No Ireland for me, but hello bonn, and bad honnef

So I just checked the status of my Ireland flight and it is cancelled for tomorrow. So Im not going to Ireland. But I just think that things happen for a reason, and the dormant volcano in Iceland is said to go off who knows when. I would not want to be stuck in Ireland, and have more ash coming this way and be unsafe. So today Kim, Chenin and I went to see the movie Remember Me, it was good. We also wanted to go bowling, and found a different bowling alley than we were expecting to go to. Today I got my highest score! I got 184!!!!!!!!!! I am so proud. We are planning fun things to do this week so that we are not stuck in Bad Honnef.

April 17th

So last night Kim and I were busy, we had to cancel all the hostels we had booked for the next week. We also decided that we were going to not just sit around in Bad Honnef and be sad we couldn't go to Ireland. So today we went to PhantasiaLand. It is an amusement park, which kind of reminded me of Disneyland. It was fun, some of the rides were scary but really fun! There were surprisingly a lot of similarities of Disneyland, like parts of the rides they had. It was a good way to spend the day. It was beautiful, and i feel like one of the first day's we could actually keep a sweatshirt off haha.

April 16th

Today Kim and I are packing for Ireland, but since the volcano erupted in Iceland, we still don't know the status of our flight. So we have been planning for about a week to have a movie night with P.S. I love you. To get ready for our trip and to see beautiful Ireland. While watching it, it started to skip and then it wouldn't play : ( what a sign, so we couldn't finish the movie. We then checked the status of our flight, and it was cancelled. We were so bummed, we rebooked our flight for the next tuesday. But we still don't know the conditions of what's going on with the flights.

April 15th

So the Iceland Volcano erupted today. Not sure what's going to happen or how that will affect Kim and mines Ireland trip. We will see.

Amsterdam! Day 3

April 11- Today is our last day in Amsterdam. I was so happy to stay at a Marriott, the beds were so comfortable and we probably won't be experiencing that luxury of traveling throughout our trips, because of budget. We decided to eat at a pancake place, which I guess is popular to eat there, but I was kind of disappointed, not what I was expecting or wanted. Today we went to Anne Frank's house, which today is also Holocaust remembrance day. What an experience to be in Amsterdam for this day. After seeing Anne Frank's house we went to the Heineken Brewery. It was an awesome experience, paying 15 euros was worth it! We got a bracelet for 2 free drinks, and during the tour we got to taste another one! After that we found the I AMSTERDAM sign and took pictures with it~ It was great! Then we bought souvenirs, I gave Mark glow in the stars to put on his ceiling. So I gave him one from Germany to add to his collection, and then I found some in Amsterdam. I am going to give him one from Amsterdam to add to his collection. So when have the stars up, we are looking at the same ones ( i have one from each above my bed) some 5000 miles away from each other. Also I bought a coffee mug, because every place I go, I collect one from each place. Of course I got a ton of postcards! And for some reason Chenin just had to have chocolate before leaving. So she bought at a stand, a Milka bar for 3 EUROS!!!!! CRAZY! Haha. Then we left for Bad Honnef, Germany. Amsterdam was a great trip and I would love to go back sometime. I love the culture, and how there are bikes everywhere! They even have their own biking lanes.

Amsterdam! Day 2

April 10th- So today we woke up really early to get to our biking tour. For breakfast we went to Burger King. I know, great choice, but there really was nothing open at the time. Then at 11am we went to go on our Countryside bike tour. It was with this company called Mike's Bike Tours. It was so much fun and recommend it to everyone! We chose the countryside tour over the city tour. With the countryside tour you went through the city and you get to go see a windmill, go to a place where they still make cheese and make wooden shoes and also see the green country. It was a 4 hour tour, the cheeses were so wonderful, I bought some to take home! Kim almost bought some cow clogs. Saturday was so beautiful, we were all so lucky, because the rest of the weekend was rainy, windy, cold. Later for lunch we went to pizza for 5 euros, I think that we find such great deals! Then we went to the Red light district. It was interesting, there are red lights on the outside of certain windows. Which in the windows are women, wearing provocative clothing, bathing suits, etc... Prostitution is legal in Holland, which is what they are doing. You are not allowed to take pictures of the women, it is considered rude and they will get mad at you through the window. We also we to a coffeeshop. There they have legal marijuana where you can buy it. Yes I was in Amsterdam, so I am going to legally do it. It was an interesting experience.

Amsterdam! Day 1

April 9th- We are leaving for Amsterdam. Taking the train, its only 2 hrs! This is the first official trip somewhere that I haven't been yet (Paris I have been already). Germany doesn't count (well it does) but I'm going to be here for 6 months. While on the train we were occupying our time with card games, so much fun! Looking out the window it was so green and beautiful, I was so anxious to get off the train and experience Amsterdam. When getting off the train we first needed to get to our hotel. We are staying at the Marriott, because mostly all hostels were booked and the one's that weren't were going to be around the same price as splitting a Marriott room for 2 nights between 4 people. So we didn't know how to get to the Marriott. So we decided to take a taxi since Kim said it was only a 1.2 miles away. We all got in, while leaving I looked to see what the base price was and it was 12.50 euros!!!!!!!!! Ridiculous. Wow, so note to self and everyone traveling to Amsterdam, don't take a taxi, take the public transportation, its only 2.60 euros. So our first night we walked around the city center to see what was around. We were very centrally located which was great. We all went to the Holland Casino, which i only cashed in 2 euros to play with. I chose penny machines, which i think is a great strategy, to play longer and you lose less money. I found this one slot machine that was so fun and I kept winning. I ended up winning 8 euros, which I took away gaining 6 euros! Then Kim and I went to a bar, called Pirates Bar. It was so much fun, I bought a Heineken beer for 2.70 euros, with my winning money. While sitting at the bar, the bartenders kept giving us free drinks! It was great, along with great music and great company. So walking out of the bar I only spent 2.70 euros. Kim and I were trying to give the bartenders tips because they gave us these free drinks, but they didn't accept it. They were like, " Welcome to Amsterdam!"

Paris Day 3

April 3rd- Today is Easter Sunday! Yah, lent is over and I have kept to my "lent improvement", to floss, haha. And I did it! Also in Paris the first Sunday of the month most every museum is free! So what a great time to be in Paris, see everything and save money. Today Kim and I went out by ourselves seeing a lot of the free sights and trying to go places that we didn't do the last time we came. Some of the things were repeated like the Pamadu (modern art museum), it was good and while waiting in line, it was hailing so hard! We went to the Pantheon, which only ended up being 5 euros. We then went to the Luxembourg Gardens which were beautiful, Kim and I found this fountain that was so magnificent! We took so many pictures there. For lunch Kim and I went to this area with tons of choices for food. We ate a Gyro, split some gelato, and a crepe. For dinner it was sooo good! We again got a 3 course meal. We were both craving french onion soup so we had to find a place with that choice. We finally chose a place, and got french onion soup, salmon pasta and I got a cheese dessert. We also received FREE tap water again :) While traveling all day Kim and I were very concerned with pick pocketers, which did not happen our whole trip. But we would wear our backbacks on the front of our bodies, we were joking that we looked pregnant, haha. So we named our child, and they would kick sometimes. I guess you would have to be there, it was very entertaining.

Paris Day 2

April 2nd- (good Friday) Today we went to the Efile Tower, it was raining all day. When we first arrived it was sprinkling then it would pour. But we got some good pictures. We are going to go back to see it lit up at night. We ate lunch at this cafe, I had a capri panneni, which is my favorite! I have not decided to order drinks because they are too expensive and I rather save my money. We went to the Rodin Gardens with the Thinker, Gates of Hell, which was great. The gardens were 1 euro! Again I went to the Catacombs, I loved it again. I find it so unique. Kim and Chenin were so scared! After that we went to Chinese food for lunch, we got to pick out what we wanted, by weight which was pretty cool. And 2 places so far: the greek restaurant and the chinese restaurant we have gotten tap water for FREE!! And the cafe that I had the panini at, they had toilet seat covers in the restroom, I didn't think I would get that excited over something. But when you don't have it you realize then that you miss it and want it. I haven't seen them here since I have gotten to Europe. We took pictures of Des Vallides, which has a gold top, it was really pretty, but not going inside. It has Neapolitan's Tomb in it. We went to the the Moulin Rouge, so pretty at night. The last time I went it was only during the day. So the pictures we took, looked like it could be a postcard! In the red light district we went to the sex museum. It was interesting and very cool. It was a really good museum, with 1920's and 1930's porn haha. We all watched it in black and white and it was silent. Adding out own commentary :) it was fun! Of course, Kim, Chenin and I are really funny at commentary!

German Class

Sorry the posts are out of order.

March 30th- Today in German we learned how to say check please, and if you want to pay together or separate. Also how much money to ask for back. Well tonight Kim and I were planning on our hostels and we went to get Gyros (greek food) they are cheap and sooooooooooooooooo good! Its our favorite place and now they have seen us so much there. We see the owners all the time (the husband and wife, son and daughter work there)! So after dinner I used what I learned in class. I was so proud, and they understood me, I also sounded good :)

April 1st- Today on the train ( to Paris) we learned a game called Shit head, its sooo much fun!

Wow so I have really been slacking on keeping this blog updated. So much has happened since then. So This blog is about my trip to Paris. I have been to Paris once before, my senior year of high school. So that was in 2007. This time I went with 4 girls my own age, it was soo much fun!

April 1st- Today we left for Paris, we had to take 2 trains to get there. I actually liked the train, once one, you didn't have to worry about getting there. Also by going on a train I got to see the countryside in Germany and France. Its so beautiful, open and green. We checked into our hotel, which seems like its going to be a good stay. They have you sign a guest book and have a sitting area and laundry room downstairs. There are 6 floors and no elevator. I packed light but I brought a small carryon suitcase, which is kind of heavy carrying up 6 flights of stairs haha. Everyone wanted to not be on the 6th floor. Lucky for us we got it. We have a small toilet area (like a very small closet), and we have a sink in our room. The shower is across from our room. We get free breakfast everyday. So later in the night we asked the man at the hotel where we should go to dinner. We wanted to go to a great italian place, cheap, and good quality. He sent us to a greek restaurant haha. I was cheap and had good food, so we weren't too disappointed. It was a 3 course meal. I got a salad, then chicken with peas, rice and french fries. The fries tasted more like potatoes. And I got flan for dessert. We walked around just to see where we were located. We have seen so many greek restaurants, and guys asking you to come eat in their restaurants. Before dinner? haha I can't even remember, we went to the Norte Dame, which we are going back tomorrow along with other places on our list. It was so beautiful, the sun was going down :) Going back to our hotel we climbed the 6 flights of stairs. By the time we got to our room, we were all out of breathe, haha. But we will soon be pro's! So Kim and I decided that we are going to Ireland for specials week. I have always wanted to go to Ireland, and since we could not go to Greece, this is the place we have to go! So we are going to stay for 7 days! Dublin for 2 days, then Killarney for 2 days, to see the ring of Kerry. Then we are going to Galway! Which is suppose to be amazing! There in Killarney is suppose to be typical Ireland, green, pubs and beautiful :) Then back to Dublin for 2 days. Where we would see the Wicklow National Forrest (where P.S. I love you was filmed). I want to go there sooo bad! And we are going to the Guinness Factory, Factory, and many more places. Jameson