Bye Bye Berlin

Bradenburg Gate

Well, my five week Germany experience is over and though I won't miss the toilets, the waiters hovering over me at my table while waiting for me to pay, or the excessive amount of second hand smoking I have been doing, I sure will miss the great friends I got to visit, the interesting strangers I met and the country itself.

Prison lock at Sauchsenhausen concentration camp

This may be brief as I don't have a ton of time to write but basically after I was in Friedrichshafen I made my way to Jena, to the east of Germany! This was meant to be a six and half hour train ride (long enough already) that turned out to be almost eleven hours, changing more trains than I would have preferred and well, all the other fun but actually not fun things that go with it. I made it, though. There's only so much you can do in situations you can't control so I figured I would get to my destination sooner or later and I did but definately later than sooner. I spent about three days with my friend, Reini who I worked with at Capernwray Harbour. One day I spent walking around the city and the other we headed to a place called Weimar and strolled around there. We also visited the Buchenwald concentration camp which was freezing cold. All I could think of was the fact that I was freezing cold though wearing wool socks under my boots,  long underwear under my pants, winter jacket, scarf, gloves, toque, the whole shabang while the prisoners here would normally just have worn a striped, simple uniform, just one layer of clothing. How awful and this wasn't even close to the hardships they had to face.

A little difficult to see but that is the steeple of the church in west Berlin

I then headed to Berlin which I absolutely loved once I got over how terrified I was of being in a huge city all alone with a whole lot of unknown. The first day I went on a walking tour and saw alot of cool things like the Berlin Wall of course, we stood above Hitler's bunker, Checkpoint Charlie and even saw the hotel where Michael Jackson hung out his baby. Lots of history in this city I tell ya! I walked alot and just looked around. One day I saw a church in west Berlin that had been bombed during world war two and they left the steeple the way it was as a reminder.

Toilets at Sauchsenhausen

The hostel I stayed at (Grand Hostel Berlin, I highly, highly, highly recommend it!) offered a tour to Sauchsenhausen concentration camp near Berlin so I went on that one day too. I was mostly hit by the treatment of the prisoners. I mean ya, that's pretty normal I suppose. That's what people go to see really. The physical abuse is indescribable but I never thought too much about the emotional. There is one story that just reminded me of immature little 12 year old bullies. In this camp they put together the tallest man and the shortest man, and I mean to the extreme, probably 7 feet to 3 and a half feet and the guards would make them go everywhere together. They were not aloud to be apart even if one had to use the bathroom. All for the entertainment of the guards. They were just made fun of and I thought, "Really?" I don't know, maybe it's not a huge deal compared to everything else that went on there, but my heart hurt for them and it reminded me how we often fall short in loving one another. Okay, so we don't force our neighbor/friend/family/enemy to work for us, and then starve them or beat them, or throw them in a gas chamber alive, but how do we treat them day to day, how do we love them? There is alot to see there and alot to think about, but it doesn't really feel like you're actually standing in those same places when you are there which I think I am thankful for because it could have been just too overwhelming.
When I arrived back and walked out of the train station I found myself at the premier of 'Burlesque'. I think that's what it's called. Anyway, Christina Aguilera and Cher were to be walking down the red carpet in two hours so I made friends with a very nice couple and just hung out until the stars arrived! I thought it may be a waste of two hours and gosh it was cold but I'd never done anything like that before so I thought what the heck?
On other days I visited the Memorial of the Murdered Jews which was, well I don't know what you would call it...simply sad perhaps. I also visited The Topography of Terrors where the whole work of the SS from the 1930's leading up to the war was explained. This really was a very educational time.

One day I got together with a friend of mine from Canada who is actually German and happened to be in Berlin the same time as me visiting family. This was really nice and happened to be a very cool provision from the Lord when my flight got cancelled not once, but twice and needed a place to stay for an extra couple of nights!
Hmm...it is hard to think of everything I did because there was so much but it was really a great time, lots of learning, walking, snow, meeting people, ah! It was great and I am so thankful for my time in Berlin. The last night I went to Vapiano's which is an aboslutely incredible Italian resturaunt that serves fresh pasta and you can choose what kind of sauce and pasta you want and they make it right infront of you. It's amazing and I hope it makes it to North America one day (unless it already has and I just don't know it yet!!) Anyway, so I ate pasta, sipped wine and just stared outside to a busy Berlin street. This of course didn't end up actually being my last night in Berlin but oh well, there is only so much you can plan! So that is all for now, England has welcomed me back and more adventures are in store I am sure. I hope you enjoyed reading and that you all have a Merry Christmas!!!

A Baroque Church on Museum Island

The Berlin Wall

A little bit of alternative Berlin

A Soft Spot For Germany

Outside a castle in Ludwigsburg

I am now in the second half of my five week adventure in Germany and still enjoying it very much. It's hard to believe I will be back in England in ten days. I am wishing I had this much time in each country I am visiting so I can get to know the culture and language more than you would in just a week or a couple of days. I have practiced my german a tiny bit. It is sometimes fun but mostly I feel silly. One problem with speaking german is that when I get a response from the person I have no idea what they are saying, so really I don't get anywhere at all but still it is fun. The other day I was in McDonald's (they are so nice here!) with a friend and I ordered my meal in german. The lady at the till said something really long and really fast and I just looked at her blankly for a couple of seconds and then said, 'Oh boy!' and turned to my friend who graciously translated.
I finish visiting friends on December 12 and then head to Berlin by myself to explore. I have been blessed above and beyond by every single person's hospitality I can't even describe it. I have a feeling my time in Germany will go down in the books of my favourite times in Europe.

Kind of creepy, I know.

So now I am sitting here eating apple cinnamon yoghurt that tastes like pie - amazing - and thinking about what to write. There is so much that has happened since my last post that it may be hard to pack it into one post but I will try to be short and sweet. I believe the last time I wrote was during the first half of my week in Stuttgart with Juliana. I then moved on to another friend's, Julia and mostly relaxed as I was pretty tired. One day I met up with a friend, Hanna who I had no idea lived in Stuttgart. Her cousin also joined us and we went out for coffee. I had a nutella latte. Oh my word! Real nutella on the bottom that you can scoop up with a spoon. Incredible! Julia and I also went to a Christmas market which was probably my favourite yet. I think I've been to almost ten and they are all fairly similar in what they sell. Crepes, sausages, glüwein, flammkücken, and then gifty things but this christmas market in Esslingen was special because it was Medieval style. Everyone dressed up in costume and different characters walked around and there was a concert as well. Very impressive! I heard Vancouver is having their first german christmas market this year. If you go, you will have to tell me what it's like!

After my time in Stuttgart I headed down a couple of hours to Freidrichshafen on the Bodensee Lake to friend's place who I actually had never met before. Her name is Caro and I knew her brother from working at Capernwray. We got in contact over the internet - a very neat story that I will save for those who ask. Anyways, we are having such a blast, it's insane. I never thought I could laugh so much with someone that I'd never met before. I arrived last Thursday and on Friday we headed straight for Zurich, Switzerland! We took the ferry across the Bodensee Lake (it is bordered by Germany, Switzerland, and Austria), just a short 25 minute ride. This really reminded me of my many ferry journeys to and from Thetis Island. One thing that this ferry had that the Thetis one doesn't, is a really nice cafe and passenger lounge! Once we arrived on the other side our first mission was to head to a Swiss Chocolate Factory where their amazing chocolate is pretty cheap. Needless to say, I stocked up. We then arrived to Zurich, the biggest and most happening city in Switzerland and then found our hostel. We walked around the city for probably eight hours, it was great! As you can see, we had a lot of time on our hands...

We also went to about three different Christmas Markets I think and the city was just beautiful. We were also among the priveleged to hear the amazing Singing Christmas Tree that night.  Not exactly what I expected, singing Abba and other popular english music but I was so excited that anything that came out of all the christmas tree's mouths was beautiful! Mouth's you ask? Yes, there were rows of children lined across the tree singing their Swiss hearts out! Here's a little clip above to give you an idea...



The next day we drove to Biel, where we stayed a night with Caro's friends. They were so sweet and hospitable and extremely funny! They took us to the Alps near the town of Grindelwald. The day before was apparently cloudy and the day after it had snowed but we we had so much sun, it was amazing! We took the gondala up the mountain and then walked down which took about an hour. This was probably one of my favourite days yet.

The view from the city wall. Notice the twisted chimney on the right?

We then walked around the captial city, Bern for a little bit, had some hot chocolate at Burger King and headed home for some authentic Swiss cheese fondue. Not sure what else to say about that except for incredible! The next day after a full out german church service, they took us to a very quaint town called Murten and we walked along the old city wall. Pretty cool. One of my favourite moments was walking along this wall and all of a sudden hearing 'Sweet Home Alabama' blasting from someone's home. Quite humourous if you can imagine.  Then Caro and I headed back across the lake to home and had a very good sleep after a busy but exciting and super fun weekend!

 On Monday I visited Julia from Stuttgart again but this time she was at her parents home just a ten minute bus ride from Friedrichsahafen. They live and work at the bible school also connected with Torchbearers called Bodenseehof. I was given the grand tour and was able to run into a friend who I was a student with for two years at Capernwray on Thetis. I knew he worked there but he didn't know I was travelling so you can imagine the look on his face - priceless. I also walked by the classroom where the students were as one of the staff members was saying to them, "If you are not going to be at any of the meals PLEASE sign out!" If you have ever been a student or staff member at Capernwray Harbour you would know that some things just never change.
Well, that is all for now. Caro and I are heading out to yet another Christmas market tonight with her five guy roomates (this has been very entertaining) and then moving onward tomorrow. I will miss my time here.

Second hand shop in Murten, Switzerland

In the land of Nutella

I am on week number three now out of my five weeks in Germany and am still enjoying it very much. I have loved every city I have been in - Münster, Mainz, Heidelberg, Pforzheim, and now Stuttgart. Each one is so unique in it's architecture and history. Münster for instance is one of the oldest cities in Germany and very beautiful. Pforzheim on the otherhand is not very beautiful but I still appreciated it because of it's history. It was actually a very important city before World War Two but unfortunately because of its importance it was bombed big time. Eight-five percent of the city was destroyed in about ten minutes if I remember correctly. It was rebuilt quickly afterwards but so quickly that the buildings don't do much for the eyes now. I have been enjoying walking around the different cities and doing the odd touristy thing here and there but mostly have enjoyed being able to visit with friends that I haven't seen for a while. This has been really nice because I often feel tired and don't want to pack my days full of random things that make my brain tired unless it's something I really, really want to see of course. I am thankful I have six months which allows me to spread things out a bit and have a good amount of lazy days!

So after I left Mainz I headed down to Heidelberg which may just be my favourite city yet.  I was in the downtown area every day I was there, it was great! The day I arrived, my friend, Simone picked me up at the train station, dropped my bag off at her house and then we headed to straight to Heidelberg Castle. The Castle is seated on hill looking over the city and it is beautiful, ruins and all. We didn't go inside but that didn't bother me one bit because of how impressive the outside already was!

Simone and I across the 'Old Bridge' with Heidelberg Castle in the background

Castle ruins

The next day I did a little bit of shopping on the main street of Heidelberg, also Europe's longest mainstreet. I also visited the Documentation of Sinti and Roma, also known as the 'gypsies' during World War Two. I am becoming more and more interested in World War Two history so I was glad to have an oppurtunity to learn more about it in Heidelberg. Different lives and events were documented of the Sinti and Roma as they were persecuted by the Nazi's just like the Jews. There were many nice family photographs displayed that were taken before the war along with some very graphic and sad photographs taken during or after the war. There are two things that hit me the most. There was a picture of a lady standing in almost the exact same spot as Simone and I are in the photo above with Heidelberg Castle in the back ground. Beside her picture it was written that she was killed in a concentration camp. History has a way of becoming alive when you are standing right there. The second thing was a story of a village of about ninety people who were all murdered except for one five year old girl who was able to escape. They never said how or who found her but I was so interested to know about such a miracle. 

 I met a good number of Simone's friends who were wonderful and very easy to be around. She lived with four other girls so it brought me back to my not so distant past of when I did the same. The first night I was there they held a Bible study where I met a girl, Christa, who ended up hiking up 'Philosopher's Way' with me. After you walk over the 'Old Bridge' you head up a steep and narrow path which then leads into the forest which then takes you up to an old amphitheatre which was used for something that I forget (silly me!) and also for propaganda by the Nazi's. After the amphitheatre you can walk up a bit more to some monastery ruins. This place was old, like really old. As I walked down into one area that looked mysterious I said, "I love walking down into things!" because there were so many little rooms and then I shocked myself as I realized I just stepped foot into a room with one large tomb that had the date 1012. Almost a thousand years ago!
Needless to say, this is probably one of the best hikes I've ever been on. So intriguingly beautiful!

The 'Old Bridge'

On the top of the amphitheatre

Through the 'Philosopher's Way'

Pforzheim was a short but sweet stop and very low key which was super nice. I stayed with Jonas who I worked with in the kitchen at Capernwray and his wife, Sharlie also from Capernwray. Sharlie's sister was also there who has been travelling Europe a bit so it was fun to talk to her about different things. The first night I was there we went to the Christmas Market. It had just opened that day and it was my first one ever so I was very excited especially after hearing so many people talk about them! One day I went to the city's library and just wrote and read. Yep, not joking about the low key time. Very enjoyable couple days with some good laughs!

At the Christmas Market eating Langos (basically deep fried dough and not german, I think. We had nutella on ours!)

I am now in Stuttgart with my friend, Juliana. After arriving at the train station we went up to the top of the station to get a view of the city. There is also a big Mercedes symbol on the top! We then browsed the Christmas Market which was just opening that day and walked down the main street and got my bearings for when I would go back in on my own which was today! Oh and I have to tell you...I was paying for my underground train ticket into the city this morning at the machine and the man beside me was having trouble with his machine and then he said something in german so I said, "I'm sorry, I don't speak german." and I am getting a little tired of saying this as it happens so often but I was suddenly caught off guard when he replied, "Oh, I am English!" It warmed my heart so much to hear english and to be able to help him with his ticket where I am usually the helpless one.   I did some shopping for some warmer and more practical items for winter! Packing my backpack may be a little more interesting this time. This evening we went to the Broadcasting Tower where you can go to the top and see the city. Just before we headed up it started snowing, it was so great! It was way too fun being at the top with the snow flying in your face and way too cold as well! There is a nice, little cafe inside where we were able to get some hot chocolate which was just what we needed. 

On top of the train station

Train station from the main street

Stuttgart art

Stuttgart Broadcasting Tower

Two thumbs up at the top!

Okay! That is all for now! I will keep you posted as more adventures come about. Guten nacht! (or good night!)

Germany thus far: Yoghurt, bikes, chocolate, bakeries, and friends!

                    

I am in Germany now and what I can say is so far so good! I think I am getting passed the overwhelming feeling of being surrounded by everything German and not having a clue what anything says. I now have a greater appreciation for all the foreign students who attended Capernwray Bible school. It's hard enough knowing what a simple sign says here let alone an hour long lecture on the book of Revelation in a foreign language. The average english speaking student had a hard enough time in that class! Anyway, with that being said I am actually enjoying not understanding much (though it makes me nervous in the train station). By the second day I already had german running through my head. I have no clue what I was saying, it could've been giberish for all I know, but it sounded german! I like the language, though and am picking it up pretty quickly (or so I like to think). We'll see at the end of five weeks.  I've enjoyed watching some german television, especially when it's the american shows dubbed over with german. I never thought I'd see the the day that Fran from The Nanny would be speaking german. Haha, too funny.

Nordkirchen Castle-this reminded me of the horse people in Fantasia

at the lake in Münster

During my walk around the lake

At the lake as well

Nordkirchen Castle

So, to give you a little run-down of what I've been up to. I landed in Dusseldorf  six days ago where my friend, Stephanie met me. The plane was a little early and she wasn't there yet so I went to a little grocery store close by and bought some raspberries. The cashier then told me how much they were in german and that's when it hit me, 'Oh man, I really am in Germany. Yikes!' Stephanie then arrived and we headed to Münster (yes, on the autobahn!). I really enjoyed Münster! It is the city of many bikes, that's for sure and TONS of bakeries but maybe that is like a lot of cities, I'm not sure but I was still amazed. I walked around the pretty city for about four hours, the last hour being spent finding my way back home. Yep, definately did not have a map. The next day I walked around the lake that was close by. It was about an hour and a beautiful day to take pictures! Stephanie was off on saturday so she took me to Nordkirchen (I think?) Castle where she went to school. It was pouring rain and I was stupid enough to wear the worst shoes ever but other than having soaking feet, it was nice. We drove through some towns and then headed home. On sunday I hopped on the train to Mainz to see my friend, Andrea. I was thankful that I had no connections to make because the speaker guy translated only in a couple times in english. I sat beside a girl my age who spoke very good english and was very friendly so she helped me out. We talked about two hours straight until she had to get off. I think we would have been good friends! The last hour was so enjoyable as well. We rode along the Rhein river which was absolutely beautiful! I kind of wish I took photos but I just wanted to sit there and take it all in, plus it doesn't really do it justice when you take a photo from inside a train. But it was sunny and the houses along the water were so adorable, it almost reminded me of White Rock, BC but different of course. On some steeper hills it looked like there were some sorts of vineyards or orchards and then on some edges of cliffs there would be old castle ruins. It was picturesque! Tomorrow I am heading into the city of Mainz and you can walk over to the river so I'm hoping it will be just as nice and I can take some photos. I have mostly been relaxing otherwise at Andrea's but we did go for a nice walk today too. She has done very well to make sure I try lots of german foods. Germany is spoiling me. Yummy cheese and meat on top of german bread! Did I mention that the yoghurt selection here is astounding? On top of all your fruity flavours, you've got: chocolate, mocha, caramel, walnut, macadamia, hazelnut, chocolate chunks, marzipan, cinnamon, in more than one brand too. The list goes on and it is the smoothest yoghurt I've ever had. I won't pretend to think it's healthy for me but I will enjoy it while I'm here. If yoghurt didn't have to be refridgerated, I would bring some back for you all. There are also loads of different kinds of cheeses as well. And they aren't in some seperate section away from the cheddar and mozzarella that might as well be called the 'Expensive Section'. Nope, they are all together and not very expensive at all. I almost cried when I saw mascarpone cheese for only 1.29 euros today. And you can't go wrong with german chocolate. I will definately be bringing some of that home! So, that is all for now. Just a peak into my german adventure thus far. Only six days in and thirty-one more to go! Love it :)

Stephanie and I enjoying a meal

Downtown Münster

Andrea and I on a walk in Mainz

Enjoying Fall in Germany!

I think I'm in love with England.

The blog is currently and officially living up to it's name. I am officially in Europe starting with the UK. It has been just five days since I've been here and I am currently sitting in my cousin, Kathy's house in England. I just arrived here four days ago and before that I was at my other cousin, Laurie's just about fourty -five minutes away. Lately, it has been going wonderfully but the beginning was a little rough. It all started at customs in Manchester. I won't go into details but basically I walked up to two lines, one for UK residents and the other for non-residents - that's ME! And a very short line I might add. I thought to myself, "Boy, this is gonna be nice and easy." And boy was I wrong. There were certain things I should've been more prepared for apparently, things I didn't quite know about and this caused me some trouble and I was almost not aloud into the country. But I got through, really on the basis of trust. I wasn't really scared at the time, maybe just a little frustrated but there was nothing really I could do. Afterwards I realized how close I was to my dream being flushed down the toilet. Oh ya, and it's toilet here, not washroom. I called it the washroom and my little six year old cousin asks, "why do you call it a washroom?" Later on her mom asked her if she needed to use the toilet and she replied, "No mom, it's the washroom!" Haha, it was cute. So anyways, after I got through customs I ventured off to find the train station. A little less clear than I expected but no biggy. I was tired and very hungry so I stopped for a tuna sandwich at 9:15 am, 1:15 am BC time. Both strange times for a tuna sandwich but I was hungry! I scarfed it down and eventually found the ticket booth for the train. Then I needed to call Laurie to tell her what train I was on. The pay phone didn't work. I had a sneaky suspicion this would happen due to my lack of technology knowledge. I know it's a pay phone, how hard can it be? But my suspicion proved me right. What proved me wrong was my knowledge. The payphone actually didn't work. I asked a lady for help incase I was stupid but it didn't work for her either. Plus it ate my money. Grr. She let me use her cell phone just 8 minutes until the train came.Which really is enough time but this was the first train I've ever been on so I was a little nervous about missing it. The lady brought me over to the train to make sure I got on the right one. She was the sweetest. Heaven sent. I sat down with my beautiful but huge backpack on my lap, closed my eyes and tried to hold the tears in. I was finally able to breath and my first thought was, "You crazy nut, what are you doing?" Needless to say I was happy to see my cousin on the other end of my train route. I then managed to stay up most of the day minus a 2 hour nap. Laurie and her family live on a bible school campus, Capernwray Hall which is in the group of schools like the one I worked at in BC so I got the tour of the main building which looks like a castle but apparently isn't an actual castle. It's pretty neat-o. I was tired but felt normal that day. The next couple of days I felt like an alien. I was exhausted, nauseated, and had a headache. I expected to be tired but not sick. Ugh, it was awful. So I didn't do a whole lot as I recovered but thankfully I will be back at Christmas. I am now feeling normal which is always nice! While I was there I did go for a really nice walk. The school is located among rolling hills, hundreds of sheep and my favourite, stone walls! I ventured about for around two hours. I loved it. Yesterday, Laurie took me out for coffee at a really cute tea house on a farm and that was great too. I enjoyed the short drive through a town with cute homes and again, stone walls. While at their home, I'd read or play Mario Kart with the kids, and just chill out. Two of my evenings contained of 'music lessons' with Brianna, my six year old cousin. She instructed me with songs from her story books and was very particular about me doing it just as she liked. Too funny. Like I said before, now I am at my cousin, Kathy's and they have a three year old son, so the entertainment has not died! On saturday we all headed up to the Lake District which was absolutely beautiful! I loved it and the weather was perfect! We went to Windemere Lake and had a picnic lunch, drove through a couple of the cutest towns I've ever seen and then had a walk partly around Rydal Lake. Afterwards we had a quick pitstop in the town of Grasmere where the famous poet, William Wordsworth was buried (I didn't know who he was until we got to the town). I will let the photos do the rest of the talking but seriously, I could live there. Yesterday we went to a christmas fair but didn't do much christmas shopping. It was on the property of an old hall (the Astley Hall) which is now a museum, art gallery and war memorial. Kathy and I looked around the house while her husband, Simon and son, William ate ice cream and ventured around to other things (it was a big fundraiser with things like a little skating rink, horse and carriage rides, bouncy castles, puppet shows, etc.) The hall wasn't massive like Mr. Darcy's in Pride and Prejudice but it sure brought me back to those times. The bedrooms were beautiful and the piano room was the bomb. The ceiling was the most intricate ceiling I've seen yet. I could play piano in their forever. And then we walked along the property. There was a pond outside the building and a massive field with forest along the side. I walked along wondering what it was like to live back then. I'd be wearing alot more dresses, that's for sure.

My cousin, Kaitlin and I up on the tower of Capernwray Hall (my very first day!)

Capernwray Hall

Can't go anywhere without seeing sheep

on my walk

stone walls :)

Windemere Lake

An old house at Windemere Lake

My cousin, Kathy and I

On the way to Rydal Lake

The paths were so rugged, I loved it!

William walking along. You can see a bit of the lake to the left. I realized later I didn't actually get a good photo of it.

In the town of Grasmere

Astley Hall

Well, I was going to go for a walk today but it is (surprise, surprise) raining! I'll probably veg out. I'm not sure what tomorrow brings but Wednesday I am off to Germany for five weeks! Can't wait to tell you all about that!