A Memoir of Traveling Through the Capitals of the Czech Republic, Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium

Every time I travel, I follow the call of my heart. In March 2019, I planned the itinerary (my husband took care of everything) and bought tickets on the China Southern Airlines website (here I must give a thumbs up to China Southern Airlines for their attentive and thoughtful service. Objectively speaking, it's much better than Air China. If I travel abroad again, I will choose China Southern Airlines again). We booked accommodation on Booking.com. The flight was at around 2:00 AM on July 12th. To be honest, this time is a huge challenge for both adults and children. We left home at 8 PM, took a taxi, high-speed rail, and subway to reach Beijing T2. I've always believed that travel begins the moment you leave home. We arrived at Beijing Airport around 10 PM, then took the airport express to T2. By the time we got on the airport express, it was time for the child to sleep, and I felt a bit drowsy too. When we arrived at T2, there were many people. After a long wait in line, we got our luggage sorted. Then we found a quiet place for the little one to rest for a while. The first part of the trip was basically done; the next step was boarding.

Friendly tip: If you're traveling to Schengen countries with children, please note: if the child hasn't started school, you only need to go to the local notary office to get a notarized birth certificate (in 2017 it was about 260 RMB, and I got 2 copies at that time; the extra copy was about 25 RMB. When we traveled in 2019, it was still valid, saving us 260 RMB). If the child is already in school, you need a bilingual (Chinese and English) school enrollment certificate from the school, which is a bit more troublesome. The certificate must state your itinerary. For a multi-country trip, you should fill in the country where you will stay the longest. This is what the visa application staff told us. The rest is the same as the adult's employment certificate—you also need to write the date of return. The notarization mentioned above is prepared by yourself. For the visa, you also need a higher-level notarization from Beijing Capital, which we always expedite (about 200 RMB or so). This can be handled by the visa agency.

We never bring too much luggage. At the child's request, we brought these two little pigs along.

After a ten-hour flight, we arrived at our destination—Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic. When we got off the plane, it was drizzling lightly. At this time of year, Europe is quite cool, even cold. Bear in mind that day was the first day of the "sanfu" (dog days of summer) in China. If you come to Europe in this season, remember to bring a down jacket; you'll regret it if you don't. We arrived on the first day of sanfu. During our stay, we had to wear down jackets in the mornings and evenings because it was overcast. The highest temperature was only about 13°C, and it was around 7°C when we went out in the morning.

Although the Czech Republic is in Europe, prices are not high. You can use both the Czech koruna and the euro, but using the koruna is more cost-effective. As I recall, public toilets in the Czech Republic only accept euros. Public toilets in Europe are usually paid (even McDonald's), typically costing 0.5 to 1 euro. In scenic spots, it can reach 1.5 to 2 euros. Indoor attractions like museums are usually free.

The picture above shows the Prague train station.

The streets were very empty after the rain.

Then we started the sightseeing mode: The Astronomical Clock (Czech: Pražský orloj) is located on the Gothic tower of the Old Town Hall. It is a pinnacle of Czech Gothic science and technology as well as a luxurious and magnificent artistic monument. It consists of two parts: an upper and a lower clock. It is an exquisite and unique self-ringing clock designed based on the geocentric theory of the time. The upper clock completes one revolution per year; the lower one completes one revolution per day. At every hour, there are various chimes: a skeleton pulls the time, saints appear, and a rooster crows. At noon every day, the twelve apostles of Jesus appear in sequence from beside the clock, six turning left and six turning right. With the crow of the rooster, the window closes and the chime sounds.

It is said that to ensure no similar clock was ever made elsewhere, the craftsman who built it was blinded. During World War II, the Astronomical Clock was severely damaged by fire and was restored in 1948 and 1979. According to local legend, if the clock is not properly maintained, the city will face disaster. After viewing the Astronomical Clock, you can climb the tower of the Old Town Hall to see the bustling crowds and the full panorama of the Old Town Square.

The photo above of the hall is the Old Town Hall.

Charles Bridge was built in 1357 and is a stone bridge of great artistic value. It spans the Vltava River, 520 meters long and 10 meters wide, with 16 piers. Its two ends are Prague Castle District and the Old Town. In the past, it was the必经之路 for royal coronation processions. On the bridge, you can watch street performers and handcraft artists, and you can also buy many artworks, such as watercolor paintings of Charles Bridge and puppets dressed in traditional Czech and court costumes. This oldest and longest bridge in Europe has 30 saint statues, masterpieces of Czech Baroque art from the 17th-18th centuries, called by Europeans "the open-air gallery of Baroque statues." The original statues are now preserved in museums; most on the bridge are replicas. The eighth statue on the right side of the bridge is St. John of Nepomuk, the guardian of Charles Bridge. The golden cross on the railing marks the spot where St. John was thrown off the bridge.

I had wanted to see the night view here, but by the time I waited with the sleeping child until almost 22:00, it still hadn't gotten dark. Due to the geography, the days are long and nights are short. So I gave up and returned to the hotel. Curious about Prague's nightscape, I got up at almost midnight, opened the curtain, and took a look at the night view. There are always regrets when traveling; maybe next time. The night view is beautiful. I saw it in a Spider-Man movie (I think it was called "Homecoming") which featured the beautiful night view of Charles Bridge.

Czech cuisine: The pork knuckle deserves praise—it's better than German pork knuckle, retaining the collagen of the knuckle.

Snacks at the scenic spots: I watched foreigners eating with relish. When I tried it myself, haha, the taste was hard to accept, but it filled my stomach.

Berlin Cathedral was built from 1894 to 1905. It once served as the royal church. Its interior is extremely ornate, sparkling with gold, decorated with intricately lined columns and exquisite murals. Even the capitals are gilded. The above-ground part has four floors, with the highest point reaching 114 meters. For some reason I forgot, on the day we visited, it was not open for sightseeing; only those attending worship were allowed in.

German pork knuckle with beer is the standard meal. I had this pork knuckle when I came to Germany in 2017. I really couldn't get used to it. I thought it might be better in a different city, but it was the same. The skin is very hard, not as good as the Czech one. Of course, it's not as good as the one in our home country.

The Berlin Wall, which stood for over forty years, has mostly been demolished now. The remaining sections (such as the East Side Gallery) no longer show their original appearance. Only the 220-meter-long section preserved in this memorial park allows you to see the authentic Berlin Wall. Coming here makes you feel heavy-hearted. Not to mention anything else, we should cherish world peace!

The Brandenburg Gate is a symbol of Berlin and also a national symbol of Germany. Built in 1791 in the Neoclassical style, it is modeled after the Propylaea on the Athenian Acropolis. On top is a bronze statue of the goddess Victoria driving a four-horse chariot with wings spread. In her hand is a scepter with an oak wreath, an Iron Cross, and an eagle with spread wings, all symbolizing victory in war. The Brandenburg Gate faces east, and the area east of it is the core of old Berlin. It is the only remaining Berlin city gate. Standing here for over two hundred years, the Brandenburg Gate has witnessed the rise and fall of German history.

Germany does a good job with waste sorting, which is worth learning from.

The trash bins on the train are also sorted—very detailed work.

Large supermarkets have plastic bottle recycling machines. Every time we travel in Europe, we save our plastic bottles. When we see such a supermarket, we sell them. This also teaches our child how to protect nature and turn waste into treasure.

Look, our plastic bottles sold for 0.5 euros.

In Berlin, I saw our country's Mobike. I had to take a photo for memory, haha.

The scooter under the child's feet is a local shared transportation tool in Berlin.

Third stop: Amsterdam.

Public toilets on the street are a highlight of Amsterdam. We basically visited all the must-see spots, including of course the Red Light District. There are no photos of the Red Light District; out of respect and regulations, I didn't take any.

Windmill Village (I think that's the name). I saw the prototype of Shaun the Sheep—so that's what European sheep look like.

In Amsterdam, we ate Italian pizza. Our family of three has a small appetite; a two-person portion filled us up. Foreigners each eat a full portion.

A trendy restaurant in Amsterdam: The Seafood Bar. We had seafood there. The taste? Not as good as that in our home country.

Fourth stop: Brussels.

Belgium is the homeland of comic characters Tintin and the Smurfs. It is a major comic country with the highest number of comic artists per capita in the world. The Comic Museum, designed by architect Victor Horta, is a paradise for comic fans. This world-famous museum is located on an inconspicuous small street, inside a house built by Victor Horta. Here we found the Smurfs. The museum is not large, but the ticket price is not low. Since we were only familiar with the Smurfs, we basically skimmed over the other comics.

Manneken Pis (also known as the Little Urinating Boy) is the symbol of Brussels, the capital of Belgium. This world-famous bronze statue of a little boy is a statue and fountain located in the pedestrian zone in the city center. The statue of a five-year-old boy is not big but has a history of nearly 400 years. There are several legends about the boy, roughly about a boy named Julien who, while urinating, inadvertently saved a city. No one knows whether the story is true. In 1619, sculptor Jerome Duquesnoy made the bronze statue of Julien, which has been preserved to this day. Over 400 years, people have not forgotten him; instead, he has become a major symbol of Brussels and often wears different stylish costumes, looking very fashionable. During the days we were there, he wasn't dressed up, but on the day we returned, it was Belgium's National Day, and I believe little Manneken Pis would have worn beautiful clothes.

The Saint-Hubert Galleries are a paradise for shopping, leisure, and entertainment. Under the long arched glass roof, Italian Renaissance-style storefronts line both sides of the galleries. The Saint-Hubert Galleries consist of three parts: the main ones are the King's Gallery and the Queen's Gallery, each over 100 meters long, and a smaller Prince's Gallery. Construction began on May 6, 1846, and took 18 months; the 213-meter-long gallery was completed on June 20, 1847. The galleries are filled with fashion boutiques, antique shops, and cafes, as well as a cinema built in 1847 and renovated in 1951, one of Brussels' three royal theaters.

The Town Hall is the most important building around the Grand Place of Brussels. It is a medieval Gothic building with a central tower 96 meters high. The entire building looks very elegant, symmetrical, and exquisite. If you look closely at the figures on it, they are lifelike: saints, happy couples, sinners, and so on.

The European Commission is headquartered in Brussels, the capital of Belgium.

The Parc du Cinquantenaire (Fiftieth Anniversary Park) is a large urban park located at the easternmost part of the European Quarter in Brussels. Most of the buildings around the park were built by order of King Leopold II of Belgium to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Belgian independence. The central triumphal arch was completed in 1905, made of iron, glass, and stone, symbolizing Belgium's economic and industrial status at the time. The nearly 30-hectare park consists of small gardens, ponds, and waterfalls, hosting many fairs, exhibitions, and grand celebrations in the early 20th century. Since 1930, it has become a place for relaxation and leisure.

We visited this Chinese restaurant twice in Belgium; the taste was great!

Belgian cuisine: The first picture is waffles, which everyone is familiar with. The seafood below is famous, and the mussels are tasty—I recommend them. Also, this restaurant is good, but I forgot its name.

In summary, the round trip took 11 days, visiting four countries. The time was a bit tight. I look forward to a deep tour of France next time. This travelogue is my first attempt at writing a travel memoir. It is rather rough because it is a memoir, and some details I can't recall. Please forgive me.