I wasted the first 3 days of being back in London by being very unwell, however by Sunday night the triple Devils of Belle, Jax and Dimma had convinced me to start drinking again as we made out way around the pub in Greenwich.
The next few days were spent catching up with friends made while travelling around on busabout and seeing some terrible theater and some great markets.
After more drinking with Belle and Dimma on Wednesday night, and yet nore drinking with Belle, Clint and Nicvel on thursday night, I am heading over to see Kate and have a big London night out with the Gadsby's. It will be my first BIG night out and I am ready and raring to go... I hope I dont get sick again.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Monday, October 26, 2009
Day One back in London
Well, when I arrived in London I felt like all was good. I made my way from Luton Airport to Deptford train station with little to talk about apart from the daylight robbery that is London public transport costs. At Deptford I was picked up by Belle and taken back to the new apartment she shares with Jax. I had a great evening with Jax, Belle and Mikey which included a small meal before going to sleep at around 11pm.
At about 1:30am I awoke to the worst stomach cramp of my life and it wasn’t till about 4:30am that I was able to go back to sleep. The next morning I felt marginally better, but after being told by every doctor’s surgery that they wouldn’t see me because I was only here temporarily I started to bemoan the stupid British health system that requires me to register in order to see a GP.
After doing more research on the internet I found a walk in centre that was about 4kms away and decided to walk there. It took me about an hour to get there and then another 30 minutes waiting. When I did eventually see a doctor, he was very helpful and even shoved his finger up my butt. That is not as much fun as it sounds, I can tell you that much.
At the end of it all it seems that I have some form of intestinal infection that my body will (hopefully) heal itself over the next few days. Being as I come over here to see Mr Scruff on Saturday night, and I have now had to cancel that due to my health, I am expecting my body to get better soon so that the entire UK trip is not a waste!
At about 1:30am I awoke to the worst stomach cramp of my life and it wasn’t till about 4:30am that I was able to go back to sleep. The next morning I felt marginally better, but after being told by every doctor’s surgery that they wouldn’t see me because I was only here temporarily I started to bemoan the stupid British health system that requires me to register in order to see a GP.
After doing more research on the internet I found a walk in centre that was about 4kms away and decided to walk there. It took me about an hour to get there and then another 30 minutes waiting. When I did eventually see a doctor, he was very helpful and even shoved his finger up my butt. That is not as much fun as it sounds, I can tell you that much.
At the end of it all it seems that I have some form of intestinal infection that my body will (hopefully) heal itself over the next few days. Being as I come over here to see Mr Scruff on Saturday night, and I have now had to cancel that due to my health, I am expecting my body to get better soon so that the entire UK trip is not a waste!
Berlin Week 2
I have very little to say about Berlin that I have not already said in previous posts, nor can I tell you anything new, due to the fact that I barely left the apartment during the 2nd week. I came down with what I originally thought was a slight case of food poisoning, and since turned full blown gastro. Possibly the least fun of my entire trip, especially considering I was still going out and looking at apartments every day, and then coming home to be doubled over with stomach cramps later in the evening. What made that even worse was that Paula was sick at the same time, so it made us somewhat cranky at each other as we both felt like shit.
At the end of the week, I was off to London, still feeling sickly and leaving Paula to find an apartment on her own. Not the ideal situation, but unfortunately it couldn’t be helped. Hopefully by the time I return to Berlin I’ll have a place to stay and I’ll be able to eat again.
At the end of the week, I was off to London, still feeling sickly and leaving Paula to find an apartment on her own. Not the ideal situation, but unfortunately it couldn’t be helped. Hopefully by the time I return to Berlin I’ll have a place to stay and I’ll be able to eat again.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Berlin Week 1
The vibrant city of Berlin has welcomed me back into its loving arms by turning on some balmy temperatures. The last week has averaged about 7’C, and being as it is only October, has served as a warning that I am really going to need some serious winter clothes to survive in this place over the next 6 months. My pathetic scarf, hoodie and jeans combination are about as much competition for the cold wind storming from the Siberian wilderness as the Polish army were for the Germans all those years ago.
All that being said, it has been absolutely fantastic being a resident of Berlin. There are obviously some teething problems, for instance, I took the 40 euro I saved by talking my way out of a fine on the train, and bought a two week gym membership. Yes, that’s $AUD80 for a two week membership. Making matters worse is that I have only gone twice and I doubt I will go again, due to the fact that the gym is located near Paula’s work and she hasn’t got any shifts for the remainder of the time I am here. Oh well, easy come, easy go. Going to the gym has confirmed one rumour, and that is that yes, they are big motherfuckers in Germany. On an average I would say that the guys at the Berlin gym were about 10kgs heavier (not fatter) than the people at my old gym in Cannington. So now I look even weedier than before. Great.
Another issue that I have had to get over while being here is my obvious lack of any German language skills. Germany is great for the tourist because everyone speaks some level of English, and most are fluent. This is great when you are travelling through and want to be able to eat, drink and play wherever you like without wondering how you will make people understand you, however, as I am now trying to become a Berliner, it only serves as a reminder of just how not German I am. This will hopefully change over time, and I have my beginner German course starting in mid November, so I would hope once I can at least have some simple conversations in German I will feel less of an outsider. Another possibility is that I should just shut up as I have only been here a week and if it didn’t feel foreign and different I probably wouldn’t love it so much.
Throughout my travels I have always said that I start to love a place once I feel comfortable in it. Berlin and Budapest were the exceptions to that rule, as I loved them within the first 3 hours I was there. Berlin is, however, growing even lovelier in my eyes. While the past week has been tough in some ways, with the cold, the expensive public transport, the lack of German and what looks to be the imminent impossibility of me ever getting a job here being the prime examples. I find myself still amazed by the culture, design and history of the city at every turn. Even the simplest things, such as a few days ago when Paula and I went out to Pankow so she could look at a prospective rental property. We walked from the flat back to the nearest train station and just as we got to the train station, we walked over the double line of bricks that marks the spot of the old Berlin wall. I found myself being hugely excited about the fact that I would have to walk over that hugely historical site every day on my journey to and from work should we live in that apartment, and it is moments like that which separate Berlin from any other city in my eyes.
The last week has been full of going around Berlin, to areas I hadn’t been before, in search of apartments. I am staying in the very hip Friedrichshain in the cities east, but it’s a little expensive so we are looking in up and coming (and slightly dodgy areas) such as Neukolln. It has good to get away from the typically touristy things that one does in a city and move into something more based in reality such as finding a flat, or going to the supermarket, or just cooking a meal in a house instead of a hostel.
On Saturday night Paula and I were getting ready to go out to an as yet undecided club, when her housemate invited us along to go to a party at the Villa nightclub. The tram ride alone was hilarious, as it was filled with beer swilling party goers at 1:30am, all heading out to party. As I was told by a local, that tram is the party tram as it goes through a few of the nightlife areas and runs regularly and all night on the weekends. By the time we got the the Villa I was ready to dance, both because I was excited, and freezing. The Villa is (surprise surprise) an old Villa. It is a massive old house that is filled with graffiti, lights, bars and minimalist techno sounds. Unfortunately the music was not to my liking, but everything else about the place was uber cool, and depending on DJ’s I will definitely have to head back there some time. Although,. With the huge array of nightlife option in Berlin, I may spend a while experiencing everywhere I haven’t been, before I start going to place I have already seen.
All that being said, it has been absolutely fantastic being a resident of Berlin. There are obviously some teething problems, for instance, I took the 40 euro I saved by talking my way out of a fine on the train, and bought a two week gym membership. Yes, that’s $AUD80 for a two week membership. Making matters worse is that I have only gone twice and I doubt I will go again, due to the fact that the gym is located near Paula’s work and she hasn’t got any shifts for the remainder of the time I am here. Oh well, easy come, easy go. Going to the gym has confirmed one rumour, and that is that yes, they are big motherfuckers in Germany. On an average I would say that the guys at the Berlin gym were about 10kgs heavier (not fatter) than the people at my old gym in Cannington. So now I look even weedier than before. Great.
Another issue that I have had to get over while being here is my obvious lack of any German language skills. Germany is great for the tourist because everyone speaks some level of English, and most are fluent. This is great when you are travelling through and want to be able to eat, drink and play wherever you like without wondering how you will make people understand you, however, as I am now trying to become a Berliner, it only serves as a reminder of just how not German I am. This will hopefully change over time, and I have my beginner German course starting in mid November, so I would hope once I can at least have some simple conversations in German I will feel less of an outsider. Another possibility is that I should just shut up as I have only been here a week and if it didn’t feel foreign and different I probably wouldn’t love it so much.
Throughout my travels I have always said that I start to love a place once I feel comfortable in it. Berlin and Budapest were the exceptions to that rule, as I loved them within the first 3 hours I was there. Berlin is, however, growing even lovelier in my eyes. While the past week has been tough in some ways, with the cold, the expensive public transport, the lack of German and what looks to be the imminent impossibility of me ever getting a job here being the prime examples. I find myself still amazed by the culture, design and history of the city at every turn. Even the simplest things, such as a few days ago when Paula and I went out to Pankow so she could look at a prospective rental property. We walked from the flat back to the nearest train station and just as we got to the train station, we walked over the double line of bricks that marks the spot of the old Berlin wall. I found myself being hugely excited about the fact that I would have to walk over that hugely historical site every day on my journey to and from work should we live in that apartment, and it is moments like that which separate Berlin from any other city in my eyes.
The last week has been full of going around Berlin, to areas I hadn’t been before, in search of apartments. I am staying in the very hip Friedrichshain in the cities east, but it’s a little expensive so we are looking in up and coming (and slightly dodgy areas) such as Neukolln. It has good to get away from the typically touristy things that one does in a city and move into something more based in reality such as finding a flat, or going to the supermarket, or just cooking a meal in a house instead of a hostel.
On Saturday night Paula and I were getting ready to go out to an as yet undecided club, when her housemate invited us along to go to a party at the Villa nightclub. The tram ride alone was hilarious, as it was filled with beer swilling party goers at 1:30am, all heading out to party. As I was told by a local, that tram is the party tram as it goes through a few of the nightlife areas and runs regularly and all night on the weekends. By the time we got the the Villa I was ready to dance, both because I was excited, and freezing. The Villa is (surprise surprise) an old Villa. It is a massive old house that is filled with graffiti, lights, bars and minimalist techno sounds. Unfortunately the music was not to my liking, but everything else about the place was uber cool, and depending on DJ’s I will definitely have to head back there some time. Although,. With the huge array of nightlife option in Berlin, I may spend a while experiencing everywhere I haven’t been, before I start going to place I have already seen.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Berlin : Round Two
To get from Munich to Berlin, I tried out something that is pretty huge in Germany. It is known as ‘rideshare’ and it is basically organized hitchhiking. There is a website where people advertise that they are driving from Munich to Berlin (for example) of a certain date and at a certain time, and they have spare seats available for (eg) 30 euro. You contact the driver and let him know you wish to get a lift and meet him and the arranged time and off you go. Considering the train from Munich to Berlin was 70 euro, this is a pretty sweet deal.
So I was driven to Berlin by a middle aged man named Jochen. He had lived in Berlin since 1972 and vividly remembered the Berlin wall coming down and going out and being part of the celebrations at that time. He drove at an average speed of about 170kmh, and it seemed that the lines that separated lanes on the Autobahn were merely for decoration, as were his indicators. However, we got to Berlin in about 5 hours, which for 600km is a pretty good effort.
Jochen dropped me off in the west of the city and I needed to get to the east. I jumped on the subway, and just got a short trip ticket, being as during the five days I was in Berlin previously, I had never been asked to produce a valid ticket. Not once. As is Murphy’s Law, about 5 stations along, a ticket inspector comes along, sees my ticket and asks me to get off the train. He then explains that a short trip ticket is for a maximum of 3 stops and he is going to fine me 40 euro. I was then forces to use my superior brain, stunning him with logic and argument, and while he put up a bit of a fight, he ended up letting me go with just buying another, and this time correct, ticket. Taylor 1 – Berlin 0.
It was then a long irritating train journey to Ostkreuz and then a fair walk with a suitcase that is quickly falling apart, til I got to Paula’s house. Her kooky flatmates let me in to her place, which reminds me a lot of the Broome street house I used to live in. Full of artsy people, messy, but with plenty of soul. Even though it could do with some form of floor covering and a coat of paint, it seems to be quite the bohemian place to live.
So I was driven to Berlin by a middle aged man named Jochen. He had lived in Berlin since 1972 and vividly remembered the Berlin wall coming down and going out and being part of the celebrations at that time. He drove at an average speed of about 170kmh, and it seemed that the lines that separated lanes on the Autobahn were merely for decoration, as were his indicators. However, we got to Berlin in about 5 hours, which for 600km is a pretty good effort.
Jochen dropped me off in the west of the city and I needed to get to the east. I jumped on the subway, and just got a short trip ticket, being as during the five days I was in Berlin previously, I had never been asked to produce a valid ticket. Not once. As is Murphy’s Law, about 5 stations along, a ticket inspector comes along, sees my ticket and asks me to get off the train. He then explains that a short trip ticket is for a maximum of 3 stops and he is going to fine me 40 euro. I was then forces to use my superior brain, stunning him with logic and argument, and while he put up a bit of a fight, he ended up letting me go with just buying another, and this time correct, ticket. Taylor 1 – Berlin 0.
It was then a long irritating train journey to Ostkreuz and then a fair walk with a suitcase that is quickly falling apart, til I got to Paula’s house. Her kooky flatmates let me in to her place, which reminds me a lot of the Broome street house I used to live in. Full of artsy people, messy, but with plenty of soul. Even though it could do with some form of floor covering and a coat of paint, it seems to be quite the bohemian place to live.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Kirchberg – Weekend 3
Slowly over the next few days, the stupidity of me backing one work van into the other was forgotten. The next group of Oktoberfestians began to show up and before I knew it, the weekend was on us once more. This time we had more guests than spots on the coach, so I had to drive another busload of people into Munich, stay there all day, and not drink due to the fact that I would have to drive home at the end of it. Due to this party pooping problem, I didn’t hang around at Oktoberfest and instead went into Munich.
Unfortunately for me, it was a public holiday celebration the reunification of Germany, and hence nothing at all was open. So I spent the day sitting in the Wombats hostel lounge, using their free WiFi and allowing everyone to believe that I was a guest. Being as I had stayed the before, I didn’t feel guilty about this, and it allowed me a lot of time to Skype people and sort of some issues that had been getting put off due to my lack of internet access. At the end of the night I drove a bunch of drunk people home, and then went directly to bed so I could avoid as much of the annoyance as possible. You see, I have realized in the last six months, that possibly my least favourite thing in the world, is hanging out with drunk people when I am sober.
The next day was Sunday. The last day we would be going to Oktoberfest. I of course, was driving people and couldn’t go, even though I had been doing the lions share of drives lately and the other driver would be going to Oktoberfest for the 6th straight time. I put this down to karma for my crashing the van, and got on with it. I was just driving people to Munich airport, so at least I didn’t have to hang around with drunk people.
By the time Monday rolled around I was on the home stretch and could feel it. I had three drives to do, and was quite happy with that as it would keep me busy and make the day go faster. I had one drive left to do Tuesday and it was in to Munich, so Lauren and Danielle came with me and after we dropped the guests in town we had some lunch and a little walk around town before coming home and chilling out together for the last time before we all go up and left Kirchberg the next morning.
Unfortunately for me, it was a public holiday celebration the reunification of Germany, and hence nothing at all was open. So I spent the day sitting in the Wombats hostel lounge, using their free WiFi and allowing everyone to believe that I was a guest. Being as I had stayed the before, I didn’t feel guilty about this, and it allowed me a lot of time to Skype people and sort of some issues that had been getting put off due to my lack of internet access. At the end of the night I drove a bunch of drunk people home, and then went directly to bed so I could avoid as much of the annoyance as possible. You see, I have realized in the last six months, that possibly my least favourite thing in the world, is hanging out with drunk people when I am sober.
The next day was Sunday. The last day we would be going to Oktoberfest. I of course, was driving people and couldn’t go, even though I had been doing the lions share of drives lately and the other driver would be going to Oktoberfest for the 6th straight time. I put this down to karma for my crashing the van, and got on with it. I was just driving people to Munich airport, so at least I didn’t have to hang around with drunk people.
By the time Monday rolled around I was on the home stretch and could feel it. I had three drives to do, and was quite happy with that as it would keep me busy and make the day go faster. I had one drive left to do Tuesday and it was in to Munich, so Lauren and Danielle came with me and after we dropped the guests in town we had some lunch and a little walk around town before coming home and chilling out together for the last time before we all go up and left Kirchberg the next morning.
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