Innsbruck Austria, to Italy!

keeping this post kinda short today...limited time. Innsbruck was great, we were able to go for a great little hike over looking the Alps and the city. However very short stay. Apparently May day is a big deal over here, so it made it hard to book anything in Italy. We had planned to stay two nights in verona but because it was not enjoyable we cancelled the second night and took the chance of getting a room in Venice!! and we got lucky!! Venice is so beautiful, we walked walked walked all day in the hot sun. Heading to dinner here soon for a good italian meal hopefully and tomorrow we head to Rome for two nights! From Rome we head to the cinque terre staying at Andi Poggis hotel (kelseys aunt and uncles friend) cant wait!!! Love to all! Happy Days!

Austria.....Rainy days

Hello again to everyone! To update everyone, we left Regensurg and headed to Salzburg Austria! The hills were not so much alive, as they say in the sound of music, very rainy and cloudy! We could tell that the mountains were there, and if there was sun, it would have been a very pretty area. The first day we took advantage of just overcast skies, and we walked around the town, through Maribellgardens, and all around old town. We had our first bad dinner, at a spaghetti place, yuck! The next morning we walked to the cathedral and then to the castle on the hill looking over Salzburg! Despite the clouds and the rain it was still beautiful, and we got a tour of part of the castle. We went back to the hotel to dry off and relaxed! After a great dinner, cheap too, at a nearby Indigo Restaurant, we went back to the hotel and things got stressful! We were trying to head to venice for the weekend, keep in mind its May day, so.....everything was booked!!! Nothing within the main city was available nor in our price range. Our plans officially changed. After talking with another young couple, they suggested we stay at Verona, and take a day trip to Venice, only hour away. Today we arrived in Innsbruck at very family run hotel that is in the middle of no where. Way up in the hills, and we are just starting to see the peaks of mountains around us! Tomorrow morning we may do a hike then off to Verona, Italy!!!

Prague, Regensburg, and Dachau

We have a lot of catching up to do, and it seems like a lot of new stories to tell! First lets start with Prague. We had a very good time and got to see lots of old historical buildings, however it is a definite tourist spot. Lots of people and very overwhelming! I dont know if we mentioned it but we got to visit the famous castle, and we went to the Jewish quarter, and the Jewish cemetary. Our last night we did get to go to black light theatre which was so awesome! It was a mix of blacklight dancing and comedy which was all nonverbal. We were glad to be moving on to Germany......

Happy Birthday Casey!(and John) Turn the volume up, love you and miss you!
As for Germany, we love it! Coming from Prague we felt so at ease here in Regensburg, a small city on the River, and we are staying here for two more days. The first day we immediately ate the famous bratwurst...sooooo good! We enjoyed walking around the city and soaking up the sun! We went to a german beer garden, where a nice german man welcomed us into Germany by paying for our bill!! We went into the cathedral in town, which was free! Later we laid in the park with all of the local young people and Andy even got to go slack lining! Today we woke up and headed to the train station to go to Dachau to see the famous concentration camp. Emotional, and tiring day but well worth it! It was so amazing to see how people were treated just under 70 years ago. It was hard to see the gas chambers and barracks. Now we are back into Regensburg and are hoping for sun tomorrow before we head to Salzburg Austria on Tuesday. We are going to go enjoy another Bratwurst or two (Andys hoping for six) for all of you at home!!!! :) Take care, love to all! Thanks for keeping up with our adventure!

Prague

Today has been beautiful! Very sunny and warm here, in Praha and we have been relaxing and taking in the sites. We walked over Charles Bridge this morning to head to the Castle. The line was very long and we decided to save our money so we just walked all around and enjoyed the sun. We did however pay to get into the Jewish cemetary which was very interesting, but not sure if it was worth our money. The city is booming today, and is very crowded, we are starting to get excited to go to Regensburg, Germany which will be very quiet (we head there tomorrow). Black light theatre in a couple of hours, and then off to the next country! The quick stay at Prague, was perfect, and we feel like we have seen a ton, and saved lots of money since its so cheap here! 2 dollar beers, 1 dollar ice cream, what more could you ask for on a sunny day! Sorry no pics today, No USB since we are at the Tourist info place, but its free here! ha Take care!!

No reservations......

Oslo was very fun and so good to see more family! We walked around "frogner park" we are not sure that is the right name. Its famous for its statues, had lots of fun with Anders and his twin girls! Went to dinner with the entire family and got a true norwegian meal with good company! We went to the countryside with Petter and his wife and stayed with them last night. We stayed up late drinking tea and talking. We got up early this morning to head to Prague. The airplane was a big time culture shock! It was 9 AM and 90 percent of the plane were wasted and drinking more. It was not easy to catch sleep or read, VERY LOUD! We got into Prague, took bus and metro to downtown, with a hostel in mind that we looked on the internet. Of course when we got there they were booked solid. They looked for us to stay at other hostels and they were all booked!!!! They were suprised but it must be a busy weekend. They helped us find a nice hotel in the center of Prague, and we are now all settled in. We have been walking around the city, had a beer, and now we are off to get dinner and probably some more beer! Tomorrow we plan to see the castle, and we have booked Black Light Theatre, for tomorrow night! Very excited. Hoping tomorrows weather is better than todays.

Bergen to Oslo, Norway

We woke up in the morning at Bergen, and headed to the train station! We got the 8 am to Oslo, which was supposed to be a six hour ride, actually turned into 7 and a half hour. The train ride was so amazing, we passed through tiny Norwegian villages and many different fjords. When the train climbed over the mountains, we got the highest point on the trip and stopped. The train had technical problems! Apparently it happens a lot on the particular route that we were on. It started up after an hour or more. Arriving in Oslo, Andys relatives were waiting for us! Anders, and his very cute twin girls, were waiting and took us back to his flat. He is a chef here and he had a great dinner planned for us! We had fresh salmon in marinade, and a wonderful dumpling and sausage soup. Petter, his father came over for home made waffles, famous here in Norway. We took a short car ride to a lookout over the city at night, which was very beautiful! Today we are headed to town to explore, and then having a family dinner! Prague is next, we fly out tomorrow, another adventure begins! Love to all!

Bergen with Kelsey's Family....Not long enough!

WOW!! Norwegians are soo much fun! Kelsey's family has been so great to us and they are so fun to be around! They cant stop laughing and with all six girls together it was crazy! We took the boat from Stavanger on Sunday and had to say goodbye to Andy's family. The boat ride was amazing, sun was shining and it looked very similar to being out on the San Juan Islands. When we got off, Kelsey's family were all jumping up and down waving us over to them....the fun began! Arriving in Bergen, it was very sunny and we all had t shirts on, shared a beer with the family as they read the letters sent from Bampa (Kelseys Grandpa who is cousins with them). They loved them! They rented a flat (apartment) for us all, and it is very cute and cozy! Seven girls and one guy. We walked around Bergen and had dinner. Last night we sat and shared stories and laughs together in the tiny living room of the flat. This morning we woke up to some light rain, but we were not stopped, we headed to Fløibanen which is a tram that took us up to the top of a mountain overlooking Bergen! We then had lunch and did some shopping, and already had to say goodbye. They promised that they would come and visit soon! Their home town sounds wonderful, and we are sad we could not make it there, Next time!! Tomorrow we catch the train to Oslo, for a bit more of Andys family and then we are ON OUR OWN!! Yikes! Love to all!! Take care!
Skøl!! (cheers) we have learned a little!