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!
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
tis the season
This is a huge snowman by Homerton.
I love Christmas time.
They have built an ice skating rink in the middle of Parker's Piece, and so every time I'm cycling to rowing practice (which has been a lot the past few days), I get to enjoy snippets of Christmas music and the smell of roasting chestnuts.
My toe is doing a lot better, I'm sure you are all glad to hear.
This is good, because we have a rowing race on Thursday (2.7 k) and so training has been rather busy and intense.
We're trying to fit in as many outings as possible before the race, so we've been on the river a lot. Today we had an afternoon outing, and the river was so empty - it was wonderful, and warmish, and there were swans and houseboats to look at as we went whizzing (well, maybe more like gliding) by, and we only ran into one thing this time! I consider that a successful run.
My schedule is pretty full right now - travel preparations, end of term work, training, AND fun stuff - Stephen Hawking speaks tomorrow at the Union, the Union's Christmas party is Thursday and the Casino Night is Friday (free to members and lots of delicious snacks = wonderful), PLUS we have a rowing breakfast Thursday morning and a rowing dinner Friday night.
And at 2:40 AM Saturday morning, my world travels begin.
Life is exciting!
Saturday, November 24, 2007
i'm so legit . . .
My sweet badminton "stash" isn't coming home to the US this break, so I thought I'd show it off here.
Last weekend in Cambridge. One week from today I'll be in BELGIUM!
Can't wait. School is hard, man.
Thursday, November 22, 2007
thanksgiving in the land we left . . .
Thanksgiving is completely ignored by the English.
They don't really understand the beauty of the holiday.
I told them the wonders of THE Thanksgiving meal, and the Indians and the Pilgrims, and they asked me if I get presents because of Thanksgiving.
Presents?!
Who needs presents when you have turkey, and stuffing, and mashed potatoes, and diet coke, and biscuits . . .
Oh America, I miss thee.
The university lunch (cost: 5 pounds = 10 dollars) was DELICIOUS. Me and John sat with a cute Mormon couple who were studying international law at Cambridge. They were very interesting, and we had a nice meal ... although the pumpkin pie tasted like they forgot the pumpkin. Other than that though, not so bad. They served chocolate mint candies with the tea after lunch. Yum.
Tonight we have another Thanksgiving meal, but here at Homerton - which is good news, considering I jammed my toe yesterday at rowing practice, and it's all swollen and black and blue, and now I walk with a limp and look really, really, really silly. So, its a good thing that I don't have to walk too far now for the rest of the day.
Don't worry Mom, I can move it, so I know it's not broken. And I taped it to another toe, for moral support.
Although it hurts like the Dickens. And dead chickens.
Seriously.
I thought I'd take a picture to show you all, but the photo doesn't give the toe's disgusting look justice. In the photo, it doesn't look half as painful as it really is in real life, and I don't want you to think I'm overreacting. The lighting must be off in my room. So you'll just have to imagine it.
Anyway. Thanksgiving away from home: it could be worse (no Turkey, no tea, no diet coke) but it could definitely be better (have you BEEN to St. Louis? It's wonderful).
However, I'm consoling myself with a Christmas music marathon and tea and a huge box of cookies ... but not too many cookies, because I have another Thanksgiving to eat tonight.
They don't really understand the beauty of the holiday.
I told them the wonders of THE Thanksgiving meal, and the Indians and the Pilgrims, and they asked me if I get presents because of Thanksgiving.
Presents?!
Who needs presents when you have turkey, and stuffing, and mashed potatoes, and diet coke, and biscuits . . .
Oh America, I miss thee.
The university lunch (cost: 5 pounds = 10 dollars) was DELICIOUS. Me and John sat with a cute Mormon couple who were studying international law at Cambridge. They were very interesting, and we had a nice meal ... although the pumpkin pie tasted like they forgot the pumpkin. Other than that though, not so bad. They served chocolate mint candies with the tea after lunch. Yum.
Tonight we have another Thanksgiving meal, but here at Homerton - which is good news, considering I jammed my toe yesterday at rowing practice, and it's all swollen and black and blue, and now I walk with a limp and look really, really, really silly. So, its a good thing that I don't have to walk too far now for the rest of the day.
Don't worry Mom, I can move it, so I know it's not broken. And I taped it to another toe, for moral support.
Although it hurts like the Dickens. And dead chickens.
Seriously.
I thought I'd take a picture to show you all, but the photo doesn't give the toe's disgusting look justice. In the photo, it doesn't look half as painful as it really is in real life, and I don't want you to think I'm overreacting. The lighting must be off in my room. So you'll just have to imagine it.
Anyway. Thanksgiving away from home: it could be worse (no Turkey, no tea, no diet coke) but it could definitely be better (have you BEEN to St. Louis? It's wonderful).
However, I'm consoling myself with a Christmas music marathon and tea and a huge box of cookies ... but not too many cookies, because I have another Thanksgiving to eat tonight.
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