Meet you on ‘J’ Street, Washington, D.C.
In two weeks I am attending the National American Society of Landscape Architects 2010 convention. The convention is four days (Friday to Monday). My Boss decided to make it our summer vacation time so we are all taking a week off (Wednesday to Wednesday). I thought it was a good idea to kill two birds with one rock and make it a week vacation and business trip in DC -- so I am going to DC for seven days!
I have a lot planed; sight seeing, lunches with old friends, a trip to the zoo, seeing my old stomping grounds, and of course the ASLA convention! The convention looks fantastic. The conference is featuring a lot of good speakers and presentations. I also got funding from Helen to register for the Landscape Architecture Examination Exam prep class that is being held at the convention (Thank You, Helen!) The class is over the design, grading, and water management (C and E) sections of the test -- the hardest sections. I hope it helps!
It will be good to go home again -- I have not been back to DC in eight years... wow.
Labor Day Weekend/Last Splash 2009
Friday I went to Austin Texas. I went for three reasons: get out of Bryan, see my good friend Sheldon, and finally go to Last Splash (for once out of my 7 years in Texas). I am glad to say that I accomplished all three. Friday night I went out in Austin. I met some really cool people that came down from Dallas for Splash. They had an extra ticket that they wanted to give me for the party boat at the lake, but I just could not except the generous offer (the ticket was over $60). I also met someone that was from Chicago (now living in Austin) -- I could not get over the accent -- so cute, with just the right amount of annoying. That night I also met up with Sheldon and slept at his place. I did not get to see him much -- I want to go back this week and spend the day with him.
The next day I was at the lake for over 8 hours. I was prepared for the day. I had my beach blanket, cooler, and lunch. Around 8 pm I went to have dinner, then to a club. The club experience was surreal. All I am going to say is that I got in free (which saved me $22) and I met around 15 amazing people. I was going to meet back up with Sheldon and spend the night again, but my phone died and I didn't have a charger -- I could not find him so I left the club and drove back to Bryan, getting home at 4-ish am. This is one of the songs from my trip. It's by Owl City, called "Fireflies."
Sunday I met up with Meryl (and my other friends Audrey & Glen) and we drove into Navasota, Texas, for their wedding venue open house. The place is amazing. It appears to be an old plantation complex that is now decorated in 1940s Hollywood glam. It's perfect for both couples.
After we got back from the venue, I was going to drive back to Austin for the Splash blow out bash at 10pm to 4am (someone I met at the last club said he would put me on the list at the door so I could get in free -- saving me another $40). But after some consideration, I was tired of driving and clubed out. So I spent the afternoon (to midnight) with Meryl's family and friends playing card games and a wonderfully prepared enchiladas dinner -- I think I made the right decision.
Tonight, I am meeting Briana (from my A&M days and whom I have not seen in almost 4 months) for dinner to reminisce and talk about our recent adventures.
The Big Easy Trip
My mom came into my room on Thursday and said that before school starts on Monday we should go on a short vacation -- very impromptu -- to New Orleans. New Orleans is only a 7 hour drive from Bryan. So we looked up hotel prices online and found a hotel special for $60/night (normally $179/night) with free valet parking (normally $25/day) and only two blocks from Cafe du Monde. We booked it for two nights starting Friday. Also, because the car is in the shop, we have a rental -- turned out to be a good thing. The rental gets better gas milage -- that made the trip even cheaper. We got to and from NOLA with only two tanks of gas! Amazingly the car got 36 MPG (and it is not a hybrid nor diesel) -- 2008 Ford Focus, go figure.
We arrived in NOLA at 5 pm on Friday. For the next few days we just wondered the french quarter. We went to small local restaurants, antique shops, art galleries, the casino, and the other tourist places. It was nice to be out and about walking around. We ate, I think, three times at Cafe du Monde -- most likely gained all the calories back from what we burnt off. Friday night we were so tired from the long drive we both went to bed at 9 pm. Saturday night I went out to the bars/clubs on Bourbon Street. I was out from 10 pm to 5 am. I had a really good time taking and meeting people -- my bar tender gave me two or three free drinks too -- what I would have called doubles and strong ones at that. He was really nice, really nice.
But, sadly I was one weekend to early; I found out that next weekend was Southern Decadence -- I kicked myself when I found out I missed it by one weekend. It turned out to be okay because the city was preparing this weekend; so I saw all the shops, hotels, restaurants, and natives put out rainbow flags to prepare and such. Also, some gung-ho singles and couples take the week off for Southern Decadence and stay weekend to weekend. I met a lot of tourists that arrived this weekend -- it was as if I was at the pre-party (at least a preview). One of my acquaintances said that during the weekend of Southern Decadence their would be thousands of visitors -- so it was good I was here for the smaller Devon size Southern Decadence (I do not like big crowds).
Overall the trip was a fun. It was good to get out of B/CS. Oh, one last thing -- If you ever go to NOLA you must visit a restaurant called Mona Lisa (1212 Royal St, New Orleans, LA 70116). They do not take reservations, walk-in only. It is a diamond in the rough. This small family owned restaurant is a favorite among locals from what I read about it online -- and the few wise tourists that find it. You know you are in the right place when you walk in and the place is filled with the scent of fresh ingredients cooking. The atmosphere is perfect to relax before going out on bourbon street. The food is amazing and the price is just right -- many options for such a small place. You must try it. Pictured is the shrimp, sauteed halibut, and clam spaghetti with a lemon herb sauce ($14 and came with salad and garlic bread pizza slice) -- but the menu changes often.
NYC w/ Cousins
I'm heading back to Texas from my spontaneous second NYC trip. This time I went with two of my cousins, Pamela (24) and Ann (29), on my mom's side. I left College Station at 5 am -- my mom dropped me off at the airport. I flew into JFK for the first time. While I was traveling (and could use my phone) I was texting my cousins -- who arrived 5 hours before me from Utah -- where the hotel was. One responded with Riverhead. I thought to myself, I have never heard of that area on Manhattan Island. Come to find out, the first hotel was in Riverhead, New York -- on the furthest northeastern tip of Long Island (a two hour train ride from JFK by NYC Long Island Train System). So I got off the plane, found my way to the trains, got a taxi in Riverhead, and met my cousins at the hotel around 5pm (ten hours of traveling -- I could have gone to Bonn, Germany in that amount of time). That night we went to a winery and had a wine tasting (by the way, the taxi cost more the then wine tasting -- go figure). For dinner we went to the grocery store and got microwavable meals -- quick, simple, and cheap.
The next morning we got breakfast from the hotel and as we were getting into the elevator to go to the first floor, my cousin Pamela drops her cell phone down the elevator shaft. Come to find out a Motorola Razor fits perfectly in the gap between the floor and elevator. As we checked out of the hotel, they said they would call the elevator people and then overnight the phone to the other hotel on Manhattan -- such good service. Here would be a good time to thank Pamela and her roommate Larry. Pamela paid for the rooms (4 nights, at two hotels) and Larry works at a hotel chain and got Pamela a great rate at each hotel we stayed. Thanks guys! We then took the Long Island trains system to Manhattan and checked into our hotel in Madison Square Garden, for 3 nights.
The next two days we went all over the island. Pamela is vegan so I was exposed to many of NYC's vegan restaurants. Ann had to have authentic NYC style thin crust pizza. I had to go to the bakery I saw on FoodTV. My cousins "musts" were wonderful. I was disappointed in my "must," because on TV the cookies were huge -- they must have embellished when the cameras were on them; in the store they were half the size as when on TV (still big, but not as impressive). Over the whole trip we went to Chelsea Market (FoodTV headquarters), walked over the Brooklyn Bridge, Brooklyn Botanical Gardens, central park, Time Square, went to a few bars/clubs, saw many of its districts, and just went all over the island. It was a nice trip, we ate a lot of really good food -- and my wallet reflects that.
The last day we went and got brunch at a restaurant we found in the Village called Cafeteria (don't let the name fool you -- it is a fantastic modern American establishment). Then my cousins went to JFK to catch their mid-day flight to Utah. My flight was later at 7pm, so I hung around the city until 5pm. I'm not telling you what I did because I have to keep some mystery about myself; but I will tell you I ended up in Brooklyn for 3 hours.
I know think I know NYC pretty good. I can get around without a map, know the general subway lines, and even know what trains go to what stations. I think I could live in NYC; but do I want to? If I got a job here, then I think I would -- otherwise it is just nice to visit.
Oh My Heck, I’m in Utah, Flippin’ Fetch!
This posting is way overdue -- but I have been really busy. It is funny though, I have been here for just a few weeks and all the Utah profanity sayings came right back to me -- such a potty mouth -- oh, sugar dust. Anyways, my mom and I arrived in Utah sometime in the early afternoon on July 10th. Grandma and Grandpa Kendall were to pick us up at the airport, but we had to call them to see where they were. It turned out that they drove past us because they did not recognize us! Once we got to the house, we had dinner, talked a bit, and slept. For the next few days I hung around and visited family on my mom's side. It was good to see everyone again. It is amazing how fast, or not, people change when you are away. I also went out to some of the SLC clubs/bars -- I actually met some people; I forgot how nice people are here.
On Tuesday Grandma and Grandpa took my mom and I to Ruth's Diner in the canyons. Ruth's has been in Utah forever -- over 75 years. I think it is the second oldest restaurant in SLC. My grandma remembers going to it when she was a girl. Amazingly, it has ben closed the past 4 months for renovations, and this month it was re-opened -- just for us I think, lol. Ruth's is famous for fresh made mile high biscuits, made hourly it seams. Ruth's was also honored by appearing on the Food Network's show Dinners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. I think that is why the renovated -- they had an influx of customers so they had to expand the kitchen.
On Wednesday I went on a tour of SLC with Pam and Ryan! I think I told you that Pam graduated with me and that she and her boyfriend are going on a 3 month road trip around the country. They had been in Denver, Colorado, and came over to SLC. The first night they used couch surfer, the next night they stayed at my dads house. During the day I went around with them taking photos of SLC. I realized I did not have any photos of SLC so I wanted to get some. I became a tourist of my birth town (I call it a birth town, because I call Takoma Park, Maryland, my hometown). When we went into the LDS Office Building to go to the top observation floor the workers asked if I worked there. I guess I look and act like a native. It is really funny they asked because I was in a T-shirt, shorts, and my tattoo was showing -- most men that work their wear business suits! Anyways, I got some good photos of the city (below is the SLC LDS, Mormon, Temple).
The next week my mom went back to Texas and I left the Kendall side of the family to see the Blosch side (dad side). The Blosch side of the family has a family reunion every year at Beak Lake, in north Utah. I have not attended in over 11 years. Being a student and half way across the country really kept me away.
At the lake the family gets condos for each family (6 families, each with about 5 cousins, some with about 4 kids). When everyone is around, it is about 60 people. Then we all get together on the beach and talk and horse around. We go boating, jet-skying, tan, and reminisce. At night we get together and play poker -- more as a social engagement. Most of the Bloschs live in Bountiful or Salt Lake City -- but there are a few of us that live outside in Wyoming, Arizona, and Texas. The ones that live in Utah see each other regularly and are really close. It takes a day or two, but the "outsiders" warm up fast and then it feels like it used to.
It was so strange to see everyone again. It is funny, most people did not know I was coming, so when they saw me they would just point at me and go "Oh my gosh." I guess it is a Blosch thing to point and stare at people -- they all did it. Everyone is grown up. All my aunts and uncles are grandparents now (except my dad and his younger brother, John). Most of my cousins are married (or partnered -- yes!). Oh, yeah, around the poker table I learned more about the Blosch name. Great grandpa Blosch is from Bern, Switzerland and his original family name was Blösch -- he dropped the umlaut when we came to the USA. If you find any Blosch in the USA, I am most likely related to them in some way.
Well, now I am back at my dad's house. Because I am still waiting to hear back from jobs and I don't have anything to do in Texas, I extended my trip until August 5th. You maybe wondering about Los Angeles -- it is postponed. I talked with my cousin and we both decided to put it on the back burner until next year, January 2010. For the next two weeks here I am going to hang out with family -- reconnect. And yes, go out to the clubs again.
Oh, I have just a few side notes. Coke/Soda is called "Soda Pop" here -- lol. And I recently discovered one of my favorite brewers in downtown SLC, Red Rock Brewing Company, is brewing real Kölsch -- go figure. Now only if I could find a Doner place. Utah has a lot of Greek places, but the Gyro is just not a Doner.
New Jersey & A New York Minute
I do not even know if I can tell you what happen this week. Not that I should not tell you, but if I can -- it all happened so quickly. I have to look at my photos to get the order right.
Tuesday June 30th, I hung out in Ocean Grove with Jesse, Ari, Elisabeth (one of Ari's friends), and Anne. We all went around Ocean Grove, had lunch at Munch in Asbury Park, went to the beach, and had dinner at Ari and Elisabeth's work --Stella Marina. It is an Italian restaurant right on the boardwalk overlooking the ocean. The food is fantastic -- I recommend the mushroom mozzarella pizza. This day I mostly caught up with what everyone has been doing and visa versa. Everyone is doing well and happy. Jesse and Ari both really like living in New York. It is funny -- I have not seen them in over 7 years, I had no idea what to expect. They are basically the same, yet taller and grown up.
Wednesday July 1st, Jesse had made plans for the week/weekend so he had to return back to New York in the morning. It was really go to see him -- even if it was short. It just gives me another reason to come back to New York to see him longer. We had a drink together to celibate seeing each other -- that what surreal. You have to remember, that I have not seen them in forever -- neither of them could even drive by the time I moved to Texas. It was strange to see them drink and drive now -- not at the same time, by all means, I mean individually.
Thursday July 2nd, was a relaxing day. Just hang out, went to the beach, and puttered around. Around 4pm Win (Ari and Jesse's father) and his family arrived. It was so nice to see everyone from the Swenson family. In the evening we all went to the beach and walked around. It is so nice here -- low humidity, around 75 degrees (24 C), and a slight cool breeze from off the ocean. Every night the sunsets are spectacular orange and pink. You can sleep comfortably outside because it is just a perfect climate.
Friday July 3rd, I did a personal tour of Asbury Park. A little back history -- this is important. Ocean Grove and Asbury Park are like sister cities -- divided by a small water way. When every I came up with Jesse's family to Ocean grove we always stayed in Ocean Grove -- never ventured into Asbury Park because it was so run down and slightly dangerous. It was as if the edge of Asbury Park was an invisible wall that you never passed. Now, in the years I have been away, Asbury Park has been gentrified and an up-and-coming tourist destination for many residence of New York and New Jersey. It now has spectacular restaurants, hotels, apartments, homes, shops, and clubs/bars. It was amazing to see how it had all changed on my tour. 
That night, Ari, Elisabeth, and I went to The Beach Bar in Asbury Park -- a bar right on the beach. It was fun to sit in the dim lights, with the ocean breeze, and sip a Gin and Tonic. Oh, back tracking, on my tour I found out that Asbury Park was going to have "the most create fireworks display on the Jersey Shore" Saturday, so I figured I would see them after I got back from New York.
Saturday July 4th, I went to New York -- by myself. I left Ocean Grove and went to the Asbury Park Train station at 8am. After one connection, I arrived at New York Penn Station at 10am. I had a strict itinerary that I wanted to follow -- well, not really an itinerary, but list of what I wanted to see. I jumped onto the Metro and got an unlimited Metro day pass for $8. If you ever visit New York, get the unlimited passes; they are so worth it. I first zoomed over to Christopher Street to see the legendary Stonewall Inn (40th Birthday!). Then I zoomed over to ground zero and saw them building the new 911 memorial. On the Metro again, I went over to Brooklyn and walked back to Manhattan over the Brooklyn Bridge (what views -- a must if you visit). Then, again, I zoomed to Time Square and walked all around. I went up and down almost every street around Time Square. I stumbled upon Discovery Channel's Titanic exposition and immediately wished Dominik could have been here -- it would have been fun to go in if he was here, but not alone (oh, I even saw the "naked cowboy)."
After speeding an hour in Time Square, I zoomed to Grand Central Station to see the legendary train station. After just a few minutes, I then zoomed to Central Park and spent the rest of my 4 hours walking, getting lost, and eating lunch in the park. I have always wanted to see the Bethesda Angle (personal reasons), now I have. At 5pm, I zoomed over to Penn Station and grabbed the train to Asbury Park.
Once in Ocean Grove, I took a two-hour nap, getting up at 9pm. I walked down the boardwalk to Asbury Park. At 9:30pm the most amazing firework show I have ever seen launched from the beach in two locations combining explosions in the center. I had the perfect spot -- I was right under the compilation spot. The show was so spectacular I had to take photos -- to make the moment even more special, my camera actually captured the splendor (even video)!
Sunday July 5th, I spent most of the day on my own. Ari, Elisabeth, and Anne were all working. So I spent the day at the beach. I tanned, swam, body surfed, and so on. Around 4pm I went back to the beach house and Ari and Elizabeth got off work. We all went out to dinner in Asbury Park then Win's family, Ari, Elizabeth and I went to Point Pleasant. Point Pleasant is like a miniature Coney Island (carnival boardwalk by the sea) or Puetzchen's Markt (for my German readers) only on a boardwalk. We went on many rides -- getting slightly sick. We ending the night on the beach eating candied apples under the moonlight. We got back to the beach house around 11pm.
Monday July 6th, I got up at 8am, said goodbye, and left for the train station. I got to Newark Airport at 11am and got a flight to Atlanta -- first class. I had an amazing grilled chicken salad with chopped cucumber, yellow bell pepper, mushrooms, onion, and tomatoes. To end the meal, I had a bowl of fresh fruit and a ginger cookie. I arrived in Atlanta on time and got to my connecting gate to Houston. Of course this day cannot run perfectly -- I was bumped from the flight. While waiting for the next flight at 8:10pm, I started writing this blog. Also, I have an application on my phone that you create a profile and it finds people for you to date around your current location. After I got tired of wiring the blog, I decided to active the application just to check it out -- and come to find out, I had three matches, one only 800 feet away. I activated the chat feature and we chatted for a bit. We decided to meet between our gates at gate B22. We introduced each other found out where each were from and going -- lives in Austin and goes to UT, go figure. We decided we would hang out some time when I visit Austin again.
And then the bad news -- I got bumped from the 8:10pm flight to Houston. I got on the phone and called a Delta rep. I asked if any flight to Houston Inter, Hobby, or even Austin had any seats open. She said that Austin had one seat left and it was leaving in 5 min -- the flight the person I met earlier was on! So I ran (flew is a better word) and got on the plane, first class. Then, the plane was delayed because of extra baggage (oops) and some mechanical problem with the plane's computer. Once the maintenance guys got on and fixed it, the baggage was all sorted out, we took off an hour late. I told Shari to scrap Houston and to get me in Austin -- come to find out that the Austin Airport is the same distance (in time) as the Houston Airport, just 1 hour and 30 min away. I am glad to be home and not sitting in an airport.
Now, just a quick note: If you ever fly into LaGuardia airport between 7am-7pm and have $110/person extra on hand, you can take a helicopter from LaGuardia to the East 34th street helipad in Manhattan (now that would make a good start to a special trip)! You can do it from all three airports around NYC, but the LaGuardia helicopter flight is cheapest.
New Jersey: What more could go wrong/right?
So get this -- I am sitting on the Atlantic Ocean on the Jersey shore. How did this happen? Really fast, that's how! I was sitting at home Saturday (June 27) on FaceBook -- doing what else, right? -- then Ariana messaged me. Jesse and Ari are some of my good friends from when I lived in Maryland. She said that she and her family are up at the beach house they owned in New Jersey (when I was growing up in Maryland, I went with them a lot to the beach house). She jokingly said that I should come up too. I told her, "actually, I could, I'm free until July 10th" -- and in just two days, here I am. But that's not the amazing part. The real story is how I got here.
On Monday June 29th, I left Bryan and drove down to Houston International Airport. I was scheduled to go from Houston to Cincinnati, to Newark Airport in New Jersey, then take an hour train to Asbury Park/Ocean Grove. Well, I was bumped from the Houston to Cincinnati plane, and changed to Houston to Atlanta to Newark rout. The Houston to Atlanta plane was late about 10 minutes, but I got on and flew out around 4:30pm (just 30 min later then original plan). Because the plane was originally late, we had to wait in line to taxi out on the runway -- so we sat on the runway for 30 minutes. The nice thing was I had a full row to myself, so I stretched out and took a nap. Because the flight was late, we did not arrive in Atlanta until 8pm. When I did not realize until we landed was that my connecting flight to Newark was at 8:20pm. So I had to run off the plane and run to my connecting flight's gate.
Once I got to the connecting gate, I came to a screeching halt and my mouth dropped. The gate said "Wisconsin" not Newark. Did I run to the wrong gate? I only had 5 minutes until the plane left. I got up to the counter and asked the attended, he said, "the Newark plane is having mechanical problems and is delayed until 10:30pm." That meant I was not going to get into Newark until 2am -- and I still had my train to catch, so I would not get into Asbury Park until 4am! Discouraged, I went to get dinner and ate at the terminal.
Right as I got back up to the gate, around 8:45pm, the attendant came on the announcement and said that my Newark flight was canceled. Oh, crap! He then said for us to talk with customers' service to get a hotel or reschedule. I went up and asked if there was another flight tonight to Newark. Luckily, there was one at 10pm! But everyone from the flight that was canceled switched to that flight so it was full. I asked if there was any flight to New York -- a flight to LaGuardia Airport was leaving at 9pm, in 15 minutes. So I ran to the gate as fast as I could and handed the gate guy my ticket -- more through it at him. He said, "coach is full, so we will bump you to first class." Hallelujah -- some good news!
So, flying out at 9pm, I was going to get into LaGuardia Airport around 11:15pm -- much better then 2am. On the plane, in first class, I got free snacks, 3 gin and tonics, and a Fresca soda. What pampering! As we came close to New York you could see Manhattan Island all lit up. The only problem now, I needed to find out how to get from LaGuardia Airport to Penn Station in New York. I had a plan from Newark Airport to Penn Station, but not LaGuardia Airport. We arrived right on time at 11:15pm. I went to the ground transportation service desk and asked what was the cheapest way. He said the shuttle from the airport to the station was cheapest at $17, but it stopped at 11pm -- I was 15 minutes to late. Now what?
I called a taxi and he said it would be over $30 plus a $5 toll to get to Penn Station. Luckily a guy from my flight was next to me and said Penn Station was on the way to where he was going -- so we could share the cab. We got in and it turned out he lived in Dallas for 6 years -- we had a good chat. He paid for the $5 toll and when he got out, he handed me $20. I continued to Penn Station (arriving at 12:30am) and the total came to $25. I gave the driver the other guy's $20 and $10 for me. So the taxi from LaGuardia Airport to Penn Station only cost me $10! Awesome!
In the train station I figured out how to buy a ticket to Asbury Park/Ocean Grove, but had no idea what train to get on. I could not figure out the train schedule/transfers. So I called Ari and Jesse and they figured it out. It just so happened that the last train was at 1:18am -- the next being at 4am. So I waited the 40 minutes and got onto the train and arrived at the Asbury Park Station at 3am. So even with all the trouble, I still got to Asbury Park at 3am. I then walked the 14 minutes to the beach house. Got some sleep, then got up around 10am.
In the morning (today), we went for lunch, then to the beach and swam for a few hours in the ocean. Now I am sitting here, writing my blog. I am going to be here for a week -- leaving next Monday (July 6). I am going to take the train up to New York once, I think Thursday, just to visit. July 4th, I think we may go to New York to watch the fireworks over the Statue of Liberty -- but I don't know yet. I am so glad I made it here.
Things You Never Knew: Sandra Bullock
Oh yeah, you might find this interesting. -- I forgot to tell you. When I was in Germany, watching German Entertainment news (like E!) I discovered that Sandra Bullock speaks fluent German. Who knew! ,,Danke Aller"
German Trip: Last Thoughts
So I am currently on the plane going home to Texas. I have just some last thoughts about my trip:
- I could barely say, "So say we all." I think I got it out once. I was trying so hard to hold back the tears (to even stay standing) that I couldn't open my mouth. As the train pulled away and I could no longer see the black jacket, I slowly sat on my luggage, and tears just would not stop. Someone walking from one side of the train to the another stopped and asked if I was okay -- well, I am guessing that is what they asked, it was in German. I was on the train for an hour, sitting on my bag in the same place I was standing as the train pulled away. Great, I am writing this and I am crying again. I am sitting in the middle of two strangers, crying. Oh, I just love traveling...
- Lufthansa is an amazing Airline. From Houston to Frankfurt (and vice versa) you get hot towels, two full course meals, two movies, music videos, world news, sometimes a documentary, location/status updates, and a few snacks. Not to even mention 4 free alcohol/soft drinks -- and this is economy class! I guess for the price and all the above I can give up personal seat-by-seat air conditioning.
- Germany is so far north that it gets very long days in the summer. The sun comes up around 4 am and set at 10 pm. No Joke. Last night it was sunny -- yes sunny -- at 10 pm and the sun just started to set (twilight till 10:30pm).
- I have had many personal first in Germany. Self-exploration, if you will. You know the phrase "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas?" Well, what happens in Germany is going to be bragged about! Boo-Yah!
- Having gone abroad, I feel the US is very ethnocentric and slightly oblivious to the outside world. So much happens outside the USA and I never hear about it -- unless it makes another country look bad. You can find information on other countries, but you have to hunt for it. It is not in the main news. That needs to change -- if we want a unified world.
I went with Dominik to watch him vote for the Euro parliament. The ballot looked like legal documents from cartoons -- just kept unrolling like a carpet. And the funny think is that you just mark one box on the whole ballot -- it is a lot of paper for one vote.- I want to move to Germany and everyone I know in Germany wants to move to the USA -- ironic. If I move to California (or something) I would love to have them visit -- it would be the least I could do to repay them for hosting/entertaining me. Sigh, I miss everyone already.
- I have learned that no county is perfect. I really like Germany because I am an outsider looking in. I do not know all the pros and cons. I know most of the pros and cons for the USA. Sometimes you do not know a pro until you know other country's con.
- I should learn German. What is funny, Dominik taught me how to correctly pronounce, "I do not speak German" in German (,,Ich spreche kein Deutsch"). So I can speak that I do not speak German. I find that hysterical. Don't you? I didn't think you would -- see, I know you.
- Okay. USA immigration. What ever happen to people arriving at Ellis Island, signing a book, and becoming USA citizens? Doesn't the big green lady say, "...give us your tired, your poor, your hungry...?" When did "we" start charging around $2000 and taking up to 10 years to process people?
- I'm slightly freaking out. I brought soil back from Rügen Island and I am not going to declare it. Well, I brought sand back, which is an ingredient in soil, so technically I am not lying by saying I did not bring soil back. And I brought a Rügen rock back for John -- he collects rocks from around the world.
- Oh, one last thing: If you're going to San Francisco, make sure to wear a flower in your hair. And if you go on a road trip, make sure you have a good singing buddy -- "We can be heroes, forever and ever..."!
Germany Trip 2009: Part 2
Now that I am here for another week and a half, I decided to take a vacation during my vacation. Part 1 of my German trip was jam packed (read the posting and you will know why). Therefore, for the second part I wanted to take it slow and enjoy my time. So on Friday, May 29, 2009 Dominik and I rested.
For Saturday, May 30, 2009 and Sunday, May 31, 2009 Dominik and his beau needed some time alone. I had monopolized Dominik for over a week, it was about time for Lars to see him again -- don't you think so? Yeah, me too. So I went to a spa/hostel for the weekend in Köln. I got on a regional train to Köln and used the U-Bahn to get to the place. It was the most fun I have had in months. The place is amazing. Let me tell you about it. Get this: two ,,Finnische Sauna" (dry saunas), one ,,Dampfsauna" (steam room), one ,,Sanarium" (solarium: large room with hugh skylight for suntanning), one caldarium (basically a large hot-tub), and a tepidarium (stone room with radiant heating from the stone benches/walls), deck, and a restaurant/bar (with good prices I may add). The place had an awsome concept -- you check in, shower, change, and then walk around and relax, chill, sweat, swim, tan, eat, and drink. Then, when you are tired you find an open room, lock the door, and sleep. Once you get up, you do it all over -- relaxing more and more each time.
The check in fee for the weekend was around 20 euro and then you pay your bill for food and drinks when you leave. I had five sodas, two drinks, currywurst, a huge cob salad with grilled chicken, strawberry cheesecake, some apples, and cheese plater. From my calculations before I checked out, I figured my bill was going to be around 30 euros. I woke up around noon complexity relaxed. No, that word does not cut it -- I woke up complexity tranquil on Monday, June 1, 2009. Sure enough, my calculations for the food/drink bill was correct. When I checked out it was 28 euro. But, the check out guy then said ,,Ein Moment" and a lot of German words. Then, the price displayed on the register changed from 28 to 12 euro. I looked back at the guy and he just smiled at me. I didn't question it, I payed the 12 euro and left -- a nice ending to a spa weekend.
I jumped on the U-Bahn and headed back to the main train station of Köln. When I got back I decided I would go explore the city a bit -- see the cathedral, so on. On the way out of the train station I ran into Olaf (one of my study abroad coordinators). It was such an amazing coincidence. He said he was on the way to an outdoor bar area on the other side of the Rhine and I was invited. I went with and relaxed, had a few drinks, and talked to Olaf for the rest of the afternoon. It was such a nice sunny and lazy afternoon -- almost a continuant of the spa. At 4pm I went back to Köln main train station and headed to Bonn. I met up with Dominik and Lars at the park next to the dorms I stayed at on my study abroad. We went for a nice walk around the park and ate ,,Eis". We took photos of each other and just hung out. When it got late, Lars went to the train station and Dominik and I went to his place for bed.
On Tuesday, June 2, 2009 and Wednesday, June 3, 2009 Dominik and I rested and hung around the apartment. When we felt like it we would head into downtown to grocery shop. We grilled each night and watched movies. I made him watch The Producers movie. Until recently the play, The Producers, was banned in Germany (the movie still is). After we watched it, Dominik said the ,,Hakenkreuz" (swastika) imagery is illegal in Germany, except in museums (in the German theater they replace the swastika with silhouetted pretzels -- creative). Also, interestingly, Will Ferrell's character actually says a lot of German words (mainly German profanity). Oh, Der Guten Tag Hop-Clop is loosely based on a traditional old Bavarian folk dance -- LOL.
After relaxing for so long, on Thursday, June 4, 2009 we decided to get an adrenaline rush. We went to Phantasialand -- a theme park in Brühl, Germany. The park's landscaping and scenery is fantastic. The areas, such as the asian area, has authentic planting from the depicted area. Dominik said that the landscaping of the park has won many awards. The park is not very large, nowhere near American theme parks I have been to (Disneyland, Disney World, Bush Gardens, Six Flags, so on), but the style of Phantasialand has a lot of attention and detail.
For some reason Phantasialand has a strange connection to Michael Jackson -- yeah, my reaction exactly. Dominik said that Michael Jackson visits the park a lot. In fact, he even purchased some of the original rides (i.e. two-story carousel) and had a replacement built in the park (using the originals in his Peter Pan world). Also, he was upset Phantasialand did not have a "run away train" ride. So he had one commissioned called "Colorado Adventure" aka "The Michael Jackson." I think Dominik said Michael owns a 1/3 of it still. It was a good ride, much like the run away train ride in Disneyland -- one of my favorites. Being around the Colorado fake stone facade made me miss Utah -- of all things to make me think of home, lol. At 6pm the park closed and Dominik and I jumped on a long distance train back to Bonn.
On Friday, June 5, 2009 we got up around noon and went shopping for the things people requested me to get: chocolate, beer, and Haribo (the best 3 of Germany?). Dominik took me to the Haribo outlet store in Bad Godesberg. It is a bulk store where you fill bags and pay 3.50 per 1000 kilograms. I got 4000 kilograms of Haribo for people. Later that night we went back to his apartment and grilled -- yes, again. We hung out talking until bed. Somehow the topic of how a law is created in America came up (I think we were talking about marriage law). I tried to explain, then remembered the School House Rock "How a Bill Becomes a Law." I found it on YouTube.com and showed Dominik -- worked perfectly, explained it much clearer then I could.
For Saturday, June 6, 2009 , Dominik and I have plans to go bowling and dinner with the gang (Dominik's Sister, Brother in Law, and others) -- a kinda' farewell thing.
Sunday, June 7, 2009, is a relax/pack everything before I fly day. I really hope I can fit everything back into my luggage.
I fly to Texas Monday, June 8, 2009. I am really glad I extended my trip. I did not feel ready to leave over a week ago -- I still had things I needed to do. Also, it gave Dominik and I a chance to get a bit closer. There are some things you just don't talk about over the phone. Come to find out we have more in common then we knew -- or wanted to know. I cannot think him enough for letting me come and take over his life for three weeks. I hope he knows how grateful I am. Oh, and to Lars for letting me monopolize Dominik's time -- thanks Lars.
Now that my trip is over, I need to figure out what to do with my life. I need to find a job. I really am thinking about moving to the West coast. I have lived on the East coast for 10 years and the Gulf coast for almost 10 years, I think it is time to live on the West coast for around 10 years. Then who knows, maybe Europe for 10 years, then the moon for 10? -- LOL.