GERMANY - 10 - 19 Dec 2006

December 10, 2006

I arrived in Germany this morning at 6h30am. Alex met me at the airport. We went back to their home and had breaky. I was so happy to see Alex and Mel!! Later, Mel went for horse back riding and we went to Rüdeshein, a little touristic town! There’s little shops everywhere!! And, it was crowed! I had a chocolate waffle…hmmmm! On the way back, we followed the Rhine. Then we picked up Mel and went back home for lunch. In the afternoon, we visited Frankfurt (well I visited Frankfurt with my private tour guide Alex! Mel had to study for exams, dam it!). I saw my first Christmas market in Germany, hihi! Very cool! I had Glühwein (warm red wine with cinnamon and spices) and hot chestnuts, yummy! Yummy in my belly!! Then I walked an old walking bridge over the river that separates the North Germany from the South Germany. I saw St-Paul’s Church, a cathedral and other buildings.

It is funny how the sun doesn’t cross the sky completely during the day. It stays on one side of the earth to do a semi-circle. It’s never (in winter I think) fully up in the sky! It seems like morning all day. So weird! Hihi! The temperature is like home, around 3 degrees today.

In the evening, we went to a little restaurant for diner. So funny! They did not have “English” menus, so Mel and Alex had to translate everything for me! Hihi! It never happened to me before, having to get things translated! It is fun! It is like a big guessing game.

December 11, 2006

Today was my first “solo sight seeing” in Germany. Mel and Alex dropped me off at the train station in Frankfurt. I bought my German Rail Pass and left for München (Munich) at 8h54am. I arrived in Munich at 12h15pm. Luckily, I was able to check-in a hostel 2 blocks from the train station. Then I took a major 6-hour walk around the city. It is a big city, 1.2 million in population. I was laughing because of the trouble I was having with street names! Hihi! “Strasse” equals “street”, I figured that much! Most of the time I was looking at a building or monument or whatever, not knowing what it was! Hihi! (Just kidding, I had an “English version” map of the city). The Christmas market is huge! I love those!

I am so tired! Sun sets at 4h30pm so it is very confusing! In Fiji, it was setting at 9pm! Now, I am thinking it is around 11pm but not even close; it is like 9h30pm!

Here’s what I saw today: Art Pavilion in the Old Botanical Garden; Obelisk; Trinity Chruch; Sendling Gate; Munich Marionette Theatre (oldest of its kind in Europe, founded in 1858); Siemens Forum; Theatine Church (1675); Feldherrnhalle (1844); Preysing Palais (1728); Archbishop’s Palace (1737); Hypo Arts Foundation Gallery; Old Courtyard (1255); New Town Hall (1909); Old Town Hall (1474); Toy Museum; St-Peter’s Church; Holy Ghost Church (1392, altered in 1730); Theatre Museum; Isar Gate (14^th century); Isar canal; St-Lukas Church; Prince Carl Palais (1805); Palais Ludwig Ferdinand; Maximilian splatz; and a hole bunch of other museums!! I think you get the point, I saw a lot of stuff!

December 12, 2006

After a cold/hot night… I think I have a fever. I have hot and cold flashes since last night (or I am going through menopause early!). I had a very good breaky this morning at the “4 You Hostel” in Munich. I took the train at 9am to Nürmberg (Nuremberg). It is smaller then Munich so I could easily walk it in a couple of hours. I prefer Nuremberg to Munich; it is smaller and older. The market is very cool here too!!

I saw: Nuremberg Art Gallery; Craftsmen’s Courtyard; State Museum for Art and Design; St-Martha’s Church; St-Clare’s Church; Former Costums House; St-Lawrence Church; Fountain of Virtues; Nassau House; Church of ous Lady; Beautiful fountain; Gooseman Fountain; Town Hall/Dungeons; Fembo House City Museum; Former Imperial Stables; Imperial Castle; Square at Tiergärtnertor; St-Sbaldus Church; Toy Museum; Former wine depot; Hangman’s Bridge; Tower of the Senses; Marriage Merry-Go-Round Fountain; St-Elizabeth’s Church; St-James Church and the famous Christmas market!!

Then I took the train back to Frankfurt and a second train to Mainz. Nyala met me at the station after work and we walked to her “newly moved in” apartment. I was very happy to see her!!! I had a nice shower then we went to the Christmas market for some Glüwhein! We stopped at a pub on the way back so she could see her friend that works there. I met many of her friends, it’s cool!!

December 13, 2006

Cool day! I woke up late for a change. I did not have to rush for a train or something. I visited Mainz while Nyala was in class. I saw a cathedral, Christmas market, St-Stephan Church, St-Peters Church; the Rhine and the “old road” which was not bombed and left as it is; and other monuments.

In the afternoon, I visited Heidelberg with Nyala and Philippe. I loved Heidelberg!! Everything is old, at their “original”. Saw the Uni, which is gorgeous (Ruprecht-Karl-Universität, established in 1386)! I met a few of Nyala and Philippe’s friends. And obviously, I saw Heidelberg’s Castle! Germany’s finest examples of a Gothic-Renaissance fortress! Inside the castle I saw the castle courtyards, Pulver Turm (Gun-Powder Tower), terraces, Grosses Fass (Great Vat – 18^th century keg capable of holding more than 220 000L!!!). Nyala tricked me on this one!! It was good!! ;-) Then, saw the Deutsches Apothekenmuseum (German Pharmaceutical Museum) that recalls the chemistry and alchemy of earlier times.

Later on, obviously saw the Christmas market (apparently the oldest “market road” in Germany). Took a coffee at a nice coffee shop and had Chinese food for diner. Then, we where on our way back to Mainz.

Have to wake up early tomorrow… I wish I could stay a little longer with Nyala.

December 14, 2006

I have only 5 days to go…snif, snif…

It was a great day! I was up and catching the train to Berlin at 6h15am this morning. However, I had to say goodbye to Nyala… ;-(

I arrived in Berlin at 11h30am. But then, since the city is the freggin size of Canada!! (In population there’s not that much of a difference considering one is a city and the other a country!!), I had to take my “Paris metro skills” out for the “S” train in Berlin. It is exactly the same thing but different name for the stations. So I got to the A & O Hostel.

Did not know but, Berlin is divided in 12 districts. The central ones are Schöneberg, Charlottenburg-Whilmersdorf, Prenzlauer Berg, Kreuzberg-Friedrichsharn and Mitte. My hostel was in the upper part of Charlottenburg-Whilmersdorph district, so close enough to everything.

So, I walked for almost 8 hours today! I saw the Brandenburg Gate, Reichstag and new government district, Gendarmenmarkt, the Berliner Dom, Fernsehturm (TV tower I think…), Schloss-Bellevue, Slegessäule, Kaiser-Whilhelm Memorial Church, Charlottenburg Palace and the famous Berlin wall.

I got some great pictures today. I was a little more inspired then usual. By what, I do not know. I came back to the hostel at 9pm. Across from my hostel, there was a music store, so I spent my time there until closing. Yes I bought some CDs; 4 Blutengel CDs. Then it was bedtime.

December 15, 2006

Scheisse, 4 days to go!!! I know I should not be counting down the days but it is hard to do when things are ending… I do not want to go back…

Anyway, amazing day! Knock wood, but I have been very lucky with the weather so far; in Germany and everywhere on my trip! I have had almost constant sun!

I arrived very early in Hamburg (considering my arrival time in the other cities), 10h30am. This meant I had a nice full day ahead of me; no rushing! I reached Katja today! She will meet me at the train station tomorrow and show me around (in Cologne)! I did not have that much luck with reaching Simona.

So, here’s what I saw today: Rathaus; Laeiszhalle/Musikhalle; Alter Elbtumel; Deichtorhallen; Speicherstadt; St. Michaelis Kirche; St. Petri Kirche; St. Jacobi Kirche; St. Katharinen Kirche; Mahnmal St. Nikolai; St. Marien Kirche; Fernsehturm; Hafenrundfahrten; Bismarck-Denkmal; Justizgebaüche; Chilehaus; U-Boot-Museum; Hamburg Dungeon; Erotic Art Museum; Kesselhaus; etc.!! My favorite was Mahnmal St. Nikolai!!!

After seeing all that, I checked-in my hostel, which happens to have a great view over the harbour! Later I went back for a walk on Mönkedamm Strasse: the Rödingsmarkt! I was going crazy in a ski store… the equipment they had there was nuts! Woohoo! I so cannot wait to go skiing! I walked around town in the evening, then came back to get a good short night sleep!

December 16, 2006

Wow, I’m so impressed with the free breakfasts in their hostels!! Different kinds of cereal, cheese, and bread, fruits!, beverages (HOT CHOCOLATES!!! Yeah!), etc.!! So I left Hamburg this morning at 7am for Köln (Cologne). I had some miner confusions on the train… almost missing stops, wrong wagon… but finally managed to make it to Cologne by 12h30pm. Katja met me at the train station! She is so kind! And right outside the train station is the Kölner Dom…WOW!! It is huge! I fell in love with it! We went back to her home, had some tea and went back out for “sight seeing”. Saw the Botanical Gardens, walked along the Rhine, visited the Kölner Dom (!!!), Gross St. Martin Church, Römisch-Germanisches Museum, Museum Ludwig and went to the Christmas market. It was pouring rain by that time! But, it is ok, I still loved it! I had some… oh scheisse, I forgot the word… sort of fried potato-pancake with apple sauce, very good!!! Then some peanuts wrapped in chocolate! Yummy! Eventually, we where very wet and cold so, we made our way back.

Katja had a party in the evening. She invited me but I just felt like staying put for a while. Later on, she left and I stayed at her place. Then I actually got hold of Simona! Sheesh, the woman is still alive! We spoke a little on the phone; there is no way I can see her before I leave. However, she is supposed to call tomorrow morning… At least I had the chance to talk to her a little. That will have to do.

The rest of my evening consisted of listening to my new CDs, righting, reading and sleeping!

December 17, 2006

Not too stressful day! I slept like a rock! I literally woke up at 9am; I had 10 hours straight of sleep! But, I think I missed Simona’s call… Or she didn’t call at all. Therefore, I decided to wait a little. I watched TV, checked my emails and was hopping Katja would come back before I left… But, I missed her ;-( Apparently she had a good party!! I wanted some more time to visit Köln. I really like it here!! I was going back to Frankfurt for 7pm, (so had to take the train at around 5h30pm) where Mel and Alex will be there to pick me up.

I walked on the bridge across to the other side of Köln and got some good pictures of the Kölner Dom! I walked around in the Christmas market for a while (since it is one of the last ones I will be seeing). They really put me in the Christmas mood. I love it!

Finally saw Mel and Alex later on! I spent the rest of the evening chatting and, drinking rum and coke. Hihi!

December 18, 2006

My last full day in Germany… and of my trip! Do not know if I should cry, scream or panic.

I took the bus and train with Mel this morning (Alex was keeping the car for the conference he had to attend). Then, I took the train to Leipzig and visited the place. Seems like they are rebuilding the entire place! Some places you have really old and demolished monument next to a new rebuild one… It is cool! They have the biggest train station in Germany (maybe Europe), with a 3 or 5 floor shopping center. Oh, and there’s an ice rink inside the station! How cool is that?!

In Leipzig, I saw: Alte Börse, Altes Rathaus, Bach Museum, Goethe Statue, Handelshof, Karl Marx Dioram, Kroch Haus, Merdelssohn Haus, Universität Leipzig, Thomaskirche, Nicolaikirche, Royal Palace, Specke Hof, Sohinkeltor, Neues Rathaus, Richard Wagner Statue, Zeithes Chirchtliches Forum (GOR Museum), New Bach Memorial, Mädler passage, Königshaus passage and more.

After my visiting session, I met Mel back at the train station in Frankfurt. Since Alex was on a 2-day conference, we went to the hotel so I could say goodbye and pick up the car… I felt sad saying goodbye to Alex… and I will have to say goodbye to Mel tomorrow too… However, I will see them again for sure! Spent the rest of the evening with Mel drinking Amarula!!

I did not get the chance to talk to Simona again before leaving.

December 19, 2006

Mel just dropped me off at the airport… I am sad. My entire luggage is checked in, just waiting for my flight and making everything I can not to cry. I feel like my heart and my head are being ripped apart! It is crazy! I am a little worried about my limited time in between my flights in Toronto. I have just an hour to go through costums, pick up my luggage, go through costums again and check in the flight… Seems nuts to me! I made sure to ask for at least 2 hours in between the flights when I scheduled them. I guess it must be possible then. Well, I made sure they put my bag priority so it can come out first… Maybe it is possible.

Ok, starting with a delay on the flight! That is just great! Finally, we arrive in Toronto… I did not know if the pilot just did not feel like landing or wanted to show us Toronto, TWICE (which I do not need to see!), but had to take-off twice before even touching the ground! Apparently, the wheels did not want to come out (or something did not want me to land!). I do admit that would have been a rough landing! Maybe I should have taken Mel’s option of making me miss my flight! So, I look at the time and think to myself “Ok, still possible, if I hurry like hell”. So I was one of the first one to jet out of the plane, passed everyone and the first one to go through costums and get to the luggage area. Well!! Remember I had put my bag priority? IT WAS THE LAST FREGGIN BAG TO COME OUT!!! I am not exaggerating; it was the last bag to come out! What is the point of having a “priority service” then? Or, was it just a “fluke”? Grrrr! I heard my name being called, but my bag was not even out by that time. So, yes, obviously I missed my connection! I was not very happy; I was really annoyed and pissed off. Then I thought “Great! Not even 1 hour back in Canada and I wanted to kick the crap out of the phone box!”. I am already pissed off leaving Germany and now all this. I know it is not much if I think about it. Normally, I would not have reacted that strongly but it was just not the time… However, it is always in these times that it does happen. So I followed a woman so I could book a seat in the next flight… she wanted to book me at 8pm! Ya, right!! People where waiting for me at the airport at 4pm (time I was suppose to arrive!!). So, I gave her this angry look. I think she got it because she booked me on the next flight out. I arrived in Ottawa at 5pm instead of 4pm. That is not so bad.

Is that a sign? Or, just plainly to annoy me? I just hope my bag is in Ottawa when I get there!

Ok, well good start my bag is here! Coming out of the plane, I got all excited to see everyone. I suddenly could not wait to see my brother! I came down the stairs so quickly most of them (except my Dad who sees everything!) did not even see me arrive! Honestly, I did not think the waiting area was where the luggage was so all I was thinking about was to get my bag and hurry out to see everyone. But then I saw a bunch of hands, balloons and a taxi sign up (Marc!!). Therefore, I quickly forgot about my bag and literally ran to them! I had such a surprise! I was expecting to see my parents, my brother and maybe my grandparents to be there. But mom, dad and Alex; aunt Gin, Lyn and Rachael; my friend André and; the big surprise: Marc and his mom Françoise where there!!! … With a big hand made “Taxi Joly” sign…!! That guy just cracks me up! I was really over-whelmed by everything by that point.

We went to Shawarma Palace for diner (I had a craving for that since the day I left). Then I stopped at my grandmothers’, Gertrude, and then my grandparents, Claude and Fleurette. I was so happy and relieved to see them, and I think so where they!!

Then I had the strangest feeling seeing the house and walking in to my room. Even driving in Ottawa was weird! I just sat on my bed and watched everything around me for an hour. I had forgotten how much stuff I had!

December 23, 2006

Well, last night was my first real night of sleep. I experienced the opposite of “jet lag”. I was literally up and awake for 3 days. I just kept unpacking, unwrapping, throwing out stuff, putting new stuff in, going through stuff, reorganizing stuff, contacting and doing arrangements for work, seeing friends and family… I just could not stop. I did not want to stop. I felt that if I stopped I would panic, so by keeping moving I would be fine. I woke up this morning feeling absolutely lost. I had no idea where I was. It took me a few minutes to recognize my room! Then the thought of “I was away for several months and now I’m back” kicked-in a few minutes after that! That was so weird but so funny!

People keep asking me if I am happy and how do I feel to be back… I never know what to answer. I am more then happy to see all my friends and family but I cannot say that I am happy, nor what I’m feeling, to be back yet.

January 16, 2007

It has almost been a month since my return. I am still feeling weird and confused at times. I think I just need more time. My heart is forever field with memories, secrets, new friends, new adventures, and new experiences! I realize now many things have changed and others will change later with time. I am forever grateful to have had the chance to travel like this. Thank you to everyone who has made it possible and who’s been part of it!

Febuary 17, 2007

It’s been two months since my return. I think I’m just starting to getting back to “normal” (whatever normal is!) and getting more stable. It’s been a “rocky road” since my return, especially in the past 3 weeks. Many “realities” have been hitting me in the face, some bigger then others. But things are getting better and are settling in slowly. When you hit rock bottom and you can’t go any lower, the only way is up. So I’m going up a step at a time. I wasn’t expecting for it to hit hard like it did. I’m lucky to have a family and friends who are enduring my “mood swings” and encouraging me through. I’ve made a collage of my favorite pictures of my trip in a huge frame. Every time I come into my room, it’s the first thing I see, and it’s the last thing I think of before going to sleep. I thought I wanted to settle down at my return. But then I figured why would I settle down when I still have the chance to go explore the world. I don’t have any big “obligations”, and what’s the point of settling down if you’ve got no one to settle down with? Now, I’m looking to buy my motorbike and find myself a home.

I will keep posting my next trips (or events) on this web page so feel free to check it out when you want to. Right now, I am planning to travel to California end of april and punta cana mid-may, and another long trip with my friend Ren in about 1 year and a half. However, nothing is “rock solid” so things can change until then, you never know. I will keep you posted.

So, whishing a great 2007 to all of you!! And, may all your wishes come true!

With lots of love,

Ciao

Karina xo ;-)