Mmmm Nature

This is the tale that begins in Prague and ends with a plate of fried cheese, with 15 miles in between. Yesterday I had the opportunity to go on a 15 mile hike through the frozen forests of the Czech country. I was warned about below freezing temperatures, hidden streams, thin ice, and slippery conditions. I was told I would be walking 15 miles in these conditions. I was told to dress appropriately, therefore I donned my leggings AND my cords, three shirts and a sweatshirt, topped with my roommates heavy coat. I figured my black peacoat wouldn't suffice. With some water and bread packed away in my bookbag, 13 brave souls, including myself, left to encounter a day in the wild. We hop on a train to get to another train in order to get to the middle of nowhere. With all 13 of us bundled we begin our journey.
Pause scene.
After walking for 5 minutes we come to a hill. It is a really big hill. I shouldn't even call it a hill. It was a monster. I needed a walking stick in order to walk up it. Five minutes into the hike I began to lose hope in myself and I decided that I couldn't do it so I turned around and walked back to the train and went home.
Kidding!
But seriously, this hill was quite steep and large and I became discouraged but then I saw that everyone else could barely breathe, so I decided that I was actually in decent shape because I could still sing to myself while hiking (which is what I was doing). I hoped to a higher power that the entire 15 miles was NOT like that first hill. I hopes were answered and things became much easier! I took a lot of pictures of trees, mostly Liz and Riley, some snow and a senic view.

After maybe 6 miles we reached Narnia.

This part was beautiful and enchanted, just like the back of my closet. I'm not sure if we got here before or after we ate lunch, but when we did eat lunch we all piled into what looked like a run down bus stop/shelter. Look at us, we all look homeless and helpless. But food made things better.

After lunch we walked another 500 miles and after walking over some more uneven terrain, stopping for some pictures, stumbling on a few castles and taking in the hills of the Czech Republic, and hearing some goats in the distance (seriously, I saw them beyond the trees) we finally made it to our destination for dinner aka smazeny syr aka fried cheese.

Success! We're still alive. Now until the 35 mile overnight hike..that should be interesting.

Oh Berlin, where have you been all my life?!

I've been putting off writing about anything simply because writing about what I've done doesn't do it justice. I've been everywhere and back over the past 2 weeks. I went to Berlin this past weekend and I can't even begin to describe how much I love that city. I was only there for 2 days but they were 2 beautiful days even if the weather was awful. I (slightly) improved in speaking German. Hell, even if I only did order a donut and coffee its progress, yeah? I saw the Reichstag, the Holocaust Memorial and Museum, and the Berlin Wall among other things. Every structure was breathtaking and unbelievably moving or a point where I actually had tears in my eyes. I know, I guess I'm a softie when it comes down to it. I think part of the reason I became so overwhelmed/emotional or whatever you want to call it is because for the past 8 years Germany and the German culture has become such a huge part of my brothers life and I think I'm the first person in the family to really experience it firsthand. Now I understand how easy it is to fall in love with Germany. But besides that Prague is still number one right now, but Berlin is a close second. Here come the pictures that won't be aligned correctly. Awesome.

Well that wasn't so bad. This morning I slept in because I dont have class on Tuesdays. I got up, my stomach felt a little weird but I brushed that aside, took a shower, and took a walk to the Salvador Dali Museum. Surrealism in my favorite so I thoroughlly enjoyed it. Now that I'm back in my room, I noticed how terribly messy I am. My roommate, Liz, cleaned her side of the room last night maybe as a passive way of telling me that she thinkgs I'm disgusting. Ha, no, shes already told me that. Bahha I'm kidding. But anyway, take a look at dissss.

But look at this! I sat on the top of a fortress that was oh, I don't know a mere 150 feet off the ground. It would be certain death if a strong gust of wind came and blew me off the top. But it looked cool at least. That is, both my feet hanging off the edge and the spectacular views of the city that were offered.

Check it outtttttt! Up next, third child qualms.

Just a thought..

I'm listening to Mum while trying to digest all I need to know for this test I have in about 2 hours. Today is difficult because it is another day that sun has refused to share its warmth with the city and it has lost it's battle with the thick clouds. Perhaps tomorrow will be different, but I'm guessing not. I feel so removed from the world. I know little of what is going on back in the US, something about Egypt is making headlines and an unfortunate death back home has left the tri-state area in a grim state of mind. Apparently nothing good happens anymore so I'm here to change that. I am going to Berlin this weekend! Thats a good thing because then Germany will really see how good I am at German! Thats a great thing.