Peru State College Europe Trip 2018

The last of the spooky happenings posts! For how old Amsterdam is I had a hard time finding the spookiest of spots in the city although I’ve managed to gather 5 different haunted places. Enjoy! Try not to get too scared!!

1. Helena of Ghost Alley

Helena is probably one of Amsterdam’s most famous ghosts wandering about the oldest part of the city. She was a tanner’s daughter who lived on Spooksteeg (spook, how ironic lol) in the 18th century with her father and sister Dina. Overcome by jealousy when a handsome sailor fell in love with her lovely sister, Helena reportedly threw Dina into the tannery cellar killing her and making her death appear as a tragic accident. To add to this scandalous story, Helena then went on to marry the sailor. She kept her little secret until 1753 when she told her husband on his deathbed and begged for his forgiveness. He refused and instead cursed her soul to roam in misery for eternity. Exactly one hundred years after her death Helena’s screams were heard on the site of her crime and many people have reported sights of her ghostly self roaming the dark alley where the tannery once stood.

2. Dam Square

Dam Square is one of the many places that we’ll be visiting in Amsterdam. It’s a vibrant hub of shopping and sightseeing, plus the Royal Palace is located there. So what makes it so haunted? Back in the day Dam Square was the site of public executions, including the burning of thousands of suspected witches and heretics during the Spanish Inquisition. Many believe that some tortured souls still haunt this square in the heart of Amsterdam. Maybe we’ll see some ghosts wandering around with us..

3. Black Matthew

According to this legend, we need to be careful who we bump into after dark. Black Matthew was a 13th century bandit and magician who is said to have made a pact with the devil. He spent his days gambling using dark magic and trickery to make sure he always won. His “luck” lasted until he met his match with the devil. Now his ghost roams the streets of Amsterdam at night hoping for some luck to come his way.

4. Blood Street

In the heart of the Red Light District is the short Blood Street. It connects the ancient Nieuwmarkt to Amsterdam’s oldest canal and is supposedly another one of the most haunted spots in the city. There’s two reasons for the haunting name that was given to this street. For one, the blood of executed prisoners used to drain into the canal through the street. Also a Franciscan monastery once stood on the site. The monastery is where the Duke of Alba’s infamous 16th century Council of Blood would meet to discuss the fate of accused heretics. I believe that these two are reason enough for a haunting to occur.

5. The Doomed Family of the Montelbaan Tower

Lastly we have a bit of a sad story. The Montelbaan Tower looms over the water of the Oudeschans moat and was erected in the early 1500s as a defense tower to protect the city from attacks. It’s believed that while fleeing to the safety of the tower during an attack, an entire family was killed. Every year on June 2nd the ghosts of the doomed family are said to reappear, reliving their tragic last moments before disappearing at the top of the tower stairs.

Sources:

https://www.iamsterdam.com/en/see-and-do/things-to-do/attractions-and-sights/haunted-amsterdam

We’ve been lacking in posts about Amsterdam so I’m making a big megapost about some cool stuff in the city. The next post to follow will be about haunted places so stay tuned for the spooky stuff.

1. Can you guess how many canals are in Amsterdam? I’ve heard there’s at least 10. But for real 165 canals run through Amsterdam totaling a distance of about 60 miles.

2. There’s more bicycles in the city than actual human beings. About 1,000,000 bicycles to 813,562 residents, although some estimates say that 100,000 bicycles are stolen each year soooo that might account for some of the difference in numbers.

3. With all those bikes and canals there’s bound to be a few bikes lost in the waters. Well maybe more than a few. About 30,000 bicycles are lost in the canals each year with only 10,000 being recovered annually.

4. Because Amsterdam is pretty much built on water the building are supported by long wooden poles underground. Each house has anywhere from 5 to 10 poles supporting it so in total about 11 million poles support the city.

5. Amsterdam is home to highest number of nationalities out of any city in the world.

6. Over 85% of the residents speak more than two languages. Usually it’s Dutch, English, and a little German. You guys I can barely remember basic Spanish from high school.

7. Alongside the houses supported by wooden poles, the canals hold about 2500 houseboats. Many are already occupied by residents but some are available to rent for visitors.

8. This one’s a little random but the Dutch are known to be the tallest people in the world. 

9. Smoking tobacco is illegal in cafes and restaurants but you can still legally smoke marijuana in those infamous coffee shops.

10. Although prostitution and soft drugs are legal in Amsterdam, they are one of the top 25 safest cities in the world. Their crime rate is much lower than most popular European capital cities.

11. Coffee is huge in Amsterdam. Like they are the second largest consumers of coffee in the world, drinking about 3.2 cups of coffee a day per person. REMEMBER!! We’re talking cafes here, not the coffee shops.

12. Going back to those houseboats, there’s one particular boat that’s home to a bunch of stray cats!!! It’s called Poezenboot and is run by volunteers in the canal just west of Central Station.

13. Going to the movie theatre is usually a fun trip for friends or nice date but in Amsterdam they have the world’s smallest cinema seating only one person. I guess it’s perfect if you don’t want to deal with people talking during the movie.

14. So. Many. Bridges. Amsterdam is home to 1281 bridges with 872 more than Venice. This gives the city it’s nickname “Venice of the North”.

15. Every country is usually known for it’s specialty drink. The Netherlands claim the invention of gin. They call it “jenever” and it came about in the the 16th century when it was originally used for medicinal purposes.

16. Another interesting random fact, in 1850 30% of the population in Amsterdam lived off begging.

17. Amsterdam’s first gay bar still exists. Cafe ‘t Mandje was opened way back when in 1927. The owner, Bet van Beeren, was lesbian. She allowed men dancing with men and women dancing with women BUT there was to be no kissing.

18. When a room is lit with blue or purple light in the Amsterdam Red Light District, it means the women might possibly be more than just a woman.

19. Besides having a normal mayor, Amsterdam also has a night life mayor, a bike mayor and a city poet. At that rate they might as well have a coffee mayor too for all that coffee that they drink.

20. Last but not least, bee fact! Since 2000 there’s about 45% more bee species in Amsterdam. They’ve worked hard to abolish harmful pesticides and set up special flower gardens inside the city. 

Sources:

https://whatsupwithamsterdam.com/fun-facts-amsterdam/

https://storyv.com/15-facts-amsterdam/

We have reached the end of another unit. As per tradition I am sealing off the London bit of blog posts with a finale of haunted places in London. Now the last list from Vienna only had 5 places but London had tons of articles about haunted places so this one is a lot longer. I apologize for the lengthy read but let’s be honest, who doesn’t love a good ghost story. 

Continue reading if you dare 😱😱

1. Tower of London

Starting off with a location that we’ve talked about! The Tower of London. With such an old location it’s no surprise that there’s a few ghosties running about. Here "off with her head" wasn't just a saying, it was reality. In 1536, Queen Anne Boleyn was arrested and beheaded at the Tower Green. Other royal ghosts lurk in the castle, too. Arbella Stuart, cousin of King James I, was allegedly murdered here. In Bloody Tower two young princes, Edward V and Richard, were believed to be murdered by the Duke of Gloucester. These young boys’ voices and screams are heard throughout the tower.

2. Theatre Royal

London’s renowned Theatre Royal has had it’s fair share of haunted sightings over the years. According to both actors and staff members, the ghost of Joseph Grimaldi can be seen on the premises. This man is the inventor of the modern clown and called the “Man in Grey.” He was allegedly stabbed in the Theatre Royal and his bones were discovered in a side passage in 1848. Now I know that this sounds pretty grisly but the theatre isn’t all that spooky in real life. The appearance of one of the ghost is actually a sign of good luck for performances.

3. Covent Garden

We’ve talked about Covent Garden briefly in class so I thought that this would be a nice ad-in. This London Underground stop brings you to an awesome shopping area and one of London’s best theatre districts. But we aren’t talking about shopping, are we? Nah we’re talking about ghosts. The ghost that haunts this station is named William Terriss and he has been seen walking the platforms wearing a gray suit. Bizarre noises are also heard when no travelers are around.

4. Old Bailey

The Central Criminal Court, otherwise known as the Old Bailey, has a disturbing past. The court sits on the former site of Newgate Prison. Along with the building itself, ghosts seem to wander the area surrounding the Old Bailey. If you’re looking for a ghost-filled pub, sit down for a drink at the Viaduct Tavern on Newgate Street. One ghost, Fred, apparently pours out guests’ drinks and flickers the lights at this spooky pub so be aware of Fred 👀

5. Westminster Abbey

Westminster Abbey is an inevitably haunted destination, considering that it houses more than 3,000 buried bodies. The most common ghostie that haunts Westminster Abbey is Father Benedictus, a former Benedictine monk of the abbey. In 1900, a woman reported a vivid sighting of him. In this sighting after about 25 seconds, Father Benedictus vanished into the walls of the church. In 1932, two visitors reported talking to him. Too bad this hasn’t happened in today’s day and age so we could get it on video. If you did want to try and see Father he’s typically appearing between 5 and 6 p.m.

6. St. Paul’s Cathedral

Another place that we have talked about in class! So spooky! Alright so St. Paul’s Cathedral is definitely an eerie place to visit. Its most well-known ghost is a whistling clergyman, who haunts the west end of the chapel. In Ghosts of London, author Elliott O’Donnell recalls meeting an American couple who witnessed a black cloud suddenly appearing in the chapel. Now if we go here and I see a black cloud I’m out. Gone. Never to return as that demon spirit black cloud is not coming near me.

7. Highgate Cemetery

This creepy cemetery opened in 1839 and was the go-to burial spot for Victorian socialites. But by the 1960s, it fell into a state of disrepair and decay leaving a spooky old cemetery. On Swain’s Lane, a street that cuts through the cemetery, several paranormal incidents have been reported. Some Londoners even claim to have seen a vampire lurking in the darkness. Vampire hunt anyone?

8. 50 Berkeley Square, Mayfair

This brick house was dubbed as London's most haunted house in the twentieth century both because of its deranged ex-tenant and resident female ghost. Both stories are fascinating and haunting, in all senses. The young woman allegedly threw herself from the top floor after being abused by her uncle and sometimes appears as a brown mist. Long standing tenant Mr. Myers locked himself in this house until he passed away and is also believed to haunt the premises. Apparently Myers went mad after he was rejected by his fiancée and let the house crumble around him. He died in 1874. On top of all that it's said a maid who slept one night in the attic room was found the next day so deeply distressed that she died the next day in an asylum.

9. The Parkland Walk Spriggan

If you went through my past blog posts I have mentioned this treasure before. Abandoned railway lines don’t get creepier than this – the Parkland Walk, which runs between Finsbury Park and Alexandra Palace. It is lush with vivid greenery but there is still something unsettling about wandering along the overgrown cutting. The part that passes Crouch End is the spookiest stretch of the route, where a looming ‘spriggan’ spirit watches from an unused railway arch, ready to startle unsuspecting passers-by.

10. The Greenwich Foot Tunnel

This tunnel, opened in 1902, runs under the river Thames and connects Greenwich to the the Isle of Dogs. Walking down its damp and narrow path will already leave you feeling uneasy, even without the ghosts of a Victorian man and woman strolling over from the other side. While no one knows exactly who this couple are, they’re spotted frequently late at night although I don’t know who would want to walk down a creepy tunnel so late. Supposedly, their footsteps can be heard bouncing down the leaking walls of the tunnel. Noooooo thank you I’ll take a cab.

11. Old Operating Theatre Museum

It sort of goes without saying this place is probably haunted as it was an actual surgical practice back when surgery wasn’t such an easy-going process. Surgical anesthetic wasn’t invented until 1846, and this place definitely predates that. Most patients died despite the best intentions of the surgeons. It’s the oldest surviving surgical theatre in Europe, and of course is no longer in use.

If you made it this far, how bothered are you by the count of 11 instead of a nice, even 10?

Sources:

Okay guys the trip is only 43 days away (AHHHHHHHH!!) and if you haven’t already, it’s about time to think about purchasing some essentials and/or gathering items for the trip. With the help of a couple travel websites and old fashioned brainstorming I’ve put together a list of items to consider purchasing in the near future.

Outlet adapters

Neck pillow

Eye mask

Small Blanket

Compression socks

Mini umbrella

Rain coat/light jacket

Comfy walking shoes

Sunglasses

Journal and pen

Favorite book

Portable battery charger

Noise cancelling headphones

Camera

Mini travel toiletries

Wet wipes

Hand sanitizer

Motion sickness pills

Sleep aid

Other important things to keep in mind!!

Make sure you are saving your money. The last thing you want on this trip is to run out of funds for souvenirs, activities, and most importantly food. Although the cost of trip through EF is paid off we still are responsible for additional costs.

Be looking into an international cell phone plan or other options through your cell phone provider. Relying on wifi is an option while we are in Europe but it is not guaranteed that you’ll have connection 100% of the time. Plus I’m sure your parents are going to want to make sure that you’re doing just fine.

Lastly, this seems pretty obvious but make sure you have a suitcase to use on this trip. Whether it’s your own or you’re borrowing from someone else a suitcase is something you absolutely need. 

Sources:

http://www.eaglecreek.com/blog/what-pack-ultimate-travel-packing-checklist

Stopping in for a quick post here but I put together a list of some really good Youtube channels all about London. Give them a look! I even included the channel of one of the videos that Danny showed in class.

Being British: Joel and Lia https://www.youtube.com/user/joelandlia

Love and London https://www.youtube.com/user/loveandlondon

City Hacks London https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtICc4-FCa7Xt-SN3yYJpQg

Fun London Guides - Julian McDonnell Films https://www.youtube.com/user/Joolzybaby

Visit London https://www.youtube.com/user/VisitLondonVideo

I think we can agree that three days isn’t nearly enough time to explore all of London. With a population of nearly 9 million I feel that we’re barely getting a glimpse of what the city really has to offer. It’s a HUGE city with so many different cultures and offerings that you could probably stay for a year and not experience all that you want to see. Luckily we have the handy dandy internet that allows us to explore a bit through the interwebs. Now I don’t know about you guys, but when I travel I don’t like to spend too much time visiting the common tourist stops. I’d rather find the more hidden and exclusive spots that not everyone thinks of seeing. With that inspiration, I present to you the latest blog post: The Hidden Gems of London.

Little Venice

I’m sure you can guess from the name but Little Venice is London’s little piece of Italy. It’s home to various waterside cafes, pubs, and restaurants. In the summertime you can ride in the canal boats or walk along the riverside.

Camden Passage

These areas are my absolute favorite. Tucked behind Upper Street in Islington, Camden Passage is home to cute cafes, independent boutiques, vintage shops, and much more.

Wilton’s Music Hall

This traditional Victorian music hall was fully restored in recent years to bring it back to its former glory. You have the option to buy tickets for performances, just stop by for a quick drink at the Mahogany Bar, and take a tour through the venue.

Holland Park and the Kyoto Japanese Garden

Holland Park itself is full of its own hidden treasures with winding paths, statues, peacocks, an opera house, and an orangery. A must for visiting the park, though, is the tranquil Kyoto Japanese Garden.

Dennis Severs’ House

This is one of the stranger attractions on this list. Visitors are invited to wander around Dennis Severs’ former home from when he was an artist. It’s presented as if it had just been left by an 18th century family for an authentic experience.

Eltham Palace

Another historic find, Eltham Palace can be described as a blend of a medieval palace and and an Art Deco mansion. Once a favorite hunting spot of Henry VIII, the royal palace fell into decline unit the 1930s when it was purchased by two millionaires that turned it into a glamorous home.

Chelsea Physic Garden

The oldest botanic garden in London doesn't get nearly enough love. The garden is a walled space beside the Thames and was established in 1673. It contains around 5,000 edible, useful, medicinal, and historic plants.

The Parkland Walk

This once was a railway line that is now abandoned and turned into a forest. Did I mention there’s an adult playground??

Strawberry Hill House

A gorgeous white palace in the middle of a residential area is where you’ll find the Strawberry Hill House. The eccentric interior of the house was developed between 1748 and 1790 as a summer villa for the son of Britain’s first Prime Minister. Each room has its own theatrical touch.

Daunt Books

Last but not least we have Daunt Books. The Marylebone branch will make you feel like you’re stepping back in time. As you explore the beautiful wooden interior and floors of books, check out the well known travel book section.

Sources:

https://www.visitlondon.com/things-to-do/sightseeing/london-attraction/top-20-hidden-gems

https://www.visitlondon.com/things-to-do/sightseeing/secret-london

https://www.buzzfeed.com/chelseypippin/17-magical-spots-to-escape-to-in-london?bftw&utm_term=.ax1ndj6zd#.fjYMRpx0R

There’s about a bazillion different travel tips floating around on the internet so for the sake of time and sanity we’re going to split them into different posts. I’ll put new ones up periodically as we get closer to the trip. In the meantime this one will be about things you might want to think about bringing with you on the plane. Enjoy 😊

Electronics:

Portable battery charger. It’s going to a be a long flight and you don’t want your phone to die before we even get to Vienna. We’ll have a full day ahead of us.

Noise canceling headphones. The engines on the plane are very loud and who knows how loud other passengers will be. 

Comfort:

Neck pillow. Trust me it’s worth it.

Brings an extra sweater. Planes can get really cold and you want to be warm when you’re trying to sleep.

Compression socks. This helps with circulation in your legs since we’ll be sitting for a very long time. Don’t want to faint when you sit up.

Eye mask. Make sure your under-eyes stay hydrated and not puffy.

Lip balm and hand lotion. The air in airplanes is very dry.

Lumbar support to keep your back straight.

Dress comfy. This one is pretty obvious.

Entertainment:

Books!! An overseas flight is a great time to catch up on some reading.

Magazines. If you have a favorite magazine bring some with you to browse through.

Download a music playlist or a movie to watch. FYI you can download episodes on Netflix to watch for later.

Podcasts. I LOVE listening to podcasts. The latest one that I finished is called Slow Burn and I highly recommend it. It’s about the Watergate scandal.

Extra tips:

Stay hydrated. It’s too easy to get dehydrated and again the air on the plane is dry.

Avoid coffee.  

Don’t eat a big meal. Remember how small the airplane bathrooms are.

Bring snacks. Put them in your carry-on and enjoy a decent snack when you’re feeling hungry

Sources

http://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-survive-a-long-haul-flight-2015-8

Based off of our class discussions of haunted places, I’ve decided that at the end of each unit for the three cities we’re visiting I’m going to make a post all about spooky stuff. This one is obviously about Vienna and the many hauntings of this old, historic city. Continue reading if you dare 😱😱

1. The Hofburg Palace

With over 2,500 rooms and parts of the palace dating back to the 13th century it’s no surprise that a ghost is hanging about this grand palace. Apparently the ghost who haunts the Hofburg is known as the White Lady and was the family ghost of the Hapsburgs. She was known to appear to announce the event of a death. Legend has it that she also guarded a treasure hidden somewhere in the basement of the palace. Sadly she has not been seen much since the end of the monarchy in 1918 but ghostly happenings are still reported. Who these recent spirits are suspected to be Empress Sisi and Emperor Maximilian II.

2. The Cemetery of the Nameless

Okay this spot is a bit too creepy for my taste and that may or may not be because I really do not like cemeteries. Anyways, The Cemetery of the Nameless is known to be one of the most eerie places in Vienna and is located on the very outskirts of town between the floodplain forests of the Danube river and the harbor area. This part of the river often had drowned bodies wash up to shore unrecognizable giving the cemetery its name. So who haunts this cemetery? It’s believed that the old caretaker who once buried the dead bodies now continues to watch over the grounds. Visitors report seeing shadowy figures and a black-hooded man who follows you around with watchful eyes.

3. Blood Street (Blutgasse)

This cobblestone street is one of the oldest in Vienna with legends dating back to 1312. Its name comes from a legend about Knights Templars who had been brutally murdered and caused the street to run with blood giving it its famous name. Alongside that gruesome story, people who had been condemned to death had to walk through the street to their execution site making it the last walk of their lives. People say that in this area the veil between this world and the other world is especially thin and you’re likely to meet people who are not among the living anymore. Be careful who you meet on Blood street.

4. The Cat Trail House (Katzensteighaus)

Supposedly this house is cursed by a woman who had once tried to poison her lover’s wife and instead poisoned herself. She is damned to walk around as a white cat who has been seen running along the roofs of the houses in this quarter. Be aware of this cat, though. Those who see the white ghost cat will encounter a spell of bad luck.

5. Saint Stephen’s Cathedral

Last but surely not least we have Saint Stephen’s Cathedral. This building is what originally started the haunting discussion in class. Some say that this place has its own special energy and whole books have been written just about legends of this church. When identifying ghosts in this building you won’t find much. It’s said that the devil himself and his minions are what you need to worry about. That right there is enough to make sure I’m carrying some holy water on me if we enter this cathedral.

Source:

How to make Viennese goulash - Recipe

How to make Wiener Schnitzel - Recipe