Day One:
Arrived mid day from Prague. Felt ill. Rested. Hung out at the hostel with some peeps. Early night
Day Two:
Woke up and went for a run. Came back and got ready to do a tour of the city...passed out for an hour or so. Walked around the Berlin wall, searched for the rental car place, did a tour of the city, learned a lot about the history of Berlin-very interesting! Pub crawl after that. Nothing but us foreigners being moved about into unpopular bars. I had a few beers and called it a night.
Day Three:
Walked a long the Funky streets of Berlin. Checked out some cool shops. Did a tour of the "Alternative scene and wall artwork" Gained an appreciation for all the covered walls I've seen walking around town. Went into an art gallery ran by people who have been squatting in this building since the fall of the Berlin wall. Really neat art work in there. Came back and met some Australians, got some tasty Indian food. I went with them to one of their friend's hostel to hang out until it got later in the evening for this really famous underground venue to open up. It's basically a dance club in an old warehouse, not advertised but we still waited in line for what felt like an hour. The trick is, they wont let anyone in that they hear speak English. One of the door men is this crazy looking big guy with tattoos all over his face and a silver grill. We were doing alright until they asked how many were in our party. One of the guys said the number in English--and we were promptly invited to leave in a not so nice way. The rest of my night was spent at Mcdonalds which was the only warm place open for us to get something to eat and figure out what to do next. I decided to part ways and get back to the hostel so I could do an update, pack up, and head out to my 6:30 train for Amsterdam. I'm really excited for that. Note to self, go to Berlin when you know someone who lives there.
P.S. I wasn't able to rent a car, they were all out of any type of nice/fast car. So...next time!
Friday, October 8, 2010
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Playing catch up
It's been a while since I've updated, and I'm always having to balance the idea of spending time drafting these up, and spending time going out and doing stuff. I think it's important enough to do so I can reflect now, and look back on this later--final conclusion *so far
The last thing I wrote about was my all nighter plan. That worked out really really well. I hopped on the Ubahn and headed over to the Oktoberfest grounds. You really need to have people there with you, and I ended up meeting some people from Ireland on the way over there. We were lucky enough to get in and some German folk offered for us to sit with them. It was my last night doing Oktoberfest, and it was grand. Everyone was standing up on tables singing eighties songs, and German traditional songs that translate to something like *Cheer Cheers Cheers Cheers we're having fun
We stayed at the tents until they shut down and then headed over to an Oktoberfest after party spot. We met some more nice German folk that took us over to a better place to hang out at for the rest of the night. I grabbed a taxi to the main train station at about 530am, grabbed my bag from the locker I stashed it in, and jumped on the train with 20 minutes to spare. In the process of setting my alarm to wake me up in three hours for the exchange to the next train, I was a goner. I fell asleep all the way from Munich to I'm not sure where, and then back to Munich. Woops. I only waited about 30 minutes and got another train going to Prague.
I sat with a group of people from Ireland and Australia traveling to Prague as well. That must have been the best train ride Ever. Instead of catching up on my sleep we had a mini Oktoberfest. The train ran out of beer but we never got tired of singing the Oktoberfest songs like *swim swim swim nanananana strong strong strong nananana fly fly fly nananananana naaaanaaananaaaaaa. All with hand motions of course.
We arrived at Prague and I fell asleep in the hostel reception area. It was game over for about 3 hours. I woke up and we soon headed out the door to explore. We missed the pub crawl that everyone talked about, and started off at this bar with about 4 people not counting our group. All speaking English...bad news bears. We took our drinks outside since there aren't open container laws, which was a good choice. The owner of the bar was really nice and drafted up the most impressive map you've ever seen on a napkin. It included 4 different places to stop by for a drink. We followed his directions, and a great time. We rolled in at about 5 and had some left over garlic soup that I helped make. ok...so maybe I just helped peel the garlic.
Next morning, again 5 hrs of sleep, we did a Prague walking tour for about 4 hours. The history is so interesting, the architecture is stunning, and the whole city is just great...pictures of that coming soon. After the tour we explored the city some more and turned in for a quick power nap. Pub crawl came next, which was a total blast. It was pretty much all international students that were there on holiday. Pong, Foosball, etc at this church converted into a bar. We went to a couple of other places too, one of which we went to the night before thanks to Mr. map.
I only got about two hours of sleep until I had to catch my train to Berlin which is where I am now. No train parties, just sleep. Tonight I plan on having a nice shower, doing something low key and relaxing in town, and going to bed early for a run tomorrow morning.
I'm having a blast!
The last thing I wrote about was my all nighter plan. That worked out really really well. I hopped on the Ubahn and headed over to the Oktoberfest grounds. You really need to have people there with you, and I ended up meeting some people from Ireland on the way over there. We were lucky enough to get in and some German folk offered for us to sit with them. It was my last night doing Oktoberfest, and it was grand. Everyone was standing up on tables singing eighties songs, and German traditional songs that translate to something like *Cheer Cheers Cheers Cheers we're having fun
We stayed at the tents until they shut down and then headed over to an Oktoberfest after party spot. We met some more nice German folk that took us over to a better place to hang out at for the rest of the night. I grabbed a taxi to the main train station at about 530am, grabbed my bag from the locker I stashed it in, and jumped on the train with 20 minutes to spare. In the process of setting my alarm to wake me up in three hours for the exchange to the next train, I was a goner. I fell asleep all the way from Munich to I'm not sure where, and then back to Munich. Woops. I only waited about 30 minutes and got another train going to Prague.
I sat with a group of people from Ireland and Australia traveling to Prague as well. That must have been the best train ride Ever. Instead of catching up on my sleep we had a mini Oktoberfest. The train ran out of beer but we never got tired of singing the Oktoberfest songs like *swim swim swim nanananana strong strong strong nananana fly fly fly nananananana naaaanaaananaaaaaa. All with hand motions of course.
We arrived at Prague and I fell asleep in the hostel reception area. It was game over for about 3 hours. I woke up and we soon headed out the door to explore. We missed the pub crawl that everyone talked about, and started off at this bar with about 4 people not counting our group. All speaking English...bad news bears. We took our drinks outside since there aren't open container laws, which was a good choice. The owner of the bar was really nice and drafted up the most impressive map you've ever seen on a napkin. It included 4 different places to stop by for a drink. We followed his directions, and a great time. We rolled in at about 5 and had some left over garlic soup that I helped make. ok...so maybe I just helped peel the garlic.
Next morning, again 5 hrs of sleep, we did a Prague walking tour for about 4 hours. The history is so interesting, the architecture is stunning, and the whole city is just great...pictures of that coming soon. After the tour we explored the city some more and turned in for a quick power nap. Pub crawl came next, which was a total blast. It was pretty much all international students that were there on holiday. Pong, Foosball, etc at this church converted into a bar. We went to a couple of other places too, one of which we went to the night before thanks to Mr. map.
I only got about two hours of sleep until I had to catch my train to Berlin which is where I am now. No train parties, just sleep. Tonight I plan on having a nice shower, doing something low key and relaxing in town, and going to bed early for a run tomorrow morning.
I'm having a blast!
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Change in plans
Zesterdaz was a no plans daz. no plans would be in quotes if I knew how to do that on this kezboard.
Right after I finished tzping up that last blog post, I ended up talking to a local and we headed over to a little dive bar. Getting an introduction to their friends, I got to kick it local stzle for a night. It was prettz low kez but we had a good time! I said it was going to be an earlz night...def onlz got 5 hrs of sleep. But I guess thatäs not so bad.
I had to pack out of mz tent this morning, and gosh...that campsite looks like a reck. After packing up I spotted some people that I had talked to before so we went off to get some food and to figure out how to drop off our bags for the daz. I also purchased mz ticket to Praaaaagg. Everzone sazs its amaying over there, so I got a train ticket. Onlz problem is, I stazed at the concentration camp for too long.
Za I want to a concentration camp, it was reallz moving. I wish I had a guided tour because zou just know that there must be tons and tons of stories of things that went on right where I might be standing. Got to see the beds thez slept in, whats left of the cell blocks, jail houses... Seeing the walls that surround the massive area was reallz reallz powerful. The whole feel of the place give zou these strong emotions just bz simplz standing in the area where so much evil happened.
On a different note. I changed mz ticket to leaving at 5 am and Ill still get to mz destination at the same time! So now Im going to kill the rest of the time bz closing out Oktoberfest. I just need to make sure I get back here in time to catch the train!
Right after I finished tzping up that last blog post, I ended up talking to a local and we headed over to a little dive bar. Getting an introduction to their friends, I got to kick it local stzle for a night. It was prettz low kez but we had a good time! I said it was going to be an earlz night...def onlz got 5 hrs of sleep. But I guess thatäs not so bad.
I had to pack out of mz tent this morning, and gosh...that campsite looks like a reck. After packing up I spotted some people that I had talked to before so we went off to get some food and to figure out how to drop off our bags for the daz. I also purchased mz ticket to Praaaaagg. Everzone sazs its amaying over there, so I got a train ticket. Onlz problem is, I stazed at the concentration camp for too long.
Za I want to a concentration camp, it was reallz moving. I wish I had a guided tour because zou just know that there must be tons and tons of stories of things that went on right where I might be standing. Got to see the beds thez slept in, whats left of the cell blocks, jail houses... Seeing the walls that surround the massive area was reallz reallz powerful. The whole feel of the place give zou these strong emotions just bz simplz standing in the area where so much evil happened.
On a different note. I changed mz ticket to leaving at 5 am and Ill still get to mz destination at the same time! So now Im going to kill the rest of the time bz closing out Oktoberfest. I just need to make sure I get back here in time to catch the train!
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Update number 1
I am going to do my best to remember everthing that has been going on. Ive been in a tent for the past two nights with no access to the internet. Im at a casino right now...itäs been the onlz place I could find to get online. Zou might notice that all the ys moving forward are zs. Thats because of this awesome german kezboard. zes I love tzing on mz kezboard!!!
Plane ride to germanz was easz. Slept most of the waz there. Once I arrived I jumped on the metro to to another one a bus and arrived at the camp site. The directions thez gave me to get there were wrong, and luckilz I remember a thing or two from last trip and remember how the metro szstem works. Its reeeaallz easz and a great waz to get around.
After I got sorted out, got introduced to mz airmatress and tent mate...made friends with the auyies that were next to me and went out for some Oktoberfest action.
The food was great, the beer smooth and tastz. Too smooth and too zummz. I had 4 liters right in a row, everzthing was fine until suddenltz...things werent fine. I went to the bathroom and couldnt figure out where our table was.. After being lost for a bit, some Germans took me in. We met some more of their firneds, got on some rides and za I passed on drinking anzmore beer. I somehow bumped into the aussies on mz waz out, which was good since I wasnät too sure on how to get back to the campsite. Tons of campers were out at some tables where we chatted until the wee hours, again´´me passing on the beer. ;)
Daz two;
Woke up got readz for the daz (no shower for me!) and we are about readz to go, until one of the guzs sazs...HEZ lets take a nap first. It took me some convincing and sure enough I was the last person to wake up. Two hours later, we were readz to go. This time I was aware at how fast the alchohol comes on, and so were the rest of me mates. We started off slow, and zou see four guzs making chit chat for a while, it was clearlz not the Oktoberfest scene zou might imagine. An hour or two later, Epicness. Cheering, Dancing, more cheering, more dancing, drinking games, it was a Blast. I think I had 4 liters again like last time, but spaced it out just right so instead we all just ended up having a grand time. Oh za before that we rode some more rides too. Fun Fun. Came back to camp, more hanging out until wee hours of the night.
Daz three --todaz#
Woke up, readz to see MUNCHIN aka munich. I did a bike riding tour around the citz. It was 4 hours long and was a great waz to see a bunch of cool parts of town. I alreadz see that I need to take waaaaaz more pictures. I alwazs do this...sorrz. Finished the bike tour, and now Im planning the next step. Everzone sazs Cyech Republic is amaying, so I am trzing to sort out mz hostel staz along with a rent a car so I can do some Autobahn action. Im not so sure what I am going to do for the rest of tonight. Mazbe Beerfest again, mazbe Iäll turn in earlz, who knows!
Plane ride to germanz was easz. Slept most of the waz there. Once I arrived I jumped on the metro to to another one a bus and arrived at the camp site. The directions thez gave me to get there were wrong, and luckilz I remember a thing or two from last trip and remember how the metro szstem works. Its reeeaallz easz and a great waz to get around.
After I got sorted out, got introduced to mz airmatress and tent mate...made friends with the auyies that were next to me and went out for some Oktoberfest action.
The food was great, the beer smooth and tastz. Too smooth and too zummz. I had 4 liters right in a row, everzthing was fine until suddenltz...things werent fine. I went to the bathroom and couldnt figure out where our table was.. After being lost for a bit, some Germans took me in. We met some more of their firneds, got on some rides and za I passed on drinking anzmore beer. I somehow bumped into the aussies on mz waz out, which was good since I wasnät too sure on how to get back to the campsite. Tons of campers were out at some tables where we chatted until the wee hours, again´´me passing on the beer. ;)
Daz two;
Woke up got readz for the daz (no shower for me!) and we are about readz to go, until one of the guzs sazs...HEZ lets take a nap first. It took me some convincing and sure enough I was the last person to wake up. Two hours later, we were readz to go. This time I was aware at how fast the alchohol comes on, and so were the rest of me mates. We started off slow, and zou see four guzs making chit chat for a while, it was clearlz not the Oktoberfest scene zou might imagine. An hour or two later, Epicness. Cheering, Dancing, more cheering, more dancing, drinking games, it was a Blast. I think I had 4 liters again like last time, but spaced it out just right so instead we all just ended up having a grand time. Oh za before that we rode some more rides too. Fun Fun. Came back to camp, more hanging out until wee hours of the night.
Daz three --todaz#
Woke up, readz to see MUNCHIN aka munich. I did a bike riding tour around the citz. It was 4 hours long and was a great waz to see a bunch of cool parts of town. I alreadz see that I need to take waaaaaz more pictures. I alwazs do this...sorrz. Finished the bike tour, and now Im planning the next step. Everzone sazs Cyech Republic is amaying, so I am trzing to sort out mz hostel staz along with a rent a car so I can do some Autobahn action. Im not so sure what I am going to do for the rest of tonight. Mazbe Beerfest again, mazbe Iäll turn in earlz, who knows!
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
In the wise words of Neo..."Whaaow..."
It's been two years one month and one day since my last post. My my how time fly's! In just two years, QUITE a lot has changed. A lot looks so different. I live in a new place, have a different job, have different people in my life (and of course the majority of the people most important to me then are still the most important to me now)
Some things never change
Here I am with my backpack almost packed last minute as always and I'm ready to hit the road again--See the world! I've made good on my promise to leave the country at least once a year, it's a good way to make sure I actually do it.
Can't talk long, I have a lot of stuff I still need to do before I drive out to LA to catch my flight.
Destination Germany
No I do not plan on sleeping tonight
Onward!
Some things never change
Here I am with my backpack almost packed last minute as always and I'm ready to hit the road again--See the world! I've made good on my promise to leave the country at least once a year, it's a good way to make sure I actually do it.
Can't talk long, I have a lot of stuff I still need to do before I drive out to LA to catch my flight.
Destination Germany
- Biggest festival in the world *Oktoberfest, 3.something million people
- Munich adventures
- Berlin Exploration
- We'll see where the wind takes me
- Flight out of Amsterdam
No I do not plan on sleeping tonight
Onward!
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