Friday 29 April 2011

The Royal Wedding Day!


Kate and William; It's Final

Friday April 29: “Küss mich, Kate!” That was the German Telly special for the Royal Wedding of William and Kate. I was lucky for it started at 11am here (poor people in Canada had to get up 6 hours earlier). Watching it with Elke, in Deutsch. She was great pointing out the Royal people and commentating on the ladies’ Fascinators I found out they met (8 years) actually as first year University students. Elton John and David Beckham and Victoria Posh Spice Beckham were there. It is incredible how much planning had gone on; to every moment to who arrived next. I can’t even imagine their feelings in having to worry about smiling and waving at the screaming crowd just before their huge moments of “I Do”. The footage of the lovely ringing Bells at Westminister Abbey were wonderful. My favourite moment was definitely when William and Harry were had their backs turned waiting at the Kate walking up the isle, and harry snuck a look at the last moments with a cheeky sweet grin. Lovely. Now come all the commentaries and footage of the millions of people celebrating. BBC had shown a photo of a family in Vancouver Celebrating at 2am. It was lovely to see the Fly Past of the RAF World War Bombers such as the grand Lancaster Bomber and the Spitfire.


Marching through The Mall

Kate and William

British pride

Went to the Carmen Opera with Elke at the Bonn Theater in the evening! It was exciting because I’ve always wanted to go to an Opera. The neat thing is during my trip here, I had actually picked a Carmen record on one of my hunts and now I was able to actually go to it; Thank you Elke! It was in French with German subtitles above, so neither of my languages, although, I suppose I could pick out some words and phrases. It was a modern version which was different (I’ve never seen the original but I know it was not like this). But it was a great twist; cops, laptops, skyscrapers and even some of the gypsies were dressed like Peter Pan and Batman! Ha, that was great, and well the really fit guys with no shirts :p It had four acts which I was intrigued about. (Only used to two in theatre performances.) London tomorrow evening!

Here is an exert from the Bonn Theatre site: The love of Sergeant Don Jose to Carmen is beginning to fail, too different the two lifestyles.  Nevertheless, José is situated on its existence and fiancee Micaela and Carmen follows in the illegal smuggling of life. Few time later, leaving José Carmen for the bullfighter Escamillo - a momentous step that will lead to deadly consequences. The audience of the first performance on  March 1875 at the Paris Opéra-Comique outrage: a present-oriented history, centered on a woman of the lowest social class (factory worker) and also member of an ethnic minority (Gypsy) is that indicated their liberal attitude towards life and love not only open but also takes place - the citizens of Paris awoke to the bigoted no great enthusiasm, and it corresponded far from the conventions of the popular opera.
Final Scene, Carmen

Carmen, Bonn Theater

Thursday 28 April 2011

The Days are Few

Love the Modern Buildings

 
Dusseldorf
 Tuesday April 26: Elke came and got me from Monchengladbach and we drove to Dusseldorf to visit and to see her brother. This was where she grew up. The city gave a very nice impression; situated along the Rhein; there was a good mix of new and old buildings and it’s very cultured. We passed the Konigshalle which is all the rich and famous stores; Prada, Burberry, Versace. We walked along the Rhein and then weaved in and out through the streets. We stopped at this fish restaurant to have some lunch. Ohh what a lovely choice! I  had herring served with potatoes with a creamy dill and mustard sauce. It was delightful! Have to make sure the Chef does a dish like this at work. We both had Dusseldorf’s dark ale (which the people from Koln make fun of...even in their Karnival songs). It was a little too bitter tasting for my liking. After passing the Dusseldorfer Marionette Theatre we arrived at the Robert & Clara Schumann Haal. It was a small room with chairs, a piano and many plaques from Schumann.  There was this woman in there and so we sat down and she talked about their life there.She didn’t speak any English so I just sat and listened and believe it or not I could understand most of all she said! Either she was picking really simple words or I may actually learned something!  Robert and Clara Schumann lived here in the Carlstadt district from 1850 until 1854 and contributed with their work to the Dusseldorf’s fames as a music city. The husband and wife worked together to compose great music; Robert the composer and Clara the pianist who performed. Composer Brahms even was a close friend of the family and it is said that him and Clara may have had an affair. It was here in Dusseldorf that Robert Schumann tried to commit suicide in the Rhein and then was sent to the Mental Hospital in Endenich, Bonn (which I had mentioned earlier in my posts). After, the woman seemed very interested in me (maybe my age and visiting there) and then she gave me two copies of Schumann’s Die Orange und Myrthe hier  piano music for free as a souvenir, so that was incredibly kind of her.  Following, we drove to Elke’s brothers, where I met some more of her family although there wasn’t a whole lot English so I just sat and listened.


What?! Is this for real! Shiny!


Jan Wellem Standbild Statue and Rathaus

Dusseldorf Treasures


  
Burgplatz; Famous Cartwheeler

Having a lovely Fisch Lunch and an Alt


  
Robert & Clara Schumann

Robert & Clara Schumann Haal



Schneider-Wibbel; Tailor; Touch Him for Good Luck



St. Andreas Kirsche



Ladies in Waiting


Wednesday April 27: Really raining today; decided for the first time to take the bus to school. It was my last day of school today; can’t believe it; it does not seem right at all. And why, when I leave do all these nice new people come; like last week that music student from Japan and today I was shocked to see a good looking guy with Ray Ban glasses and is from Spain. Just my luck. Oh well, can’t really do much about it; I’m not really thinking deciding to live here full time would be the wisest spur of the moment decision.  Well planning for a trip is not the easiest for me; making up my mind has not been my strong point. For trip to London (form April 30th-May 5th), I’ve got in my brain that I should spend the first bit in Liverpool and do a wondrous Beatles tour,  would be the best thing ever since it’s their hometown and would have everything! But planning, cost of trains and tours, and most of all time, has been crushed me to a realization that maybe I’m just being greedy and should just take the little time I have in the UK and stay in London. Plus I have got accommodation looked out for at a family friends. Problem is now is to ignore the guilt if not going. Well there is the 11 BEATLEful days  Magical Mystery Tour that’s happening on August 19th to August 31st. So many things I need to see and do!  And now I am starting to pack everything up. It looks like hurricane went through the room. But I need to have everything out of the room buy May 1st and I won’t be there so I have to have it done before I go.

 

Thursday April 28: Well I decided to go to class one more day. So I had lots of candy for them and had given some Canadian Souvenirs like pins and key chains. I gave Gloria a book of Canady and she was so grateful. I left early because I was expecting a call at Elke’s from my dad’s airplane client because we had been planning for him to come pick me up and fly me around to do some sightseeing. They were going to pick me up in Nordon and take me to the Island they have a cottage on which 100% car free (except for an emergency vehicle), everything else is either horse, bike or boat, although I did not get the message because of no internet access L Oh, well next right. When he called though, we came to the conclusion that there was not enough time left plus the weather here is bad. Though, Research, Research, Research; I’m not used to all of this! And I’m not good at making decisions so I’m looking at sites for hours because one leads to the other. Some highlights are; Big Bus Tours, Beatles Tours, London Beatles Walks, Guide To London, and LondonNet. Only a couple days left before London and I am scrambling. I’m just trying to figure out the first full day I’m there (Sunday). My flight doesn’t come in till later so I don’t have any plans; just get settled in. My time is kind of a bad time to come for the family friends for some are on holiday and one is in the middle of Exams so I don’t think she’ll have time to take me sightseeing so prepared to be on my own again. Though I just found an interesting fact; Matthew Fox (plays Jack in LOST) will be in London the time I’m there because he is in this new play called Neil LaBute in the west End!


Roll Up To The Magical Mystery Tour


Tuesday 26 April 2011

Ostern Wochenende

 
Did someone say Pancakes and Maple Syrup

Wednesday April 20: On break I laid out the pancakes, maple syrup and left over birthday cake for them. They loved it and it was all gone in no time. Our teacher Irene was here today and I think everyone was a little relieved because the vibe seemed light and happy. We played an amusing activity learning the parts of the body where we would draw a monster then describe it to the partner where they would try and draw it. It was another hot and sunny day so sat outside again. The only thing is there’s all this pollen in the air and it coats everything, and I’m not allergic I’m worried I will with all the pollen intake. Later, Elke invited me to come with her to the opening of the Max Lieberman exhibit at the Kunsthalle Museum . He was a Jewish-German painter from 1847-1935. He loved nature, and especially the outdoors and gardens, but many other of his paintings were of people; either portraits or people and their lifestyles.
 
Lieberman Garden on roof top

Thursday April 21: Today was last day of school for the week because Friday and Monday are Ostern (Easter) holidays. I biked home and over to Elke’s. One thing that I passed that really bothered me in what I saw when biking, was all this women on this hot day wearing full length burkas with only slits for the eyes. There was even one woman who was wearing this metal thing over her mouth. Now, I am in no way against any religion and do not mean to offend, but it just really bothers me. Everyone has right to practice one’s beliefs but I do not see it fair that these women wear such intense coverings; they have nothing to fear in a free country (well besides their husbands, which then the law should be stepping in!)  I left earlier because I thought I was going to have a Chinese supper with the people I live with but when I got back they had cancelled, so I just planned my trip for the next day to Mönchengladbach to Janina Roders. She almost 6 years ago, had lived on our farm for the summer to ride the horses. So all this time after, she is still riding, and is for 3 years now boarding at this barn and riding.


Easter Stable Bunny

Friday April 22: I caught the 11:30 train and once in Mönchengladbach I took a bus to where Janina lives and works. As I got off the bus it was a nice change to see all fields and barns. At first I was a little unsure where to walk but I asked this lady taking a horse to a paddock if this was the right address and if Janina works there and she said Yes. It was a very hot day and with my heavy backpack just wanted to sit. Some other girls were out riding in the ring. The barn was big with rows of stalls and was comforted to see Hannoverian breeds (which we have) as well as various pedigrees as Oldenburg and Rheinlander (which is the areas specific pedigree). Janina still had another horse to ride so sat and watched in the arena. This was the first times I can say I had to test out my Deutsch skills because even though we had spoken English together 5 years ago, she had not used it, so English was minimal so that was fun trying to explain ourselves :p After a few hours, we went for dinner at her fathers, where we had a barbeque!! Yaa, home cooking, boy do I miss the barbeque. There I finally got to meet also her brothers which she had talked about those many years ago. I found out then, it would not be like the “cheating” I had been doing at the Wolters; we really did have a language barrier. So times at the dinner table I would not be able to understand; only words, which could not be enough to really make sense, but I don’t mind, I’m very much used to it; hey, I’ve to deal with it most of my life. The food was wunderbar; marinated fleische. Kartoffeln salad, etc. It was soo hot though,; it felt like 40 degrees on their balcony. After a full stomach, we went and cooled ourselves down with an Eis. We drove in their very nice new BMW to the centrum. I think I was in heaven with all the specialty Eis. After a long time of trying to decide, I picked the Spaghetti Eis with Bananen und Schocolade. MMMMM. Janina, her father and I walked over to see their massive Rathaus and Church. They noticed the lights were on in the church (which apparently they never are and so peaked in. There, we were surprised to hear wonderful operatic music. Janina and I sneaked upstairs to have a look. Oh, it was so lovely’ even though I was sneaked in the back, it lifted my spirits instantly. The acoustics were grand in this wonderfully decorated stone and wooden Kirsche (by the way, church and cherry are the same word). We stood right next to the massive organs so I could admire their greatness and the music’s beauty. After a bit, we decided to head back down. Once back to their house, they had Easter chocolate and Haribo goodie bags for us which was very sweet of them. Janina and I headed back. She took me to the Schlosspark Wickrath which was actually where she once rode horses. We walked through the gardens and were finally more comfortable with conversing with each other with a mix of English and ein bisschen Deutsch. A couple of her friends wanted her to pick them up and drop them off, so I got to meet a couple of her friends. The one does a bit of DJing so we got to hear some of his stuff in the car! Janina and I would try and interpret/translate for each other which gets pretty exhausting. 
  

Julia; Stable, Monchengladbach


Spaghetti Eis! Monchengladbach


The Stables

Saturday April 23: After a lovely home breakfast together we headed to the city’s art museum. We both thought it would be smaller with some pieces but we were very much mistaken. We soon became in awe with the very unique pieces of Modern Art. Some we had to chuckle about because we didn’t really understand but walked wide-eyed together. Instead of just painting, they were mostly object pieces. The main ones which were the most shiny and interesting were the works of Heinz Mack (who actually has an exhibit at the Bonn Kunsthalle which I’ve been meaning to see.) All his art deals with either mirrors, glass or lots of shiny white light, which I may say trippy. It’s hard to describe but I would say his work is something one has to definitely check out because it is definitely not dull. There were many other different, themed rooms with just as many intriguing pieces. For some you could spend hours analyzing, like a wall of fluorescent coloured posters, which were actually in a “dialect” of English. We realized we had to really hurry it up because we were now on a timeline because her brothers were picking us up at the stables to drive to the North of Germany to visit their mother in Nordon, Ostfriesland region. They arrived in the father’s BMW, it would be a tight squeeze with Janina and I, her two brothers, Sven and Stefan and the one’s girlfriend, Nicole. It was a long drive, 345 km, 3 ½ km, but we were driving on the Autobahn cruising at roughly 160km J. We arrived in the evening to a very wonderful brick house to a outside yard and a klein teich (pond) with goldfish and kaulquappen (tadpoles). As it it is the Easter weekend, Germans take it seriously and so we headed to their family friends to an Ostern Feuer (which is tradition to this country area, where all the excess brush is piled for one massive Bon-fire(to burn away all your sins). It was all smoke along the way with all the great fires burning on every property.   It really reminded me of home, for they were horse people so and we sat outside in the barn to eat a feast from the barbeque.  They even brought out a bottle of a signature liquor which I was surprised to see it had the Hannoverian brand on it, so they coaxed me try a bit to say I had tried a Hannoverian drink. (For those who do not know, our farm is Middle River Hannoverians). The old folks seemed to be having a good time listening to traditional Deutsch songs, ABBA and even some Bryan Adams. No one really spoke much English, though a couple women were pretty good speakers. There was also this cute 5 year old girl who would always run over to me to ask me a question then run off again, thankfully they were fairly simple questions so I didn’t feel too much like a retard in not being able to communicate with even a child. All in all, it was a very cultured day and finally had to exercise the little German I know.

It really is a really door, window and room! Love Modern Art



Take the Time to Read


Heinz Mack! What wonders


Incredible!


Ostern Feuer

 
Saying make Everything

Sunday April 24: Well, it was actually a day to be able to sleep in. With a wonderful breakfast and Easter egg hunting, we headed drove to Greetsiel where there were groβ windmills. We took a lovely paddleboat ride along the canals between the field dikes, taking turns paddling. Boy, it was hot! But they even brought their little dog Henry. It was a lovely and relaxing trip. We later stopped for a well-deserved Eis (I had Vanilla with yoghurt and Rote Grutze (mmmmmm! My favourite). They area was an old historic port so there were all these lovely fishing boats along the water.  For abendessen (dinner) we went to a Chinese Buffet in the town where I finally had the good ol’ Maltz Bier (Vita Malz if you want to be exact for those interested; and also for those you do not know, it is a non-alcoholic sweet drink).  I started reading Janina’s old children’s book about a kleine Baum. (Haha...going back in time.) It took like an hour to read with the help of some translation...oh,that’s terrible. 

Paddleboat ride along the dikes-look at all the windmills!


Paddleboat Ride with the Roders


Greetsiel


Monday April 25: Another hot day, but a little a bit windy. After breakfast, Janina and I went to the lake nearby (there are not many lakes in Deutschland). After cooking for a bit, I decided to finally jump in. Yes, it was very cold, but after a bit of a struggle, I got used to it and ended up swimming for about 20 minutes. From what I could see, I was the only one in. When we got back I borrowed a pair of roller blades and zoomed around a little bit before lunch. I’ve always wanted a pair, but the roads where I live are crap for that. Then was the long ride home. Although, we listened to some German mixes, with some Lady Gaga added and well, amusingly enough My Heart Will Go On came on (go Celin Dion :p ). Well, I never got to visit Hamburg to see The Beatles Museum there, where they played when they were first starting their career and had to play long hours every day. That was something I really wanted to do, but it never fit into my schedule and also the point with money for trains. Well, there is always next time.

 
First Swimmer

Nordon Traffic


Nordon House


Sunday 17 April 2011

A whole lot of sightseeing

Love and Peace
  
Tuesday April 12: Ich muss Universitat wählen. Anyways, it’s been bothering me for a bit, but I don’t understand why the people in my class are coming so late or not at all! Like with an original 12, today there were 2 of us! Then later on, a few others joined the class. It really bothers me and it upsets the  class. It’s like a negative aura; and its worse with the whole language barrier because you don’t really know why their coming late or not at all. I don’t know, it just really bothers me. I get up every morning and if I’m late, I go faster. Well after class, it was pouring and not only that, the winds were huge so it felt ten times colder. I almost couldn’t stand it biking home. So I didn’t do much today.

Wednesday April 13: It was cold and rainy again todayL Just worked on homework and musik hören.


The Unsinkable Titanic


Thurday April 14: AS IF!! So today is the 99th Anniversary since the sinking of the unsinkable Titanic! ANND....it just so happens as we were working in our German work book and I noticed in this tiny little drawn picture of a father and son, I think in a museum, and on the wall was a pictures of a sinking ship, same marking of the Titanic! I got all excited and they looked at me and when I explained, they were sort of responsless, (which killed me a bit inside), except the one woman from Greece, who agreed with me with an, “ohh ya”. The teacher questioned why I would or how I could remember such a date, and asked if I was brilliant in remembering dates. 
Well, after school, I biked over to Elke and Michael’s and we had a lovely hot lunch and Kuchen. I received a postcard from my sister and my nieces! Did you know that the fork just stated to be until not until the late 18th Century?! It was one, the spoon was more essential that a fork, and before, most people assumed that since God has given people hands it is therefore necessary to eat with our hands. In addition though, at some times through history, it was forbidden to ever use a fork because it was the sign of the Devil! I’m being serious! Really! Well, after that,Elke and I went to the Arp Museum, Bahnhof Rolandseck, where an exhibit where some Claude Monet pictures where; 'Horizons'.Sheep country of Fra Angelico to Monet. It was small but interesting to look at the paintings none the less. Some were of religious depictions, and the rest were of landscape; even some of the Rhein area. Next in the building, we went up in sweet elevator to this new designed building which housed more modern art exhibits. The first was the Hochwasser exhibit by Gerda Steiner and Jorg Lenzlinger, and boy, was this something I have never seen before. In short term to explain it, is a bunch of garbage, nick nacks, and some really creepy biological specimens. You have an array of old computers covered in this growing crystal or a pile of telephones with frogs on top of them. One thing that was a little repulsive was a large jar full of dead snakes and around it with other objects with coils and snake like features. But the most incredible of all was this crystal organism which had grown all on these objects but the colours of these things were absolutely incredible, like neon bright colours! More around the room was hanging from the ceiling was all this debris as if some giant wind was carrying them away; it was interesting looking at all the random stuff that was  floating and to think how long that would have taken them to hang all this stuff. In a dark room we went into, and all it was a curtain and something almost like a disco ball that was projecting what was to be microscopic, blown up of squirming organisms. It was called What lives in the Mud. Up the stairs was the actual Hans Arp exhibit (The man the Museum is dedicated to). He was a German-French, or Alsatian, sculptor, painter, poet and abstract artist in other media such as torn and pasted paper; and I have to admit, I don’t really understand his art. If I didn’t know better I could have thought that it was a 2 year old’s art ripping a piece of paper and sticking it on another piece of blank paper (I do not mean to offend anyone in any way; I love going into modern art museums, it’s just this type of art I do not understand). Though, some of his objects reminded me of biology class with all the odd shaped organisms.    
After we decided to drive a little onward and we stopped at Remagen; a small town but rich in history. First was its Rat Haus and right in front of it was a fountain. This fountain was actually the place where the town’s people would all come and get their water. There was a little Roman museum on artifacts found there but it was closed. We walked around the Church of SS Peter and Paul and at it was the Remnants of a Roman gate which was really different because it had a combination of Christian meanings but using polytheistic objects (animal-like figures) to describe Bible stories I believe. When you think of that, that is very odd to ever happen.  There was a rather famous family who lived there, The Caraccolia’s. The father, Otto started up a big hotel and this giant wine cellar, The Apollinaris Keller, which stores up to 3 million gallons of wine. We passed that. The other member was Rudolf who was a legendary race car driver. Lastly, we walked to the last remnants of the Bridge of Remagen,  (which was actually turned into a movie in the ‘60s,I found out) which has much history, now called the Peace Museum Bridge. In WWII, 1945, Hitler had planned to destroy the bridge (which had been built in WWI, and had only ended with the allies taking it over and into German territory) so the American soldiers could not cross.  Several attempts failed, thus the Americans were given a clear passage over the Rhine, altering the course of the war. Hitler, furious, laid the blame for the failure, calling them the “traitors of Remagen”. The Germans were still not ready to give up their efforts to destroy the bridge at Remagen, so 10 days later, with still failed attempts, the bridge finally collapsed, heavily damaged as a result of numerous attempts by artillery, bombs and rockets. The destruction, ten days after it was liberated by the U.S., did not, however, alter the American advance east of the Rhine, as a pontoon bridge had already been completed. (http://www.travelsignposts.com/Germany/destinations/bridge-at-remagen). Now there are German and American memorials posted there. It was a very good, educated day.

Friday April 15: After school I rushed to Bad Godesberg Hbf station to catch a train to Mainz to be picked up by Elke’s friend who I’ve met a few times before. She is such a wonderful lady. She was a German teacher and had taught French and geography. And what is most incredible about her is she a real planner and is a wonderful guide and will make sure you can see the most you can. See knows where everything is, it’s incredible. Right off the train, we walked past the Karnival fountain (Fastnachtsbrunnen; hey, like Wieberfastnach) which was made out of metal and it was really neat because it had like figures all on it, dressed up for the Karnival season, which begins November 11th and ends the second week of March at the beginning of Lent. By the way, Mainz is one of Germany’s oldest cities (around 38 B.C.) from the Romans, Anglo-saxons, Archbishops, First Crusades, Johannes Gutenberg, Napoleon, beginning of Karnival, and WW I & II where it was almost bombed to the ground, and now completely build up again. Next we go into the St. Stephen’s Church, which has its famous glass windows by Jewish artist Marc Chagall as a gift to the city after its demolishment from WWII. The church was first built in 990 and had survived many fires and wars. It was rebuilt now. The windows are very different from other church windows and are a fantastic aqua blue colour with Biblical depictions on them.  There is also a monastery attached, even though now, it is not being used. Next, we walked through the Old City-Kirschgarten (Cherry orchard) with the oldest half-timbered houses (1450). We went next into the St. Martin’s Cathedral. We could walk down different stairs underground (which is really neat because I had never gone below ground level in one of these churches before) where different tombstones and crypts are held of different archbishops. I was really in for a surprise when I realized that this was the home of Johannes Gutenberg, where he was born and created the first printing press and translated the first Bible into German. You have to realize how life changing/altering this was and how it changed the course of history. Before Gutenberg and his Printing press, there were no printed books (all was hand written),  none of the common people could read, only the priests could read (was only in Latin), where the people had to attend mass even though they did not understand a word the Catholic priests were saying (that is why the churches were also decorated so lavishly, besides the huge wealth of the Church; so that the people would not fall asleep and so they would have something to entertain themselves). So when Gutenberg created the printing press and translated the Bible, it created this massive wave of change, now that people could actually read for themselves and there the beginnings of different ideas and thoughts among the people first began against the Church (since the Church was everything), after that is history. Now, I never did get into the museum because it was already closed; it would have been amazing to go into but it was great to just be around there.  Hey, guess what, Bob Dylan is playing here in June; no firkin’ way! I’ll be gone by then!  We also pasted the official 50 degree line of latitude, which was shown along the ground! 
  Next we drove to  Rüdesheim (Hessen is the area in Germany in which it lies) where we walked through Drosselgasse which is a huge tourist attraction and in the summer is jammed-packed into thislittle area (I am so thankful I am not here during that time). By the way, all this area of Hessen is the Wine Country so the landscape is surrounded by rolling hills and mountains of vineyards (I am not her for the wine season, and not grape trees are growing yet.) We quickly stopped and looked out on the scenery at Schloss Johannisberg, where specific champagne called Furst von Metterich has and still is being produced. Then we drove the mountain to see the  Niederwalddenkmal monument located in the Niederwald Landscape Park. My ears were popping the whole time.  The 38 metre tall monument of Germania represents the union of all Germans. Her phrase is Wacht am Rhein (Watch the Rhein). Beneath Germania is a large relief of emperor Wilhelm I riding a horse. One the left side is the peace statue and the war statue on the right. She was placed there in memory of the Thirty Years War, and was constructed after the German-French War. There she watches for the enemy (the French) and protects the German people.  She is magnificent! I love her wings, her sword and her blowing hair; she is so much better than the Statue of Liberty.  Then we headed to Wiesbaden, where Gisela lives. Along the way, she showed me Schloss Schönborn, where Jeff and Regine King got married last year (who I will meet for the first time tomorrow). Once at her appartment we had a wonderful meal with white asparaus (I have been just dying to having asparagus again, it is the main thing in season here right now and I love it!), and soon headed off to bed.
 
The Magnificent Niederwalddenkmal

Germania

 

   
The glass of St. Stephen, Mainz

Old City-Kirschgarten

Outside Gutenberg Museum


The Bridge of Remagen
 
SS Peter and Paul wall in Remagen

Arp

Don't get blown away

The craziest thing you'll ever see

Rudolf Caracciola, Remagen

Way too many slithering things; a whole container of snakes!

Saturday April 16: After trying this better than Nutella chocolate spread (it’s richer, darker chocolate) for breakfast, Gisela took me around to show me Wiesbaden. Its history goes back about 2000 years and in the year 40 A.D. the Romans erected a border fort as a military stronghold. Although, the city has more importance which was incredible to learn and see, for it has a cultural center and power because of its 26 natural hot springs. Aquis Mattiacis-the springs of the Mattiaci, a spa culture was developed by the Romans in the area also then known as “Wisibada”. In the 18th century, the city’s economy and culture thrived under the rule of the Dukes of Nassau. She took me to the Kochbrunnen (Hot fountain) where through every season; the water is 66 degrees Celsius, and it really was hot. But these hot springs have even more significance; the mineral water containing sodium-chloride is thought to have healing powers and even today, tourists and the locals come with their mug everyday to drink from this hot water fountain spring.  It is incredible to think that have to flocking to these springs since before the Romans! Next, we went up the Nerobergbahn which was installed in 1888 and it is a cable car that is only and completly driven by the power of water! It is a monument of technical culture. The route up the mountain is 44m long at a 25% steep climb and used 8000 kg of water. It was amazing that this was possible. There is a car on either side so when one goes up, the other comes down. We walked quickly and saw the Russian Church which is famous for its magnificant five domes covered in pure gold, which was finished built in 1855  which was only built as a memorial to hold the wife of Duke Adolf, Grand Dutchess Elizabeth Michailovna from St. Petersburg and her baby, who both died at child birth. We then went back down. By the way, Nerobergbahn is named after the Roman emperor Neo, who I had already known about, so it was lovely to make a connection. Nero had focused much of his attention on diplomacy, trade, and increasing the cultural capital of the empire. He ordered the building of theaters and promoted athletic games, wanting the greatness and power back into the Roman empire. Although he was a mad tyrant who was said to have “played the fiddle while Rome burned” in a great fire, and was said to have blamed it on the Chrisitians, who then suffered much persecution, which was said that would also burn Christians alive in his garden for light.   
Emperor Nero artifact
 
The Hot Springs of Wiesbaden




           Next we walked by the world’s largest Cuckoo Clock. For 11:30 we went the Marktkirche (Market church) which is a huge red church, to listen to Orgelmusik zur Marktzeit which happens every Saturday during the market since 1550. There we, and a lot others sat in the church benches and behind us the organ players plays. Woahh! Man, the sound and power of the organ really is incredible, more than incredible. The organist played Mozart and I was so happy to recognized the first one, Alla Turca, and then composer Max Reger. The concert went on for a half an hour, and that half hour were the deepest minutes ever. The sound of the organ has so much power; it can give a sweet, light melody, then the next moment, scares you, because it dark sounding and shakes the stone church and all the people in it. I think I can understand its power in the church (I honestly think the Church used it to scare the living shit out of the people with it). It puts shivers up your spine! I would love to be able to try playing on one of those huge orgs. Once it was over and still in awe, we went and had my first currywurst and then headed to the Wiesbaden Hbf where we parted, because I was heading on to Frankfurt to meet Jeff and Regine. Along the way we past the Henkel Champagne factory.

Taveling through Time, Franfurt

 I was actually given Jeff’s email from Gisela the last time we met early in the process/idea of going to Germany to see If he had any ideas about school. So he was the first step in the process of planning to come. In his last emails, he and Regine said they would love it I could come meet them in Frankfurt. They met me at the train station. It was very exciting because I’ve never gone to meet someone I’ve never seen or met before but as soon as I saw them, I could tell they were a lovely couple, and happily and madly in love with each other. The night before they had just gotten off  the plane from Canada from attending a wedding, so they were still suffering from jet lag, but unfortunately this was the only possible weekend I could go meet them.  Regine had other business to attend to so she dropped Jeff and I off in the Centrum area, by the old opera house.  Jeff is Canadian so that was awesome that off the bat, we had something in common. I know I should have practiced my German but we concluded that it was the weekend and we would break from that. Well, in fact, we had more in common, he’s born Atlantic Canadian, a Newfoundlander (not a Maritimer; had to make that clear, Newfoundlanders are not Martimers in their sense). He also went to the same university as my mom; Dalhousie in Halifax! Regine German but they met in Toronto. They both have jobs in business and economics.  We didn’t have much of a plan ordirectional route so we just walked around the area, which was completely fine on my part because it was nice to just talk. Frankfurt is more a city of business so there are a lot of skyscrapers in comparison to the other cities I’ve been in. Plus, during WWII, the city was almost all demolished and bombed to bits so what is here now, has either been rebuilt back to what it used to look like or modern buildings built up. Something we both noticed and was rather unpleasant is major difference in architecture. For example, the city much not have been in total agreeance, because on one side of the road are restored old and beautiful buildings and right beside it are horrid and ugly, 50’s houses. Even though I thought it was pretty busy for my liking down the main shopping area, he laughed and said that was nothing. We walked a little bit along the river, then went back in land and we both agreed me loved Sushi so he took me to a rotating Sushi bar! That was awesome’ I’ve never been in one before, so you can just take whatever you’d like as the belt goes around with the different kinds of Sushi. We planned to take a city bus tour but by time we had our Sushi it was getting a little late for that. We walked inside the Franfurt Dom but there was a mass taking place so we didn’t get to walk around. Around the outside of it where old Roman ruins. After that, we headed to their apartment. For rest of the evening, we exchanged pictures and had a lovely dinner made by Regine. Jeff put on the Canadian series Republic of Doyle which is all set in his hometown, St. John’s. It was crazy because he could point out every part and every building because that was his home and where he grew up.  Now I have to watch it when I get home. 
 
Inside a new Mall with amazing Architecture, Frankfurt


Euros

Jeff, Regine and I


Sunday April 17:  Still not quite caught up on a normal sleep routine, we had a lovely late breakfast and then headed across the river to the Stadel Museum. The art exhibit was of a  chronology of art from the 14th to the 21st century.  It was very interesting to see the changes in the art through the centuries. One thing in particular that I had not seen before were the depictions of people torturing each other in a fair amount of paintings throughout the exhibit; it was very wearing.  On a different end there was a  particular painting that still stands out. By Yves Klein, the painting was just one colour but the most intense blue you will ever see! Like it made my eyes water looking at it! The colour is so intense that it now has its own name '  International Klein Blue' (IKB). It was great to spend more time with Regine for we could discuss the different periods, which important dates through history were written on the  top parts of the wall and I could recognize what was being said in German. After we took a short walk up the river then we headed back in their car and drove around in what time we had left before I had to catch a train. It was sad to part already but school is in the morning. They’re lovely! Ticket back was 37 Euro which sucked but it was great being able to recognize places on the way back; like I was able to see the Niederwalddenkmal statue from afar. 

Monday April 18: Woo...Hoo...It’s my Birthday, meine Geburtstag! There was a new student, she is from Japan and she is a music student playing the Oboe. There was also a substitute today because our usual teacher for the first half of the week is on holidays. He scared us from the start; he is super strict from what were used to, he wouldn’t let us ask anything in English or allow us to try and translate, as such if the Koreans tried to work together to figure out a meaning. Like I know this way is the way to go and we should have been working like this from the start, but it was a little unfair for such as switch. We didn’t cover a whole lot because it seemed to be just him going through things his way. We did take up the  topic that when saying dates like 7th, 15th, 20th, etc, you  add –ten to the number like funften(5th)or achtzehnten (18th). This goes from numbers 1-19 and then after that use –sten like Zwanzigsten(20th) or dreiundzwanzigsten (23rd).  I let my classmates try a sip of good ‘ol Macfie’s maple syrup which meine Eltern (parents) sent over and they loved it, so I think it’s expected that I make them something with it. They sent me birthday wishes, and Prilly gave me a necklace from Indonesia and Soo Hyun sent me a birthday wish note. 

I biked over to The Wolter’s and they had presents, cake, some champagne and lunch waiting. Julia and in Zaire came from Cologne. Elke had remembered my favourite, asparagus with a creamy cheese sauce, potatoes and ham. For desert she made this lovely dish with raspberries, meringue and whippeed cream, which was delightful.  For 4pm we had birthday cake, tea and coffee. I was very happy and surprised when Suzanna, Elke’s friend who went with me to the Sixties United concert and even Ushi, the lovely neighbor and mother who gave me her collection of records (which I believe I am going to have to sent them overseas home by cargo ship). Julia, In Zaire and Nadine gave me a beautiful new pair of red Chuck Taylor (!!). I also received a  David Garrett  CD(a rocker violinist who plays rock Symphonies, which Elke has the album and I loved it), a Robert Shumann CD, and CD of  (my forever and all-time favourite) Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, two German-English Dictionaries, one is a picture one, beautiful roses, A scarf from my parents, Earl Grey Tea (since I’m a tea-aholic), a Bonn-Beethoven magnet and lots of Haribo candy J There was a lot of cake to choose from; my bithday cake (which is a Fanta cake, actually made from Orange Fanta; it is a typical German celebration cake and is so good), a cheese cake and a cherry torte.  After a while, everyone left. I was overjoyed to get a call from the Magee’s and was wished many birthday greetings! Later, I mentioned about sometime soon booking a flight finally to London and so Michael helped me with that! So I will be going April 30-May 5th!   

After, I biked home with all my gifts and flowers. I decided to watch Into The Wild again. I felt like watching something I love, and it really is. It gets me every time, with the combination of this heartfelt true story and the phenomenal soundtrack done by Eddie Vedder from Pearl Jam (the lyrics go perfectly with the true tale of top student and athlete Christopher McCandless (aka. Alexander Supertramp) who   abandons his possessions gives his entire $24,000 savings account to charity and hitchhikes to Alaska to live in the wilderness to meet his fate. It is what words of wisdom this young man had which makes his legacy so incredible, and it really is something which society should stop and ponder upon. He gave up so much to stop and do what he believed in, and I don’t think his strong should ever go unnoticed....And thank you so much for all of you for your lovely Birthday wishes; it means a hell of a lot!




Tuesday April 19: The substitute was there again. But I have to say he did a pretty solid job on getting us to try and understand another grammar rule. You have to look for two main things when talking about something; whether it’s male or female, then whether it’s feminine, masculine or neutral (you can’t just say him or her). So Ihr is female and Sein is male and then you have to look whether the other noun/object is either masculine, feminine or neutral (which is either der, die, das). So feminine feminine is Ihre, feminine masculine is Ihr, and masculine feminine is Seine and masculine masculine is Sein. And Man + Frau (plural) is Ihr.  It was such a warm day again. I did my homework outside in sun until my computer battery died. Then went over to the Wolters to look at my ticket to London! I weighed my pile of records and it’s 20kg. By plane it would cost about 75Euro, about 63Euro by boat and about 300Euro by currier. I already figured the boat transport would be the safest; it takes longer (like 6 weeks) but with a plan there is way more of a risk of damage, even though there’s that chance the boat could sink. But the question is, is if they are worth all the money---------Of Coarse J I had dinner with them and then decided to share my pancake mix and made little pancakes for my class tomorrow, along with the left over birthday cake.


A Birthday Lunch



A Birthday Car, I wish

Yves Klein's Blue


The Golden Russsian Church