Our (first) Trip of a Lifetime Part 2

Our stop after Rome was Venice.  We decided to take an overnight train, which was only about 6 hours away on the overnight train.  Venice is a place that (in my opinion) you can spend 1 day or 1 week, we clearly did not have a week to spend.  So we literally took an overnight train there and an overnight train out, we didn't even stay the night!  The only structured thing we did in Venice was a tour of the Doges Palace.  We went to the top of the Campanile (highest point in the city) and explored St. Marks Sq.  The best part was that we got into town so early that we got to see the sunrise and experience St. Marks when it was empty.  When I've been to Venice before it was SO crowded in the summer that it was an interesting experience to see it so peaceful.  We talked about taking a gondola ride, but decided that over $100 for a 20 minute ride was more than even our vacation budget couldn't absorb, so we took a water taxi instead! 

On the train from Rome to Venice

Water taxi from the train station to St. Marks

Sun was just coming up, so the lights were still on in the canals

 

Grand Canal

Early morning before the gondolas were out and working

From the top of the Campanile

View of the city from the Campanile

St. Marks

View from the Bridge of Sighs, looking out toward the main walk way

At this point in the trip our whirlwind pace was starting to take its toll, this is kind of how I felt most of the day!

An empty St. Marks, I think this was about 6am



On our way to the train station we stopped for some wine

The canals are all lit up at night, and the buildings take on a magical quality! 

 

 

We took an overnight train from Venice to Prague.  Well technically it was an overnight train to Munich, and then a transfer to another train/bus to Prague.  Once we finally made it to Prague we did a free walking tour of the city, and then immediately turned around and did a beer tour, because, Prague.  We made friends with another couple around our age who live a few hours north of KC, Rainey and Jack.  They were on a similar trip and were also headed to Munich after Prague.  After the beer tour we stayed at the last bar they took us to, which was actually a split bar, one half called the Vodka Bar, and the other half I can't remember the name of, BUT I remember it was owned by a guy about our age who was from Denver. Spencer was so excited to find American football on tv!  The downside of the time we were in Prague is that due to methanol poisonings there was no alcohol for sale over 30% abv.  This was fine for us as we were more interested in beer than other booze, but the bar owner was lamenting the lack of revenue from liquor.  We stayed there and drank more beer, did a hookah (is that how you say that, we used a hookah, smoked hookah? I'm clearly not an expert here).  We stumbled back to our hotel late that night and crashed.  The next day we had beer from St. Norberts, and then went to dinner at Lokal (our favorite food in Prague) with Jack and Rainey.  The next day we took off for Munich!

Drinking our St. Norberts beers

Astronomical Clock

Dinner and drinks at Lokal

At the Vodka Bar, minus any vodka

Hookah!

Photo by the Charles Bridge with the castle in the background

Spencer pensively watching the water and enjoying the views (I assume, its been almost 4 years, he could have been thinking that he was sick of sightseeing)

On the Charles Bridge

Live music on the bridge

Gorgeous white peacocks at the Wallenstein Palace Gardens

 

the super cool drippy wall at the Wallenstein Palace Gardens

 

The Cathedral had some amazing stained glass work, I could have spent a LOT of time there just taking it all in.

 

After Prague we were off the Munich.  We had some big plans for this last city on our trip, a day trip to Neuschwanstein Castle and a mountain hike, a visit to Dachau -- not the most uplifting portion of the trip, another free city walking tour with Sandemans and last but not least  by any means Oktoberfest!  It turns out that some of Spencer's fraternity brothers were also in town for Oktoberfest so we met up with them one night at one of the tents.  There was a friend of one of the guys who was procuring beer for us all night (you have to have a seat at one of the tables in order to any food or drinks, she had a seat at a table).  By this point in the trip we were exhausted.  I mean you guys we had a LOT of miles under our belts at this point.  Earlier in the trip when we were done with our planned activities we'd go wander around or find something else to do, not so much by this point.  We went back to our hotel every day and took a nap at some point.  This was the point in the trip where I promised Spencer we'd never do a trip like this again.  We had a BLAST but we probably needed to cut at least 1 city out in order to make the trip more relaxing.  Oh well, live and learn!

 

Work Makes You Free, sign that the prisoners saw on the way in at the top of the gate. It was meant to give them hope that they would be able to leave one day.

Beds in the barracks, as the camp became more crowded they removed the slats to fit more prisoners in per room.

After the slats were removed

The Bunker, a portion of the camp used for additional punishment

 

description of a prisoners stay in the Bunker

The Glockenspiel

we found a carousel bar at Oktoberfest, it actually turned!

Thankfully it turned very slowly, otherwise I think it may have ended badly

We ran into friends in Munich!

The nice girl in the front is a friend of one of the guys in the picture, she had a seat at one of the tables and ordered our drinks for us! (if you don't have a seat at a table they won't serve you)

A view of Neuschwanstein Castle, after the tour we hiked up to see it, then hiked down a scenic path to end the trip.

One of the stunning views on our day trip

Before the tour of the castle, I loved the view of the town spread out below

 

Spencer on the hike back down

 

We celebrated our anniversary in Munich, free champagne from the hotel!

One of the rides at Oktoberfest

 

The last part of our trip was a quick flight from Munich to London and then back home.  We spent 1 more afternoon and evening in London before getting up at 3am for our flight home. My favorite part of this last leg of the trip was our hotel and we went to go see Wicked.  We're from Kansas so we thought it was only fitting to go see a show based on Wizard of OZ on our trip! 

 The view from our hotel in London.  We stayed at the London Marriott County Hall, which is right behind the London Eye, by the Westminster Bridge.  It's my favorite location because when we come back from our  night activities the bridge is usually empty and the view is just so quintessentially London to me. 

Quick stop by Platform 9 3/4 at Kings Cross, we are BIG Harry Potter fans!

 



Trafalgar Square

 

 Euston Tap for a few drinks on our last day in town!

 

We also went to Brew Dog in Camden

 

We had REALLY great seats for Wicked, it was such a great show.

The view on Westminster Bridge, during the day the bridge is teeming with people, but at night it is so easy to get a great photo!

 

 

There are pictures of us travelling home the next day.....but frankly we were a little worse for wear after our long tip and a late night.  I think we were both going on 3 hours of sleep, and I just don't think I want those pictures out in the world! 

 

Hope anyone who is reading this enjoys the trip recaps, there are more to come!