A Taste of Europe

Hello all. Im sure you're dying to know... and the answer is yes, we tasted authentic Weiner Schniztel! We had a great time on our European vacation with our friends, Andy and Janel and their son Caiden(18 months old!). We were also accompanied by Andy's parents, Cliff and Trish.

We got to Amsterdam at 7am on Sunday May 17 and it was non-stop from then on out! We traveled (by train) to Paris, Munich, Berlin and Friedeberg(a small town in Northern Germany). We did it all in 16 days and it was definitely not enough time to see everything. With that being said, it's certainly apparent that we have to go back to see and do everything else!

Here are some photos from the trip:
http://picasaweb.google.com/digitalbond/EuropeBondStyle02


Things we learned in Europe:

Europe:
The food can always use a lil more salt and pepper.
A hotel near a train station stop is PRICELESS!
Tip small!
When the sign says 5 Euro, it's 5 Euro... meaning tax is already in there.
The train system is amazing.
The Italians are taking over... there's more Pizza shops than there are country specific restaurants.
They don't believe in ice.
No Dr Pepper.
Air Conditioning = a fan blowing.

Amsterdam:
Watch out for 3 things: Bikes, Muffin Tops, and Pigeons(although Janel called them penguins)
Coffee Houses aren't for coffee.
There are more bikes than people.
A good means of transportation, the Canal Bus.
Heineken is made and shipped from there.

Paris:
Watch out for 3 things: Flying Cigarettes, Motorized Bikes, and the Souvenir Leeches(men who solicit tourists near the eiffel tower with really cheap trinkets)
French Fashion = Wear Black, Wear Leather, and Wear a Scarf!
Pubs/Bars usually only have a couple of beers on tap
Everyone is in shape.
Men wear women's pants to compensate for being too skinny.
EVERYONE smokes... even kids man!
When dining or grabbing a beer:
1) plan on having at least an hour no matter how light of a stop it is
2) don't be afraid of the question "Parlez vous Anglais?"
3) dont be afraid to ask for the bill
If your waiter seems pissed at you, it's because he's just like that.
You need to know exactly where the nearest free & accessible restroom is. Otherwise you gotta pay to pee.(thats why the bums pee in the subway)
I never thought I would have to anxiously wait in line to get DOWN from the Eiffel Tower.
If you turn 90 degrees in any direction in any given spot in Paris, you'll see a statue.
When you order a coffee(aside from Starbucks) you get a tiny glass of espresso.
You always get bread... with no butter.
If you hear the sweet melodies of the accordion, violin, or guitar near... be prepared to get hassled for money soon after.

Munich:
Rallies of Germans who march and sing loud will run you over!
Pretzels are the bread on the table.
There's Wurst Everywhere!
The Worlds best String quartets play for money... they're REALLY good.
Bachelorette and Bachelor parties all take place in the Streets of Munich. And it involves dressing up crazy and selling trinkets to the opposite sex??
The Beer is bigger than your head!
Wiener Schnitzel is basically fried/baked breaded pork.

Berlin:
These guys are Efficient... crazy efficient.
Dont try and make casual conversation with a person at a store... no talky, more selly.
Never thought Id ever see a clean and safe subway.
Everything's BIG
There's more graffiti in the city than there is art in all the art museums there.
Traces of WWII are all around.
Seems EVERY souvenir shop has chunks of the wall to sell.



Specific Stories will follow... this is but round one!
Stay tuned...