December 28, 2014

Christmas Time Get Away in Pilsen, Czech Republic


12/26/14
Day 1:
After a couple amazing days celebrating Christmas Eve and Christmas with friends, we thought a quick get away for us to reconnect before the next couple months was in order.  Jack will be very busy in the next couple months and we won't see much of each other so this was a much needed date weekend.  Pilsen, Czech Republic is only an hour and a half away so it's close and that makes for a very nice drive.  We dropped our Killian pup off at our good friends Elaine and Tony's and headed to Czech!

Hotel Gondola and Wellness
A typical room at the Gondola
Jack thought he had gotten us a package for the famous Beer Spa in Pilsen where you get into a wooden bathtub full of hot beer and drink as much Pilsen as you like.  The website was pretty confusing though and he actually got us a package deal for the wellness center instead, which actually turned out wonderfully.  

When we first got to the hotel the receptionist was extremely pleasant and very helpful. We got to our room and noticed it had a huge bed for a European hotel, fresh flowers in our room and a lovely assortment of fresh fruit. The only draw back was the bed did feel like it was a block of card board. The sheets were clean and comfortable and the comforters were super warm which made the room extra cozy. Since it was the day after Christmas, the hotel restaurant wasn't open, the town was kind of empty and it was beginning to snow so it wasn't terribly conducive to walking around so we found a little pub and had a super cheap but very tasty meal.  We found the U Mansfelda right across from the hotel so we didn't have to walk far, which was good because it had just started snowing.  They had super yummy potato pancakes and good boar goulash with dumplings...and of course good beer!




We got some pictures of the area around out hotel on our way back.  They had massive koi in a pond, bigger than I have ever actually seen before.  When I said I wished I had something to feed the fish, Jack responded with, "Um, I think they have eaten enough..."  :)  They also had some interesting art.


I wish I could show you to scale how big this monster was!
They even had monster albino Koi!
Jack trying not to be cold as the snow was coming down
The pond full of massive Koi
Strange colorful art in front of the hotel
Cool but weird art in Pilsen
There were still blooms on the plants!
When it was our time to use the wellness center, we got the entire place to ourselves. They had put out strawberries and had complimentary champagne for us, along with fluffy robes and plenty of towels. We had the place to ourselves for two whole hours. 


The whirlpool at the wellness center
This shows the wellness center with all it's amenities!
The large cold shower and sauna room
The sauna in the wellness center
12/27/14
Day 2:
The next day, they had an adequate, typical European breakfast with assorted meats, cheeses, eggs, and yogurt with fresh squeezed juices and coffee. 


The hotel had a nice, cozy restaurant

At our allotted time, we went to a designated room and were supposed to have an hour long massage. Unfortunately, the masseuse was a gentleman who did not speak English at all so Mike passed on the massage and I ended up having a two hour one, which was so nice but a bit strange to have a male...

We had decided earlier that the bed was too uncomfortable to sleep on (considering we only live an hour and a half away) and when we asked if we could turn our dinner reservations into lunch reservations, they did it without any hassle and without hesitation. The meal was completely filling and very tasty. When we checked out, they allowed us to have a late checkout without charging us extra and did not charge us for the night we did not stay there. In addition to all this, I got to take the large bouquet of flowers home with me. 




As Americans, our idea of what a "Spa" weekend is very pampered and luxurious. That is not how Europeans necessarily see it, it is more about health and wellness rather than over the top pampering, once you can get digest that and adjust your expectations, you can really enjoy the experience and appreciate a little gem like the Gondola! We will definitely go back...even if we don't stay more than one night! :)








December 24, 2014

Poland, Auschwitz & Birkenau


12/21/14
Day 1:
My good friend Courtney text me about a week ago and asked if I might want to go to Poland with her.  I have been wanting to go, and I wasn't sure if this would be the only opportunity I would have to go so I, of course, jumped at the chance.  She has been living in Madrid, Spain and flew in to Nuremberg, where I picked her up and we started off on our journey!

Our nice little room in Krakow
It was a comfy, clean, bright place and we were very happy!
The food was so cheap we never had a chance to use the kitchen!
Doesn't it look inviting?
It had a really nice renovated bathroom too!

When we first arrived in Krakow, after our 8 hour drive, we put our stuff in the flat and went out to find dinner.  Since it was Sunday, we were a little worried that we might not find anything.  We were very wrong.  We found an amazing Italian place that had marvelous pasta dishes and only cost us the equivalent of $12 US dollars!

After dinner, we made our way back to the flat so we could get some sleep before our tour to Auschwitz - Birkenau the next day at 7:00am.



12/22/14
Day 2:
On day 2 we got up early and got ready to walk to Main Square.  Unfortunately it wasn't going to be a white Christmas anywhere and Krakow was no exception.  It was cold and rainy but no snow...so we walked the 20 minutes in the rain.  Considering we were walking in Krakow, Poland, I was perfectly happy to walk in any weather!

Unfortunately we couldn't find the place we were supposed to meet up for our tour so we drove to Auschwitz and Birkenau ourselves which was actually much easier than I was expecting and it only took about an hour drive.  It is actually free to tour the camps on your own and as long as you do a little research before hand, I personally think a guided tour is unnecessary.

The front of the administration buildings at Auschwitz
The old administration building
Auschwitz - Birkenau arial map. (found at Auschwitz - Birkenau website)
As we walked from the old administration building and headed toward the gate that leads into the camp, I felt finally that the weather was appropriate.  It was about 15 degrees colder than in Krakow.  The wind was blowing wildly and the rain pelted us as we walked along.  When my son and I went to Dauchau, it was so sunny and beautiful...and clean...and anticeptic that it somehow felt wrong.  This felt right.

 I didn't take pictures of everything since there were more moments of quiet reflection than just the shock of all that happened in that place.  But I did take pictures of some of the things that struck me and that I wanted to have a record of.
The gate...the Germans meant, "Work will set you free" in theory.  NOT that freedom was possible.
This is one of the pictures I took of a picture in the museum
The back of the old administration building
Barracks buildings where the people were housed

Wooden Barracks that housed prisoners
These are the buildings that functioned for medical experiments, punishments, and other terrible business
Looking down the "death march" area

The electric fence guarding the premises and the "death march" area
The warning in front of the electric fence
Part of the rails that brought the prisoners to the camps 
Display of prisoner uniforms against a wall of pictures of prisoners
Most of the walls in all the buildings were full of pictures of the prisoners
The door to the cell where prisoners were left to die of starvation
A statue named Starving
A memorial to the children put to death here
Suitcases stolen from prisoners when they arrived at Auschwitz
Artificial limbs stolen from prisoners when they arrived

The "black wall" where thousands were shot to death
After we spent a good four to five hours wandering around, it started getting very dark, the wind picked up, the rain got heavier, and we headed back to Krakow.  We really needed to get some food so we found a very cute traditional Polish place and went a little crazy with food.  We had amazing food, hot drinks, and decadent desserts and it all only added up to around $21 US dollars!  Oh how I love the food prices of Poland!
There were such pretty Christmas decorations
I loved the pictures of Polish dancers on the wall
More pictures of dancing Polish people

I got Poland's version of Gluwein or hot red wine and Courtney got hot tea with lots of fruit.  Then we got yummy dessert!
Hot Apple Pie
Baked Apple

Day 3:
12/23/14
On day 3 we headed back to Germany.  The drive started out windy and rainy but it cleared up fast and it went faster than the drive there.  I am eternally grateful for opportunities like this.  I thank God every chance I get and I will continue to take advantage of these chances!