I got to T's husband M's parent's place and was given a warm welcome by the very German mum and dad. The place they live is in the upper class area of Germany, called Grunwald, where some people live in cathedrals worth 700 million euros. Just a trifle, really.
Their cottage, really, in comparison was still furnished nicely and had a cavalcade of family portraits etc adorning the walls that read such a rich history, it was really incredible to see. I wish my family had that! Or at least records beyond 3 generations! haha...
The party for T and M was tonight, so we ran around trying to get things ready and I pulled out the makeup case from the bag again to get primped with my one good dress. The party was really great, M got to see all his old friends again, some of which he hadn't seen in 10 years. I totally know the feeling because it's similar whenever I go home. He hadn't even seen his family for 3 years. Eek! 1.5 is bad enuf for me!
We upped and left about midnight to an underground private party held by M's friends from the local area. It was in town, so that meant a bunch of car-sharing, and I was 'lumped' with the cute German boys. Lumped... haha... We got there, I grabbed T and we danced. First on the dancefloor and boy how we worked it. I've missed that girl. Didn't give a shit that absolutely NONE of the guys were paying attention to me (what's new haha) and had a great time gettin' loooooose. Sorted.
I still wasn't sure of my whereabouts for Christmas day, as no one had mentioned it and even M wasn't sure it was still 'just a family' thing. When I met his lovely sister J, however, that was soon sorted. She asked me - nay, insisted - I come to their Christmas (as in Christmas Eve, they celebrate it a day earlier in Europe) dinner the next day. What a sweetheart. So I was enveloped in their cocoon of love and it was really a beautiful feeling. I wasn't going to be alone in a hostel on Christmas after all.
Showing posts with label Munich. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Munich. Show all posts
Monday, 27 December 2010
Most Expensive Bathroom Visit Ever
So I left my beautiful new family in Poimossel to travel south to Munich for my gorgeous friend T's wedding celebration, and to finally meet her new husband. Exciting times! The ride down was pretty nice, besides the 90 minute delay of my original train in Luneberg due to snow. No worries, however, as the 6:59 train arrived at 8:30, only 30 mins after my original train, and I was only a little late for my ride from Hannover.
The man who was driving turned out to be a Harry Krishna, and said some really beautiful things. When I told him about my getting the High Priestess card in my reading, he said it was true, he could see me in a past life all dressed to the nines and singing and dancing in a circle with other women "of nobility". Just the way I like it.
So I actually didn't need my headphones at all and enjoyed listening to the English parts of the conversation I could actually understood. It was a shame, then, that when we said goodbye he was a little awkward and went to shake my hand instead of kiss my cheek goodbye. I thought we had a connection, dammit! But anyway, I got the name of some famous horse whisperer from Germany that apparently trains horses in Hungary. So you never know, maybe I might just look him up for some guidance.
In Munich, I called T to arrange to meet her and hubbie near the main train station and when she arrived, she asked where my bag was. When I told her in the hostel, she said "no, no, you're staying with us!" So I went back to the hostel, an hour after I checked in, and checked out sans refund. Bummer. You know, that is the second time I have used that hostel for an hour or so. Too funny.
At least I got to use the bathroom. 11 euros for a bathroom. Gotta be a record.
The man who was driving turned out to be a Harry Krishna, and said some really beautiful things. When I told him about my getting the High Priestess card in my reading, he said it was true, he could see me in a past life all dressed to the nines and singing and dancing in a circle with other women "of nobility". Just the way I like it.
So I actually didn't need my headphones at all and enjoyed listening to the English parts of the conversation I could actually understood. It was a shame, then, that when we said goodbye he was a little awkward and went to shake my hand instead of kiss my cheek goodbye. I thought we had a connection, dammit! But anyway, I got the name of some famous horse whisperer from Germany that apparently trains horses in Hungary. So you never know, maybe I might just look him up for some guidance.
In Munich, I called T to arrange to meet her and hubbie near the main train station and when she arrived, she asked where my bag was. When I told her in the hostel, she said "no, no, you're staying with us!" So I went back to the hostel, an hour after I checked in, and checked out sans refund. Bummer. You know, that is the second time I have used that hostel for an hour or so. Too funny.
At least I got to use the bathroom. 11 euros for a bathroom. Gotta be a record.
Thursday, 2 December 2010
Thrifty buys and burning surprise
I saw a care on fire last night. I don't know how or why it happened but when we drove past in Dannenburg, the bonnet was ablaze. As horrible as I'm sure it was for the owner, who luckily was not inside at the time, all I wanted to do was stop the car and get out to warm my frozen body.
Anyway in that same trip to the shops, I went thrift shopping and got another jersey for 1.50 euros (super sweet!) and some shoes that don't actually let wetness in. This is a new experience for this little gypsy, whose shoe collection currently comprises one pair of cowboy boots with a split across the entire sole, almost completely broken slip-ons from H&M, my beloved heeled brogues, flip flops, mesh-material sneakers and house slippers. An entirely inappropriate ensemble for the depths of German winter.
I've finally gotten the dates from T re wedding and Prague so can now do some more planning. It seems I do have time to come back here for Christmas so will try to do so as I think it will be a lovely experience. I've really come to like everyone here, they don't expect much from me so it makes me want to do more, and G is such a kind and welcoming spirit, just the type of person I hope to be when I am her age (51 I think).
I hope to go riding this afternoon in the snow, a first for me (except for Iceland, although it was more raining with snow on the ground), but if J is feeling better she will take June and I won't have anyone to ride. I'm sure there will be another time to ride so I'm not fussed. The house is so terribly warm :)
Finally booked a reasonably priced train to Bratislava, from the station just half an hour away from here amazingly enuf. And no changes on the train - hello sleeping pill town! Planning to get back here and then to Munich and back again for Christmas is another thing entirely, however...
Anyway in that same trip to the shops, I went thrift shopping and got another jersey for 1.50 euros (super sweet!) and some shoes that don't actually let wetness in. This is a new experience for this little gypsy, whose shoe collection currently comprises one pair of cowboy boots with a split across the entire sole, almost completely broken slip-ons from H&M, my beloved heeled brogues, flip flops, mesh-material sneakers and house slippers. An entirely inappropriate ensemble for the depths of German winter.
I've finally gotten the dates from T re wedding and Prague so can now do some more planning. It seems I do have time to come back here for Christmas so will try to do so as I think it will be a lovely experience. I've really come to like everyone here, they don't expect much from me so it makes me want to do more, and G is such a kind and welcoming spirit, just the type of person I hope to be when I am her age (51 I think).
I hope to go riding this afternoon in the snow, a first for me (except for Iceland, although it was more raining with snow on the ground), but if J is feeling better she will take June and I won't have anyone to ride. I'm sure there will be another time to ride so I'm not fussed. The house is so terribly warm :)
Finally booked a reasonably priced train to Bratislava, from the station just half an hour away from here amazingly enuf. And no changes on the train - hello sleeping pill town! Planning to get back here and then to Munich and back again for Christmas is another thing entirely, however...
Monday, 29 November 2010
Cute little Kookaburras
Friday arrived along with my fuzzy head and after just one close call in the classroom, I managed to refrain from vomiting the entire day. Word to the wise: do not try to write on the chalkboard when hungover. For something I never realised had a smell, that shit STINKS to high heaven when you´re battling a funny stomach.
We had our presentations to the parents, teachers and some other classes - my kids sang ´Kookaburra sits in an old gum tree´ and told the audience what they learnt in English class - and we gave out the certificates for the English week. My kids did really well, I was well proud and E said he thought my presentation was the best of the 3 classes. Chuffed with that! I was even asked by one of my students if I did private tuition :) And the kid was 9 years old OK, so don´t get any ideas...
After school, we went back to the apartment and the others packed quickly for their train while I chilled out a few hours before going to the bus stop for my ride to Munich. After all, I had to have time to finish cleaning the damn oven!
My bus left at 7:15pm and took 10 hours to get to Munich, via Budapest and Prague. Every time we stopped I had no idea which country I was in or what weather it would be. Well, it´s a given it will be cold, but at some points it was snowing and that just threw me. Imagine not even knowing where in the world you are... very strange situation.
We had our presentations to the parents, teachers and some other classes - my kids sang ´Kookaburra sits in an old gum tree´ and told the audience what they learnt in English class - and we gave out the certificates for the English week. My kids did really well, I was well proud and E said he thought my presentation was the best of the 3 classes. Chuffed with that! I was even asked by one of my students if I did private tuition :) And the kid was 9 years old OK, so don´t get any ideas...
After school, we went back to the apartment and the others packed quickly for their train while I chilled out a few hours before going to the bus stop for my ride to Munich. After all, I had to have time to finish cleaning the damn oven!
My bus left at 7:15pm and took 10 hours to get to Munich, via Budapest and Prague. Every time we stopped I had no idea which country I was in or what weather it would be. Well, it´s a given it will be cold, but at some points it was snowing and that just threw me. Imagine not even knowing where in the world you are... very strange situation.
Friday, 15 October 2010
Just realised... I´ve been detoxing!!
It´s been almost the full 10 days I´m staying at this host´s house in Slovenia and I realise I´ve unintentionally been detoxing from alcohol. Arrgghh!!! Scary times. But it´s just because my hosts don´t drink and I haven´t been out to a pub or in fact outside the perimeter of this village (100 inhabitants), and now I´m scalin' the walls. Scalin' man. Lucky dad is coming tomorrow and he will buy me beer. Sweet, delicious beer. Or wine. Not fussy.
In other news, I am much more relaxed now the host couple has left for Munich. We´re still doing the work that needs to be done, but I feel much happier now I don´t have eyes watching and judging how I interact with their pets. I am good with animals, why do I feel like I suck now??! Breathe. Just keep calm.
What else? Took Spooky for a nice trek through the Slovenian forest today, about time too cos I´ve been eyeing that mother up since I got here. Just beautiful.
Oh yes, and in my super relaxed state I have gotten back into tacky US drama like Grey's Anatomy, NCIS, Ugly Betty and House. And god it feels good. But not as good a nice, cold beer.
In other news, I am much more relaxed now the host couple has left for Munich. We´re still doing the work that needs to be done, but I feel much happier now I don´t have eyes watching and judging how I interact with their pets. I am good with animals, why do I feel like I suck now??! Breathe. Just keep calm.
What else? Took Spooky for a nice trek through the Slovenian forest today, about time too cos I´ve been eyeing that mother up since I got here. Just beautiful.
Oh yes, and in my super relaxed state I have gotten back into tacky US drama like Grey's Anatomy, NCIS, Ugly Betty and House. And god it feels good. But not as good a nice, cold beer.
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