Valpo Voyager

Student Stories from Around the World

Tag: travel (page 8 of 8)

Amsterdam: More than just the ‘Venice of the North’

October 11, 2010 / / 0 Comments

When most people hear Amsterdam, they think about the Red Light District. But what most people don’t realize is there is so much else to see and do Amsterdam and it is those things that ultimately make it one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Spending three days in Amsterdam not only proved this to me, but gave me one of my best travel experiences in my entire life. With the city of Amsterdam being an incredible 60% water and only 40% land, every street I turned on to I found myself confronted with an absolutely beautiful view of the Amstel River. Nicknamed the ‘Venice of the North’, Amsterdam has more than 100 km’s of canals and over 1,500 bridges. In other words, it made for a fantastic weekend of touring Holland’s great capital.

Prior to departing for Amsterdam I did a lot of research about the city and made a list of things I wanted to do or places I wanted to see during my three day visit. When I traveled to Munich three weeks ago I failed to do adequate research about the city and what there was to do and ended up leaving with a feeling of dissatisfaction. I was determined not to let that happen this time around. All I wanted to do was make the most out of this trip and see as much of the city as possible.

Three days and 253 pictures later, I can definitely say I did. I’m not really one to pull out my camera at every significant sight I see, but I doubt I have ever looked like more of a tourist than I did in Amsterdam. I was okay with that though, mainly because the city was so stunning and I felt obliged to document as much of it as possible.

If ever you travel to a big city in Europe, take advantage of the guided walking tours. Most big cities in Europe have them and they are well advertised, both on the web and at hotels and hostels in that city. Not only are they free, but they ensure you see as much of the city as possible and provide information about the history of the city and the numerous sights you see along the way. My tour guide in Amsterdam was actually an Australian named Julian, but he probably knew more about the city than most locals. Along the way we saw the Royal Palace of Netherlands, the oldest and second oldest churches in the country (literally called the New and Old Church), the ‘Café In De Waag’ (once an execution building), the narrowest house in all of Amsterdam, the Dutch National Museum, a coffee shop where part of Ocean 12 was filmed, the house where Ann Frank lived and much, much more. The tour concluded at Boom Chicago, a fancy Dutch restaurant where if you finish your first plate of food you are served a second one for free. We all finished, of course.

Following the tour and after devouring two plates of fantastic Dutch food – Rockworst and potatoes – we headed to our hostel boat that we would be staying on for two nights. I was somewhat uncertain of what the boat would be like, but immediately after arriving, I knew it would be the perfect place to stay. It turned out it was too. The owner of the boat was an extremely friendly and outgoing man by the name of Hansen (although I still couldn’t pronounce it the proper Dutch way if it saved my life) and he made us feel right at home. Located in Oosterdok, a scenic harbor in the east part of the city, the boat provided a great place to relax after a long day of walking around the city.

I saw and did many great things during my stay in Amsterdam, but going on a canal cruise was undoubtedly my best decision of the weekend. I thought I had seen a lot during my walking tour the day before, but sitting on the back of a long boat as it wound through the Amstel River in the heart of the city was spectacular and definitely helped me get the most out of my visit. It also may have helped that it was such a gorgeous day, but as I floated along the numerous canals in various parts of the city, I realized how unique and beautiful of a city Amsterdam is.

From its laid back culture to its magnificent canals, Amsterdam is a place I’ll never forget. One of the coolest sights I witnessed was the numerous street performers at Dam Square, the historical center of the city and the setting for the Royal Palace and the National Monument. Huge flocks of people, not just tourists, gather around to either watch a trio of people play jazz music or a man perform magic tricks. It’s all quite entertaining, really. Not to mention relaxing. During all hours of the day and night the tables and chairs outside of the cafes and restaurants are filled with people, all of whom are enjoying a cup of tea or a pint of Heineken or Grolch (the premium lagers in the Netherlands). Most interestingly, people face the street while sipping on their beverage and conversing with their companions, something I have never witnessed before.

The city may be famed for its ‘coffee shops’, but if I had to sum up Amsterdam in two words, I would say relaxing and beautiful. That’s what I took from this great city, along with the 253 photos and countless memories, of course.

A hint of Capri and a dash of Sorrento… what a blend!

October 11, 2010 / / 1 Comment

Immediately after stepping off the train in Naples, I could tell I was in Italy – Southern Italy to be exact. Perhaps it was just the fresh warm breeze or maybe the euphoric state achieved after being cooped up in trains for 19 hours the day before, but I knew I was going to like it here. Our weekend plans included going to the Island of Capri and Sorrento; Matt and I would have the better part of the day in each. Warm weather and a relaxing weekend were our desires, and every one of them was met.

Overlooking Capri city

After we got off the ferry in Capri, we were greeted with great hospitality from our hotel owner. Not only did he provide a lot of helpful information, he even drove all the way down to pick us up from the port. After settling into our beautiful (and expensive) hotel, we spent our day wandering about the island in both Capri city and Anacapri, taking a chairlift up to Mount Solaro – the highest point – and watching the sun set over the water. And of course, Italy is all about the food, so we stuffed our faces with pizza and pasta.

The most magnificent part about our journey took place the next morning. Our hotel owner scheduled us a private boat tour around the island… insert sigh here. Unfortunately, the sea was too rough to sail to the southern end or go in the Blue Grotto, but we were able to see the northern side and experience a roller-coaster type ride. Even the price could not take away from the majesty of this tour. The water was the bluest I have ever seen sea water to be, and the greenery was astounding next to it. Waves crashed upon the cliffs of the island, and a lighthouse stood in the distance. We got to jump off the boat and go for a short swim in a little bay area where the water was calm and warm.

Matt and I on our private boat tour of Capri

The overall experience of this island allowed me to reflect on the whole greater beauty of the world. I thought Norway was the most beautiful place to be, but I found another just as gorgeous location. It is a wonder that only seven natural wonders of the world have been picked because I have already seen so many. The moment is so captivating when you realize that there is so much wonderful things that you will never see on this earth, but I am determined! While Capri was full of scenic beauty, Sorrento had a beauty all its own represented in the people.

The atmosphere was just different there. Even our taxi driver was shaking hands with people as we drove past. People were all around having lively conversations, so I am not surprised that so many tourists come here to visit. The streets in Sorrento were the stereotypical Italian city street. Architecture was exquisite, and the shopping was to die for. I’m not talking about the big headliners in designers although they were around as well, but these cute little shops and boutiques down the alleys. The smell of lemon flowed out of stores with Limoncello and a variety of other lemon concoctions. It was so enticing, you just had to walk in. We met so many interesting people in the short amount of time we were there (partly because there were so many English speaking tourists). It was a great weekend… minus the train ride home, but that’s a whole other story! For now, I’ll just be thankful for the beauty of the Italian coast.

Five Important Things to do Before You Travel

October 5, 2010 / / 1 Comment

Planning a trip can seem somewhat daunting at times, especially if you’re traveling to a new country for the very first time. If you plan accordingly, however, you are guaranteed to get a much better experience out of it. And no matter how many hours of research you end up doing beforehand, it will be worth every second of it once you arrive at your destination. Based on my travels so far, here’s a list of the five important things to research or do before you depart:

1) Transportation – It’s not even worth mentioning you need to figure out how to get to the airport from your own house, but it’s important to research the best ways to travel to your hostel, hotel or friend’s house from the airport you’re flying into. It’s easy just to wave down a taxi outside the airport, but if you’re traveling by yourself or in a small group, there are often cheaper options. It’s not a bad idea to check if there are any buses or trains leaving from the airport towards the place you need to be. Most airports provide bus or train services for a relatively cheap price.

2) Contact Information – in case of emergency, it’s always good to make sure someone from back home knows where you are staying in whatever country you may be traveling to. The chances of your flight being cancelled may be slim, but in case an emergency does arise, such as Eyjafjallajökull (the Iceland volcano no one can pronounce) earlier this year, it’s important your friends or family from back home know where you are.

3) Communication – To go along with the second point, it’s vital to have at least some form of communication while you are traveling. Not all hostels provide internet access so it isn’t a bad idea to have a phone on you. I found that extremely helpful when I travelled to Munich with four of my friends. At times it’s easy to get lost or separated from your friends, and without a phone, it can be a nightmare trying to locate other members of your group. Lastly, if you do have a phone, make you sure find out what the country code is where you are so you can make calls. Here’s a list of country calling codes: http://www.countrycallingcodes.com/countrylist.php

4) Attractions – I can speak from experience when I say it’s a terrible idea to fly to a new country without any real idea of what you want to see or do while you are there. If you research what type of attractions your country has to offer you’ll be able to pick and choose what you want to do ahead of time, ensuring you get the most out of your visit and experience as much of the culture as you possibly can. The internet is full of information of what to do and see in various countries, and if that doesn’t suffice, most book stores contain travel guides for specific countries, even cities. Also, bring a map of the city in order to help you get around from place to place.

5) Budget – Some countries cost more than others and it’s safe to say that food, drinks, accommodation and the price of tourist attractions varies in each country. Do a little research beforehand so you can have a good idea of how much money you think you’ll need to spend during your travels. It’s always good to have an idea of how much things will cost so you’re not overwhelmed when you get there.

The list is by no means conclusive, but it can be a good start for anyone embarking on a trip to a new country. Most importantly, have fun and take full advantage of being in a place some people still dream of going to.

Cheers!

Premiership Football: The Experience of a Lifetime

September 26, 2010 / / 2 Comments

Everyone has that one experience they’ve always dreamt of and waited what seems like their whole life for. No matter what I’ve seen or done, there has always been that one experience missing from my life. On Saturday I finally realized that dream: watching a live English Premier League match.

Being such an avid English football fan, it would be the world’s biggest crime if I went the entire semester in England without witnessing a live match. Thankfully I made sure that wouldn’t happen by attending the Fulham vs. Everton match at Craven Cottage in south London on Saturday, which, in all honesty, was nothing short of a dream come true.

The day started off with an hour train ride to London before proceeding to head to the city’s Underground. The tube, as it is known by most locals, can appear somewhat terrifying. With so many routes, so many trains, and so little knowledge of where anything in London is, I would be lying if I said I wasn’t slightly nervous about reaching my destination. Thankfully the Tube is not nearly as complicated as it appears and in fact, traveling to south London was much easier than I anticipated.

Upon arrival, I immediately stumbled upon a pub called Eight Bells. I walked in hoping to get a much needed bite to eat and to be able to converse with locals about the big match. To my surprise, the pub offered very little to eat and was filled with supporters from Everton who had traveled down from Liverpool to cheer on their beloved club. The countless stares I received because of my jersey encouraged me to search for another pub with more options for food… and more importantly, more Fulham supporters. Wearing a Clint Dempsey jersey in these parts is very much a common site. Wearing a USA Clint Dempsey shirt? Not so much. After all, he is the one who scored against England in the World Cup!

I walked along the Thames River looking for a pub when I found something else I never expected to see: Six Americans who flew in from Dallas that morning just for the game. Talk about dedication. It was nice to meet some other American Fulham fans, as well as some people who were as clueless as me about where anything in the area was. With the help of a few locals, however, we made our way to the King’s Arms Pub. The sign on the door said: Fulham and foreign supporters ONLY. We were definitely in the right place.

With just under three hours until kick-off, I was amazed at how packed the pub was. Everywhere I looked I saw people wearing Fulham jerseys, both men, women and children, all talking football and drinking pints of beer (except the kids of course). I talked to a handful of die-hard Fulham fans, some of who had only missed five home matches in the last 36 years. Now that’s really dedication.

As it neared closer to kick-off, the pub slowly began to empty out as everyone, including me and my fellow American fans, made our way down the street to Craven Cottage. There was no need for directions anymore. All we had to was follow the thousands of people heading for the stadium. And if that wasn’t enough, we could even hear the noise from the supporters who were already in the stadium. I looked at my watch and there was still 30 minutes until kick-off! Not too long later, I was inside the Cottage and walking down to my seat in the third row in Hammersmith End – the northernmost stand in the stadium and the home of the more vocal Fulham fans. Definitely the ideal place to sit for one’s first Premiership match!

Anyone who saw me could probably tell it was my first match. After all, if my eagerness to snap away at anything and everything with my camera didn’t make it obvious, the star-struck look in my eyes certainly did. In my defense though, Clint Dempsey, who is one of my all-time heroes, plays as a striker for Fulham, and is adored by their supporters as much as he is by me. I even heard several chants about him during the match, confirming my beliefs. Seeing all the players who I watch play on TV every weekend and being less than twenty feet away from some of them was absolutely surreal.

Once the match got underway, the noise only amplified and the excitement of being there only increased with every minute of play. The noise level created by the fans may have fluctuated throughout the match, but the passion of both sets of fans was there for all to see. And despite the match ending scoreless it was still a fantastic match and a phenomenal experience, every bit as amazing as I had hoped it would be. It’s an experience of a lifetime, especially when you’re a die-hard football fan.

After getting my first taste of English football, I already can’t wait to go to another match. With that in mind, I guess it’s a good thing I bought tickets for the West Ham vs. Fulham match this coming Saturday! If I’m in England, the birthplace of football, I might as well make the most of this opportunity and experience as much as I can of the sport most people in this country love more than anything.

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