Learning Deutsch

I am now in Germany, and I've been staying with my friend and sister, May. I don't know who wouldn't know, but Maite (can't get the special fonts to work here, dangit!) was our exchange student when I was a freshman in high school, and I hadn't seen her since. We're both glad to see each other though, and May has been awesome at planning things out--there's so much to do!--and a great hostess. I'm learning lots of German and have seen all the sites in Berlin.
Tuesday we got to go up the TV Tower in town, which has a panorama viewing floor at 203 meters in the air. It was clear the day we went up, so we were able to see even 80 km away! Berlin is a really cool city with a rich history, and seeing it from the air helps one to appreciate the differences between East and West. We also took a bus ride that took us past all of the touristy places--the Reichstag (state house, like our Congress, and very impressive), the Victory column, the Tiergarten, the Brandenburg Gate, the Memorial Church, among other things.

A view from above Berlin, including the Berliner Dom (Cathedral) and the Brandenberg Gate

The victory column

The Kaiser-Wilhelm Memorial Church

We went shopping at a mall at a train station (the big train stations all have malls) and met May's friend Shirin (who many of you will be meeting soon) for some ice cream. Now, when I say ice cream, I mean ice cream like I had never seen before. Unfortunately, my camera was dead; this ice cream was delicious and huge... Mine had blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, black currants, mango yougurt, etc (I had to be healthy, you know)... oh and syrup, whipped cream, and lots of ice cream. I also got to meet two of May's sisters when we went to her mom's house for supper (her mother is on vacay in France)--Clara and Louise, who are both delightful.

Wednesday brought a lazy morning where May's boyfriend Greg showed me around the neighborhood. Berlin has a really cool feel (cool is the word that I've decided best describes Berlin) which mixes babies and punks, cupcakes and metal rockers, trash and art (Greg calls the graffiti on the dilapidated buildings here "trash art") and most of all, very friendly folks. It's a cool place.

Some "trash-art" near May's house (I'm a fan)

In the afternoon, May and I walked up close to the Reichstag, through the Tiergarten and the Brandenburg Gate, and down to the Spree where we took a boat ride to learn more about the city. I saw the Chancellor's house, old churches, and big parks. There are a lot of parks, and after the boatride (and a delicious falafel supper) we headed out to a park on the south side of town, Schlachtensee, a lake. We took a dip and then just enjoyed the company (this time I got to meet May's brother and sister Magnus and Stella) before heading home to call it a night.

The Brandenburg Gate

A view from our boat ride; the Berliner Dom is on the left

A view of the Schlachtensee (Slaughter-lake) where we went swimming

The Last Few Days of London-Town

My last days in England were very busy but a lot of fun. I spent Thursday at a big mall in London called Brent Cross and was able to walk over Tower Bridge during the night, which was fantastic. Lucy and I went to Windsor Castle on Friday; unfortunately the weather wasn't cooperative, but we had an ok time anyways. We took a break for some cream tea (whereby I overdosed on clotted cream and may never be able to eat it again, even though it is delicious) and went back to the castle to quickly see the state rooms and the doll's house. The castle is HUGE. I cannot imagine living there.

Tower Bridge at night

Windsor Castle with stormy cloudsThis is like one half of one part of the castle--it's huge!

Friday I experienced Primark (which was cheap cheap clothing... I bought three shirts for less than 10 pounds) and then set off with Lucy and her friend Kate to Canterbury for the weekend. We first went to Whitstable, a little town right on the coast. I got to play in the water a little bit, have proper fish and chips, and Lucy found an autographed photo of Sean Connery which I promptly bought. We went to Canterbury where I met Lucy's housemates for the coming year and also her friend Matt, with whom we had a drink at one of the many local pubs. Canterbury was beautiful by night (oh the stars!) but even prettier in the day. After being woken up early by Lucy's housemate's bird (Lance, a very friendly cockatiel--he gave me kisses on my neck, cheeky bird) we went to Canterbury Cathedral for mass. It was an awesome experience, I could just look at the architecture and be in awe. After mass we were able to walk around the enitre church, which stretches on some ways and has the tombs of Edward the somethingth and Henry IV, as well as Thomas Beckett, a priest who was martyred there. Lunch, bookshopping, and another cider before we headed home for a great supper put on by Jodi and Lorraine. Yum!

Lucy and Kate at Whitstable beach

Our alarm clock, Lance

The dome above the altar from where we were sitting for mass. It was beautifulMe in front of the old gate at Canterbury

Monday was my last day, and the highlights were eating another Magnum bar and stopping by Abbey Road. I made it safe to the airport but was almost foiled by getting on my plane by a fire alarm... thankfully they didn't take off without me, although my fellow passengers probably didn't like me too much. A beautiful sunset from the airplane over the clouds was a lovely good-bye to Great Britain (for now... I'll be back in January, don't worry Brits!)

Abbey Road Crossing

Excellent English Adventures

In the courtyard of St. Paul's (church, not cathedral)

Yesterday was a very busy day. I spent the day with Fran, and it was absolutely wonderful. After meeting up at Euston Station, we headed to Covent Garden, a big covered, open-air shopping mall. There we watched a street performer for a while (it was an odd act, but he did swallow a sword) whilst eating Cornish Pasties, which are basically Hot Pockets, I’ve decided. Bigger, more pastry-y, tastier, and probably unhealthier Hot Pockets. We also discovered a little church, I think St. Paul’s church, that had lots of monuments and burials of actors and theatre folk. We also went to a Topshop, just so I can say I’ve been in. Apparently one’s coming to NYC though.
We then went to see the Tate Modern. The plan was to walk over Tower Bridge and then down to the Tate, but that plan was nixed when we saw the actual distance between the two. We eventually got there, and although modern art is neither Fran’s nor my thing, we still had a good time trying to figure out what we were looking at and what the statement behind it all was. There was a room with a giant (real) palm tree felled in it; that might have been my favorite, or maybe the Andy Warhol rooms. We walked across Millennium Bridge (recently destroyed by the Death Eaters, if any of you have seen HP6) and headed to afternoon tea.

The Tate Modern The Tate from Millennium Bridge (sans Death Eaters)

We went to a fancy restaurant called the Woseley, which is on Picadilly right next to the Ritz, and Fran got Cream Tea (three scones and tea) while I got Afternoon Tea (five tea sandwiches, two scones, three little pastry treat thingies, and tea). And of course, our scones came with clotted cream (THE BEST FOOD ON EARTH. I don’t know why we don’t have it in America) and strawberry jam. It was so ritzy, we felt like we had snuck in… I had to take photos very discreetly. It was expensive and delicious. I’m planning on doing it again.

My Afternoon Tea: scones are on the top under the silver bit, my tea cakes on the second layer, and tea sandwiches on the bottom)

After the Woseley, we walked across Green Park to Buckingham Palace, where the Queen was holding a gala for the veterans… there were lots of ladies in big hats. Then we walked down by St. James’s Park to the riverside and looked at the outsides of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, and Big Ben. We then hiked it (lots of walking today… we weren’t very good at which tube stops to get off at so it’s probably better that we just walked) Trafalgar Square--big fountains and a tall column monument, plus the National Gallery--free to the public and some awesome works of art… right now they have an realist/impressionist display going on that I so wish I could go to but don’t know if I’ll make it.

The flag flying over Buckingham: The Queen is in!

Me with Big Ben--I can almost reach the top

My photo shoot in a British telephone booth... awkward position=had to hold the door open so you could see me

We then got on a train to the Globe to go see Troilus and Cressida. We were told that they were sold out, but we waited in line for Returns and got them! We got 5pound tickets for the yard, so we stood the whole performance, but we were right by the stage (stage right) and I often got to watch the action through the legs of a man in a short skirt. A gorgeous man in a short skirt at that (they were all gorgeous. And fit. And playing out part of my favorite stories. In iambic pentameter. Sigh). The show was three and a half hours long, but it was so worth it, it was an absolutely amazing performance, and I’m so glad I got to go.

The boundaries of the City of London--we found this on our walk to the Globe (as we could never seem to find the right station at which to get off of the tube)

The Globe Theatre!!

England times 2

Sooo I’ve been very very busy over the last few days here in London town. Last time I was here I was able to do a lot of the touristy stuff, so I’m not too fussed over it all and it’s given me more free time to do things with friends, such as going to Fran’s birthday get-together and watching Harry Potter 6 with English folk in an English theatre. ‘Twas fun. I’ve seen part of a South African theatre production completely in Afrikaans (one of the players is staying in Lucy’s house, his name is Jody, he’s very funny), a comedy show by another of Lucy’s friends (Yianni) who was very funny.

St. Pancras Station, very old and fancy

Of touristy things to do, we went to Brick Lane Markets (not very touristy, but a little bit). You can buy almost anything there, back of the lorry (truck) makeup and chocolate, used clothing, international food. I had a tangine for lunch, which is apparently a stew from Morocco. It was delish. Also mango juice, several pastries, and some very cheap chocolate.
I went back to the British Museum yesterday to see a few rooms that I missed the last time I was here, and I also got to show Lucy around and give her an alternative (and non-British, Hellaphile version) view of the Elgin marbles (those from the Parthenon). We also went to the Tower of London, which I wish we would have done first thing in the morning and stayed all day. It’s definitely on my list of things to go back to when I return to England. We took part in a weapons demonstration, and I got to be part of a team of four to fire a catapult! Although I daresay none of the other women seemed to be quite as excited as me. We went on a tour guided by a Yeomen Warden of the Guard (aka, Beefeater--they don’t know why they’re called that, although it might stem from in the olden days when they were allowed to eat the leftovers off the table when the king was done), we saw the White Tower which was full of armor and weapons (not really my thing), and we saw the Crown Jewels (a bit excessive, if I do say so myself). It was a blast, but I didn’t get to see half of the rooms they had open. We also went to a pub and had a cider while playing pub games on the little computer there, where a nice man from Yorkshire lent us 5p and helped us with the game for a while (we never won…).

Lucy with a giant horse, from the tomb of Masollos, where we get "mausoleum"

I was the only woman to volunteer for about two whole minutes... I was a little enthusiastic compared to the rest...
I look kinda like a kid on Christmas morningThe White TowerMe in front of Tower Green and where the Yeomen live

Part of today was spent at the Science Museum, which I must say isn’t my thing, although they did have a very cool hands on section for kids (like me!) and two floors dedicated to medicine through the years which I visited in honor of all the nurses in my life. It was pretty cool, although there were about six kids up in those floors total. Then we went to a posh shop called Fortnum & Mason (where the Queen gets her tea!)--it was very neat and very fancy and very expensive.

Lucy with an early MRI. She was told to look excited.

We also picked up coffee and cakes (I got a mixed berry tart that was DELICIOUS) from Patisserie Valérie before heading to “An Afternoon Less Ordinary”, a program through the theatres here for under-25s. We got to see a reading of a play for free. It was very good, and there were some famous people there, like the weird lanky pirate from Pirates of the Caribbean, and a guy from television here (he was also in History Boys and Dr. Who) and a lady who was in Notting Hill and Atonement. Now if only I could find Atonement the book (I’ve been looking for it everywhere!) I’d be happy.

Other touristy bits: The bridge recently destroyed in the latest HP movie
(not the same one as in the book, one might note)A Magnum ice cream bar. It was realllly good.

ENGLAND TIMES!

After an easy flight from the gorgeous Zurich airport, I landed in England to be greeted by Fran and Cat, along with Cat’s father. We rode back down to Aldershot in Hampshire where Cat lives. I also visited Surrey because it happens to be right across the “river” (creek/stream) by Cat’s house. We went to a “chippy” and got some proper English fish and chips (French fries for you Americans), which I enjoyed with Cat’s family (mum, dad, and three sisters) and Fran. After, the three of us went around to the woods near Cat’s house, which were very lovely--we talked about faeries and stag beetles. It was interesting. Later that night, after a dessert of strawberries and cream (I LOVE DOUBLE CREAM. I could eat it with a spoon), we played Monopoly until early in the morning; I found that Cat is a very… well, proud winner.

The woods next to Cat's house

The next day, after I had a full English breakfast (complete with kipper, which is fish... I tried it at least), we went to the shop around the corner, where they had some interesting crisps (chips for you Americans)--Prawn (shrimp) Cocktail, Steak and Onion, Smoky Bacon, Roast Chicken, Pickled Onion, and Worcestershire Sauce. Yum? They also had macaroni and cheese in a can! Why don’t we have that in America? That would be HUGE.

My first English Breakfast--the porridge is my favorite part
What they call bacon is a littttle bit larger than what we call bacon
Mac N Cheese in a CAN!!
Prawn (shrimp) Cocktail and Smoky Bacon flavored potato chips

We later headed to London to meet up with Lucy. Fran had to head home, but Cat and I met up with Lucy--who has a lovely house (and of course a lovely family)--and we had a great supper with her mum and dad. We then headed to the theatre--an hour late because we didn’t know that Press Night started an hour earlier than normal)--to see the second half of a play that her friend Jody is in; it‘s a South African musical all in Afrikaans… there were subtitles and it was very interesting, and apparently the writer/director, production staff, and performers are quite famous in South Africa. We enjoyed it but must go back to see the first half. It was press night and there was a gala afterwards which we were taken up to and I had a second supper. Then we joined the cast at the bar next door to celebrate the production manager’s last night in London. They were all very much fun, and have cool names like Loukmaan and Wilhelm (which has three syllables, by the way). Next time I go out though I plan on having a little less fun.

One day in Switzerland…

My last full day in Switzerland was a great success. I woke up quite late, so I just took my time getting ready and then went out to lunch at this really neat restaurant called Tibits. It is all vegetarian, and they have a buffet bar in the middle of the restaurant where you just get however much of whichever dishes you’d like and then they weigh it at the register and you pay by weight. I tried one of everything because it all looked so delicious! But that did end up costing me… woops! It was worth it though.

After that I headed to the Oskar Reinhart collection museum just around the corner from Shannon’s apartment. It was amazing. Name every Realist/Impressionist painter you can and they were there. I saw Delacroix and Ingres, Daumier, Courbet, Millet, Manet, Monet, Van Gogh, Corot, Gauguin, and others. I spent several hours visiting and revisiting galleries. It was awesome, and I was so surprised to see so many paintings I’d studied and even written about. (They only have one Monet, and it was a little known painting but I wrote about it last semester, so I was quite excited.)

After spending half of the afternoon in the museum, I headed to a small shop called Teehaus. Inside there was a wall of tins--hundreds of them, and they all had samples of tea to smell. You could pick any tea on the wall and buy it by the 100 grams (or any variation thereof). I got two small packets for myself and one for my mum, and then sat outside with a cup of tea, a biscuit, and a nice book. It was lovely, with people to watch and a fountain within 20 feet.



For the evening, after Shannon got home from work, we went out for, well, the most Swiss thing you can think of--Fondue! We got a few odd looks because most Swiss don’t fondue in the middle of summer, but we bravely went onward with our plan… we went so onward that we finished the entire pot of fondue! It was a lot of cheese, but it was delicious. Then we took a turn around the town and went to visit the birdie park once more before my journey the next day to England.

Photos of Greece

If anyone wants to see all of the photos I have of Greece, they're available in public facebook albums. :)

Pylos 1
Pylos 2
Pylos 3
Athens

Enjoy!! New posts of Switzerland soon...

Rheinfall and Schaffhausen

Yesterday after a slow morning, Shannon and I decided to go on an adventure. We bought train tickets and headed out to Rheinfall, the biggest waterfall in Europe. It was pretty neat. We walked over a bridge and around the area so that we could see it from all directions. One could take a boat out to the middle and stand on a tall rock in the midst of the falls, but after watching the boats rock around from afar, Shan and I decided we weren't brave enough.

Rheinfall from behind

Rheinfall from the sideRheinfall from the front

After about an hour, we took a walk down to the next train stop, pausing to sit for a while on the edge of the river and feel the very cold mountain water. We decided to stay away from Winterthur a little bit longer and took the train as far as our tickets would allow, stopping in the town of Schaffhausen. I'm very glad we did because it was the cutest little town I've seen so far. It had a nice big, very Swiss-looking plaza called Fronwagplatz with two neat fountains. Down the street was a random building that was very elaborately painted on all sides. And after that we found our way to the Munot, a 16th century fortification at the high point of the city. We climbed the tower to see the city from above and then walked down in the gardens. After stopping for a pasta supper (with some ice-cream dessert... somehow, we both got flavors that were quite rummy... it's hard to know what you're ordering in German) we headed back home on the train and went straight to bed.

Fronwagplatz

The painted building
The MunotA view from the Munot