Travels

I definitely abandoned my Tumblr. Perhaps now (during my study abroad) is the time to revive it.

Perhaps I’ll make some of my following posts catch up posts.

In the meantime, here’s my working travel log I wrote since leaving home:

16. März, 2011. Ankunft in Trier!  I was exhausted. The most uncomfortable and sleepless red-eye flight of my life, for sure. I had to stay the night in a Hostel, since I couldn’t move into my Studentwohnheim… I believe my first meal upon arrival was Döner kebab, oddly enough. But at least I made it to my Uni’s city!

1) 26. März, 2011. Cochem, DE. An Einführungsseminar excursion, where we went by bus. This town lies perhaps only an hour from home, so it was a day trip. We were given time to wander around the village after a castle tour while there. I rubbed some kind of good-luck mermaid…we’ll see how that works out…

2) 02. April, 2011 Bonn, DE. Another Einführungsseminar excursion, also a day trip. Perhaps two hours away, with another bus. We went to a history museum, and had much more time in the city this time. The university buildings there are interesting. The sun was amazing that day!

3) 22-25 April, 2011. Baden-Baden, Mummelsee, Karlsruhe (Rülzheim) DE. There was a four-day long Easter weekend! This trip had so many trains and buses I don’t think I know the final number. We (three erasmus friends and I) began in Baden-baden, where we went to the baths. It was amazing and relaxing, and I felt like a five-year old again. We were at an awesome Biergarten through the evening, too. Next up was a brief trip to the Mummelsee, a rather picturesque lake a bit higher up in elevation. We had some awesome Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte for lunch. On the final end of our trip I traveled to a friend’s family’s house in Rülzheim. I got to have a thoughly enjoyable Easter Sunday there, too.

4) 30. April, 2011. Luxembourg, Luxembourg. Another little day trip, with a bunch of other erasmus students. I was initially left at the train station, so I was admittedly more than a little annoyed by the time I met up with some people there. But even so, we went shopping and I bought by far one of my favorite shirts of all time! Also got to just generally wander around the city. The language in Luxembourg is strange- It’s so similar to German…!

5) 7. Mai, 2011 Mailand (Milano) Italy. A last minute (as in booked 24 hours before leaving) trip. It was a Blindbooking with German Wings, so admittedly I didn’t exactly choose this location for myself. The hostel was mediocre at best, but the staff was friendly, at least. Still not sure what was up with the Greek guys in our room… but whatever. The city itself is beautiful, though I can’t say I loved the people. Although, I did have the best Tiramisu of my life…aaah :)

6) 12- 16 Mai, 2011 Dresden und Leipzig, DE. Another blind booking, we ended up in Germany, oddly enough. Though I was very glad it ended up that way! The journey there was tiring… as per usual. Went through the History and Stasi Museums while there! The hostel in Leipzig (Sleepylion) was one of the best I had stayed in. I had some Czech beer while I was there, too. It was better than I expected, for some reason. I like Dresden more than Leipzig, though. Bar-hopping there was a good time… It’s a really interesting city.

7) 28. Mai, 2011 Köln DE A short few hours on a Sunday afternoon, after the Beer Olympics…. Traveled with a few erasmus friends who were picking people up at the Hauptbahnhof there. Saw the Dom, walked around a bit as well. I wish I could have had a special someone to put a lock on the lock bridge with me…ah, but such is life.

Pfingstferien!

8) 10-12 Juni, 2011. Oberursel, Limburg DE I went to two concert festivals this weekend. Traveled with a friend, and met plenty of new ones along the way! I love Brotchips, let’s just say… ;) a certain someone knows why. It may have been the most inebriated I’ve been in Germany. Even so, it was a good time.

9) 12-15 Juni, 2011. Krakow, Poland A wonderful part of our trip, where we did tons of walking. Ate so much delicious polish food I’m surprised I didn’t just turn into a Pierogi myself. Went vodka `tasting`, too. Hazelnut may have been my favorite. Also, naturally, I was finally able to go to Auschwitz (I had received some funding from my school for that portion of the trip). I nearly cried more than once there. It sneaks up on you.

10) 16-20 Juni, 2011. Wien, Österreich I almost forgot what a beautiful and absurdly sculptured city Vienna is! All the same, it was great to be there again when I could actually communicate with people in their language. We went back to the Belvedere, and saw a Makart exhibition. It was absolutely phenomenal. During the evenings we mooched free beer at 1516 (side note: best beer I’ve had in Europe) from drunk Italian men. May have also had a brilliant moment of reflection, where I realized that Europe doesn’t have many good places for public urination. The only downside was sharing a room with some particularly annoying Asian tourists, and the bus driver who insisted there wasn’t a night bus to where we wanted to go!

°To be continued!