spring break

This was a long time coming, mainly because it has been crazy here since we got back from our three week trip in March. Here’s a sparknotes of what went down post-Prague:

Vienna for two days. Schnitzel, schnitzel, schnitzel, interesting modern public housing projects, driving the wrong direction (repeatedly) on one way streets, possible Austrian speeding ticket, incredible Museum District with a great exhibition on media in society at the Museum Modernkunst.

Clay, Daniel and I took a 7 hour train to Krakow, Poland from Vienna. Through Slovakia. At night. In an unheated car. Oh, did I mention that it was 20 degrees outside? We were very happy to get to Krakow. 2 amazing nights with our friends from UT who are studying in Krakow, Cyklops Pizza, Wawel Castle tour, St. Patrick’s Day celebrations at CK Browar. We didn’t want to leave, but the Netherlands were/was calling.

Flight from Krakow to Dusseldorf, train to Rotterdam. We arrived at night to our ridiculous hostel designed by Piet Blom. StayOkay Rotterdam, look it up. Ogling at modern architecture for two solid days, including a day trip to Delft. Great city, except for the lack of dining options near our hostel at night, I am planning on returning at some point to spend more time exploring/being an architecture nerd.

Train to Brussels. Clay was interrogated by police officers on the train who thought he was bringing drugs from Holland into Belgium. After professing his innocence, the officer admitted that they were suspicious because of his beard. He has since shaved. Belgian waffles are delicious, Trappist beer is better, and we definitely enjoyed our short time in Brussels. Not to mention that they played the NCAA tournament on a plasma screen in our hostel, which earned them big bonus points.

We flew out the next morning to Milan, took an awesome black Mercedes party van to Lugano, train to Riva, and passed out. Whew.