Part 79: The Little People and 100 days

Hullo!

First off. Far out, its been 100 days now since I left Australia! 100!! Wow. Thats like.. a lot. (wow, Deep Doug... If you had 'Doug' any deeper you'd be in China because it was that deep -Lol@name reference.)

So today I was flying solo once again and after waking up at 10.30 or something, doing a load of washing, talking to my parents about money and organising my life in general I had a shower and made my way out to Hamburg so that I could go to the Miniatur Wunderland museum.

The museum is situated along the harbour and because I'd been to the Harbour before, finding it proved to be quite easy. I did walk around a little bit before going to the museum though just to get the area well into my head. When I got to the museum I was surprised to find so many people there as well. Being a Tuesday, I figured people would all be at work or school or something but, alas, no. Everyone decided to take this particular Tuesday off so they could go and check out the same museum as me, I am flattered.

The girl at the counter was very excited to hear that I was an English speaker and got even more enthused to find out that I was from Melbourne orignally. She, three years ago, spent 6 months living in Essendon as an exchange student and that was a nice way to start my trip, a chat with her. Eventually, 10 euros later I made me way in to the museum and walked into Switzerland. The mini version, of course. You see the museum is like a model train one, but awesome. They build entire cities out of tiny little things and they are huge and impressive with lights and movement and music and wow. They also make the day change to night every like 10 mintues or something and then you can see a completely different side to the place. Its really very cool- I was impressed.

I spent a fair bit of time there making my way through the crowds and looking at as much as I can. I even picked up my third Squished Penny which was cool. My favorite part was probably either the swiss concert, seen in the movie below, or the Las Vegas section at 'night' time. The lights were quite amazing. Oh! and it was really cool because before I went into the museum, I stood on a bridge and took a photo of the building. Then there was a model version of Hamburg which had the museum, so I took the same photo, just model version. I felt awesome and like no one would have thought of it. Ever. Good times. As I left, I bought a little something and the girl who went to Australia made an effort to serve me again. We chatted longer holding up the queue... She was really nice.

I got back home around 5.30 and caught Jette studying, so to be out of her way I went online and then talked to her sister for a while. Tea. Blog. Looking up museums for tomorrow, I think, Smallville, Bed. Good system.

At least on Thursday Jette doesn't have school. I hope she doesn't study the whooooooole day

This video just shows the concert thing part in the Switzerland sections, it shows the details and size of it all, sorta. Should upload photos to Facebook soon.

Part 78: Marzipan Central

Hello.

So for some unknown reason, I am in a really grumpy mood just now, so I am hoping that typing this blog will cheer me up... Yep. Jette is studying with Arvid so whatever, I'll just come over here now.

Today I went to Lubeck which is 45 minutes north-east of Hamburg, because of the trip to Hamburg however, it took me an hour and a half to get there, and some difficulty with non-english speaking assistance. It was good though because it meant I had to work it out all on my own and I did. Win. Last night I spent sometime researching the town and things to see and do there which also gave me reading matirial for the trip to get me pumped up and ready to get out there and see the world...well, Lubeck which isn't much of the world, but its got some good history going on.

When I first got in to Lubeck I ponderede around with my dodgy map I printed last night trying to find the Holsentor which is a really old gate which was originally started in the 1400's. Obviously, its nothing like what it was back then now, but still its kinda cool that its the same gate, just modified a little bit over time. I took some photos and enjoyed the crappy weather (at least it wasn't raining) and then made my way (by fluke) to an information centre which also had a squished penny machine. I got a map from the IC which was 90cents but contained a touristic route of the town and some information about the different things I would see, so I thought it was pretty worth it.

So basically my day was spent looking around at all the different touristy sites and trying to learn as much about them as I could. Thankfully, a lot of the time the signs were translated into English, unfortunately I do feel like I missed some of the more meaningful stuff because of my lack of German. Some of the highlights were: The top of Saint Peters Cathedral, which gave me a wicked view over Lubeck and also helped me get an idea of the orientation of the town. I also really enjoyed some of the side streets which werent actually on the route I was supposed to be taking, but they were so typical and quite pretty all the same. Also, the Niederegger cafe, famous for its Marizpan, the best in the world so it claims was a nice little spot to hang out too. The whole cafe was decked out to be like really old fashioned and all the staff wore maid outfits and stuff, and it was so nice feeling. I felt underdressed for it though, which is ridiculous feeling under dressed for a coffee! Anyway, it was cool. Also, opposite that was this really cool market medieval syle or whatever, where everyone was dressed up reaaaaaaally old fashioned selling things. You could also see the tradespeople at work for example there were blacksmith with their hammers and stuff and this cool glass guy who would manipulate glass and make really intricate sculptures.

I think the bit that stands out to me the most, not necessarily the best thing, but the most powerful thing was in the Saint Marien cathedral (which, by the way, s the biggest brickstone church in the world!) where in 1942 a bombing raid came and destroyed the area and two bells fell from roof and smashed on the ground and damaging the whole area. The church never moved the bells ever and now they sit there to remind people of the horrors of war. I think its so simple but so sad seeing just two smashed up bells with all the concrete on the ground smashed as well but its so effective and its just incredible to think that they haven't moved since a raid in 1942. It was... I dont know.

I think I've decided, all that said, this area of German architecture isn't the most attractive. I mean, some of it looks amazing and nice however none of it is particularly pretty, in my opinon apart from the occasional street or house. Its much to brick orientated for my liking and its all the same orange brick which I am not too keen on. Still, it was a great little day out and I learnt a lot. Lubeck is really interesting and highly recommended for anyone who has any interest in history because it has a lot of it. Some records show Lubeck being settled in just after the latest Ice Age (so a loooooong time ago) and since then has been the host to some incredible things such as being one of the original trading centers of Germany, creating gates and moats to prevent neighbouring towns from attacking, Slavery, Castles, Marzipan, War its phenomenal actually.

Anyway, I eventually left at around 5.10 and made my way back to Hamburg, got home and talked to Jette for a little bit, but then she was busy so I did nothing until tea time where I set the table. Then Jette, Jettes mum, Arvid and I talked around the table but I was in such a bad mood that I just sat quietly and tried to not get spoken to.

Dunno. Go figure.

So I added some photos to the blog for interest but there is an album with more of the photos I took today (I thinkg thers 48 of the 138 I took) on facebook. You can check them out logged in or not at this link here:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=230498&id=667554767&l=2727896310

I didn't write something about ALL the pictures on Facebook because I am lazy but I hope you can at least get a feel for Lubecks look. Enjoy! Now, the 1st picture is the Holsentor gate, the second is a view from St. Peters and the third is the bells. Yep.

Kcoolbye

Part 77: Markets

Hello!

Really quick blog today, just give a bried overview.

I woke up this morning at 7am and lay in bed regretting writing last nights blog and staying up later tha necessary. I eventually got up and had a shower only to get yelled at by Jette to hurry up (not in a mean way though) I ran downstairs chucked on my shoes and Jettes dad drove us out to the market we were going to be spending the day at.

We met Jettes friends Sandra and Caro who where also selling stuff. I thought we would only be there until 12 but it turned out we were there until 4, but you know, whatever. At some points it was really boring because there was just so much German I couldn't do anything. At other points it was really fun, because I was in charge of the money and I could understand all the numbers and thus keep up with conversations between customers. I spoke German - Win!! In the end they made about 260euro, of which I got zilch. I did however get a coffee and a crepe AND cookies, so I was content. I also drew because I got bored and my artistic talents were recognised... In hindsight, I should have sold my work :P

After, I got back and Jette studied so I talked to Jettes older sister over a coffee and slice of cake before going upstairs and wasting time for a while. Then went back downstairs and helped make tea which was just going to be Jette, her two sisters and I because Jettes parents had guests over. We made some awesome thing I cant even explain and it had the most amazing sauce I was in awe. Haha. It was good getting to know her family a little bit too. Eventually I went back upstairs and organised my trip to Lubeck tomorrow. Then went with Jette to drop her sister somewhere and then chatted to Jette for a while.

We did have a debate though: is 'it is sheer impossible' grammatically correct? Please reply. Anyone. (Preferably Kersie though- I hope you still read this!!)

okay! must off !

Bye

Part 76: Royalty on a Birthday

Okay, its now 1am and I have to be up at 7am so I am gonna try and make this short and sweet. Kcool. Sorry for my lack of blogging yesterday by the way, just had nothing too exiting to report.

So, todays day was pretty crap. I was invited going to go to a brunch with Jette and he boyfriend, Arvid, but then stuff happened and I ended up not going. This meant I had the whole time home alone again. I mean, I could have gone exploring, but Ellerau is another Maryborough where by, if you've seen it once, you've seen it all and I didn't know when Jette would be back so I just stayed at home (turned out she was away for 6.5 hours, I could have done a fair bit in that time ie, Hamburg..) anyway, I did get time to work on my project which I havent done for a while, which was good. I also dusted off season 8 of Smallville. Eep.

When Jette got back at 4.30 she had some packing to do for selling tomorrow so I talked to her and followed around for that. I also uploaded this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHwI8jM7B3w on to youtube. Its a 'how to make a paper crane' video. Yep. check it out if you have a spare 10 minutes and a square piece of paper. So anyway at 6.30 we ate cake which Jettes mum made then we walked to the station and caught the train in to Hamburg. On the way we met up with one of Jettes friends whose name I should remember but I cant and her two friends who was Timone (the only name I can remember because its like the lion king) and his girlfriend. The 5 of us all introduced ourselves and I reverted back to the shy guy who cant speak German. Still it was fun following them around and listening to them, also, they could all speak English to different degrees so when I caught them one on one it was fine.

We arrived at the harbour which had a whole fete going on with soooo many people it was ridiculous. Also, it is legal to drink in public in Germany so already there were drunks walking around with beer. Anyway, we cruised around for ages looking at everything and anything that looked like anything. Good times. There was also the Queen Mary 2 (The fanciest ship in the world) in the harbour today, which I have seen before in Queenscliffe, I think, so it was cool seeing that somewhere else.

We then met up with another guy, whose name I forget as well (I am shocking, SHOCKING with names) Anyway he was cool and spoke great English so I talked to him eventually for a while. The 6 of us went on a ferris wheel, had some drinks (one of which was called Fickin or in English to fuck [scuse my...Italian...?], me and the other two guys had a shot of it and I was all expecting to go like wasted or something to match the name like they were saying it would... but nothin' it tasted good though) walked around and saw a historic part of the harbour which dates back to the middle ages. It was an original way of importing goods and that is one of the reasons Hamburgs harbour is so special.

Later we made our way down to a part where no one else was and watched a magnificent fireworks display but also choked on the smoke. It was fun though and the fireworks where very pretty. After we watched the Queen Mary depart from the harbour and then made out way slowly back home through the MASSES (you can sorta see in the first picture, but the masses get worse. Much worse.) of people.

Nice.

Part 75: Schienenersatzverkehr

Yes, that is a German word. A real German word which means 'replacement bus' I think every language needs a ridiculously long word for that, don't you? Thats what I learnt today.



Anyway, on a more bloggy note, today I woke up again - hooray!! (why did I even bother saying 'I woke up'? Of course I woke up, how else would I be here? Goodness.) Right, I got up and then bummed around for a bit in the morning until about 10 when I went downstairs where Jettes mum, Fredericke (Yes...thats her name), was sitting having breakfast. I cut up some toast and then spread on some Nutella (being vegemiteless) and she asked me what my plans where for the day. I explained that until Jette got home, not alot, but after we would be going into Hamburg just to check it out so I can get a feel for where it is and how to get there. Fredericke was happy to hear I was home and invited me to go grocery, being the trolley pushing pro I am, I couldn't let my talents go to waste and thus tagged along. Besides, who doesn't want to see a German supermarket?

We weren't going to the supermarket for a bit of time, so I had a shower and waited around until it was time to go. We also took some recycling and I learnt about Germanys crazy recycling system. First, you wash everything, including like metal scraps and bits of rubbish to prevent rats and foxes from getting at it, apparently everyone in Germany does this. Then you sort it into Glass, Paper and plastic and then you drive the glass and plastic with you to a big bin (similar to France, I guess) there, you sort out the glass into 'coloured' and 'white' glass and throw them in to their respective bins. Then you drive to another place to get rid of the plastic bottles. Its a bottle shop where you can buy all drinks- anything from beer to water but also get rid of your plastic stuff. You put the water bottles in a box and put them with all the other empty ones, then you put all the bottles in a machine which scans them and gives you 50c per bottle you return. Epic.

The grocery shopping began after we bought drinks from the bottle shop. It was interesting walking around having no idea what the aisle signs were saying, and everything was so perfectly set up with little sections and stuff. It was odd. But organised and thus easy to work with. I also got some cereal (not Lion, I forgot to get that!) so I had a breakfast I liked in the morning, I am not a toast in the morning kinda guy, I'm more of a cereal bloke. Yea...

After shopping Fredericke bumped into an old friend and they chatted in German for a while, it is just so odd. I really just dont have a clue what goes on. I cannot stress that enough. First time ever for me, really. Oh well, I am actually trying to focus on picking up words and I have already learnt some which is cool. Anyway, we finally got back home and then I waited around for Jette to get back home at 3 where we had lunch (with Jettes parents as well) and then Jette and I took the train to Hamburg.

The train got delayed and we had a change over but we eventually made it. We spent some time around the harbour and even took a boat up and down which took a good hour and a half so that was good except there was some ignorant Canadian who was blabbering on about how Aussies can't speak English and that we are a stupid race and culture. I lol'd at him though because then he started speaking about Americans and French people and he was so daft himself making stupid assumptions. He was so rude though just assuming no one would care either way, he made an ass of himself, even Jette was like.. 'wtf?' Then I glared at him, making him feel bad and stupid, well, thats what I hope he felt... he was probably like 'who is this kid, and why is he looking at me? is there something on my face? *checks face* nope... I must just be awesome' Bah.

After the boat cruise we went out for a tour of the city part which was fun, I mean there wasn't that much to see in the awful weather but it was good anyway. We had coffees and chatted about the good old days and then we made out way to a nice old building (that you can see in the very missplaced photo above...) which I dont even know what it was but it looked good outside and in. We then caught a train or 3 back home around 9, had tea (cereal!) and then Jette went and studied and I did this.

T'was a good day... arvo.

Part 74: Ich Sprechen Deutsch Nicht

Yea... I have no idea if that is even how *I dont speak German* is spelt..

So Jette was at school today until 1 and being in a completely unfamiliar place with no maps or anything, Jette suggested I wait for her to come back home before I toured around the town (which, by the way, is called Ellerau) because she could take me. So my morning was pretty...well, lets just say uneventful. Jettes parents were both working and her boyfriend left for school too so it was just me wondering where anything was exploring the house and well, doing nothing until Jette got home. I couldn't even go outside because the doors were locked and I didn't have a key to get out... Sigh.

Eventually Jette did get home which was good because we made a stir fry lunch for us and Jettes Dad and Cousin who were coming home for lunch this was at 1ish. The 4 of us sat around the table and occasionally someone would have something to ask me or something general to say, but it was a pretty quiet lunch.

After we went on a bike ride all around town just exploring and checking out the area. I took some photos (but my camera is over there >>) which Jette thought was quite funny only because I was taking photos of houses, either because they were pointy or had straw roofs, which is apparently very typical of northern Germany. She understood why I was taking the photos, but was saying that it was so odd that thats something to take a photo of because its so normal to her. We then saw the little shopping part of Ellerau but didn't actually go in any, except the electrical one and then kept riding around and talking. It was odd because the land is so flat its ridiculous. So compared to the bike rides I had in Saint Marie d'Alloix, this was a breeze, which was nice.

When we got back we talked in the kitchen for little bit then watched tv which was odd, we flicked through channels and I didn't have a clue what was going on. I was actually kind of glad abou this. I have always wondered how much French I actually understand or how much I just guess because it sounds English enough. Well, not understanding ANY German, even when Jette points out that was an English sounding word made me happy because yea, means my French is good :) Anyway, not that that matters now, when am I ever going to use that again!? (hopefully sooner rather than later) anyway!! We found a channel that had English with German subs and then watched that before Jette went and studied and I... did...nothing. Then she went to Handball training and I...did...nothing. Oh I met Jettes mum who seems nice and who isnt working tomorrow. She said she'll take me to the grocery store (Aldi- lol) so yea, excitement! I am also going into Hamburg with Jette so that will be good.

After that we had tea, played cards and talked and then her boyfriend came over and then we all chatted in the kitchen together for a while until we went to bed, those suckers have to be at school at 7.30 tomorrow morning so yea.. um...yep.

I have to find things that can occupy my days whilst Jette is at school. I didn't actually know she was in school when this was organised so I didn't think about it. Hmm....Oh well, I'll just ... I dunno. At least, if worst comes to worst, I can always just work on my project... :P

OH!! Great news! Germany has Lion cereal, I can continue my Lion/nutella sandwhiches... I just need to by some tomorrow! Woohoo!

Part 73: Deutschland!

What a day! I mean, really I dont have much to say, but it was just sooo long!

I woke up at 6.00am this morning (well, 3 then lay in bed) and was gone from the Beyliers by 6.30... I dont even want to talk about it... So anyway, I arrived at Pontcharra and then caught the train into Geneva (Switzerland) then caught another train from the train station to the airport. I then waited in the airport for like 2 hours before getting on my plane and taking off for London.

The flight flew by (lol) because I was just zoned out, I didn't sleep but I was just no with it. So, I arrived in London (England) an hour and a half later which, including time change, made it 12.00. I had 6 hours until my flight to Hamburg and the check-in didnt even open for another 4. I walked around trying to find an adapter so that I could plug my laptop in and watch Smallville (becuase stupidly, I didn't have one) and couldn't find the right one anywhere! So...I had nothing to do, Gatwick Airport was soooooooooooooooooooooooo boring. Iended up sitting in front of the check in and staring at the clock, which didn't help for the last hour, then doing essentially the same in the duty free zone after checking in. I did look around for a while, but there really wasn't anything I wanted/needed so...it was just time filling.

Eventually I lifted off and touched down in Hamburg (Germany) an hour and a half later. This time, I read and stared out the window getting some amazing and dull views. Good times...

I checked out or whatever and made my way to the terminal where Jette was waiting for me! After a huuuuuuge hello hug we made our way, finding her dad on the way, to the car and then drove ad picked up Jettes boyfriend Arvid(?) names... whose parents are English and he speaks incredibly well. Upon arriving to Jettes place, I was exhausted and tired and so, we talked a little bit and then I had a shower because I felt gross and then came to bed and am now sitting here thinking.. so...no more France, I'm actually in Germany now.

First thing I noticed: They have very pointy houses that remind me of gingerbread ones... hehe.

Anyway, Ich sollte gehen,

gute Nacht x