya’ll enjoy my descriptions of my adventures through Germany, Denmark, Sweden, and Holland. I had an unforgettable time and I can’t wait to go traveling again sometime!! I have so many places I need to see yet!
I hope all of you are safe and happy and enjoying whatever you may be doing!
Tschuss!
Dana
Annika and I outside of the City Hall in Groningen!
Wooden shoes everywhere!! Truly a trademark of Holland!
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Me on the steps of the city hall in Groningen!
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House of Anne Frank and where her family's hideout, The Secret Annex, was! Liz and I posing!
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More wooden shoes, it is just amazing how they are everywhere!!
All dressed up for Halloween! We had a sheep, witch, Daisy Duke, and Pirate-Argh!!
If you haven't already, you may want to begin reading my first week before starting this one, it will make more sense!! Hope you enjoy! I know it is a lot of reading, it was a lot of typing!
In Groningen, I met Annika on my platform!! It was so great to see her!! We quickly headed to the buses and found our way to her place. She has a really nice apartment where she has a roommate and a nice place to live. We had some sandwiches and I put some clothes into the washer and we just sat around having cappuccino and talking. We then went to her college where she had a meeting and I just used the Internet. Then, we took bikes into the city center. My bike was a little too big, and at one intersection, I kind of fell. But, I was safe and nothing happened, so don’t worry about me!!
In the city center I saw the main town hall and there was a market going on. We bought scarves and found a really cheap store which we looked around in and dreamed of all the things we could buy for so little. We also had some sweets which were really good. Before heading home, we bought groceries for the night to make lasagna.
We made it home and made the lasagna. It was super good. After a week of eating out of a loaf of bread and a jar of jam, lasagna was spectacular! We then watched some TV and I learned how to do JUMP STYLE, a way of dancing. It was so fun. Annika’s friend came over and then we all went into the city center to find some night life. We later found out Fridays are not the night to go out in Groningen. We had fun though dancing in some bars and hanging out, but then we made it back to Annika’s and we went to sleep.
Saturday morning, we woke up and took showers and then headed to Annika’s hometown, Papenburg, Germany. She only lives about an hour away from her family in Germany. I met her mom and her brother. Annika heard about my planned trip to Egypt and she got really interested in going. So, we looked up flight fares, and she decided to come too. Now we have a group of four going to Egypt in December, I am so excited!
Annika took me into her town to do some shopping and see some cool old ships and the city center. Outside of the town hall was a bunch of people. I was really curious as to what was going on. Every day I am amazed at the random traditions Germans and Austrians have…most of them revolving around a reason to drink beer. Annika said the people in front of the town hall were celebrating the birthday of a guy who turned 30 and is unmarried. So, they party and drink beer and collect money and then the guy has to sweep up the front of the town hall.
There was a big pile on the steps when we walked by!! Then, the money that they gather, they stand around and wait for a girl who is a virgin to kiss the birthday guy on the cheek or lips and then give her the money. We saw two girls about 11 years old kiss the guy and get the money. It was so interesting.
Back to Annika’s we went. We ate some really good supper of chicken and other good things. Then, we got ready and went to Annika’s friends house and I got to meet them. As they all speak German, and not all English, I got to try to listen to the conversations as best as I could and try to catch onto some. It was a really good chance for me to work on my German. After hanging around for a bit, we all headed out to the dance club. It was so fun here. I got to dance with Annika and her friends and just have a good time. We also got to try out our JUMP STYLE! That was super.
The night was late, so we headed back home then. Sunday morning, Annika and I met up with her friends again for brunch. We went to this café place with a real brunch buffet. It was so good. But, as I don’t speak very good German, one lady was a little over helpful in telling me what things were in English. She obviously didn’t know how much I knew or didn’t know, but she was definitely VERY helpful. It was just a little funny. Oh well. The way Germans eat though is they get a plate and eat it and then sit around and talk. Then they get another plate and eat, then sit and talk. They get food, eat, sit, talk and repeat for about 2 to 3 hours. It was just so crazy. Definitely not how we do buffets in the States.
After the buffet, Annika took me to the windmill in her town that used to be used to make bread. It was really neat to see how it would have worked at one time and to go to the top and see her town. We then went and got tickets to go to the Cruise Ship Manufacturing Facility.
It was so neat; I got to go to the exact place where those huge fancy cruise liner ships are made. I had no idea they were made in this little town in Northern Germany! The tour was in German, but I was able to understand most of it, and Annika was a great translator when I needed her to be. I hope to go back again to the tour when my German is even better, I will probably learn even more! The main thing I picked up was the fact that American cruise ships always have to be the biggest and the brightest and the most elaborate. The tour guide made many jokes about Americans. It is pretty neat though how this company used to make those old big wooden ships until a son came home one day and told his father they needed to use steel. The rest is history. As I understood it, the company has been in the same family since it was born.
After the tour, Annika and I went back to her place and had some supper. We then went to the movie rental place and got “Save the Last Dance 2.” We went back home and watched that in English. It is a good movie!! We then were off to bed.
Monday morning, we went into town and did some more shopping. Things are so much cheaper up north than here in Salzburg. I didn’t buy too many things, but I did find a coat for only EURO 60. I couldn’t pass up that deal; it was a 2 layer jacket that was waterproof and a really pretty teal blue. Annika also had to find herself some devil horns for her Halloween costume.
Back to her home, we made some awesome pizza and I figured out how I was getting to Dronten, Netherlands and where I was meeting up with Craig. Annika’s mom took us to the train station and we got into Groningen around 4:00. I said good-bye to Annika and then was off to Dronten. I had to stop in Zwolle and take a bus to Dronten, but I finally made it there around 5:00 Monday evening.
I had a map of how to get to Craig’s, but it was a little tricky to figure out at first. After my first attempt failed, I found the right way and made it to Craig’s place on the CAH (Christelijke Agrarische Hogeschool) campus. He goes to an International Agriculture College. There are 130 or so international students and many more Dutch students all studying livestock management, food science, and rural development. Shortly after I met up with Craig, I met some of the other Americans from UW-Platteville who were also studying at this college.
I met Liz, Noah, Chris, Jodi, and also Jenni. They asked me how long I was going to be in Dronten and I told them I didn’t have any plans till the next Monday. They said I was welcome to stay with them in Dronten and then travel with them to Dortmund, Germany that weekend. I was totally thrilled and so happy!! Needless to say, I spent the last week there in the Netherlands with everyone.
I had a great time. Monday night I got to help all the Americans carve pumpkins for their party on Halloween night and then go to their campus pub 6- (six minus). I got to meet people from all over there; from Poland, France, Turkey, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Spain and other places I don’t remember. I also learned how they hand out beer in a very unique way. They have things long boards that are a meter long and they have holders for 13 beers. So, someone would go up and get a meter of beer for EURO 10 and everyone would drink up that meter before a new person went and got a new one. It was a really new way of distributing beer.
Craig was nice enough to go stay with other friends, and he lent me his bed for the entire week. It was super. He even made me a great egg, ham, and cheese sandwich for breakfast Tuesday morning. I just chilled around at the apartments Tuesday. I also then went into town with the guys to get some things to grill out. So, Tuesday night we made a BBQ out of a little charcoal grill and made brats and hamburgers. It was the best meat I have had since I got to Europe…just a good ole real hamburger on the grill!! After standing around the grill all night, we finally made it inside and watched the great movie, EuroTrip. I had never seen this movie and now I realize some of the great misconceptions people have about Europe and traveling.
Wednesday was a great day to sleep in. When I woke up, I went into town with the guys and they got some great Halloween costumes for the rest of the parties that week. We chilled all afternoon and then I went to Dutch lessons with Liz and Noah that evening. It is so neat how similar Dutch and German are. I don’t know any Dutch, but I was helping Liz out! Pronouncing words is just half of it, and that is so close between the two languages. But, I did learn some Dutch words like how to say Thank You and Please and I don’t know.
Everyone was eventually dressed and we were off to 6- again. Craig was a Pirate, Noah was an Indian, Chris was a Referee, Liz was Daisy Duke, and I wore shorts under a big shirt of Craig’s. I let everyone come up with their own ideas as to what I was. We all had a great time dancing the night away! I met some more of the people from the college and had a good time with Liz dancing all over the place! At the end of the night, I even met some Dutch guys. They were really fun and Liz and I had a super time dancing and chilling with them. After 6- closed, we headed out and hung out with the Dutch guys for awhile at Liz’s place. It is amazing to me just how many typicality’s there are for Dutch guys and Dutch people in general. They are all their own breed! That night I was locked out of Craig’s house, so I crashed on a mattress on Liz’s floor. The next morning I got up and went on my way to Amsterdam.
I was able to explore Amsterdam for a few hours by myself and see many different sites. It was a really crisp, breezy, fall day; but it was nice out. I had no idea, but Amsterdam is such a nice city. It is literally a city on the water; a Venice up north. There are canals everywhere and ‘love’ bridges and nice places just to stroll by at. I just walked around seeing the old buildings and boats and harbors. I also checked out a big street market where any tourist can find their heart’s desire of typical Holland and Netherlands apparel and souvenirs. I also was near where Rembrandt lived and then sat around in the famous and busy Damrak square.
Around 3:00 I was able to go on another free walking tour of the great city of Amsterdam. I had to meet Liz and Craig and Noah at the train station around 5, so I didn’t get to hear the full tour, but I still learned a lot. They tour began by going through the old town. Surprisingly, the old town consists of the Red Light District. This Red Light District has been a part of the city since the very beginning when sailors needed someone or something to pleasure them.
The Red Light District is full of women who are just running a business like any store keeper or business person. There are a lot of rules that go along with this business and it is highly regulated. There is the minimum age of 18 and Pimps are Illegal. However, there is no maximum age, and the oldest lady is 73. She is said to be very experienced! Besides that, the Red Light District really is not the place one should specifically go to see when they go to Amsterdam.
After meeting up with the others, we all just walked around and I bought some really good fresh fries and they bought some souvenirs. We were able to go see where Anne Frank lived and her family’s secret hideout, The Annex. It was almost closing time and we all didn’t want to pay for the tour, so we just got a pamphlet and saw the outside. It was still pretty amazing to see. We walked around some more then headed back to Dronten for a good night of sleep.
Friday came before I knew it! I was so tired; I slept in through most of the morning. After I got myself going, I went into town to do some shopping. There are a lot of cheap stores in Dronten, and I found some really good deals on things I needed that they didn’t have in Salzburg, or were super expensive. I also picked up some food for goulash that night.
Later in the afternoon, I was able to go to the discount store again for their once a month sale. The first Friday of every month, they have an hour where everything in a back building of this discount store for free. So, instead of paying for souvenirs; I got some children’s books in Dutch and some Dutch music. I also got a little wooden shoe! It was super that I didn’t have to pay for any of it!
After that excursion, Jodi, Liz and Noah took me out to the campus farm so I could see some animals! It was so nice. I got to see their milking parlor that is a double 8 herring bone that has been altered to have a different angle for the cows to stand at, so more can fit. It is such a tiny area for 8 cows. But, animals here are just not as big as those in the states. I also saw their sheep and calves and the milking cows. I believe they milk around 70 to 90 cows, I can’t remember very well right now! It was just way great to see the cows! I wished I could have seen them milking and even done some myself, but we had to get back to make some goulash and get ready for another Halloween party.
We made a huge pot of goulash and Jodi had made some delicious cheesecake. I was so stuffed. Everyone was read again, so we headed over to a campus building where the party was to be held. I didn’t dress up this night; I just wore some clothes I had yet to wear on the trip! It wasn’t a huge party, but it was still fun. We stood around and talked and watched the crazy Spaniards be crazy. They really go wild when they party…and they really can not hold their alcohol.
Three Dutch guys had shown up at some time and they were dressed as Dutch Farmers. It was great. They all 3 wore wooden shoes, blue coveralls (it’s a Dutch thing), and then a red handkerchief around their necks. They were superbly dressed! We all just got talking with them and it was so nice! I got to talk about cows and agriculture and those things rather than Mozart and German and History. They were all really nice guys and super to talk to. I think some of them are going to go to the states someday, too.
So, the night was over and we all went home to go to sleep in order to get up and ready to leave in the morning. We all were ready to go and got on our train and made our way to Dortmund, Germany. We were so lucky when we got there that a city festival was going on. We walked around for a really long time and saw amazing food and lots of little handiworks. There were pretzels, brats, potato pancakes, more brats, fresh fries, steaks, and wine and beer. There were tents of people with wooden bowls, potpourri, hand-made baskets, and pens everywhere with calves, goats, chickens, or donkeys. We all ate way too much because it was all so darn good and you just walked around smelling these amazing smells and no one could resist.
We didn’t have much else to do Saturday night, so we went shopping for other things to do. Earlier this week I had asked about prices to get my hair done with color. It was going to cost me an arm and a leg for half of what I wanted to get done. So, I needed my hair done because of my awful roots, and we had nothing else better to do, Liz, Noah, and I bought hair dyeing stuff. Back at our amazing hotel rooms, we went to work!! I did Noah’s full head with blond, Jodi did Liz’s hair in blond highlights, and if you look at the pictures, you will find I now have short, RED hair!
It is something totally new and exciting and I really like this adventure! Oh, and it will come out in 2 months of washings.
So, that was our excitement for the night. We were all dead tired, so we went to bed. Sunday morning, because we were in Germany, there was nothing to do. We walked around the town and then found the festival again. It was starting to open when we got there. So, we walked around again and I bought some really good bread spread and the most amazing Butter Streusel. I was hoping for some French fries, but they hadn’t opened when it was time to leave.
A little before 12, I said good-bye to Craig, Liz, Noah, Jodi, and Chris. They were back to the Netherlands to begin classes again in Dronten then next morning. And I found a train and its connections to Salzburg only a half hour after they left. It was a long ride, but I finally made it home to Salzburg around 9:30 Sunday night the 4th of November.
I had an amazing trip through Northern Europe. I hope to visit Eva again and see the rest of Berlin. I can’t wait to go to Egypt with Annika and then party at the Prom in Dronten in January. I learned so much and I feel like a true traveling champion! I am back at classes here in Salzburg and it is going to be super hard to stay focused for the last 5 weeks of class. I have 3 more days left on my rail pass that I have to use this weekend, so I have another adventure lurking behind the corner! Also, with my college, I will be heading to Vienna in less than 2 weeks, too. I can’t believe I have been over her for over 2 months and time is flying faster and faster as the semester goes on! It is crazy to think, but before I know it, I am going to be flying back home to the States. Wow, I don’t want to think that far ahead…time shouldn’t fly THAT FAST!!
Well, I hope everyone is good and ya’ll enjoy my descriptions of my adventures through Germany, Denmark, Sweden, and Holland. I had an unforgettable time and I can’t wait to go traveling again sometime!! I have so many places I need to see yet!
I hope all of you are safe and happy and enjoying whatever you may be doing!
Tschuss!
Dana
Annika and I outside of the City Hall in Groningen!
Wooden shoes everywhere!! Truly a trademark of Holland!
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Me on the steps of the city hall in Groningen!.jpg)
Manning an old wooden ship in Papenburg. I would make the cutest captain...don't you think?
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At the place where they make these amazing cruise ships. It was so interesting and our tour guide was so funny!.jpg)
More wooden shoes. Don't they look good on me? I think so!
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House of Anne Frank and where her family's hideout, The Secret Annex, was! Liz and I posing!
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More wooden shoes, it is just amazing how they are everywhere!!.jpg)
The Double-8 herring-bone like parlor at the campus farm of CAH.
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Me, wearing boots finally, and chilling with the calves!! I totally didn't realize how much I missed cows and animals!! They also had sheep at the farm and pigs and chickens which I didn't see..jpg)
A meter of beer. A unique way of selling beer at Bar 6- in Dronten.
All dressed up for Halloween! We had a sheep, witch, Daisy Duke, and Pirate-Argh!! 
In Dortmund, Germany. Just posing in this little car with Craig!.jpg)
Partying with the Dutch guys, Mishel, Tom, and Douwe, and Jodi and Liz! We had so much fun!
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Noah with blonde hair, me with RED hair, and Liz with blond highlights...we had a whole beauty parlor in our Hotel in Dortmund!
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