Monday, April 23, 2007

Leaving for a 2 week trip to Germany… Funny… Who would of thought…? Spur of the moment! I fly from Ottawa to Newark (New York), then from Newark to Berlin (Tegel airport).

I'm feeling relieved from leaving… strange feeling. I’m sensing the freedom and independance all over again, feels great!…

Will I ever be happy and content you think? Well, from I’m standing now, it’s kind of hard to imagine. Somehow, I just think there’s more for me in this world… something magical and out of the ordinary (mind you that I am anything but ordinary!)… Anyway, off I go again for a new adventure!!

Tuesday, Arpil 24, 2007

Well, quiet day at the office… I was very tired when I arrived this morning in Berlin. I almost mist the connection in Newark due to flight delay… I was the last one to check in the plane… hihi! So I didn’t do much today. I walked around to have a look at the surroundings, had a hot schokolade, then took a ride on the metro (S and U bahn) to the East Side of Berlin to get my BlutEngel concert tickets. After that was done, I slept… I couldn’t help it. I was at the point of missing my stop on the U bahn because I was falling asleep. Later, I watched a little TV, did some emails and spent my evening around Berlin. I was lucky to catch the sunset… very nice! Then it was bed time!!

You should see the hotel I’m in!! I feel like a queen in here! The Grand Esplanade Hotel; very new, classy and close to everything! I’ll be here for the next 3 days.

It’s funny being back in Germany… Feels like I was here ages ago!! It’s so different! It’s green everywhere!!! And smells lovely! So pretty! Who would think you’re in the middle of a city! I’m happy to be able to see different seasons of Germany… I really wouldn’t mind moving here for a while; especially to learn the language, I find it so fascinating… some day maybe.

Fuck, my knee hurts! It’s annoying!

Thursday, April 26, 2007

Yesterday… I walked around Berlin for some sight seeing. I saw plenty of Museums, Churches, the IMAX theatre, the Tower, etc. I did start off my day with a good run in Tiergarden (not sure that’s how it’s written…)… I’m falling in love with Germany all over again…

In the evening, I “dolled” myself up for a classy evening at Winter Garden to see an acrobatic show (I forget the name already…sheeshh). It was really good!!

Today, started my day with a run again… Ain’t that great?! I went back to the area I stayed last time I was in Berlin, Zoo Garden. It looked so different without the Christmas markets, and with all the trees green! I had a late breaky… spam, eggs, patatoes and salad… needless to say I was a bit sick afterwards. It’s not my usual “breaky”. I didn’t eat it all but it was great!!!

Then walked in a more quiet part of Berlin, which happens to be the gay area.

Later, I met Teresa. She’s originally from Cuba but has been living in Germany for 15 years. She’s very nice!! We had diner before my BlutEngel concert.

Fuck the concert was great!!! This definitely falls as an “amazing thing” in my book!!! I’m so in love with them! And Constance, what a pretty lady she is! I was lucky to get a picture with her after the concert… I even got a kiss… Ain’t it great to come from Canada!! Hihi! She’s even prettier in person! Sadly, the concert came to an end. I just wished it would keep on going for ever… I just felt so… good! It’s insane; they’ve become like a drug to me!! But great moments, events, experience have an ending apparently (the bad ones too)…

Heading back to the hotel I was surprised to see that my train back home was out of service for the rest of the night… oups… I had my heads to far up the clouds… And I was too far to walk and it was the middle of the night… A guy saw that I seemed kind of lost so he came to give me a helping hand… well that’s what I thought he wanted to do… in the end, he just wanted to take me to his home… right! I have this naïve way of thinking that all people are honest and true… When will I ever learn… So, I got scared at some point ‘cause he was pressuring hard enough, so I literally jumped on the first taxi I saw…

So here I am back at the hotel… what a great day this was!!! I’ll never forget that concert… I want to see them again!

Friday, April 27, 2007

At this point, the day is not over yet, but lots of action so far… I checked out of the hotel this morning, then checked-in my familiar hostel in Zoo Garden. Then I took the train to Leipzig to meet with Alex. I had such a great time with him! We had lunch and an ice cream, talked and walked around. He’s there for work. He started on his thesis! I was sad when Alex saw me off at the train station… It felt so good to see him! I would of liked to stay longer but he did have to work and had taken more then enough time from it to see me already… I wonder when I’ll see him again… But I know I will!

I tried my freggin calling card today… can’t seem to make it work in Germany. So I did a collect call home, but apparently my mother refused the call… Which I find hard to believe!! But that’s what the operator guy told me… I’ll try later.

By the time I got back from Leipzig to my hostel in Berlin, I was so tired to I went straight to bed (well after writing my journal).

Saturday, April 28, 2007

It’s currently 5h30pm. I’m stuck on a train who’s stopped for some reason, accident or construction… I’m not sure. I don’t understand German enough yet.

I left early this morning to visit Dresden. I’m now on my way back to Berlin. I have to try to call home…

Dresden is very cool! Plenty of historical monuments, churches, cathedrals all mixed with “new” construction. I only have the German names with me but here’s what I saw: Kreuzkirche, Landhaus (Stadtmuseum, Stadtische Galerie Dresden), Frauenkirche (Church of our Lady Peace), Brühlsche Terrasse (Festung Dresden), Albertinum, Kathedrale, Schloss (Grünes Gewölbe, Kupferstich-Kabinett), Shcinkelwache, Semperoper, Zwinger (Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, Rüskammer, Prozellansammlung, Museum für Mineralogie und Geologie, Mathematisch – Physikalisher Salon, Skulpture im Zwinger), Steallhof, Fürstenzug, Johanneum (Verkehrsmuseum), Block haus, Japanisches Palais (Museum für Völkerkunde, Vorgeschichte, Tierkunde), Puppentherater, Stadtverwaltung/Rathaus.

My plan for the rest of the evening would be to call Teresa. She invited me for diner at 8pm but don’t know if I’ll be back in time with the train delay… Call home and take a shower!!!

Finally, we got to Berlin 1h30min later… well it’s not like I had a big schedule to keep… The greatest thing about being on vacation: you don’t have a schedule and no need to try and beat time; you take whatever comes as it comes. I took a good long shower, then I called Teresa… my time expired before we finished our conversation… she’s suppose to email me…

So now I’m just sitting on the hotels terrace, enjoying the view while watching the soccer game!! I checked my emails and Mom was confused as to why my collect call didn’t go trough because she had excepted it… but the guy told me she didn’t… anyway, I knew she hadn’t refused it!!

Going to Naylas’ tomorrow!!!!

Monday, April 30, 2007

Yesterday, woke up at 9am, checked out of the hostel and took the first train out to Mainz and go meet Nayla. There was another delay of 1 hour with the train so I got to Frankfurt at 3h30pm. Then I took the first connection to Mainz. I met Nayla at around 5hpm ish. Once at her place, I sorted out my stuff, did some laundry, internet and shower. When Nayla was done with studies we had diner, then went to have a seat on “the beach” by the Rhein (Rhine) with a huge glasses of apple juice and wine!! Two of her friends, Carina and Benny, joined us later on. We watched the movie Pride and Prejudice; Philippe arrived and then bed time! It’s great to see Nayla again!!

This morning, woke up late, read a little, had breaky, then a great run by the Rhein. Feels wonderful! Then I read some more…

In the afternoon, we went for a walk in the market. I saw St.Stephan’s Churche were a famous French artist, Chatall, painted the windows of the churche. They look great!! Then saw another church, can’t remember the name. The interior looked great! It had a gothic, vampire, romantic kind of style going on! I walked a bit on my own afterwards. Once back, I read some more and eventually got ready for some partying! We first went at Uni where Nayla and her friends meet every Monday for diner. They’re great! I had the most interesting conversations with Simon. Only to realizes that I don’t know jack shit about the history of my country and more about Europes’ history! He’s so sweet! Then we took the bus with Carina, Benny and met Chris and Christina on it. Chris was the one who bought the tickets for us. So, it took us a while to find it… to a point where I had to pee in a bush on the side of the street. Eventually we found it. So cool! It was in an old train tower, called the “Red Tower”. I had such a great time!! Met so many nice and interesting people!! We came back at around 3 in the morning.

It’s the “Day of the work” holiday tomorrow… the reason for so much partying on a Monday night!!

Tuesday, May 1, 2007

Day of the work holiday today.

Morning was a little ruff… Packed my stuff and had breaky with Nayla, sat outside on the balcony… beautiful morning! My mom called just in time!! I was about to leave to catch the train to Berlin. It was good to hear her voice! Then I had to say goodbye to Nayla… I so want to move to Germany!!!

I arrived back in Berlin at 7pm. I checked in my hostel then went for a last night walk around town. I haven’t even left and I can’t wait to back here!

So far, I’m alone in my 8 bed dorm!! Woohoo!!! And a shower all to myself!! I’m taking the bus to Tegel airport tomorrow morning at 6am. I just hope in get up in time… I don’t have an alarm clock!… It’ll be fine, hihi!

Wednesday, May 2, 2007

I’m on my way home. I woke up at 5am this morning; perfect timing. I got at the airport at 6h30am. My flight from Berlin to Newark was amazing! I had 3 seats to myself so I slept through most of my flight and the sky was sunny and clear blue!! I’m on my way to Ottawa; scheduled time to arrive is 4h45pm… but we’re a bit late. But I’ll still be in time to see Sarah (my brothers’ girlfriend) off for her “Around Europe Trip”. She’s leaving for a little over a month!

I had an amazing time in Germany! Can’t wait to go back… I know I said that a thousand times! But until then, I most go back to my routine… I’m starting work tomorrow… No point in taking a day off… So, I’ll keep to my own little world with BlutEngel until I can leave again…

“ The greatest discovery one can make is that nothing is impossible.”

“ There are many things in life that capture your eye, but very few will capture your heart. These are the ones to pursue. These are the ones worth keeping.”