katie_argo

Referring to the fact that I've never had a boyfriend... my host sister says "You're like an apple." #quotes #what #katiespiceurope

— Katie Argo (@katie_argo) February 22, 2016

from Twitter https://twitter.com/katie_argo

February 22, 2016 at 11:19AM
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Excursion #4 - Utrecht

The fourth excursion for SPICE took us to the city of Utrecht, an hour train ride from Zwolle. One would think that I would get tired of looking at the history around me, and that I would get tired of hearing stories about places that I have never heard about, or that I would get bored with the same scenery. Well, the day that that happens will be the day that I stop learning. I hope never to stop learning. I hope that I will always find at least one thing to brighten my day on the excursions and on my trips.

A guy walks into a bar. He looks around a little confused... walk out double checks that the sign says bar and walks back in. He walks up to the bartender and asks, "do you serve drinks here?" The bartender says, "We serve most anything from Beer on down!" The man says, "Oh good, I almost thought this was a church." The bartender replies, "Good thing you didn't walk in a few decades back!"

True story... Okay, well not really. However, the first stop on our Utrecht excursion was to a bar that used to be an old Catholic hiding church.

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A lady, so in tune with the will of the Father that she places her self in a position of humility towards her God for continuous prayer.

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The Dom Kerk was divided in half. Literally, divided in half due to a large storm that caused part of the building to collapse. The bell tower remains separate from the church. When you enter the gardens of the church you might be a little confused and want to start waving a wand around. I felt transported to the world of Hogwarts for a few minutes.

Three hundred and sixty five steps. Thats right. 365. Up and Up and Up. The Dom tower is the bell tower to the Dom Kerk. This tower is the tallest one in the Netherlands. The view from the top... Well, I'll just say that I'm glad there was a fence!

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A tradition for our excursions is to sit, warm up, and drink something (koffie, thee, etc). This café, was built on top of and in the old Roman sector of the city. The basement still holds two Roman pillars. Talk about history!

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The Rietveld Schröder House: Imagine a house that could change. Walls can move, windows can become walls, beds are couches, the ceiling opens up to let in light. And then change it all back. Rietveld was a man ahead of his time. A modern building in the midst of traditional Dutch construction, yet it holds true to the Dutch belief that space is everything.

The City of Utrecht from the Dom Tower

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Lord Jesus Christ Son of God, have mercy on us sinners. 

#katiespiceurope
#Utrecht

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!

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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