Just let me sleep...

It's all over. The dream. And by the dream, I mean my sleep. It's all over. The combination of the sun and 3 simultaneous snores is enough to get anyone up. The sun comes up way too early here - and goes down way too late as well. When does the sun sleep in europe? Just outside the van, a river barge cruises down the Neckar, consumed by the steep foresty hills around it. I sit and sip coffee at the outdoor setting, immune from the van shaking movement of the largest member of our group. The immunity does not extend to the other members of the group still in the van - derogatory comments thrown from the dawn of consciousness fly around vanny van van van. A conversation commences - one which can only be understood by a member of this travelling party, perhaps obsecene, humorous and nonsensical to an outsider. And then, impossibly immediately, the snoring continues. My coffee is empty. Heidelberg is quiet this morning. Almost too quiet. It's almost as if the residents of Heidelberg are attempting to compensatefor the raucous displays of the previous night - a night borne from 2 german goals and 0 swedish goals. Towns go silly when germany plays. Unfortunately, we normally get taken for the ride.

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Today is an alone day, no doubt. A much needed alone day. Snags and brett will be up soon. Kieran will not. Of his 2 possible modes, being pissed or hungover, Kieran will, without doubt, be in the latter mode this morning. I'll have another coffee and then go into town and sit around. No more sightseeing. I'm over it. I regret this thought momentarily, reflecting on the splendour of the ancient schloss visited yesterday. The crumbling red walls, semi but not over restored and the lovely gardens are a step back in time despite the overwhelming presence of stupid comments from those with american accents. Indeed, Heidelberg is an extremely picturesqe town with a lot to offer the prospective tourist. Me? Not up for it. My coffee is empty. Just one more before I head out.

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All this caffeine makes me buzz like the bees Snags is so fascinated with. The early afternoon sun is not particularly harsh here, as if it has to ration its energy until the 11pm sunset. At a cute random cafre, I bask in it and enjoy a rare glass of still water. Up and down the cobblestone streets, students display faded tattoos of german flags as they head towards the nearest kebab joint. One is not far - it never is. And in germany, there are no strange looks as one enters a kebab shop during dayliht hours - kebabs are served all day everyday, rather than a food consumed exclusively in the early hours of sunday. My stomach exoresses its envy of those entering Turkische Doner Kebap, but my mind refuses. It knows from previous experience, as my stomach does not, that it is for its own good. Stomach will be thankful later.

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An Australian, a japanese and an american all pass by the cafe as if about to act out a joke - "So there's an Australian, a Japanese and an american... and". They all take photos, undoubtedly good because Heidelberg does not pose for bad ones. It's shadows fall perfectly, it refuses clouds overhead. It;s a real pity my camera batteries have died. They will be ready for Kaiserslautern however. My coffee is empty. "Can I get you another?" she asks. My average german is sufficient to indicate 'yes' and 'thanks'. I buzz like the phone in my pocket. A thought enters my head more and more frequently - 'how good would a kebab be?'

At the table adjacent, 2 girls order drinks. The ridiculousness of their orders catches my attention: ridiculous to me at least, seemingly normal to the waiter - ridiculous not for its ingredients but its combination. And then I think back to our time in germany so far, and start to realise how stupid mixed driks are part of the course here in Deutschland. Here then, are the top 5 most ridiculous mixed drinks encountered so far in germany:

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5. coke and beer

4. coke and red wine

3. red bull and beer

2. coffee and red wine

1. coffee and beer

Australia v Italy. Coming up. Do it...

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