The Great Germany Expedition: Part I-Berlin

After Venezia, Lizzy and I felt totally up for a massive adventure. Thanks to Tuifly, there were extremely cheap plane tickets to, where else, Deutschland! It was a 7 euro flight. Awesome deal. So off we went, leaving on a jet plane. And that was a totally gorgeous day. SO. 

Day 1: Flight to Berlin + Initial Exploration of Berlin. 

The flight there. Lizzy took a snooze. I took pictures. And then snoozed.

Watch!

Did we meet Casanova?

Actually Venice wasn’t without scandals. I mean, how can it NOT be? After all, its the city of decadence, with even the Doge taking part in devilish evil acts. So some random facts.

1. We thought some evil creature took up one of our beds in the hut, but it turned out that it was this nice American girl who happened to have her friend there, coz her friend was in a room with 2 nasty people. It worked out in the end. 
2. There were A LOT of americans around at carnival. And we all took the same bus to and fro the campsite. 
3. There are SO many shops touting masks, it is hard to choose one. Lizzy got a really sweet red one. While I went for a cool and more dark and evil black and white one. Which meant that someone actually sang the Darth Vader theme when I was walking around with all black stuff at some point of time. 
4. Italians are mad. Absolutely mad. No explanation needed. Just accept it. 
5. Lizzy attracted this guy with a neck fetish at the big party on the last night. What started off as teasing became 2 kisses on her neck. And when we bid farewell, he kissed us both. Which I totally felt disgusted coz he was a smoker. 

On the whole, I highly recommend visiting Venice during Carnival. There is NOTHING comparable to it. Its pretty much AWESOME. The amount of energy around. And it was nice to find places where more things were actually opened till late. And gelato there is pretty awesome. 

So Casanova, I guess you enjoyed life. Probably too much! 

Ash Wednesday: Bella Venezia, Part IV

So after the harrowing experience at the late night Piazza San Marco party, it was Ash Wednesday. And the weather was gorgeous! 1st, Lizzy went to Basilica di San Marco a Venezia to get her forehead ashed (more like get a sprinkling of ash.) 

And after that, we headed outside, and I took advantage of the amazing weather to take some photos. 

Bella Venezia: Part IIIb

Last evening in Venice. 

The weather was just SO awesome. Which means you will see a lot of ’similar’ photos, except that the weather looks a lot more amazing. 

Doggies in the baby carriage!

Bella Venezia Part IIIa

The weather in Venice was actually rather bad. It was wet and cold. Although it didn’t flood, it was pretty much being damp all the time. And so, on the last day, when the weather finally brightened up, it was a welcome relieve. 

1st and foremost. Venetian food. 

Burano and Murano: Bella Venezia Part II

After the masks and carnival, Venice is actually famous for 2 more things. Murano glass, and Burano lace. So who could miss out on it when we had all the time in the world. And the so called Burano Carnival celebrations are supposed to be really good. Although we were to find out otherwise. 

Murano

Bella Venezia Part I

Back blogging again. Lets begin with Venice. So Lizzy and I headed to Venice for Carnavello, which is the massively fun time before Lent starts, so technically all Christians stuff themselves and drink themselves silly so as to stock up for the long fasting period. That was in the past. But the decadence didn’t really stop in Venice. Thus, Lizzy and I, decide we should take part in the festivities and embarked on a pretty long trip to Bella Venezia just to see it. 

1st up, 8hr train ride. It took practically the whole day. And then we had to go to the camp site. 

 

Backtracks

I am sorry I have been whining. I guess the whole to intern or not to intern thing has been wrecking havoc on my moods. But I do realise that I have 1. Not posted up any pictures recently. 2. Have not blogged about the Switzerland fieldtrip, the Grand Germany Tour, a proper Paga report, and Brussels, Ghent, Paris and Strasbourg Carnival. 

But that will all change soon! I am currently actually multi-tasking! Loading pictures onto facebook simultaneously while reading this paper for this med PhD student which will earn me 20 euros more pocket money. 

By the way. OMG BIBIONE IS LESS THAN 1 WEEK AWAY. We leave next Wednesday! OMG! SO EXCITING! ULTIMATE! 

Mittwoch!

I woke up early today. Seriously, can people stop arrange early thingys? Its bad for me! I don’t get enough sleep, and I become cranky and moody and tired throughout the day… Like I either need 4 or 8 hrs of sleep, anything in between will render me a walking zombie for the next day. Anyway, so early waking austrians decided to arrange for an early group meeting. We only spent 1hr meeting, so I really felt like I woke up for nothing. But then the guy in my group is a cute one, so maybe not. I shall see.

And so went back home after pretty much useless group meeting, did a bit of work. An austrian is paying me 20 euros to read through his paper thingy for him, so I have to play editor for the next I dont know how many days. Well, at least I will get my 20 euros! Seriously though, I should be paid more, coz its 20 pages, and its on neurobiology which really, not everyone can read. And how many biology students are fluent in english? Not that many. ROAR. 

And then 7pm, Kundl frisbee training. It was pretty ok. Too bad Tobi, my fav junior, is still out with ankle? problems. He is absolutely the most amazing player to watch and he’s not even 19 yet. Solid throws, great effortless cuts, and amazing deep. Oh wells, I hope he can play for Bibione.

Arno claimed that I played well today, but then he finds good in every single player, so I don’t really trust him. But, truthfully, I need a challenge. Its time to go for a tournament! ARGH! I missed out on Winterthur. =( They ran out of space on the bus for me. But anyway, there are somethings about Austrians that I so DON’T get. Like how they smoke. Arno, is freaking fast, amazing player, is a medical DOCTOR, but he still is killing himself with cigarettes. Its not just him, every restaurant/nightspot/ enclosed area except school reeks of either smoke or food smells. Its kinda unbearable. Like you either smell like an ashtray, or you smell like a potluck. What’s with the lack of ventilation? Has the huge amounts of fresh mountain air caused an aversion to fresh oxygen? 

The 2nd thing. So after training. I just wanna go home, and yah Arno said: we drive now immediately. (direct translation from german) And so, I take my time to change out of my cleats, coz I know Arno and the other guy would want to shower. So they went to shower, and by the way before I continue, I must add that its coed showers, with no partitions. And Arno pokes his head out of the door and asked, Are you showering. And I said Nein (No). Like duh I have no wish to shower, esp if there are only guys showering and pleeeaasseee, I would rather not have to strip in front of guys. No thank you. And he goes Nein? You are not showering? And he goes: Schade. Which means what a pity. ARGH. Its just SO weird. I don’t even wanna think about it. 

I can’t wait until I see the showers of ACJC again. Really, the doors don’t work all the time, but its SO much better than having NO doors and NO gender specific showers.