Malerwinkel Hotel Bergisch Gladbach

... that we didn't understand the rules since we don't speak German.

Tonight I got to participate, for the first time, in the Shavat meal ceremony. Definitely was a very interesting experience, but pretty cool. The family stayed home and had no guests so it was the first time I've actually been able to have a sit down dinner with the family since the day I got here. Oded and I actually got into a rather lengthy ...

... 1088; 86;тов.

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После ;днее. В качес 90;ве оффто 87;а. КАКАЯ новая колле 82;ция у Gant. Такой не было уже л ...

... grass I've ever seen. It was the most idyllic landscape I'd ever seen.
Once reaching Westport and joyously reuniting with Jeff and Sarah, we drove to Sarah's house (it took me a while to get used to sitting on the wrong side of the road. The wild Irish driving style did nothing to assuage my nerves). I was further astounded. Sarah's house is a huge, rambling, stone structure. It is hundreds of years old and covered in ivy. On one of the walls inside, there is a ...

... time it was the tallest building in the world.
It was awesome inside with the high vaulted ceiling and beautiful stained glass windows. It has a golden alter which contains their relics, supposedly some of the bones of the Three Wise Men.
This afternoon was the time to pack as we arrive in Amsterdam tonight. We’re in the first group to leave tomorrow for the airport and have to be ready by 5:45 a.m.

... awed. The church did have a 'sanctified' feeling, and I was asked to remove my hat inside the building.

We took a few tasty and large pretzels and apfel strudels for lunch, once again enjoying the delights of German pastry shops. Unfortunately we did not have the time to visit the German-Roman museum, but we did manage to buy a few things at their gift shop.

... dem Mann der langweiliger ist als seine Vorgruppe. Zum Glück konnten wir uns danach noch ein Aufwachlied wünschen und in guter alter Bradforderinnerung gab's Sam's Town (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVbFMoi mgM4). I'm sick of all my judges, so scared of what they'll find.

... my Oma's father had lived in. We got some pictures for Oma and next time I think we're going to her house. When I got back to Dusseldorf I decided to switch trains at the Hauptbanhof (main station) and got to witness a huge free concert going on in the middle of the station. This was pretty amazing and I was really regretting not having a camera, but hopefully I'll have other opportunities. I did manage to get some pictures of the castle and the bridge so I will try to post them soon.

... Loads of tourists (national and foreign).

Anyways, after about two or so hours, I hopped back on the train to Ruth's house, since I was supposed to get ready and meet up with a lady to carpool to Freiburg, in the South. In Freiburg I was to meet with my friend Sebastian, who I met last year in Perú. Unfortunately, the lady called and cancelled about 40 minutes before 12, so Ruth helped me to figure out a train route ...

... before and I'm sure it will be quite the adventure. I'm not looking forward to the 3 mile hike back to the train station with my 18 lb backpack again but at least this time we have some idea of where we are going. In addition to this, Steve has assured me that Cologne is nothing like Dusseldorf...that it is so different and so much better. I sure hope he's right because if Dusseldorf is what I have to look forward to the next 6 months, I'm in big trouble!

Fri 9 June Cologne station was buzzing with all different nationalities. A giant mural had been painted on the ceiling at the entrance to the station. Walked round the outside of the cathedral with lots of inter fan photos going on. Then back into the station to catch the ICE train. While waiting had a bottle thrown at me by England fans from another platform. The ICE train ...