Czech Republic- the rest of the trip

I could continue to write well over a thousand words about every day, but I think I'm running out of steam, and time.  So I've decided to condense the last three days a bit (or a lot).  So here goes!

Day 3:
On the third day we went to Prague.  It wasn't nearly as cool as the glass factory and the Bohemian Paradise.  In fact, it's just a huge tourist trap.  The Moldau River runs through the city and is very beautiful, with ornate bridges crossing it every few hundred metres.  The only thing that takes away a lot from the beauty is that it is packed with tour boats.  The streets are lined with dozens of shops on the bottom floors of old buildings.  They sell foods and souvenirs, and there are also hundreds of money exchange stores.  Ironically, all the shops and vendors sell the exact same things.  In the market in the centre of the city there must have been at least a dozen stands selling 'Trdlo', a sugary bread made by winding dough around a stick over a hot grill.  Kim and I bought some of that for 60 Kc each (over 2 euros) as well as a sausage on a bun.  Boy did it ever taste amazing to eat something barbequed again.  In Canada we barbequed a lot, but it's not such a common thing in the Netherlands.

But now I'm ahead of myself.  Kim and I started the day with a tour of the Jewish ghetto (in Dutch with the tour group) but by coffee time we decided to split off and explore on our own.  We walked for miles, saw lots of pretty things and majestic buildings, and allowed ourselves to be tourist trapped into taking a boat tour that included ice cream and beer, for 12 euros.  Well, the beer tasted like nothing, the ice cream tasted like a bar of soap, and the tour was nothing spectacular, but it was still a neat experience. 

 

 

Day 4:
We went to Prague again today, this time to see upper Prague where all the big castles are.  Kim and I have been sitting up at the front with the bus driver instead of in the very back of the top floor of the double decker bus.  It's a better view, and good for the gezelligheid and getting some of our questions answered about Prague and about what we're doing each day.

One of the coolest things we saw today was the changing of the guard at the old palace.  It's just for show for the tourists, but it was so fascinating.  It's incredible and scary at the same time picturing that is used to be real (instead of just for tourists) and that just a couple decades ago this country used that kind of uniformity and officialness in their communist army.

After touring around the palaces for a bit Kim and I went back down to the river.  There were lots of artists and jewelers there.  I bought some more souvenirs, and also a painting.  I've never bought a painting before, and this seemed like a good place to get one.  It was about 20 euros, which is pretty cheap for the amount of time and talent it takes to paint something beautiful.

I don't think I'll ever go back to Prague. It's kind of fake the way the tourists come, get their 'play money' and try not to get scammed while swapping their euros for crowns.  Then they buy the traditional foods, get a few souvenirs, take some pictures and maybe a boat tour, and leave with bragging rights and a lot less money than what they came with.  Okay, that sounds very cynical.  I did enjoy my time in Prague, but not nearly as much as the authenticity of the glass factory, or the raw, untouched beauty of the Bohemian Paradise.  I would seriously consider teaching English as a second language in one of the smaller villages though. I would love to learn more about the language and culture of the people of Czech Republic.  We'll see where God leads me though.  Brazil and Indonesia are also high on my list of places I hope to go to and teach for a while.

Then in the evening Kim and I had a blast! Why?  Because we had a traditional camp fire on the beach!  Yet another incredible experience in Czech Republic- roasting sausages over a camp fire after scrounging through the forest to find the wood.  It's been so long since I've been able to do that!  It's very much illegal in the Netherlands.  The sky was also gorgeous, and normal again for once.  The night sky above Rotterdam is never black.  Even in the darkest hour of night it remains and eerily glowing yellow.  I guess it's kinda handy that it's never truly dark, which makes it easy to bike at night.  But it just doesn't look at all right to have a yellow night sky.  The bus drivers also joined us for our 'Canadian experience in Czech Republic'.  But we wisely turned in before too late because there was a long drive ahead the next day- 12 hours or so back to the Netherlands.

 

The Last Day:
The bus ride back was definitely better than the bus ride there.  Kim and I alternated between sleeping on our very back seats and sitting in the front to talk to the bus driver.  I felt a little bad walking back and forth so many times.  It was also Good Friday, so I began the day by reading the second half of the book of John.  At supper time all the older people had dinner together, but Kim and I opted out (yet again for financial reasons).  We sat outside waiting for a while, and then it got a bit cold, so we went inside and sat in the kids play area... which happened to have a ball room... which happened to be irresistible.  I haven't played in one of those since McDonalds got rid of them all when I was six!  And you can go ahead and laugh and think we're crazy, but throwing balls at each other was sure a fun way to pass the time during a two hour stopover.

And then it was goodbye to all our new tour friends, and off to Zaaier Kamp!  Life just doesn't stop being busy and excited, and that is sure a blessing.


Yup!  Life is pretty good right now!

Czech Republic - Day 2

The breakfast at the hotel is incredible!  They even have chocolate swirl bread there!  I ate quite a lot, because it was delicious, and because I wasn't sure we'd be able to find lunch.  The first destination was a little coffee shop where we could watch 5 men making glassware behind windows.  I felt a little bad because it was kind of like they were on display or something. 

Then we went to the real big glass blowing factory.  It's 100 years old, and the people work for about 50 crowns (a crown is a Czech dollar), which is the equivalent of about 2 euros per hour. 

They also make the glass entirely by hand, just like they did 100 years ago.  It's super cool to watch though!  They got a glob of molten glass on a stick, then blow it hollow by blowing through the stick and turning it.  Then they spin it in a wet brick thing with a rounded inside, and close it in a mold, and spin and blow it lots more.  When it comes out of the mold it's a vase, or goblet, or jar, or anything else.  This whole process takes about two minutes per thing.  The molten glass is a bizarre texture.  It sort of reminds me of a balloon the way they blow it up, or maybe a thick soap bubble, the way it's in constant motion.  It's also about 50-60 degrees Celsius working by the furnaces, so these guys that work there drink about 5-6 litres of beer per day, dealcoholized.  They also smoke while they work.  It's funny to see them blowing the glass, turning the stick, and holding a cigarette all at the same time.

Then, as I was blissfully watching all this in fascination, I suddenly realized that some of the workers were trying to get my attention.  I realized they wanted me to come onto the platform where they were working.  I obeyed hesitantly, because we'd been instructed on the tour bus to be stay out of the way.  On the workers' platform I go a closer look as they got a dollop of glass out of the furnace, blew it, spun it, and then they were talking to me again.  I couldn't understand the words they were saying of course, but I was supposed to blow the glass!  (I managed to figure that much out).    Now, blowing sounds like a simple thing, but when it comes down to it it's rather a challenge in itself.  How does one blow glass?  Hard, soft, fast, slow?  Something in between maybe?  All this was whizzing through my mind while an excited group of workers chattered at me in a mixture of Dutch and Czech.  I must have stuttered something out in English because one guy started talking to me in English.  He said to keep blowing because the glass was still wet.  So I kept blowing while he kept turning the stick.  By this time I was really wishing I'd learned just a few Czech words.  'Hello', and 'thank you' would have been really useful.  So I hope that a huge smile and an English thank you sufficed to show my gratitude for such a cool experience. 

 

Anyways, Kim got to go right after me.  She thought it was pretty cool too.  I do wonder just a bit though, how many germs must be on those glass-blowing sticks.  I definitely didn't care though, I'd do it again in a heartbeat, which actually happened.  On the other side of the room I was called upon yet again to blow some glass.   I felt a bit bad going twice when the older people didn't get to go at all, but I had no idea how to explain that to the Czech workers.  And I'll admit it was pretty neat to get picked again to try blowing glass.  It's a lot of fun!

Then, as I was leaving the room I saw a plate with coins.  I was going to leave a donation because I'd had such a good time and the workers were quite poor, but then a nearby worker motioned me over and handed me a purple vase.  I asked him how much it was and he seemed to be saying it was a gift.  I couldn't believe this so I asked him three times, and then said a grateful and perplexed thank you very much.  I REALLY wish I spoke some Czech!  I felt so honoured though.  I don't know what the purpose of giving it to me was, and those Czech workers are so poor, but I'll treasure it forever.  Only I really worry and hope now that it makes it safely to Canada.  In the gift shop I couldn't believe the prices.  The most expensive things were about 250 Kc (crowns) or ten euros, for handblown, gorgeous, glassware.  In Canada things like that would sell for probably hundreds of dollars.  I bought two pretty little... well, I can't say right now because they're a gift for my parents.

Hopefully I can find lots of good souvenirs in Czech Republic.  Tomorrow afternoon is free time shopping and I can't wait!  On the way back from the factory I paid close attention and spotted a mini-market in the tiny town near the hotel (Stara Splavy).  So Kim and I walked there while the rest of the tour group ate their nine euro lunch at the hotel.

I bought grapes, pudding, yogurt, crackers, rice cakes, and two random spready things to put on the rice cakes, and all for just 125 Kc!  That's about five euros.  Kim and I also had a wonderful thing marvelling at how cheap everything was (only two euros for a bottle of vodka or rum!), and wondering what exactly a lot of the things were.  But anyways, we know where to get food now, and we'll save a lot of 9 euros-es by shopping locally, and it's also a lot more adventurous and fun to experience some of the local culture.

 

In the afternoon we went back on the bus to the Bohemian Paradise.  I thought it would be some sort of garden, but it's actually a nature hike with breathtakingly beautiful rock formations.  We got to climb stairs carved into the rock.  Some were so narrow in cracks between rocks that we hardly fit.  Most of the older people were too scared... or just didn't really fit, so only a few people actually did the entire hike.  It was incredibly amazing to be hiking again.  I can't describe how refreshing it was.  I felt like a kid in a candy store, running up to each corner to see what beauty awaits just out of sight, and being just as excited about what there will be around the next bend in the trail.

Unfortunately, we only had an hour and fifteen minutes, but the time we did have was pure bliss.  I sure did miss nature hikes in the mountains.  More than I realized.  I imagine parts of heaven will look much like the Bohemian Paradise.  Only heaven will be much better, because we won't have to turn back to be on time for the 4:00 bus departure.

Tonight there's a dance at the hotel, with live music.  I think it'll be only older people there, since Kim and I are the only young people in the tour group, but it'll still be neat to check it out.

So yes, day one of sightseeing officially ranks as amazing!  The glass-blowing factory is one of the coolest experiences of life (up there with carillon playing).  I also love my purple jug. 

I'm so thankful that God gave me such a wonderful, eye-opening, educational, and exciting day today.

PS: The glass Kim and I blew was promptly thrown in the waste bin.  They just let us blow it for kicks.

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Day 2, Part 2: The Dance

Well, Kim and I didn't really do much dancing.  The live music was two Czech musicians (old men) singing Dutch folk songs.  They were very talented though.  Kim and I did join a line of people walking around in a train, with everyone holding the shoulders of the person in front of them.  That was lots of fun!

We almost didn't end up going at all.  When we got there we saw people sitting in the hotel bar (where the music was) and Kim really didn't want to go because apparently people sit with friends at bars, and it would be kind of embarrassing to be sitting with just us two.  But then as we were debating our bus driver waved us over, so we joined him and the other bus driver.  They're both about 30 years old, so much younger than everyone else.  Kim and I ordered a beer each, and had a nice chat.  It was really neat being able to get some of our questions about Czech Republic answered.  We learned a bit about the history, culture, and language.  Czech Republic is the biggest beer-drinking people country in the world.  Okay, that sentence probably didn't make much sense.  I'll try again.  Czech People drink more per capita than people from any other country in the world, and that doesn't include the dealcoholized beer they drink all day at the factories.  The average is 180 litres per person per year, and that includes everyone, including newborns who obviously don't drink beer.  So the average adult drinks an awful lot.

And I know how to say thank you now!  Pronounced diekooien (easy to remember because it's like 'the cows' in Dutch).  Then we also learned that Czech people make moonshine because it's cheaper, and then it's up to 60% alcohol content, or higher.  And then... we were informed that they sold it at the hotel bar as well, and pointed to a sign to prove it.  And then we were informed that we absolutely should try it.  Well, I figured we might as well give a go.  I'll never get another opportunity to try something like that again.  Czech Republic was really turning out to be a place of very unique experiences. 

So Kim and I got our 62% alcohol, and whew!  That stuff burns.  You have to drink about two drops per sip- and beware if you drink three.  Kim and I only managed to drink half a small shot glass.   Trust me when I say we're in no danger of wanting to get even remotely tipsy.  I've discovered that it's fun to have a social drink, and beer isn't quite as disgusting as it seemed at first.  But I've also seen drunk people and I makes me all the more determined not to drink too much ever.  I really don't want to do anything stupid, and it wouldn't bring glory to God.

So Kim and I have fun, but we're also careful, just to make that clear.  We're daughters of the Most High God, and we never forget that.

Czech Replublic - Day 1

I didn't bring my laptop to Czech Republic, but I did bring paper!  So what you are about to read will sound as though it was very fresh in my mind, because it was when I wrote it.  The past week has been one of the most interesting in my entire life so far.  I didn't know what to expect in Czech Republic, but many experiences there were things I never would have anticipated.  It was an incredible week!  So here begins my recount of my many incredible adventures:

Oh, and before I begin I should probably give just a bit more background.  This trip was with Effeweg, a Dutch touring company that does tour trips all over Europe.  At just 140 euros for five days including transport, tour guide, hotels, and breakfast, that was a pretty skookum deal!

Oh, and just one more note: the writing style is probably a bit different than usual, because I wrote it more in the style that I write in my diary, and not so much like a blog post.  But hopefully it still makes sense.


Prague Diary- Day 1, April 14, 2014, Monday

I made it to Czech Republic!!  It was a long day -15 hours travelling including stops.  On a double decker bus, which was pretty cool.  (Check mark on my bucket list!).  I'd tried to pack as lightly as possible for this trip, and was proud to have everything I need in just one backpack.  However, I rather foolishly didn't bring anything for entertainment on the bus ride.  Oops.  It was a rather boring bus ride, and I wasn't feeling very well which didn't help either. 

On the way Kim and I looked around at our fellow passengers.  We were naturally quite curious about who we'd be spending the next week with.  To our surprise we seemed to be the only young people.  Our conversation went something like this:
Kim: "Uhhh, Val, do you see any young people?"
Me: "Hmmm... nope.  I only see old people.  But there must at least be some young adults.  Is there anyone who looks younger than 50?"
Both of us give each other a look with raised eyebrows: "Nope."

So it seemed this was going to be a rather interesting trip, with Kim and I being sort of the odd ones in the group.  But on the other hand we were also still very excited.  We were on the way to Czech Republic!  And there were still lots of people to meet, even if they weren't young people, and most of them didn't speak English.  Still, Kim and I were very glad we had each other. 

The first thing Kim and I did when we got to the hotel was check in, drop off our bags, get all excited about our very own hotel room, and then dash outside to take advantage of the last 20 minutes of daylight for exploring.  The hotel, which is in a little village called Stara Splavy, about a 50 minute drive from Prague, is surrounded by forest, and there's also a lake nearby.  Oh!  It was so very refreshing and familiar and wonderful to skip and run around tall trees which aren't planted in straight rows, and jump on rocks, and climb hills.  And there's that large, gorgeous lake with tree-covered hills behind it, and some with castles or strongholds on the top.  I felt like a kid in a candy store, except that instead I was a nature-deprived Canadian in a beautiful forest.  Czech Republic reminds me very much of Telkwa, Sumas Prairie, and Cultus Lake all rolled into one new land.  It was like being home and on holidays at the same time.  The bus ride (especially the first part where I was super tired and not feeling well) was kind of miserable and long, but now I feel so free and thankful to God that I can enjoy this gorgeous and familiar nature that He created.  Another cool thing- the money here!  I exchanged 20 euros for over 400... well, Czech dollars, or whatever they're called.  It's so unique and excited and fun that 25 Czech dollars are worth one just one euro.  Things at the hotel are super cheap too- only 7 for a postcard, which is about 30 cents!  Kim and I can't wait to go shopping.  We're going to have to, because we're not going to eat at the hotel like everyone else.  Breakfast is included, but for lunch and supper it's 18 euros.  For one thing, we're on a student budget, and for another, it'll be way more exciting to experience the local grocery stores!

But anyways, I'd better get to sleep now.  The bus leaves at 8:30 tomorrow morning, and I got hardly any sleep last night (though I did doze a lot on the bus).  But I also need enough time to eat lots of buffet breakfast, especially if Kim and I can't find a grocery store tomorrow on time for lunch.  I admit I'm a bit nervous about that.  But there are worse things than being a bit hungry, and God will take care of me.  He always does.

Oom Gijs and Tante Tieneke

Last Monday and Tuesday were amazing!  I was a bit depressed the week before.  I guess I got a bit homesick and lonely, or maybe a lot homesick and lonely.  So I was very excited to visit relatives.  And Tante Tieneke is so loving and wonderful and gezellig, with lots of hugs to give, which I was needing quite badly.

Kim and I packed overnight bags, and Monday morning Oom Gijs and Tante Tieneke picked us up and drove us to Den Haag (the Hague) to Madurodam, a mini-world of the Netherlands.  It was super leuk (cute/cool) to see both things that I'd already seen in Rotterdam and other cities, as well as other parts of Holland that I haven't seen yet.  I especially loved seeing all the palaces and majestic old buildings.  Madurodam was one of the top things on my list of must-sees in the Netherlands, and I'm so glad that Oom Gijs and Tante Tieneke took me there. 

Yup, lots of excitement and things to see at Madurodam!  After that educational and fun day we drove to Oom Gijs and Tante Tieneke's house in Lekkerkerk and had a delicious dinner or patat (fries), frikendel (Dutch equivalent of hotdog, and don't ask what's in it), and kroketten (you have to try them to fully appreciate them, the taste is too delicious to explain).  And then we had ice cream for dessert.  After dinner we had tea and relaxed and chatted, all in Dutch of course.  The two days spent with Oom Gijs and Tante Tieneke were exceedingly good for my Dutch, and Kim's.  We even caught ourselves speaking Dutch to each other once.  Oops!  And Tante Tieneke said I could call home, which was also wonderful.  It's always so good to have a chat with my mom.  Then she said I should call Oma too, and ask what day she and Opa are coming to the Netherlands.  Thankfully I have the number memorized, as well as the extra digits I need to call Canada from the Netherlands.  But unfortunately she wasn't home.  I'm so excited to see Oma and Opa when they come!  It's hard being away from family for so long.  Phoning and emailing definitely help, but it's not the same as seeing them in person.

And then we went to bed in the lovely luxury guest room.  The beds even have switches that make them sit up and down!

 

The next day we had a yummy breakfast and then headed off in the car.  The original plan had been to go to the Keukenhoff, a gorgeous flower garden, but the weather was cloudy and threatened rain.   So instead we went to Noah's Ark, which was in Dordrecht.  I was so excited to find out we were going to Dordrecht.  It's the city where the Canons of Dort were written at the Synod of 1618-1619!  After learning so much about them in preconfession class, and having to memorize large portions of it I was thrilled to be able to go to the city where the history was made.  I tried to explain that to Oom Gijs and Tante Tieneke, and that proved to be the most challenging moment in our communication.  Usually we understood each other pretty well, but I just didn't have the Dutch words in my vocabulary to facilitate the explanation of a term such as 'Canons of Dort'.  But in the end, and after some laughter and much perplexity we finally all understood each other.

 

Noah's Ark was HUGE!  It's amazing that Noah managed to build that without the machinery we have today.  It's also incredible that he had the perseverance. That could only have come with much help and inspiration from God.  There was also a real kangaroo in the ark!  Kangaroos are my favourite animal.  Maybe in heaven I'll ask God if I can have a real one as a pet.

 

 

 

 

And then (yes, there's more!) we went to the Grote Kerk, the actual church where the Canons of Dort were written! 

 

There was also a little showcase (in the picture) to show what the synod would have looked like with all the men in black suits sitting there discussing. 

After that we were all quite tired.  We'd done a lot of walking and a lot of learning.  So we went back to Lekkerkerk and had some more tea.  I also phoned Oma successfully!  She's coming in just a few weeks!

And then, for one last adventure, Oom Gijs and Tante Tieneke took Kim and I out to the Pannenkoe, a pancake restaurant.  There I had the most delicious pancake ever.  It was huge!  It had mushrooms, onions, and cheese on the inside, and ham and cheese on top.  I wasn't so sure I'd be able to finish it because it was so huge, but it was too delicious not to eat all of it.  Good thing I do lots of biking here in the Netherlands.

After that delicious dinner they brought us back home to Rotterdam.  We had all sorts of happy and exciting stories to tell the Macleans then!  (Over a cup of tea of course).

The rest of my week was also full of fun things to do.  I didn't have time to be homesick this week, and I'm very glad too.  It helped so much going to Oom Gijs and Tante Tieneke for two days, so dank u heel wel!

Last week I was almost tempted to go home early.  And tomorrow, bright and early at 5:00 AM, Kim and I are off to Prague, Czech Republic!  And straight from there we're going to a young people's camp, sort of like Maylong.  I still can hardly believe we're going to Prague, because I'm so excited!  So I figured I'd better catch up at least a bit on this blog before I had so many more adventures to blog about.

Oh!  And just one more thing which must be said.  I got to play on the real carillon last Wednesday! (instead of just the little practice one).  It was a bit intimidating knowing that everyone in the neighbourhood can hear me, but playing that instrument is one of the best experiences of my life.  It sounds so unique and beautiful, and I can't wait until I can play it again.  It also only hit me afterwards that I'd just been playing an instrument valued at over 100,000 euros.  What an honour to play it! 

And now I'd better get myself off to bed.  I don't want to be grumpy tomorrow and there's a very long bus ride up ahead.  So until next blog post (which won't be for over a week), goodbye everyone except Kim, and hello Prague and adventure!

Prepare to be Jealous

I went to the beach four times this week!  The weather was absolutely gorgeous, and reached 22 degrees on several days.  And it just so happens that there is a lovely little beach only seven minutes away by bike.  No wait, apparently in the Netherlands if you say 'beach' you mean the sea.  This was just a lake so it's not really the beach.  But Canadians will definitely know what I'm talking about when I say beach. 

Unfortunately the water is still far too cold for swimming, but that didn't stop me from having a lovely, gezellig, and more or less relaxing time with whoever I went with at the various times.  I say more or less because when people (you know who you are) keeps tickling you it is rather challenging to relax.  But it's also a lot of fun!

The first time I went to the beach was on Sunday.  Kim went to a Pentecostal church with a friend from university, but I very much enjoy Reformed churches.  Sunday just isn't the same without two good familiar Reformed services, even if they are in Dutch.  So I braced myself for a rather lonely day since Kim was gone.  But then to my delight I was invited over to a friend's house for coffee, and then went with him and another friend to the beach for the afternoon!  We had a lovely time playing Frisbee and cards, eating snacks, and just relaxing.  Heerlijk!  (That means deliciously wonderful in Dutch).  So the Sunday I thought would be lonely was actually lots of fun and very gezellig. 

The second time to the beach was on Tuesday afternoon with Kim and Rob.  It was just too gorgeous to do anything besides the beach, so we went.  Towards the end of the afternoon Rob, always the gentleman, biked us home.  We stood chatting in the alleyway behind the house for a while, and then we sat and kept chatting.  And then all of a sudden I had this brilliant idea.  Instead of sitting on concrete and having to move every so often so that we don't get run over by bikes, we should sit in the comfortable lawn chairs about three metres away from where we'd been sitting. 

We decided to drink some water in addition to sitting comfortably.  And drinking some water turned into Rob dumping water on me, which turned into Kim and I chasing Rob around the block with loaded cups.  Kim got him, but I missed.  Some days I really wish I had some hand-eye coordination.  But alas, that is a skill in which I fear I shall forever be lacking.  At least Kim had good aim! 

That evening after supper there was still plenty of daylight left, so Kim and I couldn't resist.  We went back to the beach for a beautiful jog along the sand. 

And my final time going to the beach was on Thursday with a friend from university.  Kim had an exam, so I Facebooked a few people and asked if they were interested in spending some time at the beach.  It's always fun to sit and chat with someone for a few hours, especially in a beautiful place like Kralingse Bos.

So that was my week of going to the beach many times.  And even better times are coming when the water is warm enough for swimming!  Oh, and I almost forgot pictures!

You should have special appreciation for this picture.  We had to stand in the water which was ICE COLD.  And the first picture apparently didn't turn out well, so we had to keep standing in there, and freezing, while trying to look happy and warm.  Brrr!  But on the plus side I do think the picture turned out well in the end.