What can I say? Is this really my life? This time last year, even this time 3 months ago I was slaving away in 'pharmaceutical organisation' thinking the time to break out would never come. Here it is, and I am absolutely, positively, without a doubt in LOVE with Germany. It is magic.
Berlin, Berlin, Berlin. If I could manage to actually learn German someday, I might forgo my dream of England and move there. The culture and history is vast and fantastic; they've done a surprisingly great job of commemorating their past (good and bad) and intrigrating technology and current events into the city. I actually stayed in East Berlin, and this probably sounds naive, but I really didn't want to. I wasn't aware of how Berlin would actually be 20 years after reunification and the thought of getting 'stuck' on the east did occur to me more than once. Turns out, East Berlin is the Berlin to be in. I was a few minutes walk from all the sites and hardly even ventured into the west despite living there for 4 days. The wall, of course, was heartbreaking and kind of magical all at once. The stories of desperation that you hear about people crossing the wall; the stealth and precision of the German/Soviet population in creating the wall...it's all awe-inspiring, for different reasons.
Friday, I made my way to Sachenshausend (which I cannot pronounce or spell) concentration camp. I decided to go with a tour group in case the sights were too much for me. Those of you who know me well, know my obsession with the Holocaust and also my utter inability to make it through the DC museum intact. I did it though! This camp was a work camp, which in no way undermines the shear amount of death and destruction that occured, but it does make for an easier transition into the dark sights. Most of the camp was destroyed post liberation by Soviet troops who then used the camp for their own prison in a very ironic sort of way. Some structures are still intact, and the museum people have done a great job restoring other parts and memorializing the camp and its inhabitants. I placed a stone on a barrack memorial (for me and for you, Lizzle).
I met a couple of people at my second hostel in Berlin and was actually able to go out Friday night. Irish pub for a few strongbows and Karaoke. I love German karaoke. The thick German accent is adorable coming from a bunch of drunks!
I am now in Cologne Germany for about another hour. I came to Cologne as an easy stop over on the train and to see the sights--- Chocolate Museum. Hershey Park still wins in my opinion. Next I'm off to Munich.
Last night, however, I ventured out on my own around 9 30 and ended up in front of the massive Dom Cathedral sitting on the steps and listening to two guys play guitar and sing Oasis tunes. Definitely magical. I then noticed a bookstore still open on a Sunday night at 10, so I headed over. I bought the cutest little journal, very small--passport size--with parchment-like paper. I wasn't going to keep a journal because I was doing the blog and I didn't want to carry it around, but alas, it was cute and cheap and I gave in.
On a very lame and dorky note- In Copenhagen I picked up Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban from the book pile. I finished it last night and was in a panic as to what I would read next (especially since I really just wanted to read HP forever). Then, to my great amazement, Goblet of Fire was awaiting me in the Cologne hostel book pile. I told you Germany was magical.
Monday, 24 August 2009
Thursday, 20 August 2009
Berlin is love
This will be short and quick as i have 7mins of internet time left.
I am loving Berlin and feeling so much better about this trip then I was in Copenhagen. Berlin is just amazing... the history, the architecture, the people. So amazing in fact that ive booked two more nights here before probably taking the train to Cologne where there is...get this, a Chocolate museum.
When i arrived in Berlin i did a makeshift walking tour to bebelplatz to see the place where they burned all those books. Very moving monument. Ive taken tons of pictures (MARIA), but i probably wont post them until im back in Oxford.
Ill write more at another time, but i just wanted to add this little tidbit. The best part about Copenhagen was leaving...because on the train from there to Berlin you have to take a ferry at one point. So the train actually drives onto the ferry, you get off for 40 mins then get back on the train and youre in germany. AMAZING! I thought.
Tchuss!
I am loving Berlin and feeling so much better about this trip then I was in Copenhagen. Berlin is just amazing... the history, the architecture, the people. So amazing in fact that ive booked two more nights here before probably taking the train to Cologne where there is...get this, a Chocolate museum.
When i arrived in Berlin i did a makeshift walking tour to bebelplatz to see the place where they burned all those books. Very moving monument. Ive taken tons of pictures (MARIA), but i probably wont post them until im back in Oxford.
Ill write more at another time, but i just wanted to add this little tidbit. The best part about Copenhagen was leaving...because on the train from there to Berlin you have to take a ferry at one point. So the train actually drives onto the ferry, you get off for 40 mins then get back on the train and youre in germany. AMAZING! I thought.
Tchuss!
Tuesday, 18 August 2009
Kobenhavn...ehh.
Today I arrived in Copenhagen, Denmark the first stop on my whirlwind tour around Europe. I have to say that i'm slightly disappointed. The hostel seems nice; however it doesn't seem to be in a great location--as in I'm glad that I have to get up so early tomorrow to catch my train so i'll be in early tonight.
From the moment I got off the plane things didn't go quite right, which isn't a problem but the people aren't very friendly either. Maybe I am a bit spoiled in America...? But the last few days in England have been very welcoming. My plane was late due to an electrical problem. We sat at the gate for a while..not sure how long because i had already turned my phone off and for once i was out on a plane. I slept the entire way here. The staff on the plane were very nice however, they gave us a free drink for making us sit in the hot plane for so long and they were just pleasant. seats were great too. If you're ever flying around these parts I highly recommend Scandanavian air.
Anyway, the lateness put me in chaos for finding a bus/train/metro anything to get to the hostel by 2 30 and the people working both the information booth and the ticket booth were just rude. I understand i don't speak your language-even though they spoke english and advertised it-- and i'm taking up a lot of your time because i'm completely lost, but sheesh.
That aside, my summary of copenhagen is this: Some parts look like Amsterdam (good thing) but the whole thing feels like Brussels (bad thing). Alas, my time here is up. Tomorrow I'll be in `Berlin which is supposed to be fantastic. We'll see!
From the moment I got off the plane things didn't go quite right, which isn't a problem but the people aren't very friendly either. Maybe I am a bit spoiled in America...? But the last few days in England have been very welcoming. My plane was late due to an electrical problem. We sat at the gate for a while..not sure how long because i had already turned my phone off and for once i was out on a plane. I slept the entire way here. The staff on the plane were very nice however, they gave us a free drink for making us sit in the hot plane for so long and they were just pleasant. seats were great too. If you're ever flying around these parts I highly recommend Scandanavian air.
Anyway, the lateness put me in chaos for finding a bus/train/metro anything to get to the hostel by 2 30 and the people working both the information booth and the ticket booth were just rude. I understand i don't speak your language-even though they spoke english and advertised it-- and i'm taking up a lot of your time because i'm completely lost, but sheesh.
That aside, my summary of copenhagen is this: Some parts look like Amsterdam (good thing) but the whole thing feels like Brussels (bad thing). Alas, my time here is up. Tomorrow I'll be in `Berlin which is supposed to be fantastic. We'll see!
Saturday, 15 August 2009
In Oxfordshire
Arrived in Oxford today.
Love my flat. Love my flatmates. Cannot wait to be done traveling and move in for real!
Love my flat. Love my flatmates. Cannot wait to be done traveling and move in for real!
Sitting on a bus and on top of the world
Hi ya.
I've arrived in London (yesterday around noon local time) and made it safely to my friend Gretchen's flat in east London. Currently, I'm on my way to Oxford via the Oxford tube (a bus) and enjoying the free, albeit shaky wi-fi. After my arrival at Heathrow yesterday I rode the London tube all the way to north/east London and missed all the sites. It's nice to be sitting on a bus and looking out on my London. The London I remember. I got very sentimental around the Gloucester Road tube stop that's for sure.
Things seem to be going well so far. I booked myself an overnight flight to get here and of course did not sleep a wink. Went to bed around 9:30 last night and was up again by midnight until 2 am surfing the net and running all these scenarios around in my head. My mind is currently incapable of relaxing and going with the flow and...SLEEPING at the moment. I did manage to get some sleep between 2 and 8:30. So I feel great. As I walked up to Gretchen's road yesterday she greeted me with open arms and a "welcome home." That felt great!
In oxford I will be meeting my flatmates and seeing the flat for the first time. I also hope to get a few things done in town, but seeing as will be Saturday afternoon by the time I arrive, I'm not sure what will be open. I can always do the bank on Monday in London...right?
I am, of course, worrying about money. So far I haven't spent much, 20quid on my tube pass a few pounds at the market and now my bus trip which is 13pounds roundtrip on a student discount :) I'm mostly worried about the upcoming travel and how expensive it will be and I'm not sure when exactly I get the money from my loan...I think it may be enrollment week or the week before... Oh well. It's something to keep in mind but I can't let it ruin my day/week/month!
I love London!!!
I've arrived in London (yesterday around noon local time) and made it safely to my friend Gretchen's flat in east London. Currently, I'm on my way to Oxford via the Oxford tube (a bus) and enjoying the free, albeit shaky wi-fi. After my arrival at Heathrow yesterday I rode the London tube all the way to north/east London and missed all the sites. It's nice to be sitting on a bus and looking out on my London. The London I remember. I got very sentimental around the Gloucester Road tube stop that's for sure.
Things seem to be going well so far. I booked myself an overnight flight to get here and of course did not sleep a wink. Went to bed around 9:30 last night and was up again by midnight until 2 am surfing the net and running all these scenarios around in my head. My mind is currently incapable of relaxing and going with the flow and...SLEEPING at the moment. I did manage to get some sleep between 2 and 8:30. So I feel great. As I walked up to Gretchen's road yesterday she greeted me with open arms and a "welcome home." That felt great!
In oxford I will be meeting my flatmates and seeing the flat for the first time. I also hope to get a few things done in town, but seeing as will be Saturday afternoon by the time I arrive, I'm not sure what will be open. I can always do the bank on Monday in London...right?
I am, of course, worrying about money. So far I haven't spent much, 20quid on my tube pass a few pounds at the market and now my bus trip which is 13pounds roundtrip on a student discount :) I'm mostly worried about the upcoming travel and how expensive it will be and I'm not sure when exactly I get the money from my loan...I think it may be enrollment week or the week before... Oh well. It's something to keep in mind but I can't let it ruin my day/week/month!
I love London!!!
Thursday, 13 August 2009
Sitting in Beans in the Belfry in Brunswick, Maryland which is apparently the closest place to Lovettsville, VA to get some high class (read: high speed/free) internet. Lovettsville is the home of my dearest Maria...the town of love. :)
Flight leaves in t minus 5 1/2 hours. Freaking out on the inside a bit although I keep getting told that I seem calm. Perhaps acting really was my calling...? I think not.
Look forward to some *exciting* posts regarding the world travels. Hopefully. Interested in the itinerary? Me too.
Copenhagen-->Berlin-->Warsaw-->Krakow/Auschwitz-->
Germany(somewhere)-->Prague-->Venice-->Verona-->Florence
-->Rome-->Pisa-->Alps-->Monaco-->Bern-->Nantes-->Orleans
-->Lille-->London-->Bath-->OXFORD (aka home).
Flight leaves in t minus 5 1/2 hours. Freaking out on the inside a bit although I keep getting told that I seem calm. Perhaps acting really was my calling...? I think not.
Look forward to some *exciting* posts regarding the world travels. Hopefully. Interested in the itinerary? Me too.
Copenhagen-->Berlin-->Warsaw-->Krakow/Auschwitz-->
Germany(somewhere)-->Prague-->Venice-->Verona-->Florence
-->Rome-->Pisa-->Alps-->Monaco-->Bern-->Nantes-->Orleans
-->Lille-->London-->Bath-->OXFORD (aka home).
Wednesday, 29 July 2009
She's got eyes of the bluest skies...
Suppose I'm about due for an update, especially since loose ends are finally being tied up and I am t-minus 15 (!) days until departure!
After a quite costly debacle with the Visa process--I am officially on (or will be in 15 days) a UK general student tier 4 visa!! Complete with a horrendous picture to match my horrifying passport! I am so glad that this is all straightened out and I can, in fact, proceed with my much anticipated adventure! I first applied for my visa online, paid $250 for it and then had to schedule a 'biometric' appointment in Charleston. That went fine, although I was so nervous that I'd do something wrong. Which, obviously, I did! At the appointment they took my fingerprints (did you know that typing a lot makes your fingerprints harder to capture? In essence, you lose your prints because the typing wears them off...good to know, right?) and then they took a couple of pictures. Well, being the novice at the whole Visa process, I figured that the pictures they took would be the ones sent to the UK visa office in NYC. Wrong. On top of that I forgot to mail in...hmm, let's see, a whole crap load of stuff needed to process my visa. Namely, bank records, my loan information, my diploma and that very helpful letter from the Uni saying that I actually was accepted. It took 3 tries to get my visa settled. All in all about $300 dollars. At the end of which they send me an email with a link to a handy list (although, still a little vague) of what needed to be sent with my application. Very helpful, thanks.
Needless to say, I am now in possession of my passport again, complete with UK visa sticker/thing and have made copies of it. I'm also almost completely packed for my trip and for the next year...or at least a few months. I'm not taking all of my clothes, naturally...mostly because I figure I'll want to buy clothes seeing as I love me some UK fashions! I have 3 bags and a small backpack. I'll be taking my HUGE suitcase, large backpack (as in for hiking, etc.) and small backpack with me on August 13th and stepdad Ben has graciously agreed to bring my other suitcase over in September when he comes to bring mum home! I surprisingly have managed to not go over the 50lb weight limit on any of the bags...one came in close at 44lbs, but I've since lightened it a bit! The backpack for my month long excursion is weighing in at about 23lbs which I think it fantastic considering it will carry my life for a month.
I'm starting to get really sentimental and nervous about leaving. And, despite the fact that I feel like I'm on a spending spree most days, I'm enjoying the fact that I quit working early. I've enjoyed being able to spend time with friends and family whenever I want...and on days that everyone else is leading a normal life...I like to hang out with my kitten who will miss me immensley I'm sure. :)
I am also proud to say that I've mastered Skype this week with a whole 2 sessions. One to Illinois (I think...maybe Indiana?) and another to good ol' East Berlin. Let's just say my mum is TOO funny with technology. Speaking of mum, we spent a very nice week together in early July in East Berlin (see what not having a job can do for you?). We hung out with the family, enjoyed some 4th of July-ness, cleaned and attempted to purge her storage unit and went to Hershey Park! I used to go to Hershey Park all the time and it became a little repetitive...but it's nice to go with first timers, or in my mom's case someone who hasn't been there in a long time! We rode 98% of the coasters (didn't mess with the lame ones, natch), shared a delicious chicken wrap and walked our butts off! Good times. We love each other beaucoup.
Next up is Maria's visit to Motown this weekend, which also culminates with my LAST weekend in Motown, at least as a resident. :) Seriously, so excited about that. Then I'll finish up packing/getting ready and head to PA on Friday (the 7th). Mum and I are off to NYC for a few days and then it's go time, folks!
After a quite costly debacle with the Visa process--I am officially on (or will be in 15 days) a UK general student tier 4 visa!! Complete with a horrendous picture to match my horrifying passport! I am so glad that this is all straightened out and I can, in fact, proceed with my much anticipated adventure! I first applied for my visa online, paid $250 for it and then had to schedule a 'biometric' appointment in Charleston. That went fine, although I was so nervous that I'd do something wrong. Which, obviously, I did! At the appointment they took my fingerprints (did you know that typing a lot makes your fingerprints harder to capture? In essence, you lose your prints because the typing wears them off...good to know, right?) and then they took a couple of pictures. Well, being the novice at the whole Visa process, I figured that the pictures they took would be the ones sent to the UK visa office in NYC. Wrong. On top of that I forgot to mail in...hmm, let's see, a whole crap load of stuff needed to process my visa. Namely, bank records, my loan information, my diploma and that very helpful letter from the Uni saying that I actually was accepted. It took 3 tries to get my visa settled. All in all about $300 dollars. At the end of which they send me an email with a link to a handy list (although, still a little vague) of what needed to be sent with my application. Very helpful, thanks.
Needless to say, I am now in possession of my passport again, complete with UK visa sticker/thing and have made copies of it. I'm also almost completely packed for my trip and for the next year...or at least a few months. I'm not taking all of my clothes, naturally...mostly because I figure I'll want to buy clothes seeing as I love me some UK fashions! I have 3 bags and a small backpack. I'll be taking my HUGE suitcase, large backpack (as in for hiking, etc.) and small backpack with me on August 13th and stepdad Ben has graciously agreed to bring my other suitcase over in September when he comes to bring mum home! I surprisingly have managed to not go over the 50lb weight limit on any of the bags...one came in close at 44lbs, but I've since lightened it a bit! The backpack for my month long excursion is weighing in at about 23lbs which I think it fantastic considering it will carry my life for a month.
I'm starting to get really sentimental and nervous about leaving. And, despite the fact that I feel like I'm on a spending spree most days, I'm enjoying the fact that I quit working early. I've enjoyed being able to spend time with friends and family whenever I want...and on days that everyone else is leading a normal life...I like to hang out with my kitten who will miss me immensley I'm sure. :)
I am also proud to say that I've mastered Skype this week with a whole 2 sessions. One to Illinois (I think...maybe Indiana?) and another to good ol' East Berlin. Let's just say my mum is TOO funny with technology. Speaking of mum, we spent a very nice week together in early July in East Berlin (see what not having a job can do for you?). We hung out with the family, enjoyed some 4th of July-ness, cleaned and attempted to purge her storage unit and went to Hershey Park! I used to go to Hershey Park all the time and it became a little repetitive...but it's nice to go with first timers, or in my mom's case someone who hasn't been there in a long time! We rode 98% of the coasters (didn't mess with the lame ones, natch), shared a delicious chicken wrap and walked our butts off! Good times. We love each other beaucoup.
Next up is Maria's visit to Motown this weekend, which also culminates with my LAST weekend in Motown, at least as a resident. :) Seriously, so excited about that. Then I'll finish up packing/getting ready and head to PA on Friday (the 7th). Mum and I are off to NYC for a few days and then it's go time, folks!
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