katie_argo

Is it a church? Is it a bar? Well actually its a bar in an old Catholic church. #utrecht #katiespiceurope

— Katie Argo (@katie_argo) February 18, 2016

from Twitter https://twitter.com/katie_argo

February 18, 2016 at 03:26AM
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42 thoughts on 42 hours Berlin, Germany

42 hours that is all it took for me to fall in love Germany (well, Berlin because thats all we saw, but you get my point). So, what better way to express my adventures in Berlin than 42 thoughts on my 42 hours. Some points are short, some are long. Some are pros, some are cons. Some you'll read, and most you'll gloss over. But, all explain my 42 hours traversing Berlin - 1 girl and 2 guys!

1. Public Transportation day pass cost €7. Use on tram, subway, and buses. 
2. Public Transportation exact change is preferred otherwise you hold up the entire bus.
3. Reichstag Building. A perfect spot to take pictures of other people taking pictures.
4. There is always a lot of people around the Brandenburg Gate, but if you can place yourself just right you can see the Victory Column through the middle of the gate. #PicturePerfect
5. The Victory Column marked a victory of war and also suffered the effects of a different war. 
6. Climb the 294 stairs to the top of the Victory Column for €3.
7. Five main streets form rays of a sun around the roundabout surrounding the Victory column
8. I would feel safe as a single girl walking around, but this trip I was with 2 guys (my body guards as my host family labeled them). 
9. Food! Let's just say Germans have good taste! Sauerkraut, Goulash, Spätzle. 
10. Food part two: Schnitzel! A must-have if you visit Germany. 
11. Berlin Central Station is huge! Know which platform your train leaves from beforehand. 
12. Soviet Memorial, the memorial is in Russian, but there is a portion behind it that has Russian, German, and English. 
13. Street Artists: People juggle in the middle of the road on a red light! What!?
14. Street artists part two: There was a bear (well a man in a bear suit), and a man playing a music box.
15. Credit cards are accepted at most every place except small cafes and restaurants. 
16. Pedestrian buttons: Don't be fooled if the button doesn't depress because in Berlin the "buttons" are sensors.
17. Postcard stamps €0,90
18. T-Mobile Thank You for International Coverage!
19. So many cars! 
20. Be prepared to be jostled in the buses. 
21. One day it's Sunny the next it's snowing! (Reminds me of home)
22. Directions - figure out which direction you are facing and match that up with the map before you start walking. I should have learned this from NYC, yet I still start walking and then realize two blocks later I am going the wrong direction. 
23. You can't see everything. No matter how much you plan, and how much you walk, and how late you stay up. You cannot see everything. Even if you live in an area for 42 years you will never see everything. 
24. I don't look German so most people spoke English to me. 
25. Trash cans are orange. Do not mistake them for post boxes (Post boxes in the Netherlands are orange).
26. Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe features 2,711 stelae reinforcing the enormity of this horrific event in history. 
27. It's perfectly okay to play tourist for a day! Just make sure that you find at least one "off the beaten path" place on your trip. 
28. Topography of Terror Museum is Free!
29. German History Museum. Students €4 with ID. 
30. Checkpoint Charlie: 1 of 3 checkpoints along the Berlin Wall. 
31. Berlin Wall. There are pieces all over the city, with graffiti on them. Most famous spots are at Checkpoint Charlie and Topography of Terror Museum. 
32. Beer! My first dark beer since I've been abroad. A true German Beer, now that is the way to go!
33. Coffee shops. Don't worry, in Germany, coffee is not synonymous for pot. 
34. Travel buddies. They make life interesting. You learn a lot about them, especially if you share a room for two nights and spend 54 consecutive hours with them. You learn that one blow dries his hair and the other gets hangry pretty fast. 
35. Hostels are nice if you're on a budget, but if you have some wiggle room go for an apartment or an Air BnB, you won't be disappointed. 
36. When in Europe travel by train. It might take a longer time, but you get fantastic views of different cities, and of the landscape. 
37. Train travel part two: Don't worry about reservations on Bahn (German trains)
38. Walking. Most everything can be reached by walking so be prepared to walk a lot.
39. Good walking shoes. Even if you are planning on only using public transportation, the small distances you'll be walking you will most likely encounter uneven ground. (i.e. brick walk ways). Have a good pair of sturdy shoes because your feet will thank you.
40. I always pack too much!
41. Mail boxes - YELLOW! Need I say more?

Leaving Berlin Hbf

Lord, Thank you for your protection and guidance. May I follow your ways the rest of my days.

#katiespiceurope

#AdventureTime

Instagram

"Give me a sec... I just need to soak this in... Berlin!" What a world wind - Berlin in 42 hours! #berlin #germany #katiespiceurope via Instagram http://ift.tt/20uLFrP

katie_argo

294 stairs later I claim victory! Aka I climbed the victory tower. #Berlin #TheTeam #katiespiceurope

— Katie Argo (@katie_argo) February 13, 2016

from Twitter https://twitter.com/katie_argo

February 13, 2016 at 03:35AM
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Exursion #3 - Groningen

Another day ... another Dutch city.
A tour of Groningen in verse.

Take a picture here.
Walk a little more.
Take another picture there.

Almost trip on brick walkways.
Almost get run over by bikers.
Almost get mistaken for being Dutch.

History.
History.
History.

At the strike of noon
Hear church bells at every corner
Wonder how old that church must be?

Ding
dong
Ding

History.
History.
History.

Climb up
Circle around

Who knew I was an artist?

Almost fall down

Phew, nearly missed that 1000 ft drop
Never thought I'd say that in a flat country
Or see an underwater museum

History.
History.
History.

Brrr.. it's cold
Drinken koffie en thee
Lekker!

Wow!
Leuk!
Wat is dat?

History.
History.
History.

Art in the form of clothes
Art in the form of paintings
Art in the form of furniture

Modernism
Postmodernism
Today!

-------

While in Groningen, we saw and learned many things. Groningen like many Dutch towns/cities was birthed out of history. Mainly a farming community, Groningen developed into a land that was home to the Jewish culture. The pain of WWII can still be seen as memorial stones mark homes of Jewish families. The architecture of the Netherlands is very similar from city to city, using all the space they had access to (and then creating more by reclaiming the sea). We were able to tour inside a 13th century church on this excursion, and I mean inside the church. We climbed up one of the hallowed out pillars to experience the architecture first hand. Situated as an Island, the Groningen city center can only be reached by bridges crossing over the circular canal. The Groninger museum, is built in the canal itself. It is a modern museum that museum goers can experience art not only through the pictures on the wall but also in the architecture of the building.  Whats more is that museum goers can even create a little art themselves in a hands hand portion of the museum. As the country I come from continues to grow into a modern nation, I have come to appreciate the pieces of history that the Netherlands continues to preserve and incorporate in both old and new ways.

Father God, you are the author of salvation. The author of history itself.

#katiespiceurope
#history

katie_argo

#studyabroad American cookies made in Netherlands... Just not the same. Still tasty though! #lekker #katiespiceurope http://pic.twitter.com/d0S3mtveoG

— Katie Argo (@katie_argo) February 10, 2016

from Twitter https://twitter.com/katie_argo

February 10, 2016 at 05:21AM
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Excusion #2 - Amsterdam

5 Germans 1 American impaled by Crazy Dutch Drivers

Thus reads the headlines of yesterday's adventure... or maybe the headlines read:

Insta-overload: 23 photos same canal

The second may more accurately describe our second excursion with SPICE. While we were all a little trigger happy with our cameras, we also learned a lot about the city of Amsterdam. 

Need more exercise? Join SPICE! Fast-walking Amsterdam Feb 2, 2016!

Right out of the gate, we start walking although maybe not the speed of professional speed walkers, but enough to make me want to keep near the front so I don't get left behind. Because let me tell you that those Amsterdam divers are crazier than NYC! Watch out for the trams too! Oh, and the bikers! And don't forget the pigeons. 

Our excursion included a canal boat tour, a city walk guided by our professor, self-guided tour of the Rijksmuseum, and a visit to the Anne Frank house. 

1 girl inspires millions

The story of Anne Frank is familiar to many; if not then google it, or better yet read her book. I've visited the Holocaust museum in Washington D.C. and I've read and learned about Anne Frank since I was in Elementary School. Therefore, this was a perfect learning experience to put a story with the actual place it occurred. The museum was empty and the atmosphere dark and solemn. One of my classmates said it the best: Even though Anne and her family were technically "free" (not in a concentration camp), they were bound by rules an routine and were in captivity and a prison of sorts. Because the family needed to stay silent all day long, and couldn't go outside or even look outside, their secret annex was their prison. 

Sex, Drugs, Water

When asked what three words would describe Amsterdam a friend said sex, drugs, water. As you walk you don't realize that you have entered the Red Light District. You see something move in the window and you look over to see... Well, I'll just leave it at that. On nearly every street corner there are coffeeshops (aka pot shops). With nearly 100 km of canals in Amsterdam and 1500 bridges, I think it is safe to say that there is a lot of water. 

23 ... 6 ... 5 ... 4 ... 1

Our group! 5 Germans 1 American

We started our excursion with all 23 members of SPICE. Six of us stayed on for more adventure (The Paper Kites concert). We found good food and great sites amongst our budding friendship. I feel so blessed to have gotten to know the five German girls of the SPICE group. Their friendship is a true blessing. As the morning went on, our group of 6 turned to 5 as Rachel went home. And then later we moved to 4 as Carina also left. Our little group of 4 found gorgeous sites in the Centrum and the Jordan. I think I found a perfect Instagram post on this trip, and it was even more special because it was shared with good friends. And then there was 1. Our first adventure complete. On my bike ride back to my host home, I kept thinking was "Boy, I'm glad my bike didn't get stolen!"

Lord Jesus Christ, Thank you for your continual protection and guidance. Thank you for friends and this beautiful country. Your glory shines through even in the darkest of spots.