Next stop is Amsterdam, with it’s canals and bicycles and beautiful buildings.

When we arrive in AMS, the tram is directly outside of the Zuit train station, not the Centraal Station, which I had thought, but it was just as easy going 8 stops north as 5 stops south in this town. We boarded the #5 tram and it took us to the end of the street of our hostel.

It is another larger hostel (similar to the Berlin hostel) and the group will have an hour to grab a bed, a shower if needed and meet me outside for their bike tour.

We met Pete from Mike’s Bikes, and I had requested him, as he has taken my groups for three years now, and he adds a historical view with humor of this town. He gave the group a quick history account of how Amsterdam came to be by saying that that the city used to be called Amstel in the Dam, and after so many beers shortened the name to Amsterdam.
After a quick history lesson of Holland, he took them around to the main sites of the city. (these shots are mostly on video, which will be on the documentary).

After the bike tour, everyone came back to the hotel to get cleaned up for dinner. It was still daylight as we walked into the Old Town, Oude Kerk, or what you may know to be called the Red Light District. We walked down the main strip along the canal for a few blocks then made a right towards the Old Church, and it just happened to be a right, right through a busy street/alley which actually had the girls behind the glass windows. We were all given an accidental look at the true working girls.

After dinner, everyone found their own way to relax and we were set to meet at 10 am the next morning.

Day 7
Surprisingly, everyone was up early (since they didn’t enjoy the club, they made it home at a decent hour). They were up in time to have the hostel’s  breakfast then everyone had planned out an itinerary for their own groups of five. The boys went up to the highest man made mountain overlooking the city, at an abandoned radio tower,

Gruneberg. Joel went with, and they took amazing pictures.

Another group was searching out Diane Arbus’ show at one of the 117 museums, they had tried yesterday but got lost on an adventure for 4 hours.

Another group planned to go on a boat ride, but didn’t choose to wait for an hour for the next boat to arrive, so they went down to Potsdamer Platz and had another view of the columns.

Then went walking through Tiergarten Park, and found an area with nude bathers (“mostly gross men”).

The evening was on their own, and since most had eaten a large lunch of the authentic Deutsch dish of burritos, they chose the German dish of Pizza to satisfy their local culinary palate.

The evening began with thunder and lightening, and then a rain storm arrived, all night. The boys were the only ones who wanted to venture into the night wetness.

I alerted everyone to the 6:15 wake up call, and planned to meet them in the lobby at 7 am.

Day 8

At 6:15, I didn’t have to bang on the door at all on all 4 rooms! Everyone was already up and moving around.

When I arrived into the lobby 3 kids were already there. No time for me to find coffee!!! At 7:02, I did a head count, and Holy Scott, the group was all there! 7:02 am! Awards will be given!

At the train station, after deciding how to get to the right platform, they trucked off to get breakfast while I watched the bags. Their breakfasts consisted of Mc Flurries and McSausage Sandwiches. Hopefully, dinner will provide them with more nourishing flavors.

Trains: Platform 13 was announced, and after 2 trains pulled in, ours finally showed. Getting used to how trains come and go so quickly is nerve wracking, especially if you don’t know which one is yours. The Russian writing on the first train alerted to us that maybe it wasn’t headed to Amsterdam. The second train didn’t stop near enough to our position on the platform to try to find coach #6, so we didn’t even have a chance to get on it, and then train #3 showed up and the conductor led us to Coach #6. Each train coach has 120 seats and the way the train company books the trains, is that each city, at arrival, fills up one coach, as the platforms are not as long as the train. So, basically there are 120 people fighting to get into their seats (it is as tight as a plane, so it is impossible for luggage to pass by each other and there are two directions). I have asked Joel to film it on the next leg of the trip because this is where all the drama comes in!

Elements of Traveling Drama: (There’s the morning stress, the walking with heavy luggage stress, the learning how to travel in a group stress, the learning how to read maps at a train station stress, the waiting at the wrong platform stress, the almost boarding the wrong train stress, the finding your seat, but with Indians who don’t speak English in front of you stress. Then there’s the drifters looking to steal your reserved seat stress, and others’ luggage in your way stress and then trying to lift your heavy duffel bag above you stress while someone wants to shove past you stress and then someone (teacher) asks you a question and BONG the talons come out. I counted heads, found the 3 that boarded the wrong coach, led them to their seats and I was out of there.  My seat was half way down the coach, as I gave Hannah, our late sign up my seat, so she could sit with the kids.

Yet, now, looking down the train, 20 minutes out of Berlin, I didn’t see stress at all, I saw 18 sleeping babies. Remember those days when the temper tantrums exceeded your love and then they fell asleep and they were angels….That is how I feel right now. I will savor this 7 hours on the train.

Berlin was a beautiful stop on this trip, and one of the only ones, which will present us with such an array of architecture. The city showed both the devastation of mankind’s destructive side, as most of the buildings were modern.

It showed the artistic side of mankind, as the museums were filled with ancient and modern artist’s work.  (This picture is from infamous 70’s director/photographer Larry Clark, the kids did NOT go to this show, but Joel and I did, it was powerful and made me want to throw up and cry).

It showed the brilliance of mankind, as the architecture of the Berliner Dom is absolutely massive in its size and beauty,

It showed it’s eclectic acceptance and love of mankind as families strolled down the cobblestoned sidewalks with their young children on bikes, leading them to the most child nurturing parks, in a neighborhood where all the apartments were tagged as if it was a ghetto.

The orange blossom trees lined all of the streets and the feeling of big city meets small neighborhood was mostly apparent one mile out of the major city center, and I am so proud of the travelers who went exploring further than the one mile radius.

PrahaCafe Svateho Vaclava

I’ve taken groups here the last 3 trips. We love the aesthetics and it is on the wonderful Wenscelas Square. They have a wild array of items that meet our budget, from Chicken to Pork to Beef to Vegetarian…and large portions!

Berlin
BrauHaus Mitte

Amsterdam

I haven’t located an Amsterdam dinner restaurant yet, as Dutch food is not the most tasty, and there aren’t many restaurants which cater to the culture, so I have to keep looking, but I do know we are all going to the… 

Pancake Bakery

I’ve included this pancake bakery on the budget this year as it is the best fun before Anne Frank Haus. There are over 40 types of pancakes to choose from. AND the pancakes are bigger than the plates!

ParisLe Poulbot

 near the Artist Square up near Sacre Couer
just around the corner from du Tertre Square


 I found this quaint Parisian restaurant last year, but she doesn’t have room for groups larger than 20. Since we are smaller, we are able to dine here.  I can’t wait, as one French lady ran this place, it smelled amazing!

L’ Relais du l’Entrecote

There are so many rumors about this place, about how tasty it is. “the best steak in Paris”. I couldn’t made reservations for us, as they don’t take reservations, but they told us to show up by 7 pm. I did not put this Steak Dinner on our budget, as there is no price menu available on line to look at, so travelers will have to pay for this!!! This tasty night will be on Wed. July 11.

Barcelona
Los Toreros

I spent hours finding the best tapas restaurant, with larger portions and an authentic atmosphere close to our hotel. HERE IT IS! I can’t wait as it is on the top 10 list of wonderful tapas  Barcelona restaurants!!

 Prague

Residence Bene Apartments
residencebene.praguehotels.it

The rooms in Prague will be rooms of 4.

Berlin

Amsterdam

http://www.hans-brinker.com/

Welcome to the Hans Brinker Budget Hotel, Amsterdam.

The Hans Brinker Budget Hotel has been proudly disappointing travellers for forty years. Boasting levels of comfort comparable to a minimum-security prison, the Hans Brinker also offers some plumbing and an intermittently open canteen serving a wide range of dishes based on runny eggs.

HOTEL AMENITIES

• Wi-Fi access

• Safe deposit box

• Reception service

• Business centre

• Tourist information

• Telephone

• Drinks vending machine

• Hair-dryer on request

There will be “family rooms” of four people in Paris.

Barcelona

 

Hostal Fernando

http://www.hfernando.com/

The reason I chose this Hostal is that it is close to La Ramblas and city center, plus it is across the street from a church and there is the most beautiful chanting that echoes out into the street.

The pension area has been recently renovated, offers rooms all equipped with private bathroom, television, safe, air conditioning and heating.

Services: Breakfast buffet included in the price. Open 24 hours. Air conditioning. Heating. Telephone and fax Multilingual staff. Internet (1 € for 25 minutes.) Free WI-FI  area hot and cold drinks machines Daily cleaning service. Cafeteria. (discount for our customers) Restaurant (discount for our customers) Free maps. Luggage. Lounge. Common Kitchen. Fun activities during the daytime (walks and cyclings tours) and  at night ( tours of bars and clubs with qualified staff). THERE WILL BE ROOMS OF FOUR IN BARCELONA

Ibiza 

Mar y Playa Apartments

http://www.ibiza-spotlight.com/verser/maryplaya.html

 

Situated, just 1 km away from historic Ibiza Town, this is the ideal location to visit all parts of the island. It’s perfect for Clubbers, the major clubs – Space, Amnesia, Privilege, Pacha & El Divino all reached by a short Taxi ride or Discobus. Es Paradis & Eden in San Antonio are longer (20 Minutes) but worth the visit. Nearby the ferryboat has a daily service to Formentera and the Hippie Market (on Wednesdays).

The one-bedroom apartments in Mar y Playa I are all air-conditioned, sleep from 2/3 persons and include a comfortable bedroom, a sofa bed in the salon, fully equipped kitchenette & bathroom, telephone, satellite TV and either a terrace or balcony. Choose between an apartment in the sea-front building with frontal or side-seaview or one in the more modern section but without seaview.

There are 3 spectacular 2-bedroom attic apartments with amazing views, fully equipped bathroom & kitchenette and a limited number of standard 2-bedroom apartments with side sea view and 2 bathrooms. The 2-bedroom apartments sleep up to 4 persons.

The reception remains open 24 hours, offering its service at all times.

Need I say more? 

Money Exchange:

You will need Czech koruna and Euros for our trip.

The koruna is for Prague which is our first stop, and we are there 3 nights.  You should have some koruna on you before we leave the US, so in case the rates at the airport are skyhigh, you can still buy a drink and bus ticket.  It is 20.93czk per one US dollar. So when an item is 418.50 czk it’s $20.00.

The euro € is used everywhere else.

It is .81€ per $1.00.

Or, if your mind works the other way it’s $1.23 per 1 €.

There are two convenient money exchange places I use. Call ahead to make sure they have koruna.

Bretton Woods (310) 447-6234

11659 San Vicente Blvd, Los Angeles, CA

and 

A Plus Exchange Inc  (310) 394-7211

1454 4th Street, Santa Monica, CA

(which is at 4^th and Lincoln under the parking structure). 

“How much money should I bring?”

Parents always ask how much money their kids will need. I will go over this idea at the Thursday night meeting, but I think it is best to create a per city budget prior to leaving, and help the travelers stay and follow the budget, to help teach them how to manage their money.

The best way I have found, is to get 100 dollars worth of koruna (2093 czk) and 100 dollars in euro (81€) in Santa Monica prior to departure. Then, in Europe, use an ATM card to withdraw the budget made per city.  I personally tend to take out the maximum from the ATM, as I am only charged bank fees once. It is usually 350€ ($431.) and use this until it is gone. There are banks on every block, just like in Los Angeles, so it is super easy to get money. Money exchange at banks is pretty reasonable, so it is not worth walking around from currency exchange stores to find the “cheapest” rate.

Travel Tips for Keeping on a Budget 

The predicted budget for “frugal” travelers is $750. which averages about $125 per city, but only $35 dollars a day. So, half of the money is for food, the other for museums and souvenirs.

The “easy living” traveler should have around $2000. which is about $100 a day.

AND, If the skies the limit, make sure you still have some kind of mental budget, so other travelers aren’t borrowing from you. It is hard to keep track of money borrowed, and more impossible to be paid back. Please alert travelers that there should be no lending and no “borrowing”, but any money loaned, is actually a “gift”. I don’t want to see any friendships ruined by the “borrowing of money”.

Souvenir Purchases

There are always the excited travelers who purchase any and every souvenir their hearts desire at that moment, only to get home and realize they won’t ever wear that jacket which says Amsterdam across the chest in orange. Or when buying friendship bracelets, only to have them break off, and have no souvenirs. And what are you really going to do with a mask, when was the last time you were invited to a masked ball?

So, I encourage pre-departure discussions about what TYPES of souvenirs could be looked for in Europe. Personally, I have started a plate collection to hang in my kitchen, so instead of random bursts of retail therapy across Europe, and baseball caps, tshirts and other items I never wear, I limit myself by focusing on certain items, and then I am excited to look for them, which helps me in not spending so much. This year I am looking for salad tongs, a pair of gold earrings, a stone ring, and a new kitchen plate. It’ll be exciting to see in what cities I find these souvenirs;  by focusing on these 4 items, it’ll stop me from purchasing and spending money in the tourist traps.

I also do most of my purchases for family and friends in the last city, so I am not lugging around presents. There was a traveler who purchased an iron crepe cookware set for his baker girlfriend in Paris and carried the thing around through 4 other cities. Sweet gesture, but heavy, AND he had to pay an airport fee for going over the allotted 50 lbs.

Airport fees will also be discussed in a later blog, but passengers are allowed one checked bag up to 50 lbs. (23kg) anybag weighing over 51 lbs is charged $100 fee. It is cheaper to check in a second checked bag which is $75.