So every time Erins mom and I hang out someone almost dies. Last time we where watching Erins brother run a marathon when this guy in his mid 60’s drops with a heart attack, a couple of minutes of CPR and we get him back among the breathing. This time we are standing next to the Berlin wall on a free tour of the major sights of down town Berlin. All of the sudden we hear this crash and I see a guy flying over a car no longer attached to his nice BMW motorcycle. I think I was running to the scene before he hit the ground. When I got there he was conscious and doing pretty well considering that he had just been hit by a car. I did the best I could medically considering we did not speak the same language and soon was no longer needed because the ambulance was there scooping him up. Pretty funny scene really. It was right inbetween check point charle and the old wall.
Anyway Erins mom had a good flight and was ready to go pretty much the next day. We rented a car and crused the Autobahn down to Dresden. It was soooo good to get behind the wheel of a car and just drive. We have not driven in almost 2 months so the freedom felt great. It was also nice to see hills, rivers, and rocks. There is tons of really cool history in the Dre
sden area. We visited the only castle that has never been taken by any raiding group except when everything got blown up/ taken in the 2nd world war. It was a really cool design because it was built on top of cliffs. It was just odd walking around an old castle something that does not exist in Colorado.
On the way back from Dresden we got totally lost but some how managed to get to a road that I had ridden my bike on a few times, then was able to get us home safe and sound.
Anyway Erins mom had a good flight and was ready to go pretty much the next day. We rented a car and crused the Autobahn down to Dresden. It was soooo good to get behind the wheel of a car and just drive. We have not driven in almost 2 months so the freedom felt great. It was also nice to see hills, rivers, and rocks. There is tons of really cool history in the Dre
sden area. We visited the only castle that has never been taken by any raiding group except when everything got blown up/ taken in the 2nd world war. It was a really cool design because it was built on top of cliffs. It was just odd walking around an old castle something that does not exist in Colorado.On the way back from Dresden we got totally lost but some how managed to get to a road that I had ridden my bike on a few times, then was able to get us home safe and sound.
The next adventure was going to Poland for the day, well not really the day more like the morning. Poland is only an hour train ride from Berlin so we Bob, Suzy, Erins mom, and I hoped on a train and took off for another country. It was how I always picture Poland, kind of rainey and cold. We walked across the bridge that separates Germany and Poland, got our passports stamped, and changed some money. It was odd that you can walk across a bridge and be in a place with different laws and languages.
There was not much to see in Poland so we figured we would have some lunch at a lovely Egyptian place called Rmazies. It was an weird lunch of pizza, gunnies, and a mix of Egyptian Polish atmosphere. The place we visited in Poland is not exactly a destination resort so we soon found ourselves crossing the bridge back to Germany.
The rest of the week was spent doing Berlin things, like visiting all the historical places, riding the S Bahn, having dinner with friends.
Saturday around 5am we jumped a train to the Airport and found ourselves flying to Spain for the weekend. While on the plane I was reading about things to do in Barcelona and came across the paragraph that said this weekend was basically Barcelona’s largest festival. Looks like we where going to have to do a little partying!!
It was nice to be in a country that spoke Spanish; I at least had a shot of understanding the language. Barcelona is a really really cool 2,000 year old city situated on the Mediterranean. The airport was CRAZY; everyone was flying in from all points in Europe for this festival. Once in the city you could feel the energy that usually exists in Spanish speaking country, it was going to be a good time. We where supposed to find our old friend/roommate John at the Christopher Columbus monument around 6, getting there was an adventure in itself. Most of the roads heading in that direction where filled with 1,000s of people.
It is by far the largest crowd I have ever been in.. I was really doubting our ability to find one person in this huge mess of people.. Fortunately we did; right next to Columbus statue pointing out to see (I think he was pointing to all the indigenous people he was going to help concur). The night really did not get going until around 11pm when John and I walked down a back road to find what can only be described as a riot. Any place in the states that’s what they would call it, but in Barcelona it was a parade. I think the goal of this parade was to burn as many people as possible. A group of about 50 people would gather in the middle of the crowd with theses sticks that had about 10 roman candles on them. Then one guy would stand in the middle of this future inferno and set about 500 of them off. Then these 50 mini people fireworks would come funning at you.. It defiantly woke me up and motivated us to find shelter in a bar. We passed up the bars/clubs with the scantily clad guys and girls dancing on poles to find a good ol Irish pub to drink Gunnies in. Somehow between the football match, a bunch of Gunnies, and the worst live band I have ever herd I found myself walking home at 4am (not my usually bed time) I did have a new experience while walking home. I was approached by 3 very friendly “women of the night”. I new they existed but had never been in a city late enough to ever have one talk to me. I soon found myself in a hurry to get home and hug Erin.
The next day was a busy one. We saw Sagrada Familia! I am sure most of you are thinking wow that’s so cool?? What exactly is Sagrada Familia? Well it’s a church that was started in1882 by Gaudi. It is easily the coolest man made structure I have ever seen. If you are ever in Europe G
O AND SEE THIS. I am not going to insult this 125 year old project by trying to describe it.. Just go see it for yourself. The next stop was this really cool city park that Gaudi also built. Once again its indescribable and worth the visit.. The rest of the day was spent swimming in the Med, hanging out while Erin and her mom went shopping, and trying not to get to lost in the maze of city streets, and riots a.k.a parades.
It was great to have Erins mom visit. We saw a lot more then we would have in a normal 10 days, and it was really cool for me to show someone around. It proved to me that I am starting to figure out how to move around in Europe.
In other news, hearts are breaking around the world as we speak because my good buddy Mike Holmes is getting hitched! If you where at the wedding he was they guy with the Southern accent reading a quote during the wedding. I am very happy for him!
There was not much to see in Poland so we figured we would have some lunch at a lovely Egyptian place called Rmazies. It was an weird lunch of pizza, gunnies, and a mix of Egyptian Polish atmosphere. The place we visited in Poland is not exactly a destination resort so we soon found ourselves crossing the bridge back to Germany.The rest of the week was spent doing Berlin things, like visiting all the historical places, riding the S Bahn, having dinner with friends.
Saturday around 5am we jumped a train to the Airport and found ourselves flying to Spain for the weekend. While on the plane I was reading about things to do in Barcelona and came across the paragraph that said this weekend was basically Barcelona’s largest festival. Looks like we where going to have to do a little partying!!
It was nice to be in a country that spoke Spanish; I at least had a shot of understanding the language. Barcelona is a really really cool 2,000 year old city situated on the Mediterranean. The airport was CRAZY; everyone was flying in from all points in Europe for this festival. Once in the city you could feel the energy that usually exists in Spanish speaking country, it was going to be a good time. We where supposed to find our old friend/roommate John at the Christopher Columbus monument around 6, getting there was an adventure in itself. Most of the roads heading in that direction where filled with 1,000s of people.
It is by far the largest crowd I have ever been in.. I was really doubting our ability to find one person in this huge mess of people.. Fortunately we did; right next to Columbus statue pointing out to see (I think he was pointing to all the indigenous people he was going to help concur). The night really did not get going until around 11pm when John and I walked down a back road to find what can only be described as a riot. Any place in the states that’s what they would call it, but in Barcelona it was a parade. I think the goal of this parade was to burn as many people as possible. A group of about 50 people would gather in the middle of the crowd with theses sticks that had about 10 roman candles on them. Then one guy would stand in the middle of this future inferno and set about 500 of them off. Then these 50 mini people fireworks would come funning at you.. It defiantly woke me up and motivated us to find shelter in a bar. We passed up the bars/clubs with the scantily clad guys and girls dancing on poles to find a good ol Irish pub to drink Gunnies in. Somehow between the football match, a bunch of Gunnies, and the worst live band I have ever herd I found myself walking home at 4am (not my usually bed time) I did have a new experience while walking home. I was approached by 3 very friendly “women of the night”. I new they existed but had never been in a city late enough to ever have one talk to me. I soon found myself in a hurry to get home and hug Erin.The next day was a busy one. We saw Sagrada Familia! I am sure most of you are thinking wow that’s so cool?? What exactly is Sagrada Familia? Well it’s a church that was started in1882 by Gaudi. It is easily the coolest man made structure I have ever seen. If you are ever in Europe G
O AND SEE THIS. I am not going to insult this 125 year old project by trying to describe it.. Just go see it for yourself. The next stop was this really cool city park that Gaudi also built. Once again its indescribable and worth the visit.. The rest of the day was spent swimming in the Med, hanging out while Erin and her mom went shopping, and trying not to get to lost in the maze of city streets, and riots a.k.a parades.It was great to have Erins mom visit. We saw a lot more then we would have in a normal 10 days, and it was really cool for me to show someone around. It proved to me that I am starting to figure out how to move around in Europe.
In other news, hearts are breaking around the world as we speak because my good buddy Mike Holmes is getting hitched! If you where at the wedding he was they guy with the Southern accent reading a quote during the wedding. I am very happy for him!
