COUNTDOWN...

Two more hours of class and then Spring Break begins!  I am heading to Helsinki, Finland for the weekend and then am off to Ireland Monday morning.  My plan is to leave my phone and computer at home so don't expect to hear from me for the next nine days!  Happy Easter!   

Food Carts

If you leave Europe without eating from a food cart, you have definitely done something wrong!  

HOT DOG STAND HEADING INTO TOWN 

The owner of a street food business must WALK on the MAIN ROAD (not a bike lane or sidewalk) to a busy street corner in Copenhagen when transporting their food cart.  I laugh every time I see someone walking their mobile restaurant through town, although it's not too funny when I am stuck in traffic behind one while on the bus! The best part is the person walking the food cart down the street is required to have a license to drive.  Really!? 

Cycling through Europe

RUSH HOUR IN COPENHAGEN, DENMARK

RENTED BIKE IN HEERENVEEN, NETHERLANDS 

COUNTRY RIDE IN GROßHANSDORF, GERMANY

Jurahuset

My grandpa swears that all I do is travel through Europe and is always asking whether I am actually taking classes in Copenhagen.  This photo is for you Grandpa.  JURAHUSET-- That's "law library" in Danish and this is where I spent the afternoon today.

But now that I got some work done, it's time to pack up and head to Oma and Opa Pollmann's house in Großhansdorf, Germany for five days.  Can't wait for some relaxing "family" time with Tom & Julie's grandparents!  

Feeling Loved!

Such a surprise to get a notice from the post office regarding another package sent from the USA!  THANK YOU KING FAMILY!  I have honestly never seen a box stuffed with so many fun things....a scarf, gloves, socks, bowls, spice packets for dinners, coffee, candy, hair accessories, NAIL POLISH!  You guys are truly wonderful for thinking of me while I am away!  THANK YOU!

Josh Wood in Holland

One quick thing about the USA-- I met a Dutch girl in Amsterdam and she said she fell in love with America after watching a few of our tv shows (Jersey Shore, Real Housewives, etc.).  Let's just say I have never been so embarrassed for America.....

Had the best time seeing Josh Wood in Europe AGAIN, this time in Holland!  I took a Saturday afternoon train from Amsterdam into Heerenveen, the birthplace of speed skating.  After a long hike to Thialf, the ice skating rink, I got to spend some time watching the US skaters practice both on and off the ice.  We then headed back to the hotel for an athlete’s buffet dinner complete with white tablecloths and candlelight!  My favorite part of the night was renting a bike to take into the city center.  Josh did all the work (he peddled) and I just sat on the back enjoying a nighttime tour of the town!  Nice to see the “skater bar” complete with old ice skates hanging from every part of the ceiling!  

Josh on the ice...every picture I have is just a blur!

"Skater Bar"

Amsterdam

Internet is so slow at the hostel but here are a few pictures from my first day in Amsterdam!

Happy (early) Birthday Joey!

A guy I met last week in Amsterdam told me about cheap last minute flights through SAS airlines.  24 hours before flight departure, the prices drop drastically for any youth under twenty-six years old.  Just looked at Friday flights and got a great deal to Amsterdam in the afternoon.  The only thing that makes me nervous is that I did not book a return flight and am just hoping to find a cheap flight back home at the end of the weekend.  Since I don’t know when I will be getting back to Denmark, thought I would post some early birthday wishes to my big brother!  The big 3-0!  Love and miss you!  

Spring is HERE!

Absolutely beautiful day with sunshine and blue skies!  The picture didn't turn out great (I was on my bike) but everyone was out on the bridge today enjoying some fresh air.  The wall behind the bikers is lined with people!  

Oh, and look what I found at the store today!  Wanted to buy it but they were charging 399 Danish Kroner which is 70 USD.  $70 for a fake $1 bill keychain!?  Not happening....

Berlin, Germany Part II

For some reason, I thought it would be a good idea to take a midnight bus back to Copenhagen but I am currently regretting that decision.  I got lucky enough to have a row to myself so I was able to lie across a few seats to get a little sleep but it’s definitely not the most comfortable nights sleep.  I then forgot that there is an hour ferry ride involved in which we have to un-board the bus for the trip.  It’s now 4:15am and I am just getting back on the bus for the last two hours home.  So special spending time with Josh Wood this weekend!  I met up with him at his hotel Saturday night and we headed to an Italian restaurant (Marco Polo) a few blocks away to catch up.  Loved hearing about his life, his family and his friends!  He was also pretty brave and tried the very popular but absolutely disgusting dessert eaten in Denmark, salted black licorice.  

He walked me back to my hostel and couldn’t get over the neon lights, bunk beds and tiny bathrooms so he took a few pictures to share with friends.  

We met up again Sunday so I could watch a few speed skating races.  It was incredible to be sitting in the front row watching the best athletes in the world race for the weekend.  

Met a few of Josh’s coaches and teammates and they were all pretty great!  Also heard a few riddles of his teammates.  A man is completely enclosed in a room, no doors, no windows, no way out.  All he has is a stick.  How does he get out?  Hmmmmm…….  ANSWER: He breaks the stick in half, puts the two pieces back together to create a whole (“hole”) and crawls out!  Or what is the only thing that when you take away a whole you are still left with some?  Any ideas….. ANSWER: the word “wholesome.”  Good weekend but hanging out with Josh actually made me a little homesick.  No plans for Monday so hopefully I can sleep for a few hours when I get home and feel better when I wake up! 

Berlin, Germany

Just a quick photo update from my first two days in Berlin-

Holocaust Monument 

Berlin Wall (East Side Gallery) 

1936 Olympic Stadium  

Happy (early) Birthday Mama!

So you're special day is not until Sunday but I have to post this now since I will be out of town.

I know you have been dying to figure out what I got you this year so take a look…..

Any guesses??  It’s round trip tickets to Barcelona, Spain!  You will also love where we are staying but I will tell you more about that later!  Get excited!  So you’ll start off your summer vacation here in Denmark, travel to Spain for a few days and then….

….visit these little rascals in Germany!  Can’t wait to see you in a few months!