Germany and beyond!

Me in three countries, Germany, The Netherlands and Belgium!

Lotta!

It is a shame I can never seem to write about my holiday whilst still in the country I am talking about!

I am back in Spain now again and am rather exhausted! I have been back for a week and a bit now actually. Enrolled in evening Spanish classes twice a week right in the center of Madrid which is exciting and hopefully can give me more confidence with my Spanish!

Ok, well...Germany was amazing! I went for one week and it was full of exciting things! Breakfasts consisted of many different cheeses on fresh bread with tomato and cucumber, served with coffee! Yummm.

The train ride there was however quite stressful, after finally getting on the last (or so I thought) train of day I settled down and went to sleep. When I woke up again the train was stopped so I assumed it was my stop. I grabbed my suitcase and jumped off just as the doors were closing, it was freezing outside! Then I realised that no one was there to pick me up and it was one hour earlier than I was supposed to arrive, of course this had to be the day I ended up in the middle of nowhere. After mine and Storms traumatic walk to the train station, which left my hands shaking and heart beating a hundred miles per hour, and our sad goodbye it just really wasn't what I needed! But being a mature young adult I sorted out a train and let everyone know I was going to be late BEFORE I broke down in a corner on the phone to my dad.

So I got a different train, which was somewhat less comfortable than the first, for the rest of the way. Although not before they had to call an ambulance and delay the journey a while longer because some guy on the train didn't want to wake up! I tried writing in my journal on the train but because I was so tired tired it is barely readable and there are little entries where I have dozed off, woken up again and kept on writing about my dreams - I wasn't aware this was happening at the time!

When I arrived in Germany Lotta and her friend Carla were there to pick me up from the train station, for that day I just slept until about four. We drove to the Netherlands (about 5 minutes away) and I stood in three countries at once, then in the night we went out to a restaurant for some drinks. In Germany because the 'no smoking inside' policy has been enforced all the restaurants have now made cute little outdoor areas, with blankets and heaters so it is rather enjoyable!

For the first few days we stayed in Aachen at Lottas parents house, I bought some 'Printen' which is a biscuit thing only made in Aachen, quite yummy too. And we went to the Aachen 'kaiserdom', or if you like cathedral. Which is the oldest cathedral in northern Europe. And did a little shopping!

Then Susi, Lotta and I drove to Holland to meet up with Lottas family who were staying in a house near the beach. We stayed there for two nights, during which we went to the beach, obviously, played 'midget golf', bike rode, ate traditional Holland chips which come with mayonnaise, onion and another sauce, I saw a tiny house and taught them all how to play racing demonds! And Lotta, Susi and I drove to a little village with some really old houses and found to best soap on the planet!

Then it was back to Aachen for a night and from there on to Bonn, where Lotta lives. Where we stayed for the last two days. We went to the Kölner Dom, which was somewhat more impressive than the one in Aachen and climbed to the top, which is about 500 steps or so and worth it for the view! On my last night we went to the concert of a famous German reggae, pop, hip hop, singer called Jan Delay. It was a really fun concert and he was great at entertaining - even though I didn't understand him! And a good way to end my trip.

Although when I look back on it that week passed so quickly!

Now here I am back in Madrid, this weekend is yet another long weekend! It surprises me how many we have. It is highly likely I have had more long weekend here in one and a half months than we do in Australia in a year!

At the beach!

From the left: Me, Lotta, Moni, Susi, Helena, Chico and Crazy Pat!

Jan Delay concert!

Some cool people

Kölner Dom

Chico

Hobbit house!

Susi, me and Lotta

Aachen 'kaiserdom'

At the Kölner Dom in Cologne.

Jan Delay concert!

Paris from Germany

21.10

Well right now I am sitting in Lottas car on the way to her parents holiday house in the Netherlands...it is quarter to eleven. Don’t get too excited I don’t actually have internet here but I haven’t updated my blog in so long I was beginning to feel really guilty! Not that

I should be surprised, I have never succeeded in keeping a journal for longer than two months. In reflection what a waste of paper!

We are listening to a German singer called Jan Delay who is quite famous apparently and I like his music. On Sunday we will go see his concert which is exciting!

Well I guess I should continue from where I left off in Paris and tell you the rest of my weekend...

So on Saturday we woke up quite early and lazed around for quite a while...whilst getting ready to go into Paris. Storm cut my hair which took up a few hours and then of course being girls we had to get dressed and ended up going into Paris at around 3.30. Well it would have been quicker but we had to walk to the train station so that occupied another half an hour. It was ok going in late and we just went to the Eiffel Tower straight away. Oh but I can’t forget to mention our little hiccup on the train.

So me not being experienced in the way of public transport in Paris I was just following Storms lead. Like the day before and I thought what was normal in Paris we jumped the metro as opposed to paying 2 euros for a ticket. Of course this just happened to be the day when traffic control were out asking everyone for their tickets. Storm tried to tell the lady we thought you had to buy tickets at the end of the journey and that we were going to buy them now....when that failed we tried the ‘the ticket machine was broken’ trick but she wasn’t fazed! Luckily she took pity on two young Australians and instead of charging us 40 euros each she charged us 20. Still rather annoying but I guess it is another of those things that has to happen to you at least once...right?! So after that some budgeting was needed but we still splashed out and bought tickets to climb the Eiffel Tower...well it ended up being cheap having our students cards with us which is geerrrrreaaaaat!!!! In the end we decided against the stairs and took the elevator up, which was enjoyable! We didn’t stop at the first level because we figured it wasn’t high enough for us and continued onto the second. Still wasn’t thhaaat high but the vies were beautiful from there. The two disadvantages were that one; my camera decided to run out of battery so all the photos are of bad mobile quality, and two; we failed to bring the appropriate jumpers and although we enjoyed the views our coldness was a definite downside to the second level!

When I felt the first drops of rain we lined up to get to the top level rather quickly. I am not scared of heights but after a while in the elevator it felt like we would never stop and I began to voice my worries! But it was worth it, because even though from the second level the views were pretty from the third it was indescribable! Also whoever designed to tourist side of things was kind enough to build an indoor viewing platform so we didn’t have to worry to much about the cold. By then it was dark which is better for me because it is my opinion that cities look better at night!

Storm and I both texted our families letting them know that whilst they were in the Shire we were at the top of the Eiffel Tower!

Whoever designed it also put up little notes saying how far away different countries and cities were. However he/she kindly forgot to factor Australia into that chart which was very disappointing for us. Just because we are far away doesn’t mean we don’t exist!

When we left and went down again it was about time to head home. So after buying a crepe we walked to the metro and after purchasing our tickets we got on the metro and headed home. I think this was the night that Storms family were very generous and picked us up from the station. Which was good because after a few conversations with some local boys we didn’t feel like walking, especially after informing them that ‘no we didn’t speak in French in fact we were Chinese!’

On Sunday we decided that being tourists was rather enjoyable and went on a river cruise down the Seine which stopped at the most famous places in Paris. It was a beautiful day for a river cruise and seeing them was great. At the Notre Dame there was some kind of fair on and outside was a little gospel choir performing and they were really good! For dinner we went and bought a fresh baguette and some different toppings and ate on the boat in an attempt to be even more touristy than before! I think we succeeded :)
When the tour was over the boat stopped at the Eiffel Tower and I said goodbye and we went home once more to the little flat in Croissy.

But not to bed, because by the time we got there it was quite late and after being informed that the next day we would be walking to the train station we decided the safest bet would be just to stay up all night as it was at 4.00 in the morning we would leave.

Now the journey to the train station is one which can be told tomorrow as it is now 3.40 am and my body clock is telling me sleep is long overdue!

The city of all cities - Paris!

Well, a two hour plane flight, no security and forty minutes waiting in the airport and I am in Paris! And it is even better because I am here with Storm!!!

In the span of two days we have had a lot of adventures already! The first being how to get home from the airport...so I arrived here at 9.40 am on Friday and after unsuccessfully ordering a Latte, which turned out to be hot milk, forgetting which nationality they were and speaking to them in Spanish (I am sure that was rather offensive!), and getting very annoyed at the pay phones because they only used credit cards Storm found me in the airport! It was so big and some people that worked there had those cool little electric scooter things that look like they are from the 25th century!

Eventually we found our way home, and after a 30 minutes walk from the station to Storms house we were quite exhausted - my day starting at 4.50. So we had some oatmeal to boost our stamina and get ready to go into Paris. We met one of Storms friends at the Louvre and had went to see some little vintage shops nearby - good vintage as well, not op shops! Actually like Cristian Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, Givenchy, Unjaro Ter etc...

After that we went to Montmartre, which was an absolutely beautiful church. You weren't allowed to take photos inside it but it really did take my breath away. Seeing things like that makes you understand why people are religious. I had my first French crepe yesterday as well, with egg and cheese....rather strange for something that looks like a pancake but it tasted good!!!!

At 10.00 we decided to head home...which took a lot longer than expected! Getting on the wrong metro, and ending up at some little creepy station. Then having to go back again. By the time we were on the right train it was getting rather late! Then we were informed we had to walk home....at 11.00 with some pretty creepy dark alleyways, it wasn't really preferable. Then a lady waiting for her two sons whose phone we had borrowed said she could drive us home if it wasn't too far. Turned out Storm didn't know wether she lived in Chatou or Croissy...thinking that they were just one place as that is what the station is called! So when the sons arrived we led her on a bit of a wild goose chase around the whole town (s) until we at last found our street!

A bit of an adventure for my first day here!

¡feliz cumpleaños!

Well now I can buy knives and legally drive a car! That is right boys & girls I am SIXTEEN! So insure your cars everyone because when I come home there are going to be a lot more dents in them. Oh and grazers, we are all equal for another few months! Shame I can't be there to remind you!

The first people to see me as a 16 year old were my sisters, mum, aunty (Lulu), animals and Megan!

Who were skyping me last night/this morning! I had a nice day, woke up at about 10.30 to my grandma calling me and from there answering a stream of messages...because I am oh so popular!

I also got quite a lot of phone calls which was great!!! We had a special birthday lunch with paella (traditional Spanish food), salad, bread (always) and afterwards.....CAKE! I always love listening to people sing 'Happy Birthday' because no one can ever get that note right and it is really entertaining! Next time your at a birthday party you'll see what I mean if you haven't already noticed! My family also gave me a necklace which was a nice unexpected (but good) surprise!

I went a lay by the pool for a while trying to get some sun but it was rather late and the sun went behind a building - in Mullumbimby that could never happen, only mountains - so it didn't last as long as I had hoped! Oh well, maybe on Monday, becaauuuseee I don't have school (in a singing voice)

I booked myself in for a Balinese massage tomorrow which will be interesting and hopefully good, I figured I always have Thai ones so may aswell try something new!

Tonight I am going out to a party with one of my host sisters for her friends birthday party so hopefully it will be fun! But we'll see about that tomorrow.

Paella and Raul (host dad)

Making my wish!

Yes I had a siesta!

Guess what time it was....

6.30! and the sun was still shining.

El Fiesta del Pilar!

Long weekend people! Last night I went with some girls from my class to the carnival near La Vaguada.

Had my first Chorizo which was yummmyyyy!

And there was a park near the carnival that was just like top park (for those of you who know) only with about 15 + times more teenagers in it!

Cathy has a thing for skaters and every time she saw someone with a skateboard it was like she had just been told she won the lottery, it was very funny! Oh and I showed her photos of my school and all the boys skating and she practically had a fit! Obviously not many skaters here.

There was also this concert, I didn't stay for long but I think they were just little bands from around Madrid...did a little dancing but mostly just walking around,

oh and I went on one of those whirly things, and it did a lot more than the one at Brunswick!

I need a massage baadddly now!

Sana, Cathy, Lydia (in the back ground) and some 15 year old..