Well, we bonded about the little things in the Twin Cities and decided to look for a free night club - since we're both on a budget and it was a Tuesday night. We walked the street it was supposed to be on maybe three times and didn't find it, so we went to a dinky casino (this wasn't no Mystic Lake - this place had a bar and three slot machines) and I took Rosie's Casino virginity. We both lost a couple of Euros or so and decided to just take an Ubahn to Mitte and walk abouts - this is where we found another fellow IES-er who was actually on a hitchhiking journey the day before. We all went around town and checked out Kunsthaus Tacheles. This place is so pretty. It's basically an abandoned building that was squatted by artists long ago. Now, it has a small bar, a couple of art shops/exhibits, a club, etc attached to it.
On Wednesday, the three of us met up again in the evening and were joined by a fourth IES-er. We basically just went to our Hookah bar (Kleopatra) on Oranienburger Strasse. While there, we talked to some people, in German (finally) and I blew smoke rings. We ended up staying for quite a long time. We ate nachos, which to me seems like something that shouldn't be ordered in Germany. It's too... American. Also, there are wayyy too many Dunkin Donuts here. I don't believe that any exist in Minnesota. We saw that it was getting late and the Bahns don't run all night on weekends. I for sure made the last train home one minute of it leaving. Whew!
Thursday, I made the two ladies model for me while I drank beer (I love love LOVE BERLINER KINDL). Pictures will be ready soon, maybe even tonight! I also discovered possibly the yummiest espresso I've ever had - at Einstein Kaffee (not bagels). Unfortunately, the pictures so far aren't as great as I anticipated due to lack of light. Oh well, photoshop helps :/
Our plan was to check out the Dali museum because many museums have free entry on Thursday evenings and I was named after this genius' wife - I have to go! Too bad this one you gotta pay for. So me and Rosie went to some random museum in the middle of a neighborhood. It's called the Anti-Kriegs Museum (anti war). It had a history of lots of philosophers, a former torture room. It was for sure an interesting ride, since neither of us had been in that part of town before. We then met up with her old friends who are studying in Freiburg and went to another place which may become a regular spot for food and cocktails. We split an order of some spring rolls and yumyumyum was it great. Again, we had to run to the Bahns around 12:30 to avoid having to walk home. I don't approve of German weather, but's more acceptable now that it's October.
Speaking of OKTOBER, guess what somewhat spontaneous decision I made? Oktoberfest, naturlich! The ride there, I wasn't too prepared. I forgot to charge my phone and Ipod. I also left my snack for the ride in the fridge and ya know when you don't eat for a long time and you're bored on a train you go crazy? Luckily, our train route somehow got changed, so instead of being 30 minutes late, we arrived 30 minutes early! The whole Munich Bahnhof was a complete shit show. People in Lederhosen everywhere, singing, trying to catch trains, giving me high fives.. I got myself some real gross greasy food and took a seat to people watch. What I saw was: people passed out on food court tables, two African AMERICANS with thick southern accents (I forgot such a thing existed), and an old man drinking water out of the puppy bowls. Yes. That's right.
After waiting for a couple of hours, almost getting followed by some stranger man and almost trying to find the hostel I stayed at over a year ago, I met up with Gill and Bryan - During our attempt to find where we were to stay, we met a fellow American heading the same direction, but still got lost once we split ways - this resulted in meeting new people. Mostly because Johannes was on my back, as always. I love that boy
The next morning, off to Oktoberfest! I wasn't too impressed... mostly because it was Saturday and we arrived there a bit "late". By late I mean after 9AM. Most of the tents were already full and had lines waiting HOURS to get in. Literally, hours. We went line hopping until we found an almost secret entrance to a beirgarten type thing. So it wasn't the full Oktoberfest experience with table dancing, music and singing, but just people sitting and having beers that costs too much. I of course ate a pretzel! The only time I buy candy and pastries is in Europe..
After meeting random people and drawing on heads and talking about the history of my birthplace with some italian, I got some German's phone number who "wanted to teach me how to ski". Then went on a ride and lost half the group. The bathroom lines were insane. It took me about 30 minutes. It's okay, because I met up with John! We met last year, in the very same city. And just like last year, we corrupted the city. We had many memory talks and prosts to things that deserved many cheers. We also somehow got free passes for this night club. Along with free cigarettes. And free beer? I'll stop there. Let's say I got back at around 5, almost taking a nap at the train station and being forced out of bed at 9AM. I wasn't having it, so I stayed behind while the troopers went to have more beers.
I've discovered that I feel totally comfortable traveling and walking around countries alone. Transportation systems are easy to figure out and cheap - but then again, I've basically been "schwartzfahr"ing in Munich. I think it'd be very easy to do that on regional train as well..
Today was the first of classes with IES. I only had one class - Portable Roots. It seems interesting so far and appears to share some topics with other classes I am taking this semester. Hopefully it'll be easier.
With that, I apologize for the long post and now must be a nerd and look up words I don't know. Grussi!
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