Back in the US of A

To all those people in the US...I'm home! 

Most importantly my number while I'm here is 717.514.5648.  Important note:  it's a relic, from the turn of the century and I can not get txt's so don't bother sending them.  If you want to communicate with me, you have to do it the old fashioned way and call me.

So, I arrived yesterday at Newark with relatively few hangups on my trip.  Saturday night before I left I got a full 2-3 hours of sleep, so I really well rested as you can imagine, and as many of you know I truly find flying to be an enjoyable experience (haha well maybe after the 4 klonopin).  But yea, despite my first flight being super delayed I still made my connection and made it home on time.  My first meal in the US was a delicious Arby's value meal with a Jamocha shake.  It wasn't chpotle, but that's because that will be lunch today. 

Last night I went to bed at 7:45 (2:45 Euro time) and woke up this am at 830.  I was completely exhausted and definitely needed....13 hours apparently.

Lots to do today, but give me a call if you're in the Harrisburg Metropolitan Area (such a metropolis) and we can figure out sometime to meet up.

To all my friends back in Berlin:  Keep your heads up, I'll be back in just 17 short days  :-P

Construction in the Kitchen and Empty in my Stomach

Several things to write about today.  One...it's 5, so far, I've had breakfast, been to class, the gym and now I'm blogging, but it's been dark for almost and hour already and it feels like 830.  It's no wonder there are 5 million places to get coffee here...it's essential to make it through all the dark hours of the winter.

Okay, so first up.  I have been compiling a list of all the things that I must get in the US to bring back with me.  I'm returning to the US with two empty suitcases and a weekend duffel bag with just a few select items.  When I return to Berlin I will have refilled suitcases with more (warmer) winter clothes and shoes plus whatever I decide is necessary or only available in the US.  I'm open to suggestions but also need some advice.  So winter's here are...well rougher.  And the cobblestone sidewalks really just don't ever get de-iced or dry so I must buy a pair of waterproof boots to make it through.  I'm really struggling here because I understand function is most important but I refuse to wear something heinous, I also don't want to spend a ton.  Timberlands are really popular here and not completely offensive looking.   Would I be completely remiss to purchase a pair?  Also, I'm wary to buy anything black leather as this is Berlin after all and I don't want to appeal to the wrong demographic...  Anyway, like I said, I'm taking suggestions.

Second up, the gym was quite pleasant today.  Lots to look at...although I have to say I did happen to pick a locker next to the most putrid smelling b.o. I've ever experienced.  It was so bad it made my eyes burn and of course he was decked out in the standard man capris, tank top and fanny pack (they are really popular  here...it's sort of tragic how bad it looks and they are always Eastpaks, think Disney World vacation style circa 1990).

Lastly, we're having the kitchen and dining room of our flat repainted and it makes both rooms pretty much off limits.  In addition to not being able to use them, work starts promptly at 7am which is why I think I will be trying to sleep out for the next couple days.  It is my last week though, I definitely do plan to go out tonight and Thursday night at least.

Well to all you back in the US.  I'll be seeing you soon!  I will be posting my phone number as soon as I figure out what it will be so stay tuned.

I'm A Celebrity

DISCLAIMER:  So, I don't want to brag or anything, but I'm basically a German celebrity now.  I thought I should let you all know that you're reading a famous person's blog right now. 

I was casually meandering through the Gedarmenmarkt Weihnachtsmarkt and some lady came up to me to interview me about why I chose to go to the Weihnachsmarkt.  Tonight, I'll be broadcast into the homes of billions of Germans on their evening newscast--pretty much making me an overnight celebrity.

I promised that I would post some pictures of one of these Christmas Markets.  Now, I've been to a couple but I only took my camera out a few times and par usual didn't document the actual cute part...just the parts that I thought were completely random.  Obviously Germans have a completely different understanding of Christmas than we do...

yea...Carni Christmas anyone?

Nothing says Christmas like a zombie in a cage.

I love Halloween...but really?  At a Christmas Market?

I refuse to ride anything that can be assembled in 2 days.

Those are swings that are like 120' in the air!  Terrifying not to mention freezing!

Okay, so that is just the really commercial Christmas Market...the other ones are actually charming all though entirely too crowded for my liking.  Below are photos of one of the nicer ones in Berlin (but this is just a sample of more than 40 this year).

In other news, I apologize for not blogging much lately.  It seems I've been in sort of a sour mood all week dealing with the (endless) German bureaucratic bullshit.  I'm trying to put that behind me and look forward to the upcoming holiday season.  That being said you all are welcome to send me good luck in my job pursuits.  The whole task at the moment seems daunting.

Holiday Travel Itinerary

So here are the dates I'll be in the States for the holidays.  Please plan accordingly (that means make time for me because you might not see me again for a while!)

I leave Berlin Sunday, Dec 19th.  I will be landing sometime in the afternoon at Newark and proceeding directly to the nearest Chipotle.

• Harrisburg/Central PA - Sun, Dec 19 - Sun, Dec 26th (roughly, wow that sounds brutal)  I imagine I'll be taking some mid week road trips in there.  A week in Harrisburg will make me crazy.
• I'd be willing to make day trips, let me know if any of you have days off during the week
• DC - Sun, Dec 26th - Fri, Dec 31st
• Philly - Fri, Dec 31st - Sun, Jan 2nd
• TBD - Jan 2nd - 4th
• Return to Berlin - Wednesday, Jan 5

 Please let me know if you will be around so I can start making plans to do things.

See you all soon!

Snow Means Sleighrides

So there are 3 things I want to mention.  The first I've noticed for a while, but now it has developed a tinge of irony.  Germans love to wear board shorts to the gym.  I'm talking bright, colorful floral patterns down to their knees and with drawstrings.  It's um, well an interesting fashion statement because they are usually paired with euro-esque tennis shoes also often brightly colored and a graphic tee.  Initially I thought it was funny, but now that it's -12 and snowing--working out in board shorts may just be a bit of wishful thinking...

Second:  Kids in Berlin have it MADE.  It's sort of adorable and I really need to get a picture of it, but the snow has fallen and out pop the sleighs.  Parents all over are dragging their kids behind them on these little sleighs.  I must say I'm totally jealous.  I'll have to figure out a way to get a picture of it, or better, to get a ride on one, although I don't think it would support my body weight.

Third:  Christmas Markets are pretty sweet.  I'm not a HUGE fan of Christmas and I hate crowds, so one might think that I would not be a fan of Weihnachtsmarkte (Christmas Markts), but there is something charming about them here.  It is sort of like an art show where artisans have their booths in bavarian style huts selling their goods and then there are tons of food stands (which is obviously my favorite) selling sweets, savorys, and gluhwein.  Also, did you know gingerbread is originally a German thing?  I guess it makes sense...seeing as Hansel and Gretel is a German fable.  Anyway, I must say I'm a fan of the Christmas Markets and I will be photo documenting one as soon as I remember to take my camera with me.

Language Update:  So I guess you could say I've made progress with my Deutsch.  Primarily in writing, the grammar is coming along nicely.  Unfortunately as I learn more, I realize more and more complexities about German and really I'm at a point of mass frustration.  I've decided I need to get more serious about the conversation aspect so I am heading over to a friend's now to just practice speaking.

Nightmare on Busselstraße

I know I'm way overdue for a post, and I'm going to keep this brief because I'm typing on a German keyboard and it is really annoying (the letters are all rearanged and jacked up with German characters: öäüß^).

This morning I decided that I must finally go to get my visa extended so that I can stay here in Berlin beyond the 90 day tourist pass.  Well the place in Germany where one goes to complete such a task is the 'insert long German word that i can't pronounce' and they, of course, speak no English there.  Imagine the DC DMV but instead of angry black people it's angry German speaking people...  sort of terrifying.

Anyway, thanks to my awesome anxiety I slept for about 45 minutes last night. After a few hours of tossing and turning, I finally got up at 3:40 to check for the 29th time to make sure I have absolutely every document they could ever possibly want. 

I got to the office at 6:30 (they open at 7) and it was -10C outside and naturally they make you queue outside.  Well after that, consider me blessed.  I was in and out in an hour AND the lady was not only pleasant she gave me a 2 year visa which saves me the trouble of reapplying in May!

Needless to say I'm on cloud nine.  It's 9 am, I have 45 minutes of sleep and I'm bouncing off the walls.

Today is a great, although freezing cold day in Germany.

Awake by 2pm sunset at 4...not cool

Last night was long...and late.  I don't really have much more to say about it.  I got married to my friend at some shanty wedding chapel and danced for hours.  This is what my shows looked like this morning when I got home...oh and the sun was already up.  Whoops.

Seriously...NASTY.

wah wah...sundays.  God I miss chipotle.

Weather Update: Still Raining

So I've pretty much written off November as the crappiest month ever.  I think it's rained all but one day this month so far.  Today, however, has the added bonus of being just a smidge above freezing which makes it that much more unpleasant.  But enough about how das Wetter ist schiesse.

A couple of things to mention today.  So there are little personal street vendor people here all over the place.  They have these contraptions where they strap a portable grill to themselves...well here's a picture.

It's sort of awesome because they always seem to appear right when I'm really hungry and it's like 1.50 Euro for a wurst.

Well in addition to these dudes there are all these random little stands that make fresh OJ.  I've never bought any, but my new flatmate has a juicer thinger and I went to the supermarket and bought a bag of oranges and just made some fresh OJ.  WHOA is it good.  Definitely the highlight of my day so far.

Additionally today, I want to give a shout out to Mr. Marco Martinez because he is the first confirmed visitor I will have.  He's coming in March all the way from Singapore.  So you other fools best get to planning your trips!

Lastly, on my walk back from school today, while the bitter wind was cutting through my jeans (currently the warmest pants I have here) that it's okay if I "thicken up a little."  I need the added warmth.  So watch out Weihnachtsmarkt  (Christmas Markets), here I come and I've got a BIG appetite!  But seriously, Germans take Christmas real serious.  They celebrate basically for the entire month of December getting presents on December 6th and the 24th!  Totally win for kids in Germany.  Here's a website about it in English. 


http://www.germany-christmas-market.org.uk/

Bis bald!

German Oddities #3 - Canines

Berlin is a very dog friendly city.  There are parks and grassy areas scattered all through the city which helps but these dogs are amazing.  Honestly, the things they do baffle me.  Growing up I was surrounded by dogs but they were all psychotic, tireless, beasts that usually dominated their owners.  Yea, that’s not the case here.   

There are 3 things in particular I’ve noticed.  

1.       Leashes are optional.  These dogs are amazing.  Some run 30 feet ahead of their owners and then stop and wait, then dart out again to find something else to sniff never bothering other dogs or people and THEN they get to an intersection and look for traffic.  I shit you not, it’s amazing.

2.       Going to the mall?  Well, why not bring Fido?  Dogs can go everywhere here.  In stores, on the metro, into work.  I’m kind of jealous.  In the US I always felt like I could never have a dog because it would be home alone all day…well in Germany, you have options.

3.       Teach it to do a trick and you can make some money.  It is very common for panhandlers to have dogs here.  I guess it makes sense…if you are homeless having a dog can be a great companion and they don’t mind eating scraps from a can, but some of these dogs really are being underappreciated.  I’ve seen dogs that suck on pacifiers, that walk on their hind legs, that are part of juggling fire skits, and the topper was a pup that walked up and down the metro car with a paper in his mouth while his owner gave a spiel about why you should buy one.  NOTE:  it is common for pan handlers to try to sell you free newspapers in Berlin.  This was one time where I thought the guy or at least his dog deserved a treat for this feat.   

Brithdays, Dancing, and late night Dining

It's been a few days since I've blogged but it's because I've been pretty busy.  I feel like I'm really making progress in the friends department.  I think I'm up to like 8 or 9 now.  Enough that I don't have to keep count anymore. 

This past Friday I went to a gallery opening for a friend of mine from NYC.  It was a cool show and really my first time hanging out with the artsy types in Berlin.  After the opening we went to grab some food and then to Soho House Berlin.  It's funny because I've walked by the Soho House here many times never paying it much mind.  I'm actually only familiar with Soho House because the comedian who does VMK mentions it in one of her posts.  Anyway, it was a great venue and the only way to go is of course if you know a member.  It was two floors, very cool decor that I would describe as Americana rustic (think Aspen chic ski lodge).  The second floor had an outdoor roofdeck pool that overlooked Alexanderplatz and was VERY cool.  The water was heated and I seriously considered derobing and jumping in, but it was raining and my friends weren't as enthused. Anyway, I think I'll save my 900 euros (annual price to be a member) and just keep patronizing the 4,000 other bars/clubs/lounges in Berlin. 

Saturday say was pretty low key because I knew the evening would be a long one.  A friend of mine, Christian, who I met on my first visit to Berlin turned 30 on Sunday and we celebrated Saturday night by going to this amazing show at the Chameleon Club that was like miniature Cirque du Soleil.  It was a fantastic show with a cast of 8 (4 men and 4 women).  I will be sending most of my visitors to the show...it was that good.  After that we went to a bar that was literally the size of most people's walk in closet's in the US.  Somehow they fit a good 25 people in there though.  From the bar, called Betty Ford (lol), we went to one of my favorite clubs, Schwuz.  I ran into some other friends there and ended up dancing until nearly 6 am.  After, Henrik and I, both famished, went in search of late night food.  Well unfortunately, Berlin despite having a crazy nightlife, is greatly lacking in late dining options.  We ended up going to Burger King which I don't think I've eaten in years.  I ate a disgustingly large amount and was unpleasantly reminded of it Sunday morning er afternoon when I rolled out of bed. 

Good things about Berlin's night life:

• U-Bahn (subway) runs 24 hours
• Things to do every night of the week
• Great variety of things to do (galleries, shows, live music, dancing)
• No open container laws
• Really fun, creative parties (Saturday night at Schwuz was called Popkicker and there were ping pong tables set up one of the three dance floors)

Things about Berlin's night life that take some getting used to:

• No late night diner food :(
• Going out at 1am is early
• Berlin is REALLY spread out, commuting between bars is not like going from Nellie's to the Diner.  It's more like Nellie's to College Park.
• Leaving the club before 4am is unusual
• Bakeries are open (for the next day) and selling baked goods on your commute home from the club...(I can't decide if this needs reclassified as a good thing)
• There are quite a lot of others but in order to keep this PG13, I'll let you ask me about those in private

 Anyway the bottom line is that nights out in Berlin generally render Sundays pretty much worthless.  All I have to say is thank goodness I don't have to work on Mondays because I'd be suffering from some SERIOUS P.A.D.S.

Alles Gut - for real, Germany is awesome and I keep smiling!

So I want to preface this post by stating that I have not seen the sun in nearly 10 days.  In addition to this, it's been raining and inching closer and closer to freezing every day.  That being said, I am just about as happy as I have ever been. 

I by all means do not want to use my blog as a forum to have deep philosophical conversations.  Really, despite spending a lot of my free time being intorspective, I've reserved blogging to primarily my observations about the peculiarities of Germany and the people I meet.  Today, however, I do want to write a little bit about how I've been feeling.  I guess the thing I really want to say is that this adventure of mine is quickly proving to be the best decision I've made in my life. 

A year ago, had I not seen the sun in 10 days, I'd be groveling along feeling sorry for myself.  Funny, because today I have been smiling all day.  Weather usually gets me bad!  I mean, of course the gray skies and rain have been taxing on me, but today I can't stop thinking about how freaking happy I am.  Granted, I am still faced with a lot of uncertainty.  I'm anxious about jumping through all the bureaucratic hoops ahead of me to legally ensure that I can stay here for the duration I've intended.  Additionally, I want to be successful in learning the language, continuing with my educational pursuits, and making friends.  But something that has become blatantly clear to me is that back in the states I often let negativity and doubt reign over my life.  I frequently was second guessing myself, assuming or preparing for the worst and really had no appreciation for how unbelievably fortunate I am.

So here I stand.  My 7th week in Germany and I am feeling great.  I've stripped my life of most of my material possessions--bar the two suitcases of clothing I brought over, an iPod and my new kindle (which is freaking awesome by the way)--and I'm as happy as I can ever remember being.  I don't want to say there is a moral to my story but I think I have learned a valuable lesson.  That is to remove yourself from your daily grind.  I realize not everyone will have the opportunity to move to a foreign country to reflect on what their life was, but everyone can take a chance.  Do something you've always wanted to do and do it big.  Stick it to the naysayers and live your fucking life!


To all my friends, family, and loved ones back home, I miss you all.  Your support and encouragement is as much to credit for my success and happiness here as anything.  Thank you all.

German Oddities #2 - Mayonnaise

German’s LOVE mayonnaise.   Oh so you want some French fries with your schnitzel?  How about some ketchup?  Nah…I am going to dip my fries in some delicious—genetically modified to make it as thick as molasses—mayo.   Seriously, I enjoy mayo, but mayo on French fries?  Ew

IKEA can suck it

Okay, generally I love IKEA, they make cheap shit that is functional and looks decent...however, any story I ever hear about a trip to an IKEA store is always a nightmare.  Granted the IKEA college park might be the worst in the world, my experience in Berlin was also scarring.  I'm actually so annoyed by it I don't feel like writing about it, just know that I've now made 3 trips to IKEA and have YET to procure all the necessary items to complete my room.  They are sold out of the support for my desk (which is sold as separates and I didn't realize this on my first two trips any only bought 1). 

Also, those Swedish bastards don't take effing VISA!  After spending 2 hours weaving through the maze of a store with screaming children and mildly retarded do it yourselfers, I had to pay in cash.  Picture me going to pay with a dolly full of shit already rung up, AFTER waiting in queue for 25 minutes and then having to find out without using English that they don't take VISA. What a pain in my ass.

Anyway, pictures of my room will be further delayed until further notice.  Also the sun isn't supposed to come out again until next weekend at the earliest.

In other news, I think I will begin imbibing now.

Happy Saturday.

Lastly, daylight savings was last week, as I'm sure you all know, and official sunset here is already 4:27pm!  Yes, and we're still 7 weeks from the shortest day.

Introducing..... "German Oddities" #1 - Racial Profiling?

There are a lot of peculiar things that I notice on a day to day basis.  I've started a notebook and will be posting on them one at a time for the weeks to come.  First up:  Racial Profiling in Deutschland

So profiling would not be possible here, at all.  Remember that blog stuff white people like?  They should totally visit Germany.  They’d be supplied with material for MONTHS to come.  Berlin, in particular is an immigrant town, yet just about everyone is still white. In Berlin there are large Turkish and Eastern European populations, the Turkish I think I am starting to be able to pick out, but again, still white (they are sort of like the Latin Americans in the US, but I know nothing about that...)!

Post-It Note Couture

Okay, so I was without internet for 4 days, but now I more or less have it back, although the signal is rather spotty in my bedroom....while I was away I was still blogging, I'll post the entries over the next couple of days.

I’ve now more or less moved into my new flat and FINALLY unpacked my suitcases more than a month after arriving in Berlin.  It’s a great feeling.  The moving process was relatively painless except that both of my suitcases are around 75 pounds and my temporary living situation was a 7^th floor walk up.  

Henrik, who is on a fast track to German sainthood, helped me with renting a moving van and then took me to his parents’ house to pick up his old bedroom furniture.  Fortunately for me, and out of great generosity from his parents, they just recently turned Henrik’s old bedroom into an office which left them with some rustic furniture that was no longer of use to them.   

Cue Brian, the helpless American who moved to a foreign land with nearly nothing and wallah, I have a furnished bedroom.  Now I get to begin the fun part decorating and making my new bedroom my home.  It’s sort of like being back in college.   I’m even going to ask my mom to mail my old egg crate mattress top to me.  It will go swell on my new twin bed J.

In addition to my imminent trip to IKEA, I have begun decorating my room with post-it notes.  I’ve attached a post-it to every object in my room (hoping to expand into the living areas once I get approval from Meryum) with the word of the object that it is stuck to.   Since the Germans have THREE genders (gender benders) in their lovely, romantical language, I’ve color coded each noun as to reinforce the different genders.   If any of you have ever studied Deutsch, then you know that unlike Italian and Spanish there are no rules or even helpful ways to remember what gender a word is.  This leaves one forced to learn the article for every noun in the universe.  Anyway, lots of jokes I want to make here about Bob Bell and Sarah Spears but I’ll refrain.  I think mentioning their name after a sentence about gender benders will suffice.  ;)

UPDATE:  Yesterday I went to IKEA.  What a nightmare...I'll be blogging about that later and providing pictures of my new room.

P.S. Henrik’s childhood home looked exactly like every German home I’ve ever thought in my imagination.  It almost reminded me of a gingerbread house.  I’ve provided a picture to give you some reference…think Hansel and Gretel.  This picture is not really of his house, but it illustrates my point.  

Just kidding...that's Neuschwanstein in the south.  More like this...but brick...

Homeless chic was so last month

Good News, I found a flat and it's awesome.  It took me months of searching and even a harsh rejection, BUT this one is better than any that I came across before.  First, I want to give a big thank you to Henrik.  Henrik found me the flat by way of his lesbian hairdresser who had a friend who unexpectedly had her roommate move out.  Fate has smiled on me.

Okay, so it's in Old West, the American sector.  The neighborhood is Kreuzburg.  It's an edgy, hip, multicultural neighborhood and I just happen to be on one of the most beautiful streets that lines the canal.  Yes, that's right, waterfront baby.  I'll post pictures after I remember to take some.

My new address.

Brian Legg
Planufer 92C
10967 Berlin, Germany (Deutschland)

Shout out to the lovely DIONDRA!

I just want to give a shout out to one of my favorite ladies in DC, Diondra!

Kick some ass!  Wishing you the future title of Miss. Adam's Morgan 2010!

High Heel Races - There in spirit!

So I am obviously devastated that I am missing the high holidays in DC this year (Heel races, Halloween and MAM), and I was looking for coverage of the 2010 High Heel races and found a little remnant of years past.  Check out the second video in the link below (second 28).

Washington Post Blog - High Heel Race

xoxo,
Missed Pennsylvania

I fought the carbs and the carbs won

So for those of you who know me well.  I have an appetite...I LOVE to eat.  It's actually my second favorite thing to do behind sleeping.  Well Germany was set out to destroy me.  Honestly the food here is amazing.  I've been trying to cook as much as possible at home, but they have no products or any interest in developing products that are low fat or otherwise, which for me isn't a problem, usually.  However, I'd challenge you to find a street corner in Berlin where you could do a 360 and not see a bakery of some sort.  I mean in all of the district, I don't think we even have a bakery that specializes in just breads.  They are all over the place here and all quite delicious. 

So bottom line is I'm giving up my reservations and I'm going to eat the hell out of some carbs.  Paired with the beer...well it may not bode well for me, but it can't be any worse than 4 slices of Nicola's at 3am, right?  Right!

Anyway, so my housing saga continues.  I don't know if I blogged about it last week or not, but there was one place in particular that I toured in Kreuzberg (Old West, very bohemian/artsy/and cool) and I TOTALLY hit it off with the two housemates that live there now.  I was their first interview and I spent over an hour chatting with them...the conversation was so good that they had to kick me out basically because the next person had shown up for a tour.  Anyway, I was sure I got it and was really mentally prepared to begin my move there...well they told me they would give me a call Tuesday and I was very confident.  Well last night (Tuesday) I called Sebastian (one of the housemates) and asked him if they had reached a verdict...Well first off he was obviously at a party/bar (on a tuesday, literally this guy was so cool) but he broke into this apologetic thing about how it was such a tough decision and it was down to me and one other guy, and honestly, I said "dude, you don't need to justify it, I just needed a yes or a no."  But really, I was totally defeated.  It was like getting dumped and not picked for the dodgeball team rolled into one.  Why does this feeling still happen when you are an adult?  Anyway, I woke up this morning still very upset about it....but I have to just pull my shit together and get back to looking.  SO frustrating. 

Tonight I think I'm going to go out.  I've been sort of a lame-o since I've gotten here.  I haven't made a great deal of friends yet, one because I'm afraid to talk (I know shocking) and two because I never go out.  Now I have 5 days before I start school which will greatly infringe on my social life and I have all the sudden developed a strong desire to meet people.  Germans think we are crazy though.  They think 4 or 5 friends is totally sufficient.  Unfortunately, that just won't cut it for me.  I need constant entertainment and attention :)

Well I hope you are all enjoying your HUMP day. 

Cheers!

A weekend with the Hamburgers

This past weekend I took my first domestic trip in Germany to the lovely city of Hamburg.  Hamburg is the second largest city in Germany and about 300km from Berlin.  Basically it was a really pretty, clean port town.  It reminded me of Seattle in a lot of ways.  Apparently the weather is very similar as well. 

Also, I took a sort of unorthodox way to get to Hamburg.  I used what is quite popular in Germany and quite foreign to Americans, but the legalized internet version of hitchhiking.  It worked out fine in the end.  The lady that drove was very nice and there were two other strangers in the car with us.  They were both unfriendly and in no way interested in talking to me despite the one reading a book in English.  So I basically sat quietly in the back seat for 3 hours.  The only real commotion was when I tried to ask the driver where we were being dropped off and that led to a complete communication meltdown because I had NO idea what she was trying to say to me.

Otherwise in Hamburg, there isn't a great deal to report on.  It's beautiful at night, since so much of it is on or near the water.  Saturday night my friend who lives there coordinated for a group of us to go to some club at the Rathaus.  The Rathouse is basically their city hall and there is a HUGE club inside this beautiful building on Saturday nights.  I can't remember what it was called though.  As usual, I forgot to take my camera with me most of the time I went out, so the trip was not well documented.

The top picture is where the club was Saturday night.

p.s. because I'm very curious about everything and think being called a hamburger is funny, I looked it up on wikipedia.  There is no good story about why we call hamburgers hamburgers, just some blah blah about how a primitive form of it originated int he hamburg region.