Anyways, there have been a lot of examples of these types of things this past week.
I went to Koeln (Cologne) for the first time. It was just a day trip, so not a lot of time, but it was nice to get an introduction to the city. I walked out of the main train station in Koeln and looked up at the Dom, Germany's most popular tourist attraction with about 20,000 visitors a day. At that moment, I started smiling and couldn't stop. It was amazing. Huge. Intimidating. Old. Basically, a masterpiece. I loved it.
I couldn't decide what to do first, so I just sat on the Dom's steps and looked at it while listening to "Nowadays" from the Chicago soundtrack. I wrote in my journal and then decided to just walk around the Dom and Koeln to get an idea of what the city holds. I walked around the Dom taking pictures, journeyed over into some other streets, and after about an hour of walking around, stopped to eat at a cafe. I got an omelet and coke light and read a book. It was bliss, but not the best part of my day.
The best part came next. After eating brunch, I decided I needed some ice cream (because who doesn't?). While I was walking around before, I saw about 23 Eis cafes surrounding the Dom. I walked back over to one of those, got a chocolate cone and walked back towards the Dom to ogle. About that time, some street musicians started playing Chopin with 2 accordions and a tuba. So I stood beside them and listened while I ate my Eis and stared at the Dom. THAT was the best part of the day. I wasn't touring the Dom (that came later) or in a museum, but it was real and it was simple and it was perfect. I could have stood there all day. But then I ran out of ice cream and decided it was time to actually go inside the Dom.
Let me first say that the Dom is wonderful inside and out, but I prefer the outside. The inside was beautiful and incredible to look at, but there was just something about the outside, so intricate. I could have sat outside all day just looking at all of the detail that went into creating it. No wonder it took centuries to build.
After meeting Monika and Yannick and walking up the 500-something steps to the top of the tower, we drove back to Moenchengladbach. Koeln is close to us, so I plan on taking day trips there every now and then to see everything. I have plenty of time.
The next day, I took the train with a friend to Duesseldorf. I have to say, I love taking trains. It is so easy and you can just sit back and relax while reading a book or listening to conversations (you know you do it, too). Although, it makes it difficult to listen when they're speaking a different language, but it helps me learn German. See, I listen only for the sake of my German education. No one should deny me that, right?
Duesseldorf was so cute. We went to the older section of the city and everything was cobblestone streets and older buildings with ivy growing up the sides. We mostly walked around, got a Doener, which is a really popular street food in Germany (basically a gyro), and sat down to people-watch. Again, simple, but a perfect day and night.
Other than the trips to Koeln and Duesseldorf, I am still getting acquainted with Moenchengladbach. t's been a good couple of weeks. Germany is treating me well. I'm learning more every day and thoroughly enjoying it. While I haven't done a lot of extravagant things yet, all of the little simple things remind me of why I am here and how special it is.
Guten Tag!
Extra:
Things I have learned so far:
1. While searching for the 3rd Harry Potter book in German (I figure since I know it so well, it will help me to learn German), I went into a bookstore and politely asked the man working there if they had Harry Potter. I asked the question in German, yet when I got to "Harry Potter", I said it in my british accent. He looked at me for a minute, I think trying to decide if I was American or English (because my british accent is so believable), then answered my question in english. Must remember not to use my british accent around strangers.
2. Germans are serious about driving. They do not like it when new straight-drive drivers are learning in front of them at a red light and stall out for four cycles in a row. They might pull up beside you (on the wrong side of the road) and glare at you. Luckily, I've got the whole starting/stopping thing down pretty well now.
3. No matter how well I think I am saying something in German to a sales clerk or someone I don't know, they can immediately tell I speak English. They then answer me in English. How do they know I'm not fluent in German?
4. I can't depend solely on my debit card like in America. Some places don't take Visa. WHAT!?!? But, I do like Euros better than the Dollar. I'm going to miss them when I have to return to the States.
I couldn't decide what to do first, so I just sat on the Dom's steps and looked at it while listening to "Nowadays" from the Chicago soundtrack. I wrote in my journal and then decided to just walk around the Dom and Koeln to get an idea of what the city holds. I walked around the Dom taking pictures, journeyed over into some other streets, and after about an hour of walking around, stopped to eat at a cafe. I got an omelet and coke light and read a book. It was bliss, but not the best part of my day.
The best part came next. After eating brunch, I decided I needed some ice cream (because who doesn't?). While I was walking around before, I saw about 23 Eis cafes surrounding the Dom. I walked back over to one of those, got a chocolate cone and walked back towards the Dom to ogle. About that time, some street musicians started playing Chopin with 2 accordions and a tuba. So I stood beside them and listened while I ate my Eis and stared at the Dom. THAT was the best part of the day. I wasn't touring the Dom (that came later) or in a museum, but it was real and it was simple and it was perfect. I could have stood there all day. But then I ran out of ice cream and decided it was time to actually go inside the Dom.
Let me first say that the Dom is wonderful inside and out, but I prefer the outside. The inside was beautiful and incredible to look at, but there was just something about the outside, so intricate. I could have sat outside all day just looking at all of the detail that went into creating it. No wonder it took centuries to build.
After meeting Monika and Yannick and walking up the 500-something steps to the top of the tower, we drove back to Moenchengladbach. Koeln is close to us, so I plan on taking day trips there every now and then to see everything. I have plenty of time.
The next day, I took the train with a friend to Duesseldorf. I have to say, I love taking trains. It is so easy and you can just sit back and relax while reading a book or listening to conversations (you know you do it, too). Although, it makes it difficult to listen when they're speaking a different language, but it helps me learn German. See, I listen only for the sake of my German education. No one should deny me that, right?
Duesseldorf was so cute. We went to the older section of the city and everything was cobblestone streets and older buildings with ivy growing up the sides. We mostly walked around, got a Doener, which is a really popular street food in Germany (basically a gyro), and sat down to people-watch. Again, simple, but a perfect day and night.
Other than the trips to Koeln and Duesseldorf, I am still getting acquainted with Moenchengladbach. t's been a good couple of weeks. Germany is treating me well. I'm learning more every day and thoroughly enjoying it. While I haven't done a lot of extravagant things yet, all of the little simple things remind me of why I am here and how special it is.
Guten Tag!
Extra:
Things I have learned so far:
1. While searching for the 3rd Harry Potter book in German (I figure since I know it so well, it will help me to learn German), I went into a bookstore and politely asked the man working there if they had Harry Potter. I asked the question in German, yet when I got to "Harry Potter", I said it in my british accent. He looked at me for a minute, I think trying to decide if I was American or English (because my british accent is so believable), then answered my question in english. Must remember not to use my british accent around strangers.
2. Germans are serious about driving. They do not like it when new straight-drive drivers are learning in front of them at a red light and stall out for four cycles in a row. They might pull up beside you (on the wrong side of the road) and glare at you. Luckily, I've got the whole starting/stopping thing down pretty well now.
3. No matter how well I think I am saying something in German to a sales clerk or someone I don't know, they can immediately tell I speak English. They then answer me in English. How do they know I'm not fluent in German?
4. I can't depend solely on my debit card like in America. Some places don't take Visa. WHAT!?!? But, I do like Euros better than the Dollar. I'm going to miss them when I have to return to the States.
glad you're having fun :)
ReplyDeleteMegan, send tiny straws to KY!!!
ReplyDelete- Sarah
COOL i want to come
ReplyDelete