Every End, is also a Beginning

Hey there! It's been a while!

I've been meaning for the whole month of August to come on here and finish this up, but life got a little..... crazy. I'll start back at the beginning.

My trip home went very smoothly, I didn't miss my flight in Madrid (yay!!!!) and both flights were easy ones. I didn't sleep at all again this time. If you're planning on taking a trans-Atlantic flight, I do not recommend Iberia. Let me put it this way, a guy in front of me was asking someone behind him what Iberia meant in English and I jumped into the conversation with, "cramped and always late!" And that's exactly what all of my flights with them were, though because I made my second flight, punctuality wasn't too big of an issue for the last one, thank goodness.

My parents were waiting for me on the other side of baggage and customs at the International Terminal at O’Hare, complete with huge hugs, smiles and balloons. It was incredible to see them, and it almost didn't feel like I had been gone for two months. I called my host mom, Gudrun in Berlin to let her know that I had landed safely and then we all went home.

The next week was such a whirlwind, I turned 21 at midnight the night I got home and went out for a rather subdued (well, compared to some) celebration with my best friend Cathi, my friend and her boyfriend Alex, and her roommate Brian. It was really nice to celebrate my birthday with people I've known since high school and before. We went to TGI Fridays where Cathi bar tends. Shots and drinks were had and then we went back to Cathi's to continue the celebration. I think I passed out from exhaustion by 1:30 at the latest. I had been awake and waiting over thirty hours for my birthday what with all the time changes I had gone through!

I got to see Nick, my boyfriend for the first time on my birthday, I went to visit him in the city, and it was very good to see him. We had lots to talk about, and a spectacular birthday dinner to eat.

Two days later, my parents and I left to meet my brother and his girlfriend, Hannah, in Las Vegas. If you've never been there, you need to go, it's one of the most surreal cities I've ever been to. We stayed in The Flamingo, and visited almost every hotel on the strip. My brother and Hannah and I rode the roller coaster at NY NY, and my gift from my brother was tickets to Ka, the Cirque du Solei show, which was absolutely incredible. We all liked it so much that we went and got tickets to go and see Mystier, one of the other Cirque shows the next night!

My parents took me on my first gondola ride at the Venetian, which was so much fun. Our gondolier sang for us in Italian, including Happy Birthday. Being in the Venetian was one of the most surreal and odd experiences of that whole trip. It's set up as a smaller carbon copy of Venice, the city I can say is my favorite place on earth other than home, and the ache of missing it is still fresh. Being there and.... not being there was a rather strange feeling.

I think though, despite all of the glitz and glamour of all the surroundings, I think my favorite memories of the entire trip were when we would all just be laying in the pool. We'd all be sitting with margaritas or drinks of choice (hey! 9am in Vegas is FIVE o'clock in Berlin!) and talking or floating. I got to spend hours just talking to my parents, precious moments that these days happen all too few. I got to hang out with my brother.... something that hasn't happened in almost two or three years. His girlfriend was really nice too, I hope she sticks around, I like her. But it probably is the conversations and moments with my Mom and Dad that stick out as the ones that mean the most to me. I love them beyond measure, and that vacation was exactly what I needed between being away and moving downtown. It brought us closer together and helped us to speak more openly with each other, a gift above all else.

And then, it was back to reality, and my entire month of August was taken up with my job downtown here in Chicago. I'm the desk staff supervisor of the front desk at the newest residence hall on the UIC campus. My days were filled with hiring, training, scheduling, troubleshooting and doing everything and anything that did not fall under my job description but that needed to get done nonetheless. I still have about eight more employees that I need to train, which will bring me up to about 22 people working under me. Hopefully that will be enough. It's been a ridiculous whirlwind that has made me feel capable, but drained me so much and made it almost impossible to focus on other areas of my life.

Classes started this week, and my life should finally begin to settle down to a dull roar, I hope, and then I can begin to think on other things that are of importance, finishing finding homes for all the stuff I unpacked a month ago in my new apartment, studying, friends in my life - both here and far away and connecting with them again, seeing my parents more often, going on some dates with Nick and strengthening our bond, figuring out how my classes will affect my major and date of graduation, calling up my sister's family for all their birthdays and as always, my ever-present work will still be there with phone calls and problems at inopportune moments.

Through out all of this, the memories of this summer weave their way into my daily life. It is small reminders every single day that make me smile nostalgically and pause in whatever I'm doing. I miss Berlin, I miss Europe. I miss the people from over there, my friends most of all. I miss the food, and have brought some of the things I ate over there into my apartment with me. There are ever-present bottles of balsamic and olive oil on my cupboard. The picture of us rafting down the river on the Poland/Slovak boarder is framed and on my window seat. My Italia scarf will soon be gracing the wall above my desk, there are four types of currency scattered on my coffee table, and my mask from Venice is in my kitchen where I can see it every single day. I have been changed by this summer, and the memories of it will always be with me. I'm slowly working every lesson I learned into my life here at home, I'm hoping that I can soon completely bind this summer together with life here, it's been difficult, but I'm hopeful. Not a day goes by that I don't longingly think of Venezia.

Lastly, but most importantly, must come the gratitude for you, those who read along and shared my journey with me my whole summer. Those I knew about and who left comments and those who didn't. I've heard about you all through the grapevine of people who passed my blog address off to others and that you've enjoyed it. To everyone who read this, thank you. I can't say it enough, because it meant so much to me that throughout my travels, especially the ones in which I was, or was feeling the most alone, I never truly was because there were people waiting to hear about 'what happened next!' including those who have been badgering me to finish this up. Thank you for your patience.

Traveling to me has never been just a luxury, it is something that is apart of life, that needs to be done. I hope that my life will consist of being on the move and seeing new sights and new places. The more I travel though, teaches me how nice it is to have a place to come home to, with people who love me. I hope I will always be lucky enough to surround myself with people who smile at my crazy adventures, and are willing to welcome me back with open arms. Who knows, maybe they'll even start coming along!

If you've ever thought about doing something crazy like I did this summer or even just a trip to one of the cities that I've been too and would like some pointers, advice or a good restaurant to have dinner in, don't hesitate to get in contact with me (silverwanderlust@gmail.com). If you can dream about doing it, it's possible. I've had a dream of backpacking Europe since I was eight years old. Dream, fulfilled.

Missing those far away, Gratitude to so many, and Love to all,

Miranda

Keep a Weather Eye on the Horizon

I'm coming home!!

By this time tomorrow, baring any foul-ups in transportation, I will have been on American soil for two hours!

It's been a weekend of goodbyes, seeing Jessica off on her train to Paris and Adj off on his plane to Salzberg. It was hard, to say good bye, but we're all going to keep in touch and remain close. They've both become amazing friends of mine, and while we've had our rough patches, I'm glad I have memories of gallavanting around to different European cities with them.

Many people from IES are doing all of their travelling now, it's been funny to listen to all of their plans. Some have an entire semester here ahead of them in Europe, others will be heading home in a week or two. I hope to keep in touch with many of them. I extended many invitations to people to visit me in Chicago, and I truly hope they take me up on it.

As for me? I begin this trip as I started it: alone. But, maybe.... not as alone as it seems. I have my host family, who I've become quite close with in the last week. I walked into the apartment this evening to find a miniature Jack Sparrow, complete with beaded hangers from the bandana, a drawn on beard, sword and pirate pistol. Leo and Gudrun went today to see Pirates and apparently it warrented dressing up. He's the coolest ten year old I know. I also have someone I know on my first plane to Madrid, which will be nice.

I am going to miss Berlin. I am going to desperatly miss speaking German so much, being surrounded by the language, hearing it around me, reading it in the newspaper and on advertisments. If you're able, spricht Deutsch zu mir? (Speak German to me? haha) There's going to be a lot of things I miss about Europe in general as well. It's become no longer a possiblity that I will be coming back, it is a given.

There is however, things I miss from home, most of it people. I have lots of things to do when I get home (celebrate my 21st birthday for one, catch up on my WORK for another. Auugh.) and I'm also jetting off to Vegaaaas for four days with my parents. :)

I've realized so much about myself on this trip. It has dragged the very best and worst in my out into the open for me to stare right in the face. I have things I need to change, but I am also quite certain now about the things that I love about me.... and those are here to stay.

I'll post again when I get home, and maybe one more after that to just give you a wrap up and tell about Vegas and how all is going. To all my readers, especially those who have been their since the very beginning, thank you for sticking with me.

Love to all at Home,
*Miranda

Another summer day
Is come and gone away
In Paris and Rome
But I wanna go home
Mmmmmmmm

Maybe surrounded by
A million people I
Still feel all alone
I just wanna go home
Oh I miss you, you know

And I've been keeping all the letters that I wrote to you
Each one a line or two
I'm fine baby, how are you?
Well I would send them but I know that it's just not enough
My words were cold and flat
And you deserve more than that

Another aerorplane
Another sunny place
I'm lucky I know
But I wanna go home
Mmmm, I've got to go home

Let me go home
I''m just too far from where you are
I wanna come home

And I feel just like I'm living someone else's life
It's like I just stepped outside
When everything was going right
And I know just why you could not
Come along with me
But this was not your dream
But you always believe in me

Another winter day has come
And gone away
And even Paris and Rome
And I wanna go home
Let me go home

And I'm surrounded by
A million people I
Still feel alone
Oh, let go home
Oh, I miss you, you know

Let me go home
I've had my run
Baby, I'm done
I gotta go home
Let me go home
It will all right
I'll be home tonight
I'm coming back home

And I’ve been keeping all the letters that I wrote to you

Last Friday here in Berlin.

It's been a rather terrible week here on this side of the pond, but at least I'm mostly done with classes. I'm having some issues getting my final paper to my professor, but hopefully those will iron themselves out.

I've got some of my stuff all packed up and I need to go shopping for some last minute Berlin souvenirs for the family and do one more load of laundry. My flight out to Madrid is at 7am Monday morning, and for the first leg I'll be on the same plane as Nicola, one of the other girls from my program. Maybe we'll even get to sit together.

I get into O'Hare around 2pm on Monday, and it will be so nice to see my parents there waiting for me. I was talking with a friend here the other day about how I'm probably one of the last generations of travellers that can remember being met or dropped off at the gate. When we flew when I was little, or during the time that my father lived in different state from my mom and I, all our trips to the airport would consist of going in and sitting with the person by their gate until they boarded their plane. I can remember my brother and Linda meeting us when we went to California when I was in Kindergarten, my Mom was hugging the strange man with long hair (Michael, the bro) that I didn't recognize as soon as we stepped out of the boarding walkway. I think that because I grew up with that, it has had an influence on how I think travel should go. It's an interesting affectation of mine that one of the most important things in the world to me is being met by someone after I've traveled. That is one of the most meaningful things that someone can do for me. How funny, eh? Even when I know that no one will be there, I always look around the airport, or train station, to see if someone took the time or cared enough to surprise me.

I think we got on this subject because of Schöenfeld airport, the one I've done most of my flying into and out of on this trip is set up so that when you go to leave the secure terminal you walk through a set of frosted automatic doors and there is always a crowd of people that jump or look really excited, thinking maybe it's their loved one that is coming through. The last time I went through (after I looked around, of course) I remember thinking that the next time I fly, there will be someone waiting for me. I guess it was a warm feeling....

Alright, I have to go to my dinner. I'm hungry, I took my host brother, Leo to the pool in our neighborhood today. I've just been trying to keep busy to keep my mind occupied with things other than all that's floating around in it. It's just been a rough week.

Love to all at Home, three days.
*Miranda

Roma, Roma, Roma!

Rome was absolutely incredible. Seeing the sites that I've only ever seen in history books was surreal, to say the least. The hardest part for me to grasp was the lenght of time it took to build some of these fantastic structures, and the amount of manpower that went into it. Walking through Rome is like taking a stroll through time, you'll be walking by some 18th century buildings and then turn a corner and suddenly there is a Roman ruin - and the whole city is like that. One of the really great things for me was the fact that I know a lot of this history and mythology behind the ruins and temples, so seeing them in person was a lot of fun. I spent a lot of time recounting to Adj, the mythology behind each temple, all of the stories of the Gods and Goddesses, the myth of Romulus and Remus and how Rome came to be.... it was 'Superfluous Knowledge with Miranda' time. We got to see the Coliseum and the Circus Maximus - where Genesis and Phil Collins were playing a concert Saturday night - and the Pantheon. The last probably was my favorite. It's almost hidden in the middle of all of these buildings, you're walking through narrow passages far from any main road and all of a sudden this square opens up and you just stop and stare. I got to see it at night and by day. We saw the Piazza de Spagna, where the Spanish Steps are and we also went to the Vatican. That.... was definitely the experience of a lifetime.

We waited in line and then took the lift and then 330 steps up to the top of the cupola on the Basillica of St. Peters. The view of Rome was breathtaking. I think I took about 100 pictures from all the way around, trying to capture everything that I could see. Being inside Vatican was very thought provoking for me. It could be just a side effect of being in one of the holiest places on earth, but I took about ten minutes to sit down and sift through all that was in my head in the small prayer chapel.

That night Adj and I walked around and ate dinner between the Spanish Steps and the Pantheon and then he wanted to go to Piazza Navona so we headed west from the Pantheon, me with the map leading the way. It was dark by this time and when we found the Piazza it was all lite up by the amber colored street lights. There are beautiful fountains at each end and a statued obelisk in the middle that was being restored. There were performers and tourists and artists looking to draw your portrait everywhere. On the southern side of the Piazza there was a big open area and I was drawn to the sound of drums and singing. The music was coming from a group of Hare Krishna’s who were smiling and dancing and playing music, clothed in their brightly colored saris and scarves. The music was so catchy and irresistible that I found myself smiling and tapping my feet to the beat. One of the women saw me and smiled, reaching out her hand to me and I allowed myself to be pulled away from Adj's side and into their dance. It took a few seconds but I caught onto the steps and danced and spun along side the women and the few other tourists that had joined in. My new skirt that I had bought the day before was the perfect thing to be wearing as it flared out around me as I spun, clapping to the beat. The women and I laughed and got lost in the music until it came to an end. I felt regretful as I had to stop dancing and back away, returning to Adj and smiling a huge smile as I told him how amazing that had been. "Funny," I said, "Those are the people my mother always told me to avoid in the mall."

Adj and I had an amazing time, our hostel was really great and because Adj can get by in Italian and is an Italian citizen, we got a lot of special treatment. I was truly sad to be leaving Italy - again - but comforted by the fact that I know I'll be back. That isn't even an option for me.

And now? Back to reality here in Berlin. It is my last week in Europe and I have so much to do. I have to figure out how I'm going to pack everything, including the 5 bajillion presents that I have purchased. I have a ten minute presentation tomorrow and a five page paper due along with two exams on Thursday. I'm taking Leo, my host brother and a friend to see Harry Potter auf Deutsch (in German) tomorrow and I have to prepare myself to say goodbye to all of my friends here. It's going to be an insanely busy week.

Love to all at home, One week left,
*Miranda

well, you know what they say...

This is going to be a short post because it is quite late and I have to be up in less than four hours.

To recap....

Madrid, was absolutely amazing. The architecture is beautiful, all of the buildings give you this feeling that you are some place 'exotic'. The weather was absolutely amazing and the fact that on Saturday we had access to a pool absolutely sealed the deal. The reason we had access to a pool was because for Saturday into Sunday, Jessica, Adj and I stayed in a five star (*****) hotel. Adj's family was traveling around Spain and we met up with them for Saturday and Sunday. They are an amazing family, generous to a fault and extremely friendly. I had a great time talking with his parents about politics, religion and art and joking around with his younger brother Stefano (don't you dare think StefANo. It's STEFano. Damnit.) All in all, Madrid was incredible. I highly recommend it if you're thinking about traveling around Europe. I'd get into more detail, but like I said, a little pressed for time.

I went and saw Harry Potter last night at the original language theater in Potsdammer Platz here in Berlin. It was AWESOME. I think it is the best of the movies so far. Hopefully I"ll be getting the book here in Berlin for the plane ride home. Funny story: I was craving an Icee in the theater so I went out to the concession stands before the movie to fulfill my cravings. Guess what... NO Icees. I stood there looking lost for a moment, when something caught my eye. Smiling devilishly I knew I had found my movie beverage, paid for it and walked back into the theater. Jessica gave me an incredulous stare and Adj almost fell out of his seat he was laughing so hard. "I'd expect nothing less," he informed me. I raised my wine glass in toast to him as I poured myself a drink from the small bottle I had purchased. Alcohol is sold everywhere from Burger King to movie theaters here in Europe, and you know what they say... when in Rome...

Speaking of which... I need to go to bed because my flight for Rome leaves in less than seven hours. Back to Italy for me!

Love to all at home,
Miranda

Ride along these empty streets/ Wind's blowing, no shoes on my feet

Alright, for the past week and a half or so I've been alluding to a blog post that I've wanted to write forever. It's something I wrote first in my book (diary and journal sound too cliché) on a train to Prague with the purpose of putting it up here. It's about one of the first nights of my trip and for some reason I think that it will give you, my amazing readers, a personal glimpse into this trip, my thoughts and how I feel about it. It's a bit long, but I hope entertaining. Feel free to leave your thoughts (as always). This one is important to me, and rather personal so I hope you enjoy it.


The train is late, but at this point in my travels, punctuality is not to be expected. I alternate between wearily pacing the train platform and ponderously extricating myself from my bags and sitting on top of them.

It's Sunday night-no, Monday morning and I haven't truly slept since 8:30 Saturday morning when I woke up at home, ready to begin my adventures. My flights were cramped and uncomfortable and I dozed no more than three or so hours in catnaps of thirty minutes or less.

Another announcement blares over the loudspeaker and I strain to understand, the echoes bouncing around the glass and steel of this cavernous station make it difficult for me to discern any key words that might yield understanding. I realize it to be a fruitless effort and turn to the two men standing near me. "Entschuldigung, bitte. Mein Deutsch ist nicht so gut. Was hat dass gesagen?" (Excuse me, please. My German is not very good, what did that say?) One of them smiles and replies,

"Die Zug kommt in fünfzehn minuten. (The train comes in fifteen minutes) Fifteen minutes." He clarifies unnecessarily.

"Vielen dank, thank you very much!" I say, smiling at his switch to slightly halting English. We strike up a short conversation about where I'm from and the pitfalls of tardy transportation. I attempt to sustain it mainly in German for the benefit of his friend whom it appears, speaks no English. My German is rusty and I'm nervous so it's difficult. After a few minutes I thank them again and move a little bit away. For the rest of the fifteen minutes the first man will turn towards my direction and repeat the wait time in English.

I'm immersed in my thoughts as I wait, as I have been ever since I left my parents at security in O'hare Airport. My mother was crying and my father's eyes were shining. I know they are more afraid for me on this trip then they ever let on, I just hope along with thinking I am absolutely outside my mind, they are proud of me as well.

I look over at the two men and think about how much these little snippets of conversation with strangers has come to mean to me. I've never been this alone in my life and with all of the travel problems I've had, I'm more aware of it than ever.

There was no one to tell me what I needed to do when I missed my connection in Madrid; no one there to offer advice when I landed in Berlin, having missed my train due to the later flight, with no where to stay and absolutely no one I knew within 1,000 miles. Sitting on the bus from the airport with two months worth of luggage on my back and no idea what to do... I can't remember ever being that uncertain or that off balance in my entire life. Afraid might be a better description, if I were to be completely honest with myself.

I am jolted out of my revere by the announcement of the train's impending arrival. Shifting all of my packs I feel a sense of exhausted relief and anticipation. Somewhere in my mind a voice had been whispering to me that I would never make it to Amsterdam, that something else was bound to go wrong. The man I spoke to earlier turns once again to me and smiles, I smile back and thank him and his companion again before I check for the fifth time that I have everything I need: Eurail Pass, reservations for this train, all my other train reservations, my money belt and passport. Check times four.

The train pulls up smoothly and I scan the digital signs on the doors uncomprehendingly and climb aboard at the nearest entrance. I see a woman scanning her ticket and comparing it to compartment numbers in the hallway to my left. Figuring she looks like she knows what she is doing I approach, "Entschuldigung, kennen Sie wo..." (Excuse me, ma'am, do you know where...) I trail off, giving her a desperate look and holding up my ticket. She looks at it and responds,

"Ach, ja, your car is 25, you must go two or three towards the back." I thank her and push ponderously past, all my packs making movement in the narrow halls difficult. I pass all manner of bedded compartments before finally arriving at my car, which has no beds, just six seated compartments that strongly remind me of Harry Potter. I find my compartment - number 55 and my seat - 5 and I smile. Thousands of miles from home and my family's favorite number reaches out to comfort me. I neatly place my bags on the shelves and stretch, stepping out into the hallway as the train pulls away from the station. I watch the few people left standing on the platform as they way and walk alongside. I have no one to wave to so I instead watch the station slide away. The windows are down and my hair whips back as the train picks up speed. There is, I think, something to be said for these bullet trains. I gaze out at the empty streets, listening to the wind blow.

Someone comes up on my left side, a guy, looking to be only slightly older than me. I say hello, observing that he has come out of the compartment next to mine. He says hi back and my ears prick up at his accent. His brownish skin and black hair have me placing him geographically somewhere south of Mexico in my head. I venture a few English words and his face lights up.

"I am so glad you speak English!" he says effusively, "I don't speak German and the lady in my cabin can't talk to me." I laugh and invite him to sit with me in my cabin for a little bit. I find out that his name is Rodrigo, and that he's from Brazil. He is also going onto Amsterdam and has no alarm clock to wake him up. I make the offer to rouse him in the morning as my mobile has an alarm that I fervently hope will work.

We talk a little longer about our travels until I let on that I am tired and am thinking about sleeping. He says his good nights and sets off in search of the dining car and I close the compartment door behind him. There is not much to do to ready myself for sleep, I'll sleep in the clothes that I have on. I give a passing though to writing in my book for a while but the weight of my eyelids indicates that my body is finally giving out on me.

"Alright," I murmur to myself, "I hear you, you win." I take off my sneakers and place them under the seats. I have kept all of my things meticulously tidy, my mother would approve. It appears that I will have to cabin to myself, so I switch off the light and draw the curtains, then stretch out across all three of the seats on the left side of the cabin. I set my alarm for 7:15, and with a stern look at my mobile I set it next to my head.

The darkened cabin is cold, the wind rattling past the window. I curl into myself tightly attempting to keep warm and let my thoughts drift where they will. I wonder what everyone at home would think if they could see me now, my family, my parents, Nick.

Hurtling through the darkened German countryside on a train that I happened to catch by sheer luck after every other travel arrangement I had made went afoul was not how I envisioned my backpacking adventures commencing. But now, I thought, I know I can do it.

I lay in the dark, embracing the surreal feeling I have about my surroundings. I lay, listening to my playlist form Nick and drift off into a restless sleep. I wonder what everyone at home is doing, I think drowsily, I hope they're proud of me.




Hope you enjoyed that. I wanted to put it up here to give people they chance to experience what I have, or as Cathi and Jenna have put it, live vicariously through me. I don't usually post things that are overly personal on the internet, but for those who have been reading my blog all summer, I'll make an exception.

Crazy life, fueled by crazy dreams,

Love to all at home,
*Miranda

Happy Fourth of July!

I spend a LOT of time in this internet cafe. Well, at least I have today. I came here earlier to work on things for my job at home and to catch up on my emails and I ended up sitting on skype for three freaking hours. Now, I just got done with a run and I promised my mother that I would get some pictures uploaded to my snapfish account so she could see them, so I'm forgoing sleep to keep that promise. I forgot my memory card when I came earlier today.

I know that I should be out enjoying the city instead of sitting in front of a computer, but going online and accomplishing some work and going for a run was actually my whole game plan for today. It's my day off of school, so I decided to use it to my advantage and do some work that I've been putting off for far too long - answering emails and dealing with my employees who have recently discovered that they don't have work study for next semester and hiring more to replace those I'll lose.

I'm excited for next year. I really like moving and my new apartment is going to be amazing. I've bought somethings here in Europe that I'll use as decoratations and I know that I'll be putting a million pictures all over the walls. I'm sure that the month August is going to be a major headache what with familierizing myself with my desk, coming up with a training program for my staff, planning out the physical enviroment and furniture around the desk area, bugging the RD of Facilities for essentials that he'll say aren't so essential, working with my boss Jason and the new housing staff in the building.... man I'm going to be so busy. It's okay, I work better when things are chaotic.

I'm sure things will go smoothly, I just have to battle that little nagging voice in my head that says you're going to faaaaail. You're not good enough to do this joooob. Apparently the voice in my head likes to speak in a creepy ghost moan.

Anyways, back to the present where my mind belongs. The weather was terrible today in Berlin. It rained for almost the whole day and the times that it wasn't raining it was overcast. It's okay though, this weekend should make up for it - I'm going with Jessica and Adj to Madrid and the weather is forcasted to be high nineties and sunny all three days. I can work on re-browning my skin! Gotta get that flip-flop tan line back, it's my favourite.

I hope anyone who reads this has an amazing fourth of July, celebrate for me because I've got nothing going on tonight. I'm just going to head to bed and then get up and go to the IES center so I can finish writing my paper about my trip to Auschwitz for my Jewish History class.

Nothing really groundbreaking in this entry, there will be more to write after I get back from Madrid!

Love to all at home,
Miranda

Back in Berlin!

Hey there faithful readers. I'm back in Berlin, not as sick as I used to be and winding down from my Berlin Literature test that I just took. I know I got one of the essays wrong, but I think I did well on the other two. My grammar was atrocious, but thank goodness she's not looking at that at all.

I must state here that Staci Molinar is an incredible friend. I walked into IES today and Britta handed me a letter from her. I LOVE getting mail! Thank you, babe!

Poland was really fun this weekend. The trip started off a little bumpy with a fight with a friend, but he and I were able to sit down and talk things out, smoothing everything over between the two of us, which I am extremely glad about. The train ride was super long, much longer than it should have been. We sat at a station in Poland for about 2 and a half hours in the middle of the night waiting for a train from the north to bring us passengers.

We finally got into Krakow around 11 o'clock and did some sightseeing with our tour guide. I'm not used to traveling in a big group so this was a different experience for me. I'm also not used to staying in an actual hotel, which was a super nice change. (being provided with towels and bedding? AND complimentary breakfast?! Heaven!)

Krakow had a really pretty old town and we spent some time there on a tour, and then just walking around and buying some souvenirs and presents. I think I have an actual obsession with buying presents for people when I'm on vacation. It's one of my favorite things to do when I come back from a trip and open up a suitcase full of presents. Bam! Christmas!

On Friday we went on a day trip to the concentration camp Auschwitz and Auschwitz II (Birkenau). I don't think that there was anything I could have done to have prepared me for it and I was not ready for it by any stretch of the imagination. On the bus on the way to the camp I put myself in the mindset that I was going to approach this objectively, from a learning standpoint, and not get overemotional about it. I was going to look at it from a historical context. That failed the minute I entered the first barracks. Walking through with the tour guide and listening to her explain how the extermination of the Jews and other prisoners proceeded I couldn't do anymore than stare wide-eyed at the displays in front of me. At one point, I felt the tears beginning to run down my cheeks, one at a time as I gazed in horror at everything I saw. What pushed me to crying was the deception used by the Nazis, telling the Jews that they were going to a better place, having them bring their valuables and belongings with them, telling them to mark their suitcases so they would be able to find them again. In the southern countries the Nazis sold the Jews tickets to Auschwitz, under the pretense of a better life. After Auschwitz II (Birkenau) was build, the Nazis would force some of the arriving Jews to write postcards home to their families that were still there telling them to make the journey as well, but postdate them by a week. By the time the postcards were sent out and the families received them, "Greetings from Auschwitz, wish you were here" those who had written them had already perished in the gas chambers.

Some of the displays in the barracks were almost too much for me to handle. They had enormous cases the size classrooms filled with suitcases with the names still on them, cookware that the Jews had brought for their new life; an entire hallway, with glass on both sides that had behind it thousands upon thousands of pairs of shoes. In one room, there was a glass the length of the entire wall and behind it was piles upon piles of human hair. The Nazi's saved everything. The hair was used to make fabric for the German people.

It finally got to the point that I was past even crying, almost past all emotion. I stumbled through the barracks, falling behind the group, just looking around at everything I saw, just feeling numb.

It was one of the most moving experiences of my life. I will never forget everything that I saw, and all of the horrors that were told to me. I think that every world leader, every person in any position of power should visit Auschwitz upon coming into office. I think that it would hopefully cause them to think a lot harder about the consequences of their actions, and perhaps make the world a bit more of a compassionate place.

However, to end with hope.
Friday night we had dinner at the hotel and then went out into the old city to do a little more sightseeing/souvenir buying and one of the 'chaperone' (in the loosest sense of the word) guys from IES took us to the Jewish quarter for a festival that was going on. There was an amazing Kelzmer band playing on a rooftop in the middle of a square. I suddenly realized that the neighborhood that I was standing in, with the packed square full of happy, celebrating people and loud Jewish music floating over our heads, is the neighborhood from the massacre in the movie Schindler's List. I took a moment to take in everything around me, to look at the buildings and remember the visions of death that I had seen in the movie, still fresh in my mind because I watched it for the first time in class last week. Then, I turned my eyes back to the celebration in front of me, to the drink in my hand that I had just purchased from the most famous Jewish bar in Krakow, to the sounds of laughter and applause, and most importantly to the music of the Jewish festival that filled the streets and banished the thoughts of death from my mind, filling it instead with hope.

Love to all at home,
Miranda

These pictures are for my parents, they were taken in the old town square in Krakow:

How fitting in the Fatherland, eh?

:)

Back to the Fatherland!

I only say it because of the extreme Polishiness of my dad's side of the family. I've decided I'm going and this afternoon I'm going to head out into Die Mitte (middle area of Berlin) to go look for a bookstore so I have something to read. I finished the entire book series that I brought with me on Sunday night. I'll go absolutely mad if I don't have something to read.

I expect that it is going to be harder to get internet in Poland that it was in the Czech Republic, but you never know. If that turns out to be the case, I will post again when I return. We leave tonight at 9:47pm on a nachtzug (night train) to Krakow and will return by Sunday morning. I think I have ridden more trains this summer than I have in my entire life and I've reconfirmed to myself how much I really like this method of transportation.

So, I leave you now with a story about Prague that I forgot to mention yesterday. I actually sat on a fence about sharing this one because it toes the line between acting safely and stupidity. I don't care though, I was furious and it was worth it.
We, Jessica, Adj and I, left the dance club around 1:50am and headed back together through Old Town to walk back to our hostel. One of the darker aspects about Prague is that there are a LOT of beggars. If you're me, your heart breaks when you see them and you wish there was something you could do, but you don't give your money. Too often it will be spent on alcohol and then you are only an enabler.
Walking through the narrow streets we turned a corner and further on down the street we turned on to I could see a man in the middle of the pedestrian street with a camera. On the sidewalk there was a man who had been begging all day long, down on his knees, head to the ground, with his hands outstretched. He didn't realize he was being photographed until the flash came and upon raising his head he began to protest loudly. I couldn't understand what he was saying, but the meaning was clear. The man with the camera paid no mind, took another picture and moved towards where Jessica, Adj and I were coming up the street. There was another beggar in the same kneeling position as the first a little closer to us and the photographer stood across from him and began focusing his camera. The original begger shouted some kind of warning to the second guy and he jerked upright, raising his hands in front of his face, shouting a pleading protest. It was at this point that I became level with the photographer and where I lost control of my temper.
"If you're going to be an ASS and take pictures, at least give him some MONEY for it!" I shouted in his face. Adj had ahold of my arm and dragged me past while the man, startled at first by my outburst responded with an oh so creative "Feck you!"
Adj told me later he thought the guy was going to hit me. I told him that I wish the man had tried, he's lucky I didn't smash his camera, I was so furious. You don't exploit people's desperate circumstances in life for your own enjoyment, I do not put up with that in the slightest. It took me a good ten minutes to calm down. I hope that the two beggars understood my intentions if not my words, and know that I was yelling on their behalf. I think I got in the way of one of the guy's pictures too. Good.

I know, not exactly the safest thing to do, but if I had the chance, I'd do it all over again. Stuff like that makes my blood boil.

Anyways... Poland!

Love to all at home,
*Miranda

Ich bin Krank. Grrr.

Translation: I am sick. I did however, find a doctor to go and see today, and am absurdly proud of myself for getting through an entire doctor's appointment in German. My mom didn't seem to think it was that big a deal when I told her, but I don't care. I'm really proud. *pats self on back*

My parents are in Florida right now with my sister and her family visiting the Mouse and every other cartoon/disney charecter ever created. The weather there has been a bit screwy for them, so I hope that clears up soon.

Prague was an incredible city. The old town portion of it is so incredibly beautiful. The buildings are tall and all different colors. They are faintly remniniscent of all of the identical-but-not apartment buildings in Berlin. They are all about the same height and format, but with a wide variance of facade set ups and colors. Charles Bridge was something to see, its an extremely old bridge with huge statues every ten meters or so on the sides of it. I got some great postcards of it to bring home to my parents and to send out to some people back home. I also bought some good presents. I can't tell you whom for or what the presents are because I know for a fact that two of the three people I purchased things for read this blog (N, M and T. for a hint).

In the Old Town Square there is a gorgeous astronomical clock that works like the Glockespiele in München (Munich) on a much smaller scale. Almost all of the streets in Old Town are fußgangerplatzt (pedestrian zones) which I really like. It always gives a city a certain feel to it.

Tomorrow my program leaves for Poland, and I'm not sure as of yet if I am going with them. It depends upon how I'm feeling. I've already started on the antibiotics I was perscribed, but I'm not feeling even 50% better yet. I'm going to try and get a lot of sleep tonight and see how I feel in the morning. I'll be sad if I miss the Poland trip, and so will my dad's side of the family.

I still have a lot on my mind, but things are becoming clearer. I also have a midterm on Monday. Whooo............

If I go to Krakow, I may not update for a while!

Love to all at home,
*Miranda

Sleeeeep.

That's what I need. I'm getting sick, unfortunatly and since we leave for Poland in two days, sick is not an option. We were expressly ordered "DO NOT get sick in Poland!" I think I'm going to try and go see a doctor tomorrow and get some amoxicillian. My body will not be happy without an antibiotic in it. I should however, pat my immune system on the back that it has managed to make it this far with out losing a battle to something. All those nights spent in rooms reeking of marijuana/cigarrette smoke shared with ten other people of doubtful cleanliness and sobriety... I guess I should be grateful.

Life has been hard the past week or so, but I'm still enjoying my time here in Europe. I've been a lot more introspective the past eight days, thinking a lot about life, or something like it. I've had a lot on my mind, and still do... but I'm a little clearer on things than I used to be, .

I complained to Piccell about my stupid broken phone, and they are sending me a new one! I hopefully will get it in a week or so, that would mean that I could send out text messages again, and actually see the actions I'm doing on the screen. Yay for not having to memorize the key combinations anymore.

Speaking of broken things, my camera lense is broken and I am so upset. It was safe in it's case, and it turns out there was some sand from Venice still in the case, and the sand got in the lense. GRRR. I might just send it back to my parents in the states.

In travel news, I am trying to move my airline ticket from the 23rd to the 21st, will keep you all posted on how that goes.
Other travel news: Prague was amazing this weekend, I went to my first dance club and showed up the Europeans. Whooo! Poland in two days. More detailed posts later when I am feeling better. I also have a post that I've been meaning to put up for about three weeks now.

Tomorrow, I will have been away from home for a month. I miss you all more than I can say.

Love to all at home,
*Miranda



*4:30am*

A short one, for 'tis late

As the title says, it is late here in Berlin, and this internet cafe will be closing soon so this post will have to be short.

It's been a rough week this week in about every way possible and I'm feeling really drained. Well, apart of that drained feeling could quite possibly have to do with the really long run I just went on through Berlin (Yes. Running. Me.). It's rainy outside but the run felt really nice,m I was trying to clear my head, and running is one of those things that can numb your mind for a little while. It's like swimming with it's thoughtless repetition that almost creates a void in your head. I guess what I'm saying is it was a good run.

Classes have been tough and I've been super busy with them. One of my professors expects insane amounts of reading out of us, and stupid Amazon.com hasn't even delivered my books yet so I've resorted to mooching off other classmates. I had to write a three page paper the night we got back from Venice and I think we were assigned about 350 pages of reading in 3 days. As the girl in my Lit class said today 'Ich bin nach Berlin zur Berlin sehen angekommen, nicht über Berlin lesen!' (I came to Berlin to see Berlin! Not to read about it!)

I'm leaving for Prague tomorrow, and will be back Sunday night. 'till then....

Love to all at home,
*Miranda

Arrivadecci, my fair city.

This post is probably going to sound absurdly sentimental to those of you who are sensitive to 'cheesy' things. If that sounds like you, feel free to skip this entry, you've been forewarned!

I'm sitting today under cloudy skies and sporadic drizzle in Berlin. I'm in an overall good mood, but this weather is suitably fitting for my own sporadic bouts of melancholia that I get when I think back on this past weekend. I suppose it's a little like falling in love with someone you can't have. You cherish the memories you had together, but it is always a little sad to look back on. I guess before I continue down that line of thought, I will tell you about Venice.

Venecia is unlike any place I have ever been before, and some would argue that it is unique to anywhere else in the world. Jessica, Adriano (Adj) and I flew into the Marco Polo airport on the mainland sometime around midafternoon on Friday. When you land in Venice, at least on the airline that we took, they send buses out to pick you up from the tarmac and bring you to the terminal. Getting through the airport didn't take long at all because none of us checked any baggage. After a slight hiccup with transportation, we boarded a water bus that would take us to the island of Lido, a narrow island that our hotel for the first night was on. The cruise to Lido took us along the Grand Canal and to some of the other islands, the views were absolutely stunning. Lido is about a ten minute water bus ride from the main island of Venecia and it has a beautiful beach and several shops and restaurants. If you're going to Venecia and you can't find anything on the main island, I highly recommend Lido.

After Adriano checked into the hotel and brought our stuff up to the room we decided, in spite of the possible storm approaching to go over to the main island and look around. We alighted at the stop for Piazza San Marco and walked around to take in the sights. The Piazza is incredibly beautiful. Some of you might recognize from the opening scenes of the movie The Italian Job.

We made our way into the city and wandered the streets. The streets in Venecia are more like passageways. There are no automobiles in the city, so some are no more than three feet wide. It is very easy to lose yourself among those twisting narrow paths and piazzas. There is literally a surprise around every corner.

The beauty of this city is in its graceful aging. There is no attempt, no desperate scramble to cover up the fact that these buildings are old, that this city is practically ancient. There is instead an air of patient upkeep, of maintenance, but never drastic change. The canals make their way through the city in the same stately progress, and the citizens adapt to the way the water flows. No attempts to divert or change, except in extreme circumstances.

After we wandered the streets in aimless directions, Adriano, Jessica and I decided to make our way back so we could travel back to Lido for dinner, in hopes of avoiding the approaching storm. By the time we made it back to P. San Marco, however, the storm seemed to have passed us by, and there was even a hint of blue sky amid all the cloud cover. We stood in San Marco for a few minutes, admiring the architectural beauty, and taking it all in.

That night we had dinner on Lido, and a bottle of wine that we brought back to the hotel. We were all really tired and called it an early night, looking forward to Saturday and what it might bring.

We left our hotel the next morning bright and early, and due to a rather amusing misfortune, had to take all of our stuff with us and our room for the next night was canceled (aka: we were kicked out of the hotel. Apparently they were not pleased with us sleeping three in one room.) So, our first order of business was to find a room for the night. I had brought my book of hostels with me (ha! Jessica and Adriano made fun of me for that! Be prepared my friends, be prepared!) so we landed by San Marco again and began our trek with our stuff across the entire island to search for the hostels that were in my book.

This extrememly long walk turned out to actually be quite amazing, as it took us right through the heart of Venice. We got to see the Rialto Bridge and almost shops from almost every designer imaginable. We walked over small canals and watch gondolas float by, squeezed through the narrow streets and looked over the wares at all of the different food shops and little standes along the way. After our search for the hostel lead us to the end of a pier on the Grand Canal, I gave up looking and just called them from my mobile, and ended up book us a three bed (whoo! our own beds!) private room with bathroom, for 35€ a person a night! That, is an incredible deal. So, we dropped our stuff off, changed into our swimsuits and decided to head back to Lido and go to the beach.

Lido Beach was so beautiful we found a nice spot on the sand and spread out our towels, and then Jessica and I ran down to jump into the green-blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea. It's technically, I guess, the Adriatic, but that's all a part of the Mediterranean. The water was incredibly salty, and Adriano and I guessed that the salt must be what gives the water around Venice it's peculiar green-aqua color. We must have laid out at the beach for about three hours, alternating between tanning ourselves brown and jumping into the waves to cool off. Jessica and I had to allude the Italian men who were insisting on being overly friendly. Ah.... the hardships of attractive American girls. (I'm kidding! You know me better than that!)

Once we started to burn we went back to Venecia and all took showers and changed into new clothes for dinner. We went to a nice restaurant on the Grand Canal and had authentic Italian pizza for dinner. Our waiter was a little old man who took pleasure in making as much fun of me as was possible, much to the enjoyment of Adriano and Jessica. When I in typically American fashion asked for ice with my drink, he brought me out an entire bucket complete with serving spoon. We, also in American fashion, left him a large tip.

The three of us decided to make our way back through the maze of the island to P. San Marco so that we could see it at night. Stopping once for gelato and once to get lost, we made it to the piazza just as all of the light left the sky. P. San Marco is light up along all sides at night by hundreds of light bulbs, and there are four different bands set up at the different outdoor seating areas for the restaurants. Adriano sat down on the steps to take in the evening and Jessica and I kicked off our shoes to go and dance to the music coming from one set of munitions. In my mind I knew that there was no better place to be in the world, than in that spot at that exact moment.

The thing that happened next is my favorite memory of the entire weekend. The musicians near us struck up a tango, and out of the corner of my eye I saw a young couple move into each other's arms, and begin the most romantic dance I have ever seen. It was very clearly a practiced routine, as they moved through every motion, every position change with eyes closed and cheek pressed to cheek. It was incredibly complex, but they moved with absolute confidence, never pausing or stopping until the music ended. The greeted the applause of the gather crowed with embarrassed smiles, attempting to direct the applause back toward the musicians. Grabbing their bags they had left forgotten on the ground and clasping hands, they disappeared back into the crowd, leaving me feeling lucky to have witnessed such a private and beautiful moment.

I never meant to fall in love with Venecia; I specifically did not allow myself to be immediately swept away. I waited to be convinced. Venecia it seems was up to the task. Somewhere in the twisting narrow paths, somewhere in the winding watery passages, in the architecture, the street vendors, the food, somewhere in the water, this beautiful city claimed me for its own.

As we boarded the bus to Marco Polo I was overtake by a desire to get off, get off and return to those streets, those canals. Say good bye to my friends and thank them for visiting, and to please come again....
This is why when we left I didn't allow myself to look back.

I wonder how long it would take to learn Italian.

Love to all at home,
*Miranda

PS. I didn't have time to upload all the pictures I wanted to..... more later, promise.

Pictures in Leu of Anything Substatial

Well my intentions were to write a blog with some of my pictures from today, but unfortunatly, the computer drive at this internet cafe is not cooperating.

I leave for Venice, Italy tomorrow, and have some incredible plans for the weekends that are coming up. I will post something more substantial once I am back from Venice, but I wanted to put some pictures up that I did have so you all could put some names with faces.

These are my two greatest friends here from my program,Jessica and Adj. I have a much better picture of the two of them, but the computer wouldn't let me upload it. Next time maybe.

And this would be how much fun we all have.
this is Chris, Jessica again, Me and Sophia (it's her birthday here!)

And finally, one of my favorite pictures thus

far:

Jess and I! Being the hot ladies we can be. (I know I know. I CAN clean up sometimes. Shush you all.)

More updates when I return from Italy!

Love to all at home,

*Miranda

Was?! Die Zug ist nicht laufen?!

Oh Berlin :)

What an incredible city. I have seen most of the important sights briefly, what with Adj, Jessica's and my wanderings and our bus tour yesterday. I've also explored the ins and outs of Berlin public transportation - which is far superior to Chicago's, I must add.

Right now, I am living in East Berlin (the old soviet side) in Pankow, a northern neighbourhood of die Mitte, the old city centre. I live on 29 Florapromenade, on the third floor. It's a nice area with a really nice pool, as Adj and Jessica and I found out on Saturday. Berlin is hotter than blazes and I have already located every public pool in the city limits. Some of them might even have diving boards!

My classes start today, and I'm feeling a little apprehensive about it. My Jewish History was cancelled so that leaves just the Berlin Lit today, and it will be taught in all German. If my almost week here in the city has taught me anything, it's just how poor my German skills really are. I am hoping for drastic improvements.

Some notable things that I have seen are: The Berlin Wall, the Brandenburg Gate, The TV Tower (w00t, buddy!) the Memorial for the Murdered Jews and Fredrick the Great's old palace in Charlottenbug. Oh, and I'm going to be visiting the Kennedy Museum on Pariser Plazt. Yes, those Kennedy's. I'm so excited and my dad would love it; I wish he was here to see it with me.

I don't have much time write, as my new friend Adj has asked me to accompany him to the bank to open a German bank account. Damn him and his dual citizenship, I'm jealous. Unfortunately the third musketeer of our little band has class, so Jessica will not be joining us. I have stories to tell and MANY pictures to post, but please understand, my internet access is very restricted.

So, until later,

Love to all at home,
*Miranda

Oh yeah. Did I mention I'm going to Venice on Friday? Just thought I'd throw that out there.

Mein Deutsches Haus!

Well, today is my real orientation at the IES facility. I'm actually there right now, we have our meeting at 11 but I got up early so I could come and update my blog and check my email. I met my host family yesterday and they are really nice. Around 16:40 Gudrun Knöppel came to pick me up at the IES center. She looks to be in her late-thirties, mid-fourties perhaps, sandy blonde hair, slender. She had brown pack with her with a loaf of French bread sticking out. When she walked into the center I remember thinking, "she looks nice, I hope she's here for me". And lo and behold, she was! She helped me carry my bags and we left the center for the S-Bahn to take it to her apartment in Pankow, a neighborhood of Berlin. Gudrun doesn't speak very much english at all, so it was a little awkward, me fumbling through my decrepit vocabulary and her constantly repeating herself. I'm a little dissapointed in the state of my German speaking and understanding. Oh UIC, how I dislike some of your class structuring....

We arrived at Gudrun's apartment on Florapromanade in Pankow and thank goodness it had an elevator - very uncommon in Berlin! Gudrun lives with her ten year old son on the third floor. she brought me inside and gave me a tour. The apartment is really nice, all the rooms are big and the cealings very high. My room is amazing, I'll post some pictures so you all can check it out!

There is also a place for me to hang up my clothes, it is on the left side of the room, in front of that shelving unit. It's a freestanding clothes rod with hangers and a little hanging canvas shelving unit that is from Ikea.

BothGundrun and Leonidas, her son, are really nice. We spent about an hour last night watching Deutschland v. Slovaki in soccer (fußball!). Time for my meeting, so I will write more later!

Love to all at home,

Miranda

Personal to Lillian: I will be writing you an email soon, it's been hectic!

Oh, Cathi, this is what I see when I get of the S-Bahn every day:

Back to Berlin!

It felt really good in a strange sort of way to be back in 'familier' surroundings today. My night train or 'Nachtzug' from Paris was a really nice train. I DID have a bed, and that made me immensily happy. After I boarded I went and wrote for a while in the dining car, having some bread and rolls with honey and butter and a glass of red wine to help me sleep. I eventually went and laid down, sleeping poorly until I was woken up probably around midnight to the arrival of more passengers into the couchette compartment. One of the women said that I was in her bed, but ended up just taking the bed below mine. I eventually fell back into my restless sleep again and woke up when the condunctor knocked on my door to give me my Eurail pass back and to tell me that we were 30 minutes from Berlin.

Once off the train, I headed to the Gepack Centrum (Luggage center) to retrieve my large pack and all the luggage I had left here in Berlin. Once I had that, I loaded everything on to a cart, and decided that it was time to relax for a few. I grabbed a coffe from Starbucks and sat on a bench to read my book for a while. It was nice to just sit and not have to be anywhere or really worry about anything. While Paris was amazing, I was pretty high-strung the whole time I was there, just worrying about one thing or another. I also bought myself two bottles of water, because I knew I was dehydrated, and that with a couple of tylenol did my headache in.

I then spent twenty minutes rearranging everything in my packs to re-consolodate. I have SO MUCH stuff and it's really bulky. Then, I had to figure out how to get to my hostel, which was surprisingly painless. I had to take the S-Bahn to Alexanderplatz and then transfer to the U-Bahn and take it to Rosenthalerplatz. I think it ended up being only five stops total.

I got to my hostel and I think it's going to be the best one I've stayed in. It's really professional and they have a cafe, bar, luggage storage and hang out areas. I'm really only interested in a shower and a good nights sleep, but this looks like the place to be doing it.

Alright, well I'm getting tired and hungry and it's time to check into my hostel so I will post more, maybe later.

Love to all at home,
-Miranda

City of Lights....

Paris is incredible. I love this town, I love the attractions and the sights. I love that there are no skyscrapers in the central part of town. I love the history that is alive in this city, and all of the reminders that lie around every corner whispering of what once was. This town has an air about it that is all it's own - it doesn't care about whether you like it or not, it will still be here. It is a city with people that follow the policy of, "a little revoloution now and then, is a healthy thing", a city so enchanting that one of Hitler's own generals double crossed der Furher to save it, it's a city that gets under your skin.

My time in Paris has been so amazing mostly because of the people that I have been hanign out with. I met Jason first, 28 year old oil field worker from Canada. He and I have been hanging out and seeing the sights together for the past three days. Whitney, 22 and Ashley, 20 sorority girls from Michigan were also residents of room 18, and we all went out both nights in a group with various other people added in.

I have so many stories from this city, just from the past three days, but I'm going to cut it down to one for right now. I wish I had the pictures to go along, those will have to come later.

Last night, Whitney, Ashley, Jason, two other guys and I went down to a small cafe down the street from our hostel and grabbed three bottles of wine and got on the Metro around 11:30pm and headed to the Eiffel Tower. We decided we were going to sit on the grass in front of the Eiffel and drink wine and take in the scene. Our Metro was slow and we had to change trains so by the time we came above ground near Bir Harakin it was midnight. Perfect timing as we found out. I was looking out the other door but I heard Ashley gasp and turned around. The sight I saw made me jump out of my seat and stare openmouthed out the window in the Metro door. The Tour Eiffel had come into view, but it wasn't lit up in the way we expected. It was sparkling. There were thousands of bright white lights flashing at high speeds all over the entire Tower. It looked like a fireworks show on a structure. I remember walking with jaw dropped toward the window and not only could I see the Tower, but the image of my own astonishment was reflected back at me in the glass. I will never forget the look that was on my face as I stared out at that amazing sight.

We ended up sitting in the park with our bottles of wine, exclaiming at the beauty of our surrondings as only tourists can, squeezing close together to keep warm. The tower's sparkling lasts for only ten minutes at the top of every hour until two in the morning, one on Sundays. So, we got to see it one more time from beginning to end.

I leave tonight for Berlin, but a part of this city will always stay with me. I still have more I want to do, but that will have to wait until I return.

Until then, at the risk of sounding cliche, I'll always have Paris.

Love to all at home,
-M

Cheerio! Pip pip! and all that Jazz

I woke up today with a MASSIVE blister that covered the entire left side of the ball of my right foot, compliments of my trekking around the city yesterday. I opened it up and stuck a band aid on it for today. Not getting me down, I've got sights to see!

Today I went around and did the things that interested me most yesterday. I went inside the Tower of London, and that pretty cool - I took a Beefeaters tour (yes, Bruch, it was really good) and saw the crown jewels along with the torture exhibit. I rode the London Eye and took about 100 pictures during the flight, the views were so incredible. (yes, yes, Bruch and Jenna, you were right!) I meet two really nice older ladies in line for the Eye, and we were in the same capsule. We chatted about politics and traveling and the one from London (the other was a visiting cousin from New Zealand) pointed out a lot of buildings and things during the flight. I also went inside Westminster Abbey, which blew me away. There are so many tombs and crypts in there, it's crazy. I saw some of the more famous ones, Elizabeth I, Henry VIII, Innocents Corner, all the ones in Poets Corner (including Tennyson, Chaucer, Keats and the memorial to Shakespeare) I saw Sir Issac Newton's tomb and also where he used to live in the Tower of London. The interior was so ornate and beautiful and so incredibly big.

I also went down to Buckingham Palace to watch the changing of the guard, which was really neat to see. I'm a little sad that I won't be in London one more day because tomorrow they are having the full dress rehearsal for the Queen's birthday parade, including the trooping of the color, which means all of the guards will be out and marching. That would be something to see.

After the Tower of London I headed back here to South Kensington on the Metro. I was sooo tired, I almost fell asleep between every stop. I made it, however, to my stop and got off and headed to the little convenience store for dinner. I've been eating a lot less over here than I would normally in the states, mainly because it cost money to eat and I'm overly anxious about what I spend and where. Today for breakfast I had a blueberry muffin and a cheese twist from the aforementioned convenience store. Lunch was an extra long brat with fried onions that I had for lunch yesterday as well, and dinner was a chicken and bacon sandwich and a cheese twist. I've developed an affinity for those cheese twists, as you can see. There isn't usually any snacking in between, though tomorrow I've budgeted in a Starbucks coffee to treat myself before I leave for Waterloo Station for my trip across the Channel to Paris.

That's right, another city tomorrow! To prepare for it, I went to a Laundrette and did all of my laundry tonight. It was outrageously expensive, but I desperately needed it. I didn't bring a lot of clothes with me on this portion, most of my stuff is still in Berlin with my large pack, waiting for me to come back to it. I also purchased some Febreze here in London, finally. They apparently "don't make it in Holland anymore" to quote the lady at the store where I tried to purchase some in Amsterdam, unfortunately I really needed it there, so I bought some Oust air freshener and was lightly spraying everything I owned with that. Gotta take what you can get sometimes I guess. Haha.

I've been talking to a few people from my hostel, and even one of my roommates a little bit. Turns out she's Greek, not French as I assumed. The great majority of people that I have met there are all using Curazon House as a place to actually live for a while, which is strange to me, but I guess it must be cheaper than an apartment.

I don't know if I will have reliable internet access while in Paris, so this might be my last post for a while. I'm staying three days, two nights in Paris. The last night I leave on a sleeper train for Berlin. I think *fingers crossed* that I get a couchette, or a bed compartment, on this train. That would be Really cool.

Love to all at home,
*Miranda

Oh, and a huge thank you to all who have been leaving comments, it really does brighten my day when I read them. I am very grateful.

London Calling!

'ello from Merry Ol' London, again!

I walked about 11 miles today, my legs are sooooo tired. I went on a walking tour that went from Monument by the Tower of London to Parliament and Westminster Abby. That was almost 3 miles. I'll tell you all about the tour in a sec. After that, I had a little bit of a meltdown (details in a few) and then went back to Monument to see if I could go up inside it. On the Metro on the way back I realized that every other attraction was closed because I looked in my guide book, so when I got off, I wasn't surprised to see the Monument was as well. So, I decided to take a walk along the Thames. Walking near water always calms and soothes me. 4.5 hours later I arrived at my hostel... It was a very long walk.

Back to the tour, it was one of those free '[insert city name] Walks!' that I took in Amsterdam and will also be taking hopefully in Paris and definitely in Berlin. It was a lot of fun and about 3.5 hours long. Our guide was interesting, his name was Jessie. I met two other cool guys, Simon and Jon on the tour. Simon was staying at an amazing hostel, St. Christopher's and he and I talked about our hostels and city experiences. Jon was studying to be a London Walks! tour guide, he was really cool, but he and I talked mostly during the walks between stops, because he had to take notes. He told me his first tour is on Saturday and that he's super nervous and is going to do it hungover. I laughed.

The tour ended at Westminster Abbey, my number 1 place I want to see while I'm here, and Simon and I actually tried to sneak in on advice from Jon, but they were closing it for Mass. After that, Simon tried to help me out by giving me the number for his hostel so that I could try to switch rooms, unfortunately the rates they gave me were far too steep, but it was nice of him nonetheless to wait with me while I made the calls. He's going to be in Berlin in a week and a half or so, after I get there, I told him to give me a ring so that I could stop by with him and his friends that he's traveling with and we could check out the city, maybe take the Berlin Walks! tour.

Simon left and I continued to try more hostels, but no go. I was getting upset by then, because I really don't like my hostel. I broke down and called Nick, even though I know it's going to hit me when my bill comes and I was interrupting him at work. I was all weepy when he answered the phone and talked to him for a few minutes. He wasn't very sympathetic about it, but I can't blame him, he's right that this was my choice to stay in London in a hostel and that was the chance I took. However, on the other hand I really can't afford any of the other options. He did send me a sweet email that I got a little while ago, and that cheered me up a bit. Though, I'm starting to worry about my hostel in Paris now. Lets hope it's better than I'm expecting (eh Jenna?).

After off I got off the phone with Nick was when I took the metro back to the Monument, and then began my walk. I walked by the Thames to the Millennium Bridge by St. Paul's, and then crossed and continued east along the Thames, crossing back at Westminster, then went south passed Big Ben and Parliament. I turned away from the Thames at Lambeth Bridge and made my way to Victoria Station, then from there up Buckingham Palace Road to Grosvernor, which led me to Hyde Park. I walked around there, saw the Princess Diana Memorial Fountain (I think, it was a little unclear) and also saw the Peter Pan statue. That, was amazing. Absolutely incredible. If you know me well you know I absolutely love Peter Pan, and seeing that statue meant a lot to me. I then turned back south to leave the park, crossing into Kensington Gardens passing the Kensington Palace at a distance, and then exited at the Queens Gate. I walked the block to Palace Gate and turned down that. Palace Gate soon turned into Gloucester Road, and then it was only a few short turns to my hostel once I reached the metro station.
To make that shorter: I walked from City to South Kensington. In a round-about way.

I don't know if that meant anything to you, or if it was just boring, but I like having a record.

I think I got sun today, my face is really hot. I'm probably going to get stupid glasses tan lines. Oh, yeah, about that. My first night in Amsterdam, I put my contacts in my case that night, and woke up in the morning to find that the left one had shriveled and cracked, and I left all my others in Berlin with my luggage. Boooo. So, glasses from now on it is.

Well, that's all for now. Seeing (hopefully) the Tower and WESTMINSTER ABBEY tomorrow!!!!!

Love to all at home,
*Miranda

Ever On and On

If you can tell me where I got the title for this post from, you're a nerd - but really really cool to me

Amsterdam was an amazing city. Right now I'm really missing it.

On my first night at the Pig (for that was the name of my hostel, I met three guys at the hostel bar, their names were Ryan and Chris (brothers) and their travel partner Derrick. We played pool for a couple rounds and then decided to go out and check out the city at night. First came the endless search for a working atm in which we ran into this CRAZY local who provided us with quite the entertainment. We checked out couple bars on our walk around and then some coffee shops so the boys could buy some stuff and we could get some snacks. We went and walked around the red light district once it was fully dark, which was pretty mind blowing. Btw, Amsterdam, I've decided is in some sort of paralle univers from the rest of the world, because it doesn't get dark there until almost 11 o'clock at night. It was really strange. But anyways, back to the red light district.

This is me, standing at the entrancy to 'skinny st'

All those windows with the red lights
over them are display windows. The
prostitutes stand in them trying to attract
customers. The best part is my back is

5 ft from a church in this picture.
Get your sin and salvation all on the same block!

Having fun in the

chill area of my hostel.

It's a big platform of pillows

next to the entrance. No shoes allowed!

This is the street my hostel is on. If you look reeeeally closely you can see it. Right side of the st. It's the small square white sign and the skinny sign above it that says

HOSTEL in orange.

Sara and her daughter Phoebe, two people I met in line for the Anne Frank House (see the plaque

by Phoebe's head) They took a much better

picture than I did.

I've got a lot more pictures from Amsterdam, but they will have to wait for another time! I did a lot in A-dam yesterday, went on a 3 hour walking tour, visited the sex museum (!!) and hung out with the people from my Hostel one more time. I played several disaterous games of pool with Ryan as my partner. Poor guy.

I'm in London now, flew over from Schipol airport this afternoon. I landed in London Gatwick and then took the shuttle to Victoria station, and then the Metro to Gloucestor Road. I'm all checked into my hostel, butI don't like it. First, it took me aout 30 minutes of walking around this neighborhood with all of my packs to find it, and then the lady at the reception desk in teh basement didn't have any change for me. How do you run a business and not have any change?! It's a very quiet place and even my roommates don't talk to me. Oh well, it's a great incentive to get up in the morning and head out for the sights and the tours.

One last picture to leave you with...

This is what I look like today! So you don't forget me :)

Love to all at home,

Miranda