tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57848793503616075712024-03-13T06:46:34.300-07:00Kym's TravelBlogueUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5784879350361607571.post-72150216228258175082011-07-27T00:24:00.000-07:002011-07-28T06:03:35.873-07:00For better or for worse?The Germans do many, many things better than we do.<br /><br />Their public transportation and streets in general are immaculate except for cigarette butts. And graffiti. But I think they like their graffiti, otherwise wouldn't they clean it up? Public transportation is used by people of all socio-ecomonic groups.<br /><br />They use almost exclusively use led lights.<br /><br />They have the fancy toilets where you adjust the flush in accordance to the mass of your deposit, so to speak. Everywhere. And a way to stop the flushing if your deposit has already gone down.<br /><br />They have very few obese people. I attribute this to: biking all the time, small portions of food, and dogs.<br /><br />They bike everywhere, as I've mentioned. People of all ages. It's convenient, the paths are well constructed, it's just amazing.<br /><br />The food portions are small, and they raise the price significantly for a larger size. Let's take ice cream for example, say a one scoop (ball, they call it...) is 2 Euros, but two scoops is 3 Euros. In the US, the next size up would be somewhere between 20 and 50 cents. A larger soda will cost significantly more than a small one.<br /><br />They have a ton of dogs, and the dogs can go everywhere. Everwhere. Food court in the mall. Museums. Restaurants. Anywhere. I think walking these dogs helps keep them up and moving.<br /><br />They do a great job with recycling. They even have Goodwill type boxes beside their other recycling things. They have opportunities to recycle everywhere.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mm2K9Lky_YM/Ti_ADhSAFgI/AAAAAAAAAO8/6febf4hWqLs/s1600/IMG_3383.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 132px; height: 176px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mm2K9Lky_YM/Ti_ADhSAFgI/AAAAAAAAAO8/6febf4hWqLs/s320/IMG_3383.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633932825569793538" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5FNYpLHHRuk/Ti-_6NZPzlI/AAAAAAAAAO0/y1NyFA5d814/s1600/IMG_3384.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 201px; height: 94px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5FNYpLHHRuk/Ti-_6NZPzlI/AAAAAAAAAO0/y1NyFA5d814/s320/IMG_3384.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633932665612652114" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />They have a ton of electricity, and they love to use it. They conserve water, and paper (claiming they're almost out of trees) but run electricity like it's water to us. They have ample wind farms and even a nuclear power plant right IN Dresden, thought I heard they're going to close it.<br /><br />They heat the whole outdoors. Seriously.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LC48inU2Slw/Ti_AuVFgwhI/AAAAAAAAAPU/Er_bEwtmbDw/s1600/IMG_3201.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 218px; height: 162px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LC48inU2Slw/Ti_AuVFgwhI/AAAAAAAAAPU/Er_bEwtmbDw/s320/IMG_3201.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633933561030558226" border="0" /></a>Heated garden terrace.<br /><br />It's not all amazing, though.<br /><br />Germany is TERRIBLE at universal access. There are hardly any accommodations for handicapped people. If you're in a wheelchair, tough noogies. There are only about 1 in four tram stops that are wheelchair accessible. There are stairs and cobblestones everywhere. Spain was much better, but not nearly as good as the US. I just couldn't believe how glaring it was that there were NO ramps, NO handicapped bathrooms, etc.<br /><br />The Germans and Spaniards have two horrible habits. Smoking and tanning.<br /><br />Seriously, Americans look much younger than their European counterparts because most of us don't smoke and most of us don't tan.<br /><br />Don't you worry 'bout Big Tobacco. They've got all of Europe to sell to.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pY2zfcnbjms/Ti-_kX--w9I/AAAAAAAAAOs/vJmUaId9vzk/s1600/IMG_3385.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 216px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pY2zfcnbjms/Ti-_kX--w9I/AAAAAAAAAOs/vJmUaId9vzk/s320/IMG_3385.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633932290498151378" border="0" /></a><br />This is also why they waste so much electricity with heaters and things outdoors. Smoking inside is illegal, so most restaurants are in the street next to the restaurant with oodles of umbrella-ed tables. Some umbrellas even have a heat source.<br /><br />So, you can sit inside and sweat because they don't have air conditioning, or your can sit outside and be second-hand smoked to death.<br /><br />It's a really tough choice. Really, it is. Especially Since they don't have air conditioning. You either swelter in somewhat smoke-free air, or feel comfortable in smoky air. It's a good thing my doctor told me to continue my asthma meds until I returned from Europe.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QM5eFuzVDAs/Ti_AbDbPShI/AAAAAAAAAPM/J5D-JiUbEks/s1600/IMG_3407.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 193px; height: 259px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QM5eFuzVDAs/Ti_AbDbPShI/AAAAAAAAAPM/J5D-JiUbEks/s320/IMG_3407.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633933229872335378" border="0" /></a>Smoking room at the Barcelona airport.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Cn0sPzBDn28/Ti_AK5Z2TaI/AAAAAAAAAPE/lC7nRnT0xlc/s1600/IMG_3522.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 158px; height: 118px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Cn0sPzBDn28/Ti_AK5Z2TaI/AAAAAAAAAPE/lC7nRnT0xlc/s320/IMG_3522.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633932952304242082" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Smoking room at a mall in Germany.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_SLsOfE-bR8/TjFdoRdO5gI/AAAAAAAAAPc/QgGjnPkh5uY/s1600/IMG_3542.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 133px; height: 178px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_SLsOfE-bR8/TjFdoRdO5gI/AAAAAAAAAPc/QgGjnPkh5uY/s320/IMG_3542.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634387555279365634" border="0" /></a>The bong store.<br /><br />What more can I say?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5784879350361607571.post-59808557107573927492011-07-26T23:52:00.000-07:002011-07-27T00:24:12.058-07:00Mobsters at Salamanca and other Barcelona eating adventuresThe first night we ate at a restaurant called Salamanca. The employees were almost exclusively men.<br /><br />They wore ties and the place was swarming with these waiters.<br /><br />Some also guarded the perimeter because pickpockets might approach. There was a very assertive female employee that went to town verbally on a group of six men with a dog. They appeared to have been under the influence of something, and they had questionable hygiene.<br /><br />They sort of worked as a team, but there seemed to be a strict social hierarchy. The lower waiters fought among themselves. Victor overheard one telling another he was going to kick his ass.<br /><br />They wore towely things over their shoulders, and instead of brushing down a chair or table that had tree debris on it, they whacked at it like boys in a locker room towel fight.<br /><br />(As an aside, they seem to smoke a lot of pot in the beach area. Maybe it's legal.)<br /><br />They worked hard to usher the people into the restaurant. Everyone who walked by, they would hold up fingers to indicate how many people and try to pull them in.<br /><br />Victor spied fresh seafood and fell into some sort of trance.<br /><br />Here's the menu:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7eOwUZhhTxE/Ti-2R8_QiaI/AAAAAAAAANk/7CtmUq9PYf8/s1600/IMG_3409.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 411px; height: 547px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7eOwUZhhTxE/Ti-2R8_QiaI/AAAAAAAAANk/7CtmUq9PYf8/s320/IMG_3409.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633922078409263522" border="0" /></a><br />Yep, I was officially going to starve in Barcelona, too. *sigh* And just look at those prices!<br /><br />They brought this soggy pinkish bread. Turns out it is a delicacy: tomato rubbed on lousy white bread with olive oil and salt.<br /><br />Ugh.<br /><br />But Victor was happy!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ht-vXy1GEVM/Ti-3iUty4YI/AAAAAAAAANs/MKUSrfoS_7Q/s1600/IMG_3411.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 128px; height: 171px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ht-vXy1GEVM/Ti-3iUty4YI/AAAAAAAAANs/MKUSrfoS_7Q/s320/IMG_3411.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633923459168002434" border="0" /></a>I asked for "plain tap" water, and they brought me a 1.5 liter bottle of water. I was embarrassed and started laughing, but then I noticed that a few other table had the outsize water bottle, too.<br /><br />I ordered the alleged house recommendation: potato, egg, and ham.<br /><br />Ugh, ick. Greasy, squishy french fries, two fried eggs, and some sort of heinous red bacon-y fat disgusto meat sort of product.<br /><br />I ate most of the french fries, and the waiter brought me "plain" bread.<br /><br />Look at this view from my seat!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mXWLDsCk7EE/Ti-4UVboZHI/AAAAAAAAAN0/5S1fyDdc0tA/s1600/IMG_3410.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 178px; height: 237px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mXWLDsCk7EE/Ti-4UVboZHI/AAAAAAAAAN0/5S1fyDdc0tA/s320/IMG_3410.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633924318353712242" border="0" /></a><br />And I got to watch the mobsters work, bring food to customers who hadn't even ordered it, and fight over the bill.<br /><br />And everyone smokes and smokes and smokes. It's inescapable.<br /><br />The meal was 113 Euros. Yikes!<br /><br />Don't you worry 'bout me, though. By Saturday night I had found something to eat.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ueGRYizjHsY/Ti-6ElZ5ipI/AAAAAAAAAOE/6s-X7XDsb90/s1600/IMG_3456.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 255px; height: 341px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ueGRYizjHsY/Ti-6ElZ5ipI/AAAAAAAAAOE/6s-X7XDsb90/s320/IMG_3456.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633926246786763410" border="0" /></a><br />Oh yeah, that's me. At a beachside bar called "Ona Beach". (Get it? On a beach?)<br />I'm drinking a "sex on the beach" cocktail and eating...that's right...a grilled cheese sandwich!<br /><br />Here's another meal.<br /><br />Victor's appetizer:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CDA7DnRvKHE/Ti-68CjgPAI/AAAAAAAAAOM/CwYmomjiDjo/s1600/IMG_3458.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 173px; height: 230px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CDA7DnRvKHE/Ti-68CjgPAI/AAAAAAAAAOM/CwYmomjiDjo/s320/IMG_3458.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633927199504481282" border="0" /></a><br />Baby octopi! He really misses seafood when he's in land-locked Porkany...I mean Germany.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-owIbJnJwcTY/Ti-71ZLaNMI/AAAAAAAAAOk/9iQqImbFHuk/s1600/IMG_3459.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 131px; height: 175px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-owIbJnJwcTY/Ti-71ZLaNMI/AAAAAAAAAOk/9iQqImbFHuk/s320/IMG_3459.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633928184829981890" border="0" /></a>Victor's dinner: seafood paella.<br /><br />My dinner:<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vxjUXAd2Ilg/Ti-7KXMYbKI/AAAAAAAAAOc/zwnJDvHX4aU/s1600/IMG_3460.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 154px; height: 204px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vxjUXAd2Ilg/Ti-7KXMYbKI/AAAAAAAAAOc/zwnJDvHX4aU/s320/IMG_3460.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633927445562813602" border="0" /></a>Why yes! That is spaghetti with shaky cheese on top!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5784879350361607571.post-50908999577006762282011-07-26T02:15:00.000-07:002011-07-26T02:19:44.365-07:00<style>@font-face { font-family: "Cambria"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }</style> <p class="MsoNormal">Absolutely beautiful flight.<span style=""> </span>Amazing.<span style=""> </span>We flew over the Swiss Alps, Versailles, and finally I glimpsed, for the first time, the Mediterranean Sea.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">It looks JUST LIKE the pictures.<span style=""> </span>Aqua and indigo contrasting with the current.<span style=""> </span>Cliffs on one side, beaches on the other of many peninsulas.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">As we descended, the beaches stretched out before us, bordered by the city and then the Pyrenees.<span style=""> </span>Amazing.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Yada yada yada.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">My thrill and enjoyment slowly slipped away.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">I had been in charge of booking the flight and hotel.<span style=""> </span>I did it at about, oh, 1 AM on Heritage Days weekend.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">I had written down the hotel name and reservation number in my iPhone.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Confidently, I told Victor to tell the cabbie ('cause Victor speaks Spanish) "Coronado Hotel".<span style=""> </span>Victor asked the cabbie if it was a nice hotel.<span style=""> </span>The cabbie replied "Cheap".<span style=""> </span>Victor gave me the, "You booked a whorehouse?" look.<span style=""> </span>I protested, saying that it had fabulous reviews on TripAdvisor.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">We arrived, and Victor looked around dubiously.<span style=""> </span>I insisted, "All the hotels are small; that's how it is in Barcelona."</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">I presented the confirmation number to the casually dressed receptionist.<span style=""> </span>She insisted that there was no reservation.<span style=""> </span>I took out my computer to show her the screenshot of the reservation.<span style=""> </span>She said no, and asked me to find the confirmation email.<span style=""> </span>I asked her for the Internet password, which she provided, and tried to find my email confirmation.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Internal colorful language abounded.<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">I apologized to both Victor and the receptionist.<span style=""> </span>I mined my email, but could find nothing.<span style=""> </span>Victor was trying to calm me down, while saying that it was OK because this hotel was clearly questionable.<span style=""> </span>Then he took his camera and photographed me in my frantic state.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Here we were, in Barcelona, with a hotel that wouldn't admit I had the reservation.<span style=""> </span>In high tourist season.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">The receptionist seemed to take pity on me, and asked to see my computer again.<span style=""> </span>She said, "23", as in I'd made the reservation to start on July 23.<span style=""> </span>It was July 22.<span style=""> </span>She checked her computer again and indicated that they were booked.<span style=""> </span>Of course, her English is challenged, my Spanish is useless, and Victor is the only one who has the full picture.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">I start searching for other hotels.<span style=""> </span>550 Euros is the price on the first one that comes up.<span style=""> </span>I am now officially dissolving.<span style=""> </span>Victor is trying to be reassuring, but can't really hide his amusement.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">She asks again, and looks at my computer</p> <p class="MsoNormal">And he's just hoping we can get out of the hotel.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">She says, "Hotel CONDADO," and points my screen.<span style=""> </span>She indicates that we are at Hotel Coronado.<span style=""> </span>Victor asks her to call us (a second) cab.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">He says, "How did you get that mixed up?<span style=""> </span>Why did you think it was Coronado?"</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">I'm mortified.<span style=""> </span>Here is my boyfriend, who speaks Spanish as a first language, and his stupid gringa girlfriend screws up the names of the hotel.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">"The explorer," I stammered.<span style=""> </span>"Coronado, I taught about him."<span style=""> </span>I was referring, of course, to Francisco Vasquez de Coronado, about whom I had taught fifth graders about 12 years ago.<span style=""> </span>"What does Condado mean?<span style=""> </span>Does it even mean anything?"</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">"Yes, it means 'county'."</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">We got into the second taxi, the cabbie says, "Yes, is a nice hotel".</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">We arrived, my reservation was still for the wrong three days, but we got their last room.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Crisis averted.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">I'm very behind on blogging, but as Victor said, "We can see things or you can blog".</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RhqdtXtkmAI/Ti6GL97lNrI/AAAAAAAAANc/k8tmnkROcaw/s1600/IMG_3414.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 374px; height: 277px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RhqdtXtkmAI/Ti6GL97lNrI/AAAAAAAAANc/k8tmnkROcaw/s320/IMG_3414.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633587724048217778" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Within hours of the hotel debacle, we swam in the Mediterranean. This is apres swim.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5784879350361607571.post-809435602163888772011-07-21T15:32:00.001-07:002011-07-21T15:38:01.833-07:00Just picturesThis is in the "Hi Mom!" category.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E5-IupcWL3c/TiipULnp1UI/AAAAAAAAANE/Jgb7yvUZ7_M/s1600/IMG_3256.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E5-IupcWL3c/TiipULnp1UI/AAAAAAAAANE/Jgb7yvUZ7_M/s320/IMG_3256.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631937498208392514" border="0" /></a>At a restaurant<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PHHaOtJUc-8/TiipqO6K5KI/AAAAAAAAANM/WNRW16DKMTA/s1600/IMG_3213.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PHHaOtJUc-8/TiipqO6K5KI/AAAAAAAAANM/WNRW16DKMTA/s320/IMG_3213.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631937877048485026" border="0" /></a><br />Neustadt Market.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5784879350361607571.post-32321237452734648762011-07-21T15:15:00.001-07:002011-07-21T15:28:59.946-07:00For immature audiences only, part 4I'm going to try really hard to NOT make this a daily thing.<br /><br />I mean, I'm a grown woman. I should not be giggling like a 12 year old, right?<br /><br />OK, you either.<br /><br />You CAN look away...<br /><br />Don't say I didn't warn you...<br /><br />So this is your last chance to close this...<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uojuGl7U8sk/TiilXEkaGGI/AAAAAAAAAMk/p85sLz_82Jo/s1600/IMG_3388.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uojuGl7U8sk/TiilXEkaGGI/AAAAAAAAAMk/p85sLz_82Jo/s320/IMG_3388.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631933149808826466" border="0" /></a><br />Yep. That's right. Is this how they take their vitamins? Eat their yogurt?<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aPhnv3YN8jU/Tiil1owAkwI/AAAAAAAAAMs/1af6KRfN86s/s1600/IMG_3344.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aPhnv3YN8jU/Tiil1owAkwI/AAAAAAAAAMs/1af6KRfN86s/s320/IMG_3344.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631933674917237506" border="0" /></a><br />Germany's answer to "#1 in the #2 business". Notice the sweet little heart above the I.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YUZL93_mm7Y/TiimWfV8VII/AAAAAAAAAM0/q7F2GFopbKE/s1600/IMG_3296.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 459px; height: 344px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YUZL93_mm7Y/TiimWfV8VII/AAAAAAAAAM0/q7F2GFopbKE/s320/IMG_3296.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631934239327671426" border="0" /></a><br />What? Maine wants to bring billboards back? This ad alone is a good reason not to.<br /><br />Criminy, I just explained what a douchebag was to the boys. That was bad enough. (I don't think they'll be calling anyone that for a loooong time.)<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />This is right out in public in the train station.<br /><br /><br />You've heard of a laundromat, right?<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--wtijgywoJg/TiinPR6auyI/AAAAAAAAAM8/AQ_XSxGfVlE/s1600/IMG_3306.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 448px; height: 336px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--wtijgywoJg/TiinPR6auyI/AAAAAAAAAM8/AQ_XSxGfVlE/s320/IMG_3306.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631935214975105826" border="0" /></a><br />Sadly, I still have more discoveries to share with you, but that's enough for today.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5784879350361607571.post-39993037312411723712011-07-21T14:14:00.000-07:002011-07-21T15:31:37.728-07:00BikrGürl continued...I'm sorry I had to end the last blog entry quickly. We went to barbecue at one of Victor's co-workers houses. It featured...beer and...wait for it...pork!!!! There was also <span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps">Hähnchen, or chicken, and garlic bread on baguettes. And wine. And vegeta</span></span><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps">ble</span></span><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps">s, b</span></span><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps">ut I'm still nervous about, you know...E-coli. This party is another whole post.<br /><br />So, back to the bike...<br /><br />A bit more scenery...<br /><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gry9vbVMboc/TiiXqA0hXDI/AAAAAAAAAK0/SaDYdXw1qD0/s1600/IMG_3322.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 243px; height: 181px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gry9vbVMboc/TiiXqA0hXDI/AAAAAAAAAK0/SaDYdXw1qD0/s320/IMG_3322.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631918082057395250" border="0" /></a><br />I call this the Jesus Christ boat.<br /><br />The sign says, "I am the light of the world...Jesus Christ". By the way, I have yet to see a Catholic church here. Actually, I've only seen one church. I haven't seen any schools either.<br /><br /><br /><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GHWn3vnK8JQ/TiiYiNpZdFI/AAAAAAAAAK8/5zZq0d_8Szw/s1600/IMG_3332.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 236px; height: 174px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GHWn3vnK8JQ/TiiYiNpZdFI/AAAAAAAAAK8/5zZq0d_8Szw/s320/IMG_3332.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631919047573075026" border="0" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />Did I mention it was pouring? That's why the backgr</span></span></span></span></span></span><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps">ound is gray.<br /><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qmoZ1Cm1PBc/TiiY-N1SHYI/AAAAAAAAALE/8ZZ89OZWKjA/s1600/IMG_3336.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 172px; height: 231px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qmoZ1Cm1PBc/TiiY-N1SHYI/AAAAAAAAALE/8ZZ89OZWKjA/s320/IMG_3336.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631919528659262850" border="0" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M6jmmVViNR8/TiiZ1ypsdNI/AAAAAAAAALM/8yDFM09x2g4/s1600/IMG_3337.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 237px; height: 175px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M6jmmVViNR8/TiiZ1ypsdNI/AAAAAAAAALM/8yDFM09x2g4/s320/IMG_3337.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631920483435574482" border="0" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />Some lovely buildings. They have so much character.<br /><br /><br /><br /><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-36FftttLV8Q/TiiaNGFHyqI/AAAAAAAAALU/Z19Ut96W7Tc/s1600/IMG_3338.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 219px; height: 296px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-36FftttLV8Q/TiiaNGFHyqI/AAAAAAAAALU/Z19Ut96W7Tc/s320/IMG_3338.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631920883787877026" border="0" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-30GxIgYIzQw/Tiiain06ZII/AAAAAAAAALc/fiH5S80g1ZY/s1600/IMG_3339.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 284px; height: 210px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-30GxIgYIzQw/Tiiain06ZII/AAAAAAAAALc/fiH5S80g1ZY/s320/IMG_3339.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631921253623948418" border="0" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />I lost the bike path somehow. No worries. More houses to look at. Yay!<br /><br /><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-STiyISD4rVA/Tiia5pyAgnI/AAAAAAAAALk/DrkkWVm2znE/s1600/IMG_3340.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 285px; height: 211px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-STiyISD4rVA/Tiia5pyAgnI/AAAAAAAAALk/DrkkWVm2znE/s320/IMG_3340.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631921649285628530" border="0" /></a><br /><br />However, where did that path go?<br /><br /><br />I found myself on a narrow street, so I hopped up on the sidewalk. The sidewalk on this side of the road was about as wide as a doorway. So I drove ca</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps">refully. Don't-fall-don't-fall-don't-fall-shit-there's-a-car-this-would-be-a-bad-time-to-fall...<br /><br /><br />Yep. Crashed. The car slammed on the brakes. I tried to fall safely. I think I removed the fingerprints from my hand trying to hang onto the sidewalk instead of falling into the road. It didn't work.<br /><br />I thought, "At least I have my license on me. They </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps">can ID the body".<br /><br />I landed, did a quick inventory, decided I would li</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps">v</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps">e, and jumped up, pulled up the bike, and scooted to the side.<br /><br />The car did not even check to see if I needed help or was OK! In fact, I swear I could almost hear the tires squeal!<br /><br />There were no other witnesses. This was good, be</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps">cause I mounted the bike and started riding. And the seat had turned sideways. I probably looked pretty dumb.<br /><br />Anyway, I was a bit shaken, but I forged on (after fixing the bike seat). I </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps">ju</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps">st needed to find the river and get back on that damned path.<br /><br />I drove into an industrial area. Concrete factory or something. I kept going. Eventually, I got behind some sort of business/industry and was at</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"> a dead end. Or an alternate universe.<br /><br />First I saw this:<br /><br /><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UTWGikHCUXA/TiidPk47CbI/AAAAAAAAAL0/TBvr9V4eWM0/s1600/IMG_3341.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 281px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UTWGikHCUXA/TiidPk47CbI/AAAAAAAAAL0/TBvr9V4eWM0/s320/IMG_3341.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631924224952830386" border="0" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />Well how 'bout that. I didn't know that the Oscar statues were made in Germany.<br /><br />In my peripheral vision I saw something else...odd. I turned to see this:<br /><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ElyFUasqxrk/Tiid82oFVlI/AAAAAAAAAL8/uE32zPEIJFU/s1600/IMG_3342.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 109px; height: 146px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ElyFUasqxrk/Tiid82oFVlI/AAAAAAAAAL8/uE32zPEIJFU/s320/IMG_3342.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631925002808153682" border="0" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />The only thing that could have made this enormous head freakier is if it were attached to an enormous naked body.<br /><br /><br /><br />If that wasn't bad enough...like horror movie...out of the corner I my eye...<br /><br /><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--_CG4_NRi8M/TiihWSjK4KI/AAAAAAAAAMU/_ST8RDUAucI/s1600/IMG_3328.jpg"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" 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lang="de"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></a><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" 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class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9HPosR7s2r8/TiiezEzSV6I/AAAAAAAAAME/8AErLt8mhgE/s1600/IMG_3343.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 185px; height: 247px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9HPosR7s2r8/TiiezEzSV6I/AAAAAAAAAME/8AErLt8mhgE/s320/IMG_3343.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631925934326175650" border="0" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />Can you hear the horror movie stabbing scene music in your head? Because I did.<br /><br />Eventually, I got myself good and lost. I did come across a beautiful garden center, but that's another blog.<br /><br />I was getting pretty nervous about how in the wor<span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps">ld I would find my way back. But then I relaxed. I'd just get in a taxi and have the cabbie take me and the bike back to "4 Eisenstradgje: Alexander Pushkin Platz". At least Victor was careful to teach me how to say the address when I got here.<br /><br />Then I relaxed and eventually found my way back.<br /><br />Here was a random sighting:<br /><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tvCfnKqyKGc/TiigN3OHrDI/AAAAAAAAAMM/EwmSZU3tICE/s1600/IMG_3331.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 140px; height: 187px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tvCfnKqyKGc/TiigN3OHrDI/AAAAAAAAAMM/EwmSZU3tICE/s320/IMG_3331.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631927494048721970" border="0" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><br />Yep, a horse grazing. In a patch of overgrown grass on the edge of the river. In the middle of the city. No house, no barn, no owner nearby. Okie-dokie.<br /><br />Now, cue the Darth Vader theme:<br /><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--_CG4_NRi8M/TiihWSjK4KI/AAAAAAAAAMU/_ST8RDUAucI/s1600/IMG_3328.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 157px; height: 489px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--_CG4_NRi8M/TiihWSjK4KI/AAAAAAAAAMU/_ST8RDUAucI/s320/IMG_3328.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631928738335350946" border="0" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps"><br />Poor Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany (like the President).<br /><br />Oh, speaking of President, I found myself defending President Obama by asserting that he doesn't dye his hair black! The BBQ people insisted that he has gray hair and he dyes it. Of all the foreign policy discussions! This is the American government issue they want to discuss?<br /><br /><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5784879350361607571.post-30139716627334603612011-07-21T08:26:00.000-07:002011-07-21T08:45:08.802-07:00Biker-MädchenI don't have time for a long entry...but I want to post this so people know I'm still alive.<br /><br />It was the second cold (relatively) and rainy day in a row. I decided that I could suck it up and bike in the rain, or I could shop and spend more money.<br /><br />My frugal side won.<br /><br />So, I rented a bike online. It took about 45 minutes to figure out the reservation system. You have to reserve through your mobile phone. Fortunately, when the whole deal didn't work for me, there was an English speaking customer service rep to walk me through the process.<br /><br />So, here's my bike.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qp9uFu1XLAk/TihF6jvRE0I/AAAAAAAAAKM/BZQT2KwV8pA/s1600/IMG_3323.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 309px; height: 230px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qp9uFu1XLAk/TihF6jvRE0I/AAAAAAAAAKM/BZQT2KwV8pA/s320/IMG_3323.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631828206355026754" border="0" /></a><br /><br />It cost 1 Euro an hour, and I think it was just an ad for a cinema. But what do I know.<br /><br />Victor has a bike, a very fancy bike, but it is a boys bike. I have crotched the beam enough to know that I was NOT going to risk it on vacation.<br /><br />I did take his super safety-conscious helmet with me. Bonus--it's warm!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aGaPKrMKe6s/TihGqPweu3I/AAAAAAAAAKU/lrDITpuo0ZE/s1600/IMG_3314.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 205px; height: 274px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aGaPKrMKe6s/TihGqPweu3I/AAAAAAAAAKU/lrDITpuo0ZE/s320/IMG_3314.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631829025625127794" border="0" /></a><br />It even has earflaps.<br /><br />I'm having a kind of accident prone kind of day. I walked in front of a train, a car, and was honked at by another train. They have so many crosswalks here. Some for bikes. Some for pedestrians. Some for both. It's very confusing.<br /><br />There is a separation in many places for walkers and bikers.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eDCMP_dsmRw/TihHzI1X1oI/AAAAAAAAAKc/gdiSi9bzpGE/s1600/IMG_3315.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 185px; height: 246px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eDCMP_dsmRw/TihHzI1X1oI/AAAAAAAAAKc/gdiSi9bzpGE/s320/IMG_3315.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631830277897049730" border="0" /></a><br />I took my bike to the famous bike path along the Elbe River. The path goes for miles and miles and miles.<br /><br />Here was where I happened to come upon the path.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NR13QLuUzKU/TihIewA8ywI/AAAAAAAAAKk/iMbipn5LcKM/s1600/IMG_3317.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 268px; height: 357px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NR13QLuUzKU/TihIewA8ywI/AAAAAAAAAKk/iMbipn5LcKM/s320/IMG_3317.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631831027148966658" border="0" /></a><br /><br />After carrying my bike down several sets of stairs, I resumed my ride. I saw scenes like this:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a_53ws9La-c/TihJEmm4PwI/AAAAAAAAAKs/S1XtwbzhXE8/s1600/IMG_3320.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 122px; height: 163px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a_53ws9La-c/TihJEmm4PwI/AAAAAAAAAKs/S1XtwbzhXE8/s320/IMG_3320.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631831677458726658" border="0" /></a>They have a few onion topped buildings from Russian times.<br /><br />More later...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5784879350361607571.post-20223516568089282762011-07-20T07:47:00.000-07:002011-07-20T07:51:27.578-07:00For immature audiences only, part 3It's not people of Walmart. But it could be similar.<br /><br />I can tell a European male by how he wears his pants. American men and boys wear theirs down on their hips.<br /><br />German men wear them like this.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LHrU5yaDDkM/TibrAvM_amI/AAAAAAAAAKE/zj6tiSp9oJI/s1600/IMG_3255.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LHrU5yaDDkM/TibrAvM_amI/AAAAAAAAAKE/zj6tiSp9oJI/s320/IMG_3255.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631446781976865378" border="0" /></a><br />Ouch! I should think that hurts!<br /><br /><br />Don't worry, Victor has asked me to refrain from taking pictures of men's butts in the future. He says if I continue, even in the name of research, he will take similar pictures, but not of men.<br /><br />*sigh* Fine.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5784879350361607571.post-91230519330791222011-07-20T06:58:00.000-07:002011-07-20T07:46:26.164-07:00Eis in the the HausThe freezer is now stocked with ice creme (eis). It's also called "softee" or "softeis".<br /><br />I am realizing that yet another reason this trip is such an amazing opportunity is that I'm able to experience it, just a little bit, like a resident rather than a tourist.<br /><br />I understand why my student who knew NO English, said to his ESL teacher, "No more English" and refused to work with her. I come back from being out and about and turn on International CNN just to hear English. Though it is British English with 'shedules' and constant coverage of Murdoch's hearings before Parliament.<br /><br />So, let's take a look at shopping here.<br /><br />First, the carriage.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2_xtkudhrKs/TibgRFjX1iI/AAAAAAAAAJU/1VHUp4Lvsz0/s1600/IMG_3285.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 170px; height: 228px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2_xtkudhrKs/TibgRFjX1iI/AAAAAAAAAJU/1VHUp4Lvsz0/s320/IMG_3285.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631434968226321954" border="0" /></a>To use a carriage, you have to put 1 Euro (like $1, only worth more) into the slot. That pushes the little lock out. When you're done shopping, you put your carriage back neatly, and use the key to push the Euro back out. So you get the money back. And there are no cart retrieval employees, or abandoned carts floating around.<br /><br />(The Euro coins are like this: .01, .02, .10, .20, .50, 1, and 2. Quite frankly, it's a lot of stinkin' change to carry.)<br /><br />You know what I haven't seen? At all? MACARONI AND CHEESE! I did find milk, but no skim milk, so I'm still out of luck there.<br /><br />Here are some products.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I54jMaP9GQI/TibiAgtPBeI/AAAAAAAAAJc/GJLXhJPUEX4/s1600/IMG_3286.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 184px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I54jMaP9GQI/TibiAgtPBeI/AAAAAAAAAJc/GJLXhJPUEX4/s320/IMG_3286.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631436882480924130" border="0" /></a>Yeah, um...don't we call them "hamburger buns" after Hamburg, Germany? So why are they "American Buns"?<br /><br />Plus, this county is all pork, all the time. So they really are HAMburgers.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QW4YZqbLNqo/Tibi9DPtQYI/AAAAAAAAAJk/n92pgcbMrAc/s1600/IMG_3287.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 293px; height: 219px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QW4YZqbLNqo/Tibi9DPtQYI/AAAAAAAAAJk/n92pgcbMrAc/s320/IMG_3287.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631437922544468354" border="0" /></a><br />I have no clue what these are. They were in the freezer case. Maybe a frosted cookie?<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ogTt98sFiCE/TibkFKCE-KI/AAAAAAAAAJs/2RHBg3xSbzs/s1600/IMG_3288.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 245px; height: 327px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ogTt98sFiCE/TibkFKCE-KI/AAAAAAAAAJs/2RHBg3xSbzs/s320/IMG_3288.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631439161316931746" border="0" /></a><br />This is a bar table that you can buy at the grocery store. Not a card table, not a folding table. A bar table. I was at a restaurant last night where the menu was eight pages long. Only one page had food. They like to drink here.<br /><br />When you check out, the cashiers are normally sitting and just sliding things across the scanner. You bag the groceries yourself, and you have to bring your own bags. If you don't bring a bag and you can't carry everything in your arms, you have to buy a bag. They start at .10 Euros.<br /><br />So here I am, trying to pay with a card, and the non-English speaking person shows me her card screen, says "Visa" and shakes her head sympathetically no. I'm frantically digging through my copious amount of change and paltry selection of bills, and trying to put my card away. The men behind me are getting restless.<br /><br />She was very kind, and tried to help me throw my groceries in the cart. I pulled the cart out of the way and bagged my items.<br /><br />Before you leave, you pass a pork station (OK, it's like pork-a-palooza under heat lamps, schitzel, wieners, salami, pork patties, breaded pork patties, etc.) and a bakery. I figurde I deserved a couple of chocolate croissants for all that work, so I purchased them too.<br /><br />To and from the grocery store, I passed this:<br /><br />(Avert your eyes, Puritans! I couldn't. It was there for all to see.)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qcs7EozSKPY/TiblXSq_pbI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/aAgx10wPYeg/s1600/IMG_3284.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 265px; height: 353px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qcs7EozSKPY/TiblXSq_pbI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/aAgx10wPYeg/s320/IMG_3284.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631440572385306034" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And also him:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-n0q9rDwcRuM/Tibl9--UUhI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/UuLS3R4GsCA/s1600/IMG_3280.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 224px; height: 298px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-n0q9rDwcRuM/Tibl9--UUhI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/UuLS3R4GsCA/s320/IMG_3280.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631441237112541714" border="0" /></a><br />Chuck Norris is everywhere. In random locations along buildings (they love posters and grafitti). On t-shirts: 16 pictures of him looking just like this with the caption: the 16 faces of Chuck Norris. He's WAY more popular here. Some sort of pop culture hero. I do not understand.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5784879350361607571.post-65581983160328436802011-07-19T09:01:00.000-07:002011-07-19T09:23:12.584-07:00For immature audiences only, part 2<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-itBusfwKZoI/TiWsnsbrSDI/AAAAAAAAAI0/aJoUUAgROtc/s1600/IMG_3228.jpg"><br /></a><br /><br />Before I found the Hygiene Museum, I wandered around endlessly. I was on a mission for three things today:<br />*The Green Vault museum--it's supposed to be full of inventions that some prince commissioned back in the 12oos, possibly while smoking crack.<br />*The Hygiene Museum<br />*Diet Coke<br />*Something to eat<br /><br />The "info" kiosk in Aldstadt (old city) was staffed by two women. Neither spoke English. I finally got them to understand "Green Vault", they said it in German and I recognized the sounds from my reading. They directed me. I found it. It is closed on Tuesdays.<br /><br />I took the tram out to a stop called "Hygiene Museum". And wandered for about an hour looking for the place.<br /><br />Diet Coke? That was 2.5 hours later. Something to eat? Even later than Diet Coke. A paltry chocolate truffle ice cream scoop. Honestly, these people are thin because they ride bikes, their portions are tiny, and their food is gross. In my humble opinion, of course.<br /><br />At least I could find things to laugh at.<br /><br />Here's another condom ad:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3oZSE26ryzo/TiWr8BinG3I/AAAAAAAAAIs/8s_wbU3fxO0/s1600/IMG_3210.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 248px; height: 330px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3oZSE26ryzo/TiWr8BinG3I/AAAAAAAAAIs/8s_wbU3fxO0/s320/IMG_3210.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631095956790778738" border="0" /></a><br />Oh yes, the old bra hanging off the mirror of the VW bus.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-olgOC-QPq6k/TiWtDZpJbGI/AAAAAAAAAI8/RRpqSW2qY2o/s1600/IMG_3228.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 138px; height: 547px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-olgOC-QPq6k/TiWtDZpJbGI/AAAAAAAAAI8/RRpqSW2qY2o/s320/IMG_3228.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631097183031356514" border="0" /></a><br />No, it doesn't say assfart! It means "exit".<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e0aU_dE-LC0/TiWuA8v4z4I/AAAAAAAAAJE/_DXCy9LH644/s1600/IMG_3236.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 281px; height: 361px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e0aU_dE-LC0/TiWuA8v4z4I/AAAAAAAAAJE/_DXCy9LH644/s320/IMG_3236.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631098240426889090" border="0" /></a><br />Yep, it says "Bier Bar "ASS"'<br /><br />And ass has the same meaning in the translator. I remember Old Milwaukee and Schlitz being referred to a "butt beer", but it was never a compliment.<br /><br />Finally, an ad from my current favorite movie. The one that literally gave me an asthma attack in the theatre.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m2xcKJnCank/TiWu1DHKkbI/AAAAAAAAAJM/ZSLpT_FqodE/s1600/IMG_3253.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 285px; height: 380px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m2xcKJnCank/TiWu1DHKkbI/AAAAAAAAAJM/ZSLpT_FqodE/s320/IMG_3253.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631099135488332210" border="0" /></a><br />The name of the movie is Bridesmaids. Brautalarm translates to "brew alarm". But I still love the ad!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5784879350361607571.post-63415115972899646652011-07-19T08:21:00.001-07:002011-07-19T08:54:36.110-07:00Dresden's answer to our Paul Bunyan in Bangor<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WGcoAG5WBMw/TiWhNr2ABkI/AAAAAAAAAIE/0Kxh_Dfq7uQ/s1600/IMG_3231.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 362px; height: 392px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WGcoAG5WBMw/TiWhNr2ABkI/AAAAAAAAAIE/0Kxh_Dfq7uQ/s320/IMG_3231.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631084165576263234" border="0" /></a><br />This is what greets you at the Hygiene Museum, which is supposed to be the leading museum about the human body in the world.<br /><br />Unfortunately, it is almost exclusively in German.<br /><br />And it should be called the "Sex and Childbirth" museum, because that's what it really is. They're much freer with sharing here. Models of body parts (you know which ones) with warts, lesions, etc. I'd tell you what the diseases are specifically, but they were written in German.<br /><br />There was a game where you try to get two sexual partners to, um, "peak" at the same time. A mom was watching her son and daughter play it. I felt like a Puritan.<br /><br />There was a *leather* sculpture showing the moment of birth. I almost let out a Spongebob style scream. You know, the kind that echos through the ocean.<br /><br />Seriously, next to nothing on muscles, the nervous system, skeletal system, blood, respiration, etc. Fortunately no scatology.<br /><br />Even I couldn't take pictures of most of the exhibits. I'll share what I could photograph without barfing or giggling or turning completely red faced.<br /><br />The upside to not speaking German is that they don't even bother to ask me to put my camera away. :)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZrJ9J8LyJfE/TiWi-OnoWfI/AAAAAAAAAIM/jqoc6WSOFrw/s1600/IMG_3232.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 233px; height: 172px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZrJ9J8LyJfE/TiWi-OnoWfI/AAAAAAAAAIM/jqoc6WSOFrw/s320/IMG_3232.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631086099056581106" border="0" /></a><br />An iron lung. Can you imagine living this way, or having your child in one of these?<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mRvsXtt9MXE/TiWj-1-EGPI/AAAAAAAAAIU/Ot8jQfUSJlk/s1600/IMG_3233.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 262px; height: 195px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mRvsXtt9MXE/TiWj-1-EGPI/AAAAAAAAAIU/Ot8jQfUSJlk/s320/IMG_3233.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631087209131284722" border="0" /></a><br />I'm sending this picture to Seamus. He needs to stand up straight for both his health, and so that other kids will stop calling him "Greg Heffley" a la Diary of a Wimpy Kid.<br /><br />Those are all the pictures I could take in the regular exhibit.<br /><br />Paul Bunyan should have been a clue.<br /><br />Finally, I reached the visiting exhibition about sports and the body. Yanno, thinking there might be some things about gymnastics.<br /><br />Not much.<br /><br />At first I was optimistic...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7bciDRuJeLY/TiWkyISIriI/AAAAAAAAAIc/Buc4mgMsf78/s1600/IMG_3235.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 413px; height: 140px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7bciDRuJeLY/TiWkyISIriI/AAAAAAAAAIc/Buc4mgMsf78/s320/IMG_3235.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631088090220637730" border="0" /></a><br />I'm guessing that the small one is a gymnast. They used famous athletes for some of them. Like the tracksters and big guy are all Americans. The gymnast looks a little bit Russian/Romanian, but it isn't Alina Mustafina, who is the best gymnast right now.<br /><br />Since the Americans won the last two all around titles at the Olympics, I don't know who else they would use, besides Mustafina, who is recovering from a torn ACL at last year's Worlds. (What? More information than you wanted to know? You'll thank me in 2012 when, if she can return, Mustafina will be a huge name.)<br /><br />The only other gymnastics related thing I could find was this:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RwVKPhBoav0/TiWmU_63qUI/AAAAAAAAAIk/v2SvoDlrI-A/s1600/IMG_3234.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 263px; height: 196px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RwVKPhBoav0/TiWmU_63qUI/AAAAAAAAAIk/v2SvoDlrI-A/s320/IMG_3234.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631089788782618946" border="0" /></a><br />An old school pommel horse. Yay.<br /><br />Did you notice that there are only four pictures?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5784879350361607571.post-36123052258834141712011-07-18T09:39:00.000-07:002011-07-18T09:58:25.138-07:00For immature audiences onlyIf you are easily offended, look away.<br />If you are an older relative, look away. I will disappoint you. (Yes Mom, I know exactly what "Your blog is...interesting" means in your email.)<br />If you find middle school humor boorish or obnoxious, look away.<br /><br />Remember, we tend to adopt the behaviors of the age group with whom we teach.<br /><br />So:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cU1KHACjvSM/TiRikhoTVpI/AAAAAAAAAHw/Ci0SnVwXDPs/s1600/IMG_3204.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 179px; height: 134px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cU1KHACjvSM/TiRikhoTVpI/AAAAAAAAAHw/Ci0SnVwXDPs/s320/IMG_3204.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630733813762184850" border="0" /></a><br />Bwahahahaha! Yes, I bought them. They're basically alphabet chocolate cereal surrounded by chocolate coating. Not exciting.<br /><br />This is better.<br /><br />In public.<br />At the train stop.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Th-Oww_3KKg/TiRksga1fXI/AAAAAAAAAH4/ML4BwjB3b98/s1600/IMG_3205.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 279px; height: 377px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Th-Oww_3KKg/TiRksga1fXI/AAAAAAAAAH4/ML4BwjB3b98/s320/IMG_3205.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630736149899476338" border="0" /></a>Yeah, that's a ladder up to a bed with underwear dripping down it.<br /><br />See where it says "balken biegen" in the upper left hand corner? That translates to "bending beam". I got nothing. BUT, there is what is unmistakenly an unwrapped condom over the little checkbox. Bwah!<br /><br />Another ad at the same train location is encouraging people to see "The Mouse and the Elephant", a kids play.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5784879350361607571.post-24866568553723311552011-07-18T09:23:00.000-07:002011-07-18T09:36:54.081-07:00MilkFor the love of all that is good and holy in this world...<br /><br />WHERE IS THE SKIM MILK?<br /><br />OK, I know they have cows. So why only soy milk? No refrigerated milk. I miss milk the most.<br /><br />I've had a chocolate croissant every day. I'm kind of getting sick of them. The Diet Coke tastes funky. I'm drinking it, but drinking more water. Which is good, I guess.<br /><br />I bought another loaf of bread, but I left it one the train, apparently. The first one was kind of yucky. But I DID find what I *think* is turkey breast: putenbrust.<br /><br />Even the fruit is odd. The melons are the wrong color, and the grapes have seeds.<br /><br />And the sad part is that I won't even lose weight, because I'm just eating anything that is "schokolade". Or bread. Or ice cream. But no milk.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X751J_U46N0/TiRg7t9fzTI/AAAAAAAAAHo/uj0UIECSP5M/s1600/IMG_3209.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 324px; height: 239px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X751J_U46N0/TiRg7t9fzTI/AAAAAAAAAHo/uj0UIECSP5M/s320/IMG_3209.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630732013186043186" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5784879350361607571.post-23063719878194905182011-07-18T05:05:00.000-07:002011-07-18T05:35:02.277-07:00Public transportation in GermanyPublic transport is very clean. It's a bit hard to navigate for me so far because, you know, I don't know German, or the geography of the area. But I'm getting there.<br /><br />Bikes are everywhere. I mean everywhere. Everywhere. I think it's why the people are generally thinner here. That and the ice cream portions are smaller.<br /><br /><br /><br />I get the symbols...most of them.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PKlJMSN772U/TiQiaXZUarI/AAAAAAAAAHA/LP9O2bPhzUk/s1600/IMG_3189.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PKlJMSN772U/TiQiaXZUarI/AAAAAAAAAHA/LP9O2bPhzUk/s320/IMG_3189.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630663270472116914" border="0" /></a><br />Take a taxi from 10 PM - 4 AM. Put a muzzle and leash on your dog. Hit the button if you want to stop. (OK, I thought it meant hit the button if you have a medical emergency, but Victor corrected me.) Don't drink ice cream, french fries, or coke.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W_EzeHdRApI/TiQjHdaxY_I/AAAAAAAAAHI/UsW--YURkuw/s1600/IMG_3190.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 244px; height: 183px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W_EzeHdRApI/TiQjHdaxY_I/AAAAAAAAAHI/UsW--YURkuw/s320/IMG_3190.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630664045182936050" border="0" /></a><br />Hold your own luggage. Keep your feet off the seat. No smoking, no rollerblades.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ljOvampTETQ/TiQk28jcthI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/6zfhY42vACc/s1600/IMG_3191.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 313px; height: 231px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ljOvampTETQ/TiQk28jcthI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/6zfhY42vACc/s320/IMG_3191.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630665960506308114" border="0" /></a>Make sure you buy a ticket. Hang on. Big Brother is watching you. (Yeah, really. There are video cameras EVERYWHERE!)<br /><br />But this. This on has me flummoxed.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E2g-OxbMz0A/TiQmTItpjFI/AAAAAAAAAHg/fSaCIdNQxNU/s1600/IMG_3193.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 268px; height: 202px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E2g-OxbMz0A/TiQmTItpjFI/AAAAAAAAAHg/fSaCIdNQxNU/s320/IMG_3193.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630667544318282834" border="0" /></a><br />Victor think it means 'don't be the red guy'. I think it means 'promote racial harmony and let anyone sit anywhere.'<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kYw8L2D6Efc/TiQlkGOdTWI/AAAAAAAAAHY/8HC4yQqsxzU/s1600/IMG_3192.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 381px; height: 280px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kYw8L2D6Efc/TiQlkGOdTWI/AAAAAAAAAHY/8HC4yQqsxzU/s320/IMG_3192.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630666736196734306" border="0" /></a> I put it in a translator. <br /><br />It means: Passengers without valid ticket pay a increased transport payment in accordance with the transport conditions.<br /><br />Really? That's what black suit and red face mean?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5784879350361607571.post-24493786376284567152011-07-18T01:24:00.000-07:002011-07-18T01:34:05.773-07:00Women's World CupSo, the game began at 8:30 here.<br /><br />We watched the first half at home, then headed out via taxi "Funk Taxi" for the second half. I'd googled up an American sports bar. It was raining. The sweet cabbie, (Victor had asked for an English-speaking one) tried really hard, and kept saying "casino"? We're like no! Futbol! He's like "American futbol no" and I'm going "Fifa World Cup Soccer? USA-Japan?"<br /><br />So he drives us to a casino. And the person running it says, "No, American sports bar no more."<br /><br />The cabbie wouldn't charge us, we paid him anyway, and went to the "Bistro" in the Hilton with the crappy food, but we knew they had TVs.<br /><br />Yeah, so the Japanese scored and about 1/3 of the bar was cheering.<br /><br />Then the US scored and about 1/2 of the bar was cheering. Victor stood up doing the "Yeah!" pose that men tend to do, and I was waving my arms.<br /><br />Then a woman behind us said, <span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="de"><span title="Click for alternate translations" class="hps">"Schwein". Yeah, we got called pigs. We decided to pretend not to understand and ignored the smug biotchewa.<br /><br />Then, at midnight, we went to dinner at an Australian restaurant that stays open until 3 AM. Victor had kangaroo steak with ?gravy, mushrooms, and risotto. I had crepes with bananas and chocolate ice cream. Tasty!<br /><br />Hey! It was only the fourth time I've had ice cream. I mean, I only had it three times yesterday. Servings are small and I don't like wieners, wurst, pork, fried pork, sausage, schnitzel, and the other eleventy billion scary pork products they have.<br /><br />And yeah, I can't stop giggling every time I see wiener. I'm a joy to travel with.<br /></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5784879350361607571.post-47224288197299078672011-07-18T01:10:00.000-07:002011-07-18T01:23:29.092-07:00Quick check inI'm going to have to do this blog a bit free form...as it comes to me rather than in chronological order of how we do things.<br /><br />First, a picture to prove I'm here.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NEEHEN148BA/TiPq9SAbgzI/AAAAAAAAAGw/g8VMOJvo6j8/s1600/IMG_3186.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NEEHEN148BA/TiPq9SAbgzI/AAAAAAAAAGw/g8VMOJvo6j8/s320/IMG_3186.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630602297669813042" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I'm sitting in front of a fountain somewhere. By some castle. In Aultschadt (Old City). I think.<br /><br />How about a picture of Victor and I?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Au7HE4cLUDE/TiPrXYf3snI/AAAAAAAAAG4/-MtHEMJ6KjQ/s1600/IMG_3174.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Au7HE4cLUDE/TiPrXYf3snI/AAAAAAAAAG4/-MtHEMJ6KjQ/s320/IMG_3174.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630602746088895090" border="0" /></a><br />I actually know where we are in this picture! We are at the top of Fraukirche...Church of Our Lady. It's Lutheran. Anyway, we are up under a big-assed dome. Way up high. That's the Elbe River behind us. It's the major (only?) river that runs through Dresden.<br /><br />So, this church was rebuild after the British bombed Dresden in 1943 (?). A guide told us that the Brits wanted to knock out the church it was the first time napalm was used. It IS a sad story. Many, many died.<br /><br />However, the guide made it sound like they were attacked, September 11 style, and the "Brits were angry for some reason." Victor said gently, "Well, Hitler DID bomb London. There was a war..." She said, "Jah, Hitler" and we moved on quickly. There is no recognition of Hitler's atrocities or monuments to the Jews that I have seen.<br /><br />More later...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5784879350361607571.post-14429877389980591132011-07-17T08:52:00.001-07:002011-07-17T11:24:40.386-07:00I'm in Dresden!I didn't sleep on a single plane.<br /><br />BUT I slept 45 minutes in front of strangers in the Frankfurt airport.<br /><br />I'm trying to download pictures now, but I'll tell you some quick observations.<br /><br />They have two kinds of water: sparkling and "plain". Don't let plain fool you. It's mineral water and it's gack-worthy. So I've had a couple of Coca-Cola "light" and zero. Don't say diet!<br /><br />Many older women dye their hair a horrible red, like some women do at country fairs in Maine.<br /><br />The streets are very, very uneven. They're artful and beautiful with cobblestones and subtle steps up and down.<br /><br />So, of course, I have tripped and fell off my low heeled sandals many time.<br /><br />Oh! I almost forgot about Frankfurt airport security.<br /><br />Two other women and I were pulled. No men. So four male security guards stood together, on the side, with their arms across their chests, smiling and making jokes, as you could tell by their body language.<br /><br />The one security women, felt me up. No really, she did. She first did a wand right up into my armpits and up and down my legs. Then she ran her fingers over my shoulder and her palms you know where checking my bra underwire.<br /><br />THEN she manhandled the zipper of the fly of my shorts and pulled me this way and that. I can only imagine my expression.<br /><br />Then I sat down and she motioned for me to take off my shoes. She wanted them and they beeped like crazy, and she twisted them this way and that. I think she was trying to tell me to pick up my my feet so she could wand them or search them or touch them. She was getting exasperated. I was bewildered and trying to decide if I felt violated or ridiculous. The male security people were chuckling.<br /><br />She waved her arms like "no way" and handed me back my shoes.<br /><br />I hightailed it out of there and after my luggage. They make you take your laptop out of the bag and I feared for its safety.<br /><br />More later...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5784879350361607571.post-87879527281838612832011-07-15T14:08:00.000-07:002011-07-15T14:13:42.288-07:00At the airportSo, apparently I can't get my passport to work electronically. I hope my luck improves with that.<br /><br />My bag is check through "to Frankfurt or Dresden". Great. I hope I remember.<br /><br />My kindle screen is apparently a victim of "backpack compression". So I've downloaded all my books with a Kindle app on my MacBook. Which only has three hours of charge.<br /><br />I went out for a drink after my class; we got out at three and the first round was on our professor. Since one round is more than I ever need...I had one. I ate a piece of toll house cookie pie with ice cream. Stress eating?<br /><br />My doctor's office called. (TMI alert.) My pap smear came back abnormal. I need something called a colposcopy done by Dr. Marotto on August 12. They told me to go on my trip, and then called again to make the appointment. What the heck does this even mean? Arrrggghhh.<br /><br />So I might be a little stressed. A teensy bit.<br /><br />Love you all!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5784879350361607571.post-87879987921491119602011-07-15T05:19:00.000-07:002011-07-15T08:17:43.976-07:00Annoying things happen in threesLast night was my last night here.<br /><br />So, I got out of class at USM at 4. I got home at 5:40. There was an accident in Cumberland, and even though I routed myself around it (and found myself in the middle of the Yarmouth Clam Festival set up), it took over 1.5 hours. Ugh. Thankfully my mom picked up the boys from camp.<br /><br />A friend had given me a Restaurant.com gift certificate, so I took the kids to Byrne's Irish Pub for supper. We ate. However, in small print, it said that the gift certificate was only good for THE CABIN!<br /><br />Then, as we came home...Keagan said,<br /><br />"Mama, I think I have lice!"<br /><br />"Oh Keagan, no you don't."<br /><br />"But Mama, when I itch my head something moves!"<br /><br />Sure enough. Yep. He had lice. I saw one in Keagan's hair. It was 7:30. I ran to CVS and bought four kits. Shawn's mom came down to the house and helped me treat the boys.<br /><br />You have to shampoo, towel dry, put the pesticide in, wait exactly 10 minutes, rinse, and comb and comb and comb with the lice comb.<br /><br />Keagan and Seamus were easy enough. And we only found one in Seamus' hair, and about 12 in Keagan's hair.<br /><br /><br />But me? My mom held the flashlight while Shawn's mom combed through my hair. Takes forever.<br /><br />Arrrgggghhhhh! I think I need a vacation!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5784879350361607571.post-6875481115853648192011-07-14T09:50:00.000-07:002011-07-14T09:59:34.368-07:00Go USA Women's Soccer!Guess where I'll be on Saturday?<br /><br />Yep, the Frankfurt airport.<br /><br />I'll be there for 2.5 hours.<br /><br />Do you think I'll see anything about this soccer game?<br /><br />;)<br /><br />Here's my flight schedule.<br /><br />Friday, July 15<br />Portland to Philly<br />Flight 3179 USAir at 5:55 PM to 7:34 PM<br />Flight 702 USAir<br />Philly to Frankfurt at 8:30 PM to 10:20 AM in Germany (2:20 EDT) June 16 (8 hours)<br />Flight 5070 Lufthansa<br />Frankfurt to Dresden at 12:55 to 1:50 PM in Germany (7:50 EDT)<br /><br />Wednesday, July 27<br />Flight 5813 Lufthansa<br />Dresden to Munich 10:15 AM -11:10 AM (5:10 EDT)<br />Flight 707 USAir<br />Munich to Philly 12:15 PM German time to 3:30 EDT--a 9 hour 15 minute flight that takes four hours!<br />Flight 4090 USAir<br />Philly to Portland 6:09 PM to 7:41 PM Home Sweet Home!<br />The plan is for the boys to meet me at the airport.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5784879350361607571.post-51013091339743513322011-07-14T09:42:00.000-07:002011-07-14T09:46:37.816-07:00I'll be there in 48 hours!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f_yf8sASBRo/Th8dJgX_xjI/AAAAAAAAAGo/YKBCa2GahbA/s1600/image.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f_yf8sASBRo/Th8dJgX_xjI/AAAAAAAAAGo/YKBCa2GahbA/s320/image.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629250108383020594" border="0" /></a><br />The countdown has begun. For real. I'm not packed.<br /><br />I've been taking a class all week. It has taken WAY more time than I anticipated with reading, responses, and projects. One week classes are hit or miss that way. Either they're easy street or they're sheer hell.<br /><br />At least it's interesting.<br /><br />I volunteered to be the first one to do the "half-hour presentation". It had to be done today or tomorrow. I picked today. Why? But you know what? It's done. Hooray!!!! I got a "9.9". AND I didn't even ask why it wasn't a perfect 10.<br /><br />I'M FREAKING OUT ABOUT THIS TRIP!<br /><br />I'm gonna miss my babies so much.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5784879350361607571.post-30912215844837449562011-07-07T19:16:00.000-07:002011-07-07T19:25:32.315-07:00Absurd advice from travel sites<span style="font-style: italic;">I have always been a researcher. I'm not a fan of surprises, and I like to be prepared.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Of course, that means I spend a ton of time of travel sites.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Here is some of the "helpful hints" I've come across:</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">First, how to behave...</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Honestly? We have Americans so hammer-headed they need this advice?</span><br /><br /> <style>@font-face { font-family: "Cambria"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }a:link, span.MsoHyperlink { color: blue; text-decoration: underline; }a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed { color: purple; text-decoration: underline; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }</style> <p class="MsoNormal">Overt display of Nazism (e.g. saying "Heil Hitler" or "Sieg Heil" or raising your hand for the Roman Salute), even jokingly and the distribution of any goods having at least any potential to glorify the Nazi Party and/or its ideology, including <i style="">Mein Kampf</i>, or of any material questioning the extent of their crimes is heavily penalized in Germany as a serious offence (up to five years in jail or a fine of up to 21,600 €). Foreigners are not exempted from this law, and it is extremely likely that it will be enforced with draconic strictness. As most Germans regard such behaviour, even if meant as a joke, as completely unacceptable, it can be expected that someone will report it to the police by mobile phone, and that the police will investigate on it seriously.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://wikitravel.org/en/Germany">http://wikitravel.org/en/Germany</a></p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span> <p class="MsoNormal"> <strong style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family:Cambria;"><br /></span></strong></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-style: italic;">Tips for packing light. Treat hotel housekeeping like Goodwill!</span><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Cambria;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span></span></strong></p><p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-family:Cambria;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span><br /></span></strong></p><p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-family:Cambria;">Having more clean clothes to wear</span></strong><br />Everyone has clothes that they wash and think they will wear again, but never do. I bring what I need and then I don't have to do laundry. I throw them away each day. The maids love them.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"> <style>@font-face { font-family: "Cambria"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }a:link, span.MsoHyperlink { color: blue; text-decoration: underline; }a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed { color: purple; text-decoration: underline; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }</style> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.ricksteves.com/graffiti/graffiti55.html">http://www.ricksteves.com/graffiti/graffiti55.html</a></p> <p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <strong style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family:Cambria;"><br /></span></strong></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-style: italic;">Does underwear really take up that much room?</span><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Cambria;"></span></strong></p><p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-family:Cambria;"><br /></span></strong></p><p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-family:Cambria;">Discardable Underwear</span></strong><br />When traveling I only pack my oldest underwear. Each day I place the dirty underwear in a plastic bag which I discard in a public trash can at the end of the trip. No washing, no rinsing, no carting around detergents. No wearing damp undies!</p><p style="font-style: italic;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-style: italic;">Seriously, before you do this, just go commando.</span><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-family:Cambria;">Limit underwear</span></strong><br />My tip for women: skip taking extra pairs of underwear. Use pantiliners (such as Kotex Lightdays) to keep your one pair of panties clean for days on end. As you travel, your stash of pantiliners will dwindle, giving you more room in your suitcase.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">http://www.ricksteves.com/graffiti/graffiti82.html</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5784879350361607571.post-27029343860317605842011-07-07T17:52:00.000-07:002011-07-07T18:05:03.193-07:00Welcome to my Travel Blog (ue)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rp1ThfLF59o/ThZW_nwEVII/AAAAAAAAAGg/8L7t4sl2HDM/s1600/IMG_1597.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 87px; height: 115px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rp1ThfLF59o/ThZW_nwEVII/AAAAAAAAAGg/8L7t4sl2HDM/s320/IMG_1597.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626780435448353922" border="0"></a><br />So, the reason for this blog is to share my experiences on my trip to Europe off of Facebook.<br /><br />Otherwise, I'd have it on FB, but I'm afraid my house will be robbed.<br /><br />Yes, I'm just that rational.<br /><br />Also, I would like to note that the address, if written with punctuation, would read: "Kym's Trip dot blogspot dot com".<br /><br />More details:<br />I'm leaving Friday, July 15, and returning Wednesday, July 27.<br /><br />I will be gone for *eleven days*. The longest I have ever been away from my babies is *two nights*. Please wish me luck!<br /><br />I am going to visit Victor. He's working in Dresden, Germany right now, so that's where I'll go first. Then we're jetting off to Barcelona for the weekend on Friday, July 22 to Monday, July 25.<br /><br />Who is Victor? He is my "better half", "partner", "boyfriend"...whatever term you choose. We met on August 20, 2009 and have been together ever since. The picture was taken at Joe Bisson's Halloween Party last year. I'm an eskimo.<br /><br />I'm scared to death to leave my babies. Any encouragement you want to offer will be appreciated.<br /><br /><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5