BREMEN

I love Germany, even though I had no idea what people were saying to me other than hello and goodbye, it was an amazing trip. And we almost didn't make it. Our flight left London Stansted at 12:30, however, we had to take a 30 min tube ride to the train station where we needed to catch the Stansted express to Stansted airport, another 45 mins. I wanted to leave at 8:30 and though I was ready, Whitney wasn't until 9:30 and everything that could've gone wrong did. That morning 2 car bombs were defused in Picadilly Circus and someone had thrown his/herself in front of the tube at Liverpool Street station...the station we needed to change to the Stansted express at. So having left an hour late, we couldn't stop at the station we needed and had no idea where to go, so I asked a nice man in a suit where the station was and he basically walked us on the train. By the time we arrived at Stansted airport, we had to sprint to the check-in counter...there was 5 mins before check-in closed, fortunately we weren't checking any baggage but of course we picked the SLOWEST security line and ended up having to cut the que after waiting in line for 20 mins, leaving 10 mins to get to our gate. They were calling our names over the PA system as last call, but we made our flight. It felt like Chile to Peru all over again.

When we arrived in Germany we took the wrong tram and had to call the hostel for directions but when we got there it was amazing. It was basically a hotel, although it was listed as a hostel and we had our own bathroom and 2 single beds. It was set a little outside of the city, which was nice because it was quiet, minus the guy in the room next door with a loud cough. Unfortunately we were so exhausted from traveling and having gotten too little sleep the night before that we went to bed around 7. The next day was spent wandering around Bremen the most beautiful and cute city ever. Our hotel had provided some pamphlets on things to do and places to see and we had just decided to wing it on our trip. The only thing we really wanted to do was go to the Beck's Brewery, however there weren't any trams to it and we had to have reservations. So we went to Bottcherplatz a really cute little alley and Schnoor which had all the classic German architecture and was just adorable. We also walked along the River Weser where there was a street market and biergarten and a naval choir singing. Whitney and I stopped to take some video and pictures and I kept thinking how much Dad would love it.

The public transportation system in Germany is absolutely amazing and I can't believe other cities haven't adopted it. The tram is so efficient, the only cars I really saw were the buses, I'm sending a letter to congress that they need to follow the German example. Whitney and I spent a good portion of our first evening attempting to find some schnitzel and spatzle before realizing that those dishes are Bavarian and are probably typical of the south where as the north is more of seafood and other dishes we'd never heard of. But they did have brats, so we got some brats (I'd never had one before) and they were fantastic. Our next day was spent at the Ethnological museum, yes Whitney is as much a nerd as I am and we were going to walk around the city some more but we had our luggage with us, check-out was at 11, so we decided at 2:30 to just go to the airport early and read unfortunately our flight that was supposed to leave at 7:20 was postponed until 10:30, arriving in London at 10:20 where we caught one of the last trains from Stansted to Liverpool Street. We then raced to catch the last tube to Edware Road, still a good ways from South Kensington so we had to catch the bus. I think I'm cursed not only with flights being delayed, but also with buses. The 2 times I have taken night buses someone has vomited on it, I was so disgusted, I'm never taking a bus again. We finally got back to Ambassador house at 12:30 am and were so happy to be back in merry old London, but so glad we made it to Germany because it was a wonderful vacation and I got everyone a little something! I have all my pictures up on my Picassa web album so check it out.

Things in London are wonderful although a little sad, a bunch of friends recently left after session B so we're all feeling a little down. I've been getting a little homesick and a bit tired of going to classes, especially since they don't count for anything, but I'm forcing myself to stay productive. Whitney and I have made a list of things to we still would like to do and are slowly crossing them off. I know I won't get around to doing everything so I see that as incentive to come back and do it another time. London is really starting to feel like a second home and the people here are becoming like a second family, it's really nice. HOWEVER, I miss you all so much and I can't wait till I can see you! I'll do my best to keep you updated on all the goings on! Mike's is flying in tomorrow and spending a few days in London with me so it should be oodles of fun! I'm sending lots of love and keep checking my web albums for updates!