One Way Ticket

A quick overview of everything I have neglected to tell you recently :)

cjjane — Thu, 30 May 2013 04:34:00 GMT

So I've been pretty terrible at keeping this updated! But it's been a jam packed time!

I went to prague for the first rays of sunshine my skin has seen since leaving Australia. I went on a walking tour and a castle tour around this incredible city. Every corner you walked around was breathtaking so much so, that I didn't care that I literally got lost everytime I tried to go anywhere. The streets are a medieval mess! My tour guide was a melbourne Uni boy from Sandringham funnily enough - small world! Though the rest of the time I didnt meet any other Aussies. The castle took 600 years to build and was lit up by the generous funding of the Rolling Stones (one of the reasons my tour guide listed he liked the stones more than the Beatles). Its an incredible city and I highly recomend going there. It also has the biggest night club in europe, I believe which I managed to make my way to on the pub crawl. Where I made friends with some fun Brazillians who had just got engaged :)

The bus ride back was only a short 6 hours and I was happy to go back to my Berlin home. Our final fews weeks in Berlin were a crazy blur where we said good bye to Mon, celebrated the first of May (where we saw nearly all the police in Germany due to the fact that it was also a Nazi national holiday and various simultaneous protests), we went in a crazy, time warp labrynth which was literally indescribable because every single person experiences it differently and we visited potsdam, so beautiful! and sadly we said goodbye to all the friends we made in Berlin during a night of cocktails. Then we packed our bags and headed to Amsterdam.

This 9 hour bus ride, would for me border on one of the worst and most sleep deprived nights ever. The bus within one hour ran out of toilet paper, unlike other buses I had been on had no power points so my phone died and my tablet nearly did as well. The girl in front of me squished her chair right back on me (even when we were getting on and off the bus making it nearly impossible to do so) and then to top it all off, at one in the morning the bus drivers changed over and this particular driver thought that the time called for some heavy metal to be played till about three in the morning. Eventually we arrived in amsterdam and got to Cesca's shipping container at 7 in the morning.

In amsterdam we powered through the cultural and touristy attractions visiting the rijks museum (I got to see works from Vermeer and Rembrandt!), the Van Gogh museum (super awesome), we biked along canals, toured the historical parts of the city, shopped, toured the red light district (seeing the ladies in action, including a peep show) and met all of Cesca's lovely exchange friends. Though I must say, Amsterdam weather was horrible and I did not enjoy it one bit. Apparently it rains there almost two thirds of the year. I tried some of the famous herring and it was not bad at all! Then I woke one rainy morning and caught a lift to the train station and headed off to Norway!

I rushed excitedly off the plane to meet Oda and we headed back to her neck of the woods in Oslo! So awesome to see her again and for the first little bit when I was hanging out at the Nordhus crib it felt like I was just on a sleep over back in Brighton. They had such a lovely house and we headed out straight away to the city which was perched in an amazing bay/ harbour thing. A very rugged but handsome view as we came round the mountain on the tram. We went for beautiful forest walk, up to the highest point and viewed the ski jump, made it to the Munch museum (which was sadly closed), the university of Oslo, finally got to see some real handball :P and went to the incredible statue park. But best of all I was able to be part of Norway day! See everyone in their traditional dress, flag waving, marching bands and the partying! And I got to have ice cream three times in one day and drink champagne from breakfast right through the day! Then on Saturday night I got to watch the live broad cast of Eurovision. An eventful and fantastic six days. Sunday was a sad day where I headed back to Amsterdam, not sure when I get to see Oda again but convinced it will be soon!

Arriving back to amsterdam in lovely grey weather I met up with Cesca and her newly arrived bf Sam. WE went to a party and watch eurovision instead of being social and the next night we organised a dinner party. We headed off to a food market and I had roughly three dinners coz I couldnt decide which one I wanted to eat. The next day was very grey and we stayed in and played dutch monopoly for ten million hours then Alex and I left to see the Heavy who were aaammmaazziing. The next day I went for a crazy shop and we hung out for a bit then we jumped on a bus and headed to Frankfurt. Which of course entailed another nightmarish over night bus ride.

This time I was busting to pee but the door to the toilet seemed enternally locked and we arrived at 4:30 in the morning when check in wasnt till 4 in the afternoon. So we lazed around completely sleep deprived, dying for a shower and a nap. Eventually I went out and bought the biggest coffee I could find and wandered round but it was still so early nothing was open. We napped restlessly until we got in the rooms and I showered for a trillion hours. Bought some stuff that we had run out of and had an early night. The next day was dodge weather and rained and poured all day and I got lost trying to go for a shop and then went on a night tour of frankfurt with a bunch of rowdy americans. The next day we prepared ourselves and left for South America. I was so excited I thought I was going to vomit. And that is the end of the Europe leg of the trip. I'm very sad to leave Europe and everyone here though I know I'll be back again soon!

Burger meister

cjjane — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 03:29:00 GMT

So I have lived through my sickness, and despite producing the worlds supply of snot I am pretty much healed - Hallelujah!

This means that we made it to the Jewish museum, which was incredible. I honestly can't recommed it enough. Every last detail was thought out and meaningful. Every empty space, every corner of the building. Each part of the exhibition was on an axis, like the axis of exile etc. There was one room where you put on headphones and walked in front of what was a shiny, black wall and as you moved along the wall voices whispered or yelled at you, or asked you questions, or you just got static. It was really scary and powerful. There were ten thousand faces cut up out of metal that you walked along in one room that represented all the innocent victims. There were so many parts of it that were just amazing! I hope to go back.

The next day I woke up not feeling super, but we got up and printed off all our tickets and stuff then I went for a bit of a shop. The cold wasn't very good for me though :( Later we met up with Juliane and got Burgermeister which was DELICIOUS. Then hung out at a friends house till late. Though it was crazy coz as we went to leave Juliane, who hadn't been feeling very well, fainted! We were all very worried and made sure she stayed the night there.

The next day we went to the famous East Side Gallery. It's 1.3 km of the Berlin wall all covered in some incredible art work. It was annoying though how people had just tagged all over some amazing and really important pieces of work! It was still really good though. On the way home I went to go pick up my bag and see how Juliane was. She was feeling much better and I stayed for a delicious dinner :) After we bought some beers and got ready to go out. I had been wanting to go to Panorama which is one of Berlin's best clubs. Oh. My. God. I now know why. It was near the east side gallery and in an abandoned mansion... We were frisked as we went in and randomly bumped into our neighbour Simon! The place was freaking huge. With giant industrial chains, massive windows, iron steps and big open spaces and heavy music. There was a giant metal swinging platform and multiple dance floors. We left at six thirty in the morning, walking out into sunshine and also to see people only just arriving and lining up to get in. We caught a cab home with Simon and went to bed when it was nice and Sunny. Later in the day I went over to Juliane's as Alex went to pick Mon up from the airport. I slept at Juliane's and watch a German crime show :P

Monday I caught the city into the city with Juliane and went on a free walking tour. It was SO good. Urgh, I just loved my tour guide so much, he knew everything. I also couldn't stop laughing at the classic Americans on my tour with their backwards hats who I overheard say things like (at the car park which was the site Hitler killed himself); "Guys, car park is parking lot - you gotta know the queens english." Boy did I lol. I learnt soo much on the tour! Also my guide was from England and was all like O. M. G. when he got a text that Margaret Thatcher died. After the tour I headed back to the apartment and finally said hi to Mon! Woo. We went out to dinner for Indian and had cocktails called Fruit Fucks which were delicious and the waiter asked for my number and I awkwardly ran away hahah. Then I fell into a food coma.

Tuesday we got kebabs and headed into the city centre.Weow. Went to the giant shopping centre and wandered around though they were packing up a little market thing that I had hoped would still be open nooo! Then we headed to the Turkish Market which Mon had got the times wrong for and was closing up as we thought it was opening haha. But it was lucky we did go when we did because we ran into a friend of Alex's! They didn't even know each other were travelling and it was their first day in Berlin! They're staying two stops away from us - small world! Then on the walk home I went to spit and a man ran into me. :( it was awkward and now I have a bruise on my nose. (ALSO SPITTING IS ACCEPTABLE HERE - don't judge me!!! I'm still sick!!!).

I woke up to do my washing the next morning (hassle :/) then we headed out to the botanical gardens. The weather was shit but the gardens were RAD. The hot house was huge and everything was there. It was like a maze of place from tropical and carnivorous to Australian bottle brush and wattle (we didn't travel all the way to Germany for this!) But it was so awesome. Rooms full of Cactus' and giants gold fish. Such a super and warm way to spend the day :)

From my death bed, know that I love you all

cjjane — Thu, 4 Apr 2013 03:02:00 GMT

Frohe Ostern everybody! Hope the break was super :) We headed back to the Deutscher Dom on Tuesday and got out the audio guide this time. It was awesome and really interesting, do a bit of shopping after then decide to head out for burgers. SUCH A DISAPPOINTMENT. For highly recomended burgers I was upset. We then went to an extremely weird bar which everyone seemed like the could turn around and kill you but we felt too awkward to leave until a bunch of teens walked in and the heat was taken off us.

Next day we went to the Deutsche Technik museum. The museum of technology. So awesome and so huge. It had all trains and nazi trains and royal trains. Alex and I wanted a turn at testing the train breaks but some little shit of a kid wouldn't give anyone else a go and his dad was all encouraging him even though he would be a terrible train driver coz he didn't even know how to break well! All the passengers would die in this stupid kids train. Then there was the photography part of the museum which had like every camera ever and cool 3D photos and a weird hologrammy thing. The next level was on drugs and chemicals and you could simulate fireworks yay! Thenext level was movies and film and this level was my favourite. You could watch one of the first films ever which was the beheading of queen someone. I dont know how good effects were back then but I sure hope I didn't really watch someone die...

There was also an exhibition on ships and planes and had real life ones inside the museum! It was just soooo massive. I was genuinely getting tired from this museum totally worth it though. There was also an exhibit on wind power and you had to try and plan where you would put your windmill and stuff! Or try and power light bulbs by winding it yourself. By the time we left we'd been there for 5 hours! And we were famished. I was going to try and cook curry tonight but I could find curry paste so we just thought we'd try and make schnitzel sandwiches and some how. Just as with everything else we've cooked. This was awful too. Haha.

We headed out to the bar we went to on Monday night because the bar tender was Australian and invited us back again. It was really fun and we made friends with the bar staff and they gave us free drink. I tried to speak Spanish to some guys who spoke Portugese and Italian haha and Alex became good friends with the bar people.

I went for a long walk the next day and discover a mini golf restaurant in our area which will cool when the snow fully melts then I come home and we go see Les Miserables. Alex didn't really want to go but I wanted to see a film in the sony centre and had heard it was good. Part way through the beginning I realised that they sang THE WHOLE TIME. And I became slightly regretful of my descision but actually it was AWESOME. It was so good. Even Alex loved it! No regrets whatsoever - go see it now! Had some amazing indian for dinner.

We woke and planned to go to the Animal park today but when I pulled open the curtains it was snowing again!! Noooo! So sick of snow. Change of plan, Jewish museum instead but when we got there, the line was already really long so we continued on the the Berlin Gallery of Modern art. Such a good find! It was incredible. So really amazing art. Though it was annoying coz we wanted to watch all the short films but everytime we went into the room the same half hour film was playing. It was too bring to sit through so we only got to see 3 of the short films and a lot of the stupid last film.

The next day we meet up with Juliane and 2 of her friends and we head to a town called Guben which is right on the Polish border. We are picked up by Juliane's boyfriend Julien and her friend who we met before Cornelius. We will being staying at Cornelius' house this night for a party that he is having. First he takes on a tour of his tour and then drives us right into Poland woop! We go shopping in Poland then have a delicious lunch there. Then head back and some of us have a nap in front of the fire whilst the others get the party ready ;) The party was held at like a communtiy band rehearsal space. It was very cool and Cornelius was an excellent dj. We got to speak to lots of people and I practiced my German. The only problem was everyone smoking made my throat really very husky. We caught a cab home at about 5 and had a very solid sleep. We had easter brunch with everyone the next morning which was delicious, we took the gorgeous dog lyla for a walk and we saw deer along the way! Then we went and cleaned up after the party and headed on the one hour and forty five minute drive home. We went back to Julien's apartment and watched a movie and luckily he lives very close to us and we could walk home!

In anycase on Monday I woke, deathly ILL. I couldnt talk really and was coughing my lungs up. So right up till today I have been dying on my sick bed. Made it out to Juliane's for a healthy dinner on Tuesday night but haven't been able to do much since. Also because of a fear of relapsing into Glandular and then Chronic Fatigue and then death. On the plus side I think I've developed a six pack from coughing so much. I feel bad for our neighbours. It's not the most sound proof of apartments. I aspire to be better for tomorrow and we can go to the museum ALSO we learnt that the tunnels we looked for don't actually exist anymore!! Damn out of date Lonely Planet. We shall look else where for bunkers.

It's finally warming up

cjjane — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 04:52:00 GMT

It has been an eventful week. Whilst on the train to Munich, our third and final train broke down. We waited for an hour for an alternate train to take us the rest of the way and there after 5 years I got to meet up with Juliane again! Just in time for her 21st birthday (which isnt such a big deal over here but oh well!). Juliane picked us up with her friend Jonas, I gave her a big hug, a flower and a really shit card I made on the train (pov lyf). Then she drove us back to her house. It was all really familiar and amazing to be back again! Everyone greeted me so warmly and said that my German was much improved from last time - yay! We sat and talked and lots of people came by to say hi. We were pretty tired though after dinner and hit our beds asap. We woke up for a tour of Munich in the morning (Jonas came too as he hadn't been to Munich before). I remembered a fair bit of it and it was soooo much warmer than Berlin with a top of 7 degrees (yay...?). Later we started setting up for Juliane's birthday celebrations, dinner and drinks all night. Alex was designated drink mixer. It was such a fun night and so incredible to be back in berlin and see a lot of people who were around back in the day! It was a late night but I was worried because we had to catch the mitfahrgelegenheit in the morning so I went to bed at the sensible time of 4:30 (which is a sensible time here, most people stay up all night).

We were in the middle of our traditional weiss wurst breakfast when the call came that our trip home was cancelled :/ This was stressful - we were supposed to see foals that night!!! We rang around with no luck so we welcomed to stay another night in Munich. Then at the last possible moment we got a call that a guy would take us! It was so lovely to say see you soon rather than good bye as we dashed out the door. We had a stressful time finding the car and I became super bitch and "lost my shit" just a little. Then we had the most cramped 7 hours of our lives. Though I was pleased to find that all the people in the car were varying degrees of normal. Though for the majority of the trip I was next to the guy who burped quietly in his sleep. We were luckily dropped right out the front of the Astra Kulturhaus moments before they came on stage with absolutely no money on us but we at least had the tickets. Foals were amazing though and all the stress was worth it. The venue was so cool it hurt.

The next day we booked our tickets to Amsterdam and had the worlds most DELICIOUS BURGER. It was awesome. We made friends with a guy from London. We planned to go to the Tunnels the next day but in the morning Alex wasn't feeling well so I headed out on my own. I made it successfully to the station but was unsuccessful in finding where the effing tunnels were. They sure were a super secret tunnel system. Or maybe I just shouldnt be in warfare ever. In anycase I ended up buying the most amazing nuss-nugat crossaints and 2 pairs of shoes hurrah! Though on the way home I got inspected and I done my ticketing wrong :/ oops luckily some other guy was causing such a fuss I just got of validated and jumped back on - the public transport karma I have now is all used up. We went bar hopping that night found some too cool for school bars.

Friday was take two at trying to find the tunnels (was inspected again on the way but had a valid ticket - karma plus one!). Once again these stupid tunnels alluded us and in the snow we just headed to the nearest sandwich joint coz I was gonna kill someone if I didnt eat. We gave up on the tunnels went for another shop then headed back to prepare dinner. We made some horrible pasta which I greatly regret but next time! We went out after dinner and even arriving after 12 we were unfashionably early. I met a girl who had just come back from Australia and spent a lot of time chatting to/ at the lady who gaurds the bathrooms. I dont know what time we left but on the way home Alex's phone got pick pocketed. He ran off in one direction and I threw my new heels off and sprinted in another. It was a kerfuffle. In anycase we didnt catch them and headed home extremely stressed out. The next day I was very, very unwell and someone had built a roof one metre above the floor that everytime I tried to get up I smashed my head on. And our one activity we managed was getting to the police station. Which was an intimidating and stressful few hours. Alex also had call insurance etc etc.

The next day was much more fun when we head out to the market! So much crap and what not about that I just wanted to buy it aaaaallllllll. The market was massive and there were people everywhere. We got lost in it for hours! Once our feet start to lose sensation from cold we head home. Once again we forget that everything dies on Sundays so it's breadrolls for dinner again and I got a crossaint yay! I go for a walk and realise how close we are to the city! It'll be nice to walk in once it warms up.

Monday is sensible monday and we hit up the laundromat, super market and I go shopping again and buy a bag :D I vaccum and then we head out for a walk. Find a cool park that backs onto the museum of technology and play in the park for a bit. We try to cook dinner again, carbonara. It was awful. We head out to a bar, the bar girl is Australian and invites us back Wednesday night, meet some Americans then head home, grabbing a kebab on the way to make up for the terrible pasta.

Photos: Settling in to Berlin

cjjane — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 03:25:00 GMT

Finding Friends!

cjjane — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 02:39:00 GMT

So one week since the hair incident and believe me there have been more incidents since. The sunday after we did nothing because apparently the world shuts down on sunday so bread rolls with the last of our salami for dinner yay! Monday we're back the touristing again! It's minus four degrees and we head into Alexander Platz. I'm thanking god for the jacket I found/ stole from falls. But disaster - my trusty gumboots have broken! I have a split in the sole and walking in the snow means that my feet are losing sensation pretty quickly. We ditch the idea of the walking tour and head to check point charlie. We look at the wall go into a very interesting stasi museum and look at another museum which shows hilters rise to power. The dreary weather aptly matches the mood of the museums. We finally get a sim card on the way home and I arranged the whole thing in German :D Also we have a new neighbour, from Switzerland. Sadly for me, I forgot his name instantly but he was lovely and we are going to hang out soon.

Then next day we went to Potsdamer Platz. We may have to go back there though coz I didn't think it was that great and so it needs a chance to redeem itself. Though we now know where the Berlin library is and the Philharmonic is. I try to order Alex some Ice Cream but he gets a hot chocolate instead. haha, serves him right for ordering ice cream in sub zero temperatures. We of course rectify it in awkward english german. Alex finally buys a beanie and then we prepare to go out on a pub crawl. We meet at a very cool bar a few stations away from us. An irish girl is leading the tour and we immediately meet 3 other Australians. From Melbourne, South yarra, Clayton and caufield more specifically haha. Theres a guy from Boston and a couple from england. Then theres a french brother and sister and their cousin. A couple of others. We head to a ping pong bar (so the stasi cant hear you apparently), then to a metal pub, then a quiet fancy one theeeeennnn I think we went to the club. The club was very cool. It was a bombed out train station. We're some of the last standing at the club. The french trio were lovely but weirdly close with each other. Eventually Alex dragged me off the dance floor and we headed home. I woke up fully clothed hahah. But we didnt lose anything! At first I thought I had lost money but then we just recounted how many drinks I bought and it made sense. I didnt do much the day after.

On the thursday its cleaning and washing day! We go on a wild goose chase for a laundromat, because apparently if you google that here they think you mean dry cleaners. Turns out there was a laundromat 500 metres from where we were staying. HAHA. We only spent 3 hours looking for one. We did some shopping. Then cleaned the apartment which was only a bit out of control :/ We ask our neighbour if he wants to get dinner with us but he declines but asks us to hang out later coz he's watching the football. Later we meet him. show him the youtube clip of Nathan Browns broken leg to demonstrate Aussie rules then head out to Friedrichschrain! We hit up a mexican bar where so very loud Dubliner called Cate and Londoner called Sean decide to join us and shout us rounds after discovering we were from Melbourne. The fix planes for a living and sure can drink. The offered us lifts around Europe and cheap bike hire in Amsterdam if we just mention their name. We then headed to a metal pub with them and play pool. Then simon and Alex decide its time to go home and Cate makes me promise to paint gaelic swirls on myself for st patricks day even though she thought st patrick was a wanker... or something along those lines. I borrow a bathroom in a hotel on the way home and as compensation offer myself up for employment as compensation.

Feel terrible the next day - what is in German beer?? We buy tickets to Munich for Juliane's birthday and I make one outing by myself to have lunch and a bit of browsing. There are heaps of second hand and vintage shops around. All the mannequins are really creepy. Then come back to die. But then we make it out again for dinner.

TV tower is where we're headed for today. Its the first really clear sunny day. So of course millions of other people have the same idea as us. We bail on the hour and a half line and instead go exploring! Eventually we find the Deutsche Dom. It was amazing. We spend hours in there, in the exhibition on Democracy in Germany and looking at miniature models of various buildings in Germany. We'll definitely head there again. After we go home and pack for our trip to Munich and then head to a famous chicken place for dinner. Super delish.

Currently sitting on the train headed to munich surrounded by very loud Americans.

Photos: Frankfurt/ Berlin

cjjane — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 18:37:00 GMT

Finding Our Cold Feet

cjjane — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 08:30:00 GMT

Ok, so this has been deleted twice now so its probably a sign that its been shit! Imma do it different this time.

First night....

Collapse after the cab ride to the apartment where we waited to be let in. The internet lied! our first thought when we walk into our tiny home. That is after unlocking three doors to get there, with one door have two locks on it! Holy crap this will be hard to do after climbing four flights of stairs after a night out.

Second day....

Woke up ridiculously early, a chance to speak with people from home whom I'm missing dearly. First chance to shop. WOW ALCOHOL IS SO CHEAP. Chill out then head out to get the lay of the land. Find a lovely park with a beautiful view. Try to take a panorma, unsuccessful. Try again, Alex pulls a stupid face. Find some goats in the park! Why are they there?? Find aldi MORE SHOPPING. Head home and get ready to explore the nightlife scene. Wander in the cold to the main strip. It reminds me of Brunswick st. Except cooler coz this is Berlin bitches. Find a cute bar. Impromptu performance by a street band - consisting of a mandolin, double bass and guitar. Try to order beer, instead get a "Berlin Winter" which is hot apple juice with vodka and herbs. Actually quite delicious! But too sweet for Alex and too sweet for me to have more than one of. BEER. Find the train home not too late, still pretty jet lagged.

Kreuzberg Saturday...

First time heading into the big city! Get on wrong train - who needs maps? Not us! Get there eventually, trains are fast and super efficient. They come once every six minutes THUMBS UP. Wander around in the icy cold air, being tourists ya'll! We see the holocaust memorial and the Brandenberg Tor. We are amongst many tourists. Starts to get really cold so head home to warm up and eat. Naturally after purchasing some cheap gloves and a giant map woo! Get home and mark where we are on the map :) Starts to snow! And we thought we were cold before! So beautiful - time for a walk. Get ready to go out and its snowing super heavily! Well for my standards. I've never really seen it snow to be perfectly honest. I also don't know if people go out if it's snowing - is it ever too cold to party? Ans. Noooo neeeevvveeeeerrrr. We head out to a Greasers rock party. Like the uncool tourists we are, we arrive unfashionably early. We pop into a bar next door to the club to have a drink and try and be a bit cool. Head in and so begins the hair debarcle. Having a nice time, have some beer get a free trolley token?? (figure out later you take them back with your empty and get some money back - woo! We didnt think we needed too many trolley tokens!). There's a guy doing people's hair in a part of the club. After watching the band a bit of a dance and a few beers we decide I NEED my hair done. Thinking that its free. I sit down in the chair and he starts brushing my hair which hasnt been brushed since before I left home :/ then he says so its 20 euro for something simple and 60 euro for something complicated. Shhhhhhhiiiiiiiiiittttttt. I wouldve run but there were people all looking! He'd already brushed my hair. Panic. Alex do you have 20 euro?? My hair is already being divided into 3 parts. Alex frantically starts searching for a place to get money out. I skoll my beer and make awkward small talk. Eventually crisis averted and Alex returns with 20 euro. We smile politely and back away slowly. Time to leave. Budget for the night blown hahaha. But at least my hair looks nice. I have a pony tail and two swirls on either side of my head. I will be wearing this hair style for a while... Make a friend on the way home who invited us out with her, sad face we dont have enough money on us to go. Hahah. Home by 2am thats no Berlin night out! But I do have nice hair. Sleep like a princess all night so as not to ruin it.

First Flight - Frankfurt

cjjane — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 03:57:00 GMT

The flight over, the long leg, was a true test of my ability to entertain myself as 3 hours into the fourteen hour flight my screen froze when Alex challenged me to

a game of battleships. We eventually landed in Abu Dhabi just fine and had a three hour layover that didnt seem all that long. WE ordered Maccas where everything

was a whole size bigger than what it is in Melbourne. Luckily once I boarded this flight my screen worked and the entertaining responsibility was taken out of my

hands. We arrived in Frankfurt after seven hours or so. I was relieved when our bags came out on the turning thing and we hitched them onto our backs

to wander around for a bit to find we needed to catch a bus to the other terminal to then catch a train to the centre of Frankfurt. We were extremely lucky as the

first train we sprinted onto took us straight to where we wanted to be - Frankfurt am Main Hbf. Frankfurt was a quiet city as we arrived, we wandered round the streets

until we realised that the reservation piece of paper I printed off didnt actually have the hostel address on it. Spotting an internet cafe we dropped in there did a quick

google to find we were literally round the corner from it. Haha. Opposite a strip club and a peep show. Upon entering the hostel it turned out that I'd booked for the fifth

instead of the sixth OOPS obviously I believed in levels of time travel the dont yet exist. Bummer, got charged for it any ways too which was annoying.

In any case we went up to a newly booked room to meet a guy from Malaysia playing mary had a little lamb veeeerrry slowly who claimed to say he performed here

occasionally but was nice nonetheless. Then we meet Chika from tokyo who's last stop on her trip was Frankfurt. She took photos of Alex as his jet lagged made him

fall asleep in the food area as we waited for free pasta. I just laughed then ate his pasta. He gave it to me though, dont worry. One guy from America overheard me say

we were from Australia and so he asks me where, I reply Melbourne and he's like I've never heard of melbourne, I've only heard of mel-BORN. I was like melbourne is melbourne

because I was too tired to make a logical argument with a guy who disagreed with a local's pronounciation of their own home town.

So then we went straight to bed so as not to drop dead in front of a bunch of fellow tourists who would take photos of us on expensive cameras. needless to say going

to bed so early meant we woke at 4 am. Eventually the time we had to leave came around and we checked out and packed up for our nine hour bus ride to berlin. For

the first 3 hours of the bus trip we were the only people on the whole bus. Not including the bus driver and the bus drivers wife. I wanted to try out my german

conversation on them a little bit more than the casual exchange we had but was afraid to make it awkward too early into the long trip. And it was a long trip. I swear we

drove accross up to 80% of Germany. It was insane. Alex and I resorted to playing the party game and i spy. Times were tough. After forever we arrived in peak hour

Berlin.