Ich war in Deutschland...

Like the title says, I was in Germany.

It was great! Fantastisch! Toll! Gut! Bombardisch! Yeah. ...

My favorite part? It's hard to pick.

We went to Berg Nanstein, Heidelberg, Rottenburg, a Barefoot Path, Berlin, Sanssouci Park in Potsdam, citadel in Bitch, France, and the citadel gardens. I loved Sanssouci palace and Berlin was a cool, yet somewhat sad, city. The gardens in Bitch were beautiful and it was just my luck that my camera died on me when taking pictures! Rottenburg was a cute old town and Heidelberg had interesting ruins. I think I loved the historical aspects of everything in Germany. I also appreciated the cleanliness of its big cities. I liked the fact that there was no speed limit on the Autobahn (for the most part) and the sidewalks that were everywhere. The bike tour was fabulous and if you ever find yourself in Barcelona, Berlin, London, Paris, or Tuscany take a Fat Tire city Bike Tour. It was great.

Enjoy the pictures!

Citadel Gardens in Bitch, France

At the Citadel...

The Hohenzollern Cathedral in Berlin

Hangin' with Karl Marx and Friedrich Engles; Berlin

The Reichstag

Brandenburg Tor

Memorial to Murdered Jews in the Holocaust

A picture hung over a building to make it look like a building...only in Berlin

An East German watch tower.

Remnants of THE WALL

Checkpoint Charlie

University in Berlin where Karl Marx studied and Albert Einstein taught. Pretty much the coolest building. Ever.

It was a really good book...

In Sanssouci Park...

The Orangery where Frederick the Great entertained guests and grew most of his produce

The back of Sanssouci Schloss

Sansscouci Schloss: the palace built by Frederick the Great

On the Barfusspfad: Barefoot Path

It's kind of like a playground but for adults :)

Crossing the Nahe River

In the mud!

Cask in the cellar of Heidelberg; holds 55,000 gallons of wine

Fountain at Heidelberg

Heidelberg Ruins!

Rottenburg

The most photographed place in Germany

He smiled for the picture even though I didn't tip him

Aren't my shoes so photogenic?

Bergnanstein

For more pictures, see my album on facebook. That is, if you have one. (CoughAndreacough)

Deustschland, hier komme ich.

I look too freckly.

I'm glad to be going to Germany soon.

I'm glad that some huge plane will be taking me away from Michigan and other aspects of life.

So this will be my last post for two weeks. Not that anyone cares very much. Just thought I'd throw that out there.

Fun fact of the day? Germany has the strongest economy in Europe. Why? Well, this dates back from the Second Industrial Revolution in the nineteenth century.

Just ask Ms. Bryen or take AP Euro.

Funny

What's funny?

The fact that John Lennon boasted that the Beatles were more popular than Jesus Christ and the fact that he later apologized for saying this.

Due to the recession, to save on energy costs, the light at the end of the tunnel will be turned off. -God.

Lately

I've fallen in love with this painting by J.S. Sargent.

Someone at swim practice called me a triple threat. Hahaa. Oh, Anna.

It's getting worse.

It's been quiet.

I've been feeling like a third wheel.

I got a haircut.

I've been watching a lot of iCarly. Yes, I love that show. And no it doesn't feel better having admitted that.

Whatever.

On the good side, Deutschland is two days away. Yuppee Skuppee! Or however you spell that wonderful saying of Madame Bryant's.

Exciting But Not Really

Yesterday I...

• went to a funeral at one only to find out that it was at eleven
• went to work
• tutored
• spoke some German
• fell asleep at work because no one was there
• went swimming at 8:30 with my sisters in my life-guarding suit. I thought the suit was a little bit weird...
• watched three hours of iCarly episodes. I got to bed at 1 a.m.

Today I went and jumped on my trampoline in the rain. Plus, I don't have to work today because it's raining. YEA! but also, Dang! at the same time.

I also found my Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass which I lost some two weeks ago. It was buried under a pile of clothes in my room.

Isn't it so exciting?

Slip n' Slide Adventures

Yesterday, my sisters and I wanted to go swimming. Our pool was busy so we went to the pool I work at. There was a party and we decided we didn't want to go swimming there either. So we decided to get a Slip n' Slide. We thought, "Oh, slip n' slides are everywhere! We'll go to Aco and find one!" So we went to Aco. They didn't even have a little kiddy pool. Then we went to Rite Aid and they didn't have any Slip n' Slides. Then we went to Target and they didn't have any either! Finally we tried Meijer's and voila! They had a Slip n' Slide! We bought it on clearance so it cost five dollars. We took it home, set it up and what do you know? There's a HUGE hole right where the hose hooks up to the slide. We use the tiny little repair patch they provide and that doesn't do anything.

So we break out the duct tape. We wrap it around the hole multiple times and it doesn't hardly do anything. The pressure from the water slowly breaks the fortress of duct tape and it just keeps squirting! After trying to play with this thing, we decide to go swimming in our neighborhood pool.

At least the slide was only five dollars.

My mom took off all the duct tape and we're returning the slide along with my sister's gum that expired October 2008.