TravelStream™ news feed for member mkal10berg on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/mkal10berg en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Wed, 30 Jul 2008 20:24:26 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mkal10berg/6/1216973520/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mkal10berg/6/1216973520/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mkal10berg/6/1216973520/tpod.html Wed, 30 Jul 2008 20:24:26 -0400 A very short stay in Paris...Almost like a layover

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Paris, Île-de-France, France

Friday, July 25, 2008. I don't know why I didn't start dating these entries earlier but I guess better late than never. Munich is now a nearly 10 hour train ride behind me as I sit here in a café in Paris waiting until eight this evening for when my next train gets into the station. I know that I had said I would be taking a plane to Nice, France but there was a slight change of plans and now here I am waiting in Paris. Don't get too excited as I am in some suburb outside of any main area. My luggage is hindering any possibility of me going very far because the particular train station that I am at decided to close their luggage claim area. This means that I will have to carry everything around if I decide to go anywhere...not something I am very excited about doing. I'm just glad to be off of the train from last night. With a full car things got quite cramped and three of the folks who hopped on the train at a later station, for some reason decided to sprawl out over everything leaving no leg room and very little space to position oneself for even a poor nights sleep! The guy who sat directly across from me put his feet up on the chair of my neighbor to my right and I, as well as make himself comfortable later on in the night and lay on the floor beneath us. I wasn't a happy traveler but surprisingly it went by fairly quick.

Now, here I sit like I said waiting for my train in Paris to take me away to Barcelona, Spain for a three night stay at an all-inclusive five star hotel complete with a spa, twenty four hour room service and a ocean view so amazing it puts most other European sites to shame...Not really though. My hostel will only give me linen for my bed and by no means a continental breakfast. All the shortcomings are shadowed by the fact that a warm ocean breeze will be sweeping the streets. Barcelona, here I come!

So forget everything that I had just said about me not doing much of anything in Paris because my boots-well shoes- are made for walking and that is just what they did. After finishing my cafe I decided to wander about the local neighborhood just to see what trouble I could get into. As I was walking around I stumbled upon a bus station/tram map that showed my relative position according to some rather well known historical monuments in Paris-namingly the Notre Dame Cathedral. The more that I looked at the map, I thought to myself, "Hey, it doesn't look so far away. Maybe I could at least go see the Cathedral while I'm here in Paris and then make my way back to the station." So I gathered my things and began a hike to the Notre Dame Cathedral. Upon my arrival I made my way across a bridge to snap a decent photo and what would be in the background but what other than the Eiffel Tower. I snapped a couple more photos of the cathedral and decided that since I was only in Paris for less than twelve hours I was going to make the most of it! I tightened up my pack straps, started walking and eventually was able to see the L'ouvre, Musee D'orsay, L'arc De Triomphe (from a distance), various other buildings and last but not least the Eiffel Tower. Let me tell you that it looks much larger when you are standing underneath it rather than when you look at it in a picture. Luckily I was able to see many wonderful things while I was in Paris even though I was only there for a short while. My legs, shoulders and waist were hurting for a while afterwards but it was well worth it. I was glad that I had decided to take the ten cent tour.

The train was soon leaving so I quick hopped on a bus and traveled back to the station. Barcelona was my next stop and even though I said before that it would be for three days I made it only two.

]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mkal10berg/5/1216822560/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mkal10berg/5/1216822560/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mkal10berg/5/1216822560/tpod.html Thu, 24 Jul 2008 13:54:40 -0400 Kaltenberger Festival! I have to come back to Germany for that!

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Munich, Bavaria, Germany

As I round out my stay in Munich here tonight I still have yet to see so much more. Seems like so much of my time today was just spent waiting for my room to be available and then planning the next several days. I can at least tell you what I have done so far. I got into town around four last night after a slight confusion with my exact stop so it ended up taking me a little more time than necessary and a few extra euros. What the hell, I made it. Last night I put on my walking shoes just in time for it to start down pouring so after my shoes and pants were soaked and I had snapped maybe two photos and decided to find a bar and have a couple of beers. Schwarienger or something of the sort is the name of the beer and what better else to have with it then a nice piece of apple pie (I'm sure some of you were thinking a brat but thats on my list for tonight). It was delicious and I dont just mean the pie. I left the bar and started to make my way back when I got distracted by droves of people heading down a main street which I found out eventually led to a square area. From the center of it I faintly heard the sound of an orchestra playing and made my way over to a couple of street performers playing some amazing songs. My A.D.D. kicked in and I spent the next couple of hours just listening to people performing on the streets. After that I decided to make my way back to the hostel since I was exhausted from all the travels and everything that had been happening. I was able to rest up and get ready for another day.

This morning (7/23/08) I rose bright and early around 7:30, got ready, had some breakfast, then bummed around for a little bit while my room situation was being handled-I couldn't check in until two so I had to wander. I saw a couple of fountains and some other buildings but other than that my afternoon was spent just planning the next several days. I decided that making my way to a local beer garden would be a great thing to do after straining myself during the day trying to plan things. Off to the Hirsch Beer Garden I went but little did I know the walk turned out to be far longer than I had expected. According to the map it was just a hop, skip and a jump but it was more like a leap, bound and train ride away. I nearly gave up after I had reached a point in my journey that led me onto a street with no beer garden in sight. Being the problem solver that I am I sought out the help of some local people in what else but a bar-it led to pizza and a couple of beers also. They explained the beer garden as being somewhat far away so at that point I had given up and was going to get headed back. Complete with the deer in the headlights look, I went to the tram station and asked for some help from a nice young lady who told me that the beer garden was in fact just over the bridge and through the woods. It sounds like a fairytale and it was! A quick fifteen more minutes walking and I was sipping down a cold german brew and watching the sun go down. It was well needed! Since it was getting late and I didn't want to be to far from my hostel I had only one beer and made my way back for a fun filled and fancy free night back downtown.

I stopped at my hostel with the intentions of going out but I again became very distracted by the loud music of the hostel bar so I first grabbed a beer there. This of course led to me talking to some folks, having several more beers and then eventually doing karaoke. Yes, I did have more than a few drinks because I'm sure as most of you know I don't do karaoke unless I'm half in the bag plus the person who was organizing the karaoke gave a free shot to every person that sang a song! I couldn't pass it up and it was a perfect chance to take more than just one shot as there were two trays full of them and so few participants joining in. I look at it as I was doing them a favor. So that basically sums up my last evening Munich. I was able to leave with many wonderful memories and can't wait to visit another great Germany city next time I come here.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mkal10berg/4/1216650360/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mkal10berg/4/1216650360/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mkal10berg/4/1216650360/tpod.html Wed, 23 Jul 2008 10:13:11 -0400 From Poland to the Czech Republic

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Prague, Bohemia, Czech Republic

After a night in Krakow just to get things somewhat organized and a last minute chance at any siteseeing, I made my way west to the great city of Prague. Departing at 7a.m. and arriving here seven hours later, I was eager to put on my walking shoes and get the touring started. I grabbed a map and was on my way. Seeing the city from a top vantage point kind of puts things into perspective so I made my way up a small walkway to reach a point that landed me next to a gigantic metronome like thing and looking over the entire city of Prague. Gorgeous of course but after the hike up many flights of stairs what better to do than quench my thirst with a nice cold beer. All around the metronome thing was a large park littered with people playing games, families having picnics and various people walking their dogs (nobody uses a dog leash here because for some reason all dogs seem to get along rather well and obey their owners). At first I thought it was a mirage but I soon realized cold beer was just a few steps away. The beer was gone in no time as I didn't have much time to spare with so much more to see.

While in the park I found myself wandering a path that overlooked the city for quite some time and it eventually led me to the Royal Gardens and amazing Prague Castle. The gardens were of course trimmed to perfection spotted with various blooming flowers, towering trees and relaxing water fountains. Right next to the gardens towered an even larger structure, the Prague Castle. With so much attetion to detail its hard to believe that something so intricate could have been done with just a chisel and bare hands. Thats it for now. I'll give you more details once I get back.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mkal10berg/3/1216475520/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mkal10berg/3/1216475520/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mkal10berg/3/1216475520/tpod.html Sun, 20 Jul 2008 17:48:24 -0400 The end of the "Danuta Guest House" and the beginning of a my way westward.

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Bialy Dunajec, Poland

The last week of camp was nothing but fun and games. Weather was our biggest enemy due to the fact that several hiking trips had been planned and alternative trips had to be made up on the spot. Don't worry, the kids stayed very entertained the whole time with a trip to a water park in Slovakia on Tuesday and visits to Zakopane and museums for the rest of the week. The water park was nice at least for my aching body as I sat and boiled in the heated spring pool. Some of our nights however were a little bit more risky as the week progressed.

Monday evening the Amercian volunteers were entertained by the students performing a Polish night which included some history, dancing and roasting what else but Polish sausage over a warm campfire. Trouble insued soon after once the kids were done with their act and the Polish adults took center stage. Two highlander cooks came to our camp to cook an entire lamb over the camp fire while we were entertained by the head director of another camp right outside of Siedlce. I'm not sure if it was the head director guy or who it may have been but somebody brought along some home brew of vodka so of course everybody participated. The initial couple of shots weren't so bad considering they were believed to be only about 50% alcohol. However, after that two liter bottle of vodka was demolished the big guns came out and what I like to refer as "the bottle of death", became our next mission. Don't worry, I paced myself and didn't have hardly any. I can't say the same for some of my other group members. The highlanders who had made the stuff took swig after swig as if it were water but most of the others agreed that rubbing alcohol may have been a better alternative. Songs and laughter ensued as the Polish adults sang song after song of traditional Polish music and entertained us all. Overall the evening was a great success for all so two days later American night took over the stage.

The volunteers had decided upon three main 'events' followed by a traditional campfire snack. Several members teamed up with the kids in a bowling game while Matt (not yours truely) taught the kids some line dances that one would typically hear at nearly every American wedding. Jim, Marissa, and now yours truely, headed up Baseball in the Danuta house driveway seeing as how the soccer field was a mud whole. Its hard to explain baseball to somebody who hasn't played it before but imagine trying to do it with people who barely speak your language. They all seemed to love it though and were eager to play another game in the days to come however time ran out and that never happened. Surprisingly nobody lost any limbs or broke any bones so we put a 'gold star' on American night. Thursday and Friday were typical camp days and then soon enough everything came to an end early Saturday morning.

Long before the roosters in the neighborhood even made a noise, the kids and staff woke up early Saturday morning for breakfast and their last goodbyes. Some tears were shed but we all knew that they were tears of happiness because it was such a great experience had by all. The kids filled up the bus and drove away, some never to return to camp again while others said they couldn't wait to come next summer. I wish we had more time with them but I know that even within the short two week period that the Global Volunteers were there, a huge impact was made to improve the students language and change many peoples outlooks on life. It was such a great learning experience for myself and I will miss the kids greatly. And so I begin the last leg of my trip with only eleven days to make it from Zakopane, Poland to Lisbon, Portugal with many wonderful stops along the way. The first city outside of Krakow will be Prague/already is!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mkal10berg/2/1215533340/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mkal10berg/2/1215533340/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mkal10berg/2/1215533340/tpod.html Thu, 10 Jul 2008 09:53:08 -0400 Camp Danuta and Zakopane

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Zakopane, Southern Poland, Poland

After the small mix up of joining times I eventually made my way to the Danuta Guest House where I would be residing for the next two weeks. Nestled just outside of downtown Zakopane, the Danuta Guest House houses nearly sixty students, twelve Global volunteer members and various staff people who keep us very well fed and entertained. Every weekday the Global volunteer members wake up bright and early for an 8:00 breakfast in order to be well nourished for the four hours of working with the eager campers and then an eventful afternoon including extensive hiking trips, trips to town, and many other sight seeing activities. Thus far I have participated in two hiking trips one of which concluded with the most amazing view of Zakopane and the Tatra mountains that surround it. I felt like I could almost touch the clouds even though I knew they were very far away. After our sometimes physically demanding afternoons one would think that both kids and staff would lay down for a pleasant evening of rest but this is far from the truth.

Dinner commences at seven each evening with authentic Polish foods all of which are very delicious. The dinner gives us some energy to prepare for the volleyball, soccer and various other games that the kids want to play but it also serves a dual purpose as the dinner coats the stomachs of the adults ready for a night out at what we have flagged as our nightly bar hangout. When I say nightly, we haven't skipped a day yet. What do you expect when you get two people from Wisconsin hanging out together in a foreign country? We still are learning very much on our nights out as an authentic Polish band plays highlander music to an audience of all ages. I haven't had the courage to go up and dance because there is a certain dance that is performed but I'm sure that one of these nights I will have one too many Zwiec (its like our Miller back in the states) and suddenly have far too much liquid courage and take a spot out on the dance floor with the locals.

There are many more details that I could give to everyone but overall I want to get across that I am having an amazing time...the time of my life. Working with these wonderful kids regardless if they're trouble makers, seeing so much history and best of all learning about myself has made this trip one I'll never forget. So farewell for now as I go out and enjoy downtown Zakopane with some of my fellow volunteer. I wish you all nothing but the best and hope that everything is going well.

Do Widzenia (Goodbye) and love,
Matthew
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mkal10berg/1/1215105660/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mkal10berg/1/1215105660/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mkal10berg/1/1215105660/tpod.html Thu, 03 Jul 2008 13:55:02 -0400 Still in one piece!

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Krakow, Southern Poland, Poland

I left you with a note about me being at the Krakow airport and grabbing my backpack therefor I will branch from there. The Krakow airport, being much smaller in comparison to Paris, was a piece of cake to navigate around but I still had one small problem-I didn't have a place to sleep for the night. Don't worry family, I know you're flipping out. A lady at the information desk in the airport was very helpful and gave me several brochures, maps and various other train and bus routes so that I could find a hostel for the evening.

Route 292 took a bus load of individuals and myslef to downtown Krakow. This is where I got worried again becuase I didn't understand the route that we were taking to get to our destination- it didn't seem anything like the map I was given. However, after noticing the street sign for which I needed to get off at I decided that the next stop would be my departure point. Traversing the busy streets of downtown wasn't all that bad considering both pedestrian and vehicle alike seemed to occupy some of the sidewalk. Taking in all that was going on around me I kind of got lost again and missed the street that I was supposed to turn on. I soon realized that the street I was on basically ended and brillantly figured out that I missed my turn.

Several minutes later I arrived at the hostel and was very surprised at the quality of the place. I had checked out pictures of it online and they looked decent but when I got here it was more than expected. The hostel surrounds a nice little patio area (see figure 1 and by figure one I mean the picture that should be somewhere near to this message) and is situated nearly in the heart of the city. Dizzy Daisy is its name and quaintness is its game. Tonight and tomorrow I will room with about six people and share three showers and two shitters among a total of probably 15-24 people. Its actually really nice and considerably cheaper. Many interesting people matched with a great atmosphere makes it all have quite the charm. Chances are that I won't do the hotel thing ever again. Thats enough for now, I think I'm going to go get a beer and some dinner in the market square . Many more pictures to come starting tomorrow and hopefully a little more cohesiveness in my writing. Just wanted to say hi!. Lator gators!
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