Ok, I am leaving.
Dec 29th - I'll see you in Rome.
Monday, December 24, 2007
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Berlin ist super cool ja! Ich wunsche ein Berliner war!
I wish my German language skills were better. I've maintained enough to understand snippets of strangers conversations, but when I talk to Germans in German, they switch to English. Bad sign, right?
Berlin is amazing. Best city so far, I believe. We had the most wonderful 7-hour walking tour that introduced us to all of the main sights, and all of the history and controversy that goes along with them. (Such as: terrible irony: the gloss that covers the Memorial to the Murdered Jews is made by the same company that made the gas that killed millions of them in WWII -it wasn't known when they were choosing the contract. Also, did you know that Hitler's bunker is right in front of a boring apartment complex these days? It's an eerie sight).
It was a long day, but our tour guide had some treats along the way. His girlfriend left the city, forever, the night before, and he was easing his sorrow with Jaegarmister - which he shared with everyone so we could "keep warm". Gross alcohol, but a funny story. We made some good friends on the tour and afterwards, we all went out to celebrate the spirit of Berlin and scooped out a wine bar that operates on the basis of humanity's general goodness. You can drink as much as you want, and they only ask that you pay what you think you owe. Apparently I need some more practice before "Ich bin ein Berliner, stimmitlich," for in a city that comes alive at 2 AM and doesn't stop until morning, I only lasted until 12:45 AM. I am so Midwestern.
(Yours truly at the Brandenburg Gate).
Berlin is amazing. Best city so far, I believe. We had the most wonderful 7-hour walking tour that introduced us to all of the main sights, and all of the history and controversy that goes along with them. (Such as: terrible irony: the gloss that covers the Memorial to the Murdered Jews is made by the same company that made the gas that killed millions of them in WWII -it wasn't known when they were choosing the contract. Also, did you know that Hitler's bunker is right in front of a boring apartment complex these days? It's an eerie sight).
It was a long day, but our tour guide had some treats along the way. His girlfriend left the city, forever, the night before, and he was easing his sorrow with Jaegarmister - which he shared with everyone so we could "keep warm". Gross alcohol, but a funny story. We made some good friends on the tour and afterwards, we all went out to celebrate the spirit of Berlin and scooped out a wine bar that operates on the basis of humanity's general goodness. You can drink as much as you want, and they only ask that you pay what you think you owe. Apparently I need some more practice before "Ich bin ein Berliner, stimmitlich," for in a city that comes alive at 2 AM and doesn't stop until morning, I only lasted until 12:45 AM. I am so Midwestern.
Today we visited the Pergamon and Egyptian museum, and went up in the big dome in the Parliament building, and then strolled along the Christmas markets. More Christmas shopping . . . expect small gifts, meine familie.
We catch a night train tonight (in . . . 2 hours or so) to Munich, where we meet up with Trisha, Lea, Janeane and Ryan. Jewell reunion in Germany - should be a good time.
THEN home. :)
We catch a night train tonight (in . . . 2 hours or so) to Munich, where we meet up with Trisha, Lea, Janeane and Ryan. Jewell reunion in Germany - should be a good time.
THEN home. :)
Friday, December 7, 2007
Words from the Road
Free WiFi in the Berlin Hostel = my favorite.
Traveling is going well, minus continental Europe's crappy weather.
It feels as though we have been following the same thunderstorm throughout the continent.
Boo.
(Rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, and more rain in Brugge, Belgium)
But the sights are good.
(Right: Famous Food Street in Brussels, Belgium.)
And the hostels are getting better.
This one in Berlin is really nice (so CLEAN!) but the first one in Brussels was not satisfactory.
I'm not sure what else to say other than we're having fun, although backpacking through Europe seems like more work than I was expecting it to be. And so far, we have escaped major disaster, minus a frantic backtrack this morning when John forgot something at the hotel in Amsterdam after we were at the train station.
No worries - we made the train in enough time. Mainly because I'm a hugely nervous traveler and we were a the train station mucho early.
I think my nerves are strung much tighter than your average backpacker.
But what are you going to do?
My last nights in Cambridge were really great too, although I was out MUCH too late on Friday and only got an hour of sleep before I caught a bus to go to the airport to go to Brussels. Whoops!
I'm not sure how Homerton W1 and W2 Novices fared in comparison to other colleges in the Fairbarins race, but I had a lot of fun! W1 had a rough race and were pretty disappointed by the end of their race. Frankly, that worried the W2 crew but we rowed really really well. and fast!
And speed is important and good.
Unless you have a lot of speed when you crash . . . into a houseboat.
Our boat is called Bad Tempered Cyril for a reason - she has bad luck. We finished the race, despite our broken boat. Half of the Cam came out of it, however, when we turned it over to put it away. Bad news bears.
Traveling is going well, minus continental Europe's crappy weather.
It feels as though we have been following the same thunderstorm throughout the continent.
Boo.
(Rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, and more rain in Brugge, Belgium)
But the sights are good.
(Right: Famous Food Street in Brussels, Belgium.)And the hostels are getting better.
This one in Berlin is really nice (so CLEAN!) but the first one in Brussels was not satisfactory.
I'm not sure what else to say other than we're having fun, although backpacking through Europe seems like more work than I was expecting it to be. And so far, we have escaped major disaster, minus a frantic backtrack this morning when John forgot something at the hotel in Amsterdam after we were at the train station.
No worries - we made the train in enough time. Mainly because I'm a hugely nervous traveler and we were a the train station mucho early.
I think my nerves are strung much tighter than your average backpacker.
But what are you going to do?
My last nights in Cambridge were really great too, although I was out MUCH too late on Friday and only got an hour of sleep before I caught a bus to go to the airport to go to Brussels. Whoops!
I'm not sure how Homerton W1 and W2 Novices fared in comparison to other colleges in the Fairbarins race, but I had a lot of fun! W1 had a rough race and were pretty disappointed by the end of their race. Frankly, that worried the W2 crew but we rowed really really well. and fast!
And speed is important and good.
Unless you have a lot of speed when you crash . . . into a houseboat.
Our boat is called Bad Tempered Cyril for a reason - she has bad luck. We finished the race, despite our broken boat. Half of the Cam came out of it, however, when we turned it over to put it away. Bad news bears.
But still - it was good fun. And we look good. :)
I come home in less than a week. I can't wait - you don't KNOW how excited I am to be heading back to the States. I half want to cancel my Italy leg and stay home until Term, but I'm not sure if that's really an option.
Much love!
I come home in less than a week. I can't wait - you don't KNOW how excited I am to be heading back to the States. I half want to cancel my Italy leg and stay home until Term, but I'm not sure if that's really an option.
Much love!
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