We took a train to Bad Harzburg and hiked up a mountain there. It was a small mountain, but at the top there were the remains of a castle from the first millenium and a beautiful view. You could see the webbed network of little red-roofed towns, all little nuclei connected by thin strands of roadway, spreading across the landscape, farmland ( Read more... )

If you're planning on going to the Helmut Newton Museum, try not to go two days before they open two huge exhibits, or else you'll only be able to see about a third of the museum. But when that third includes all his equipment, personal photos, and collection of pubic wigs, it almost seems worth it. There was also a collection of sympathy letters ( Read more... )

Apparently, I am not smarter than the German transit police.

This kezboard is different. Berlin, bz the waz, is verz, verz, big. And zou donät realiye how manz ys and zs zou use in a sentence until thezäre switched around on zou. The quotes are different too. Anzwaz, Berlin is a huge sprawling citz, but we covered a lot of it in a free four hour walking tour todaz. Brandenburg Gate, the Holocaust ( Read more... )

The Anne Frank House and the Van Gogh Museum were both incredibly crowded, which unfortunately dampened the potential for dramatic effect. The House was very museum-like, with bits and pieces behind glass and guided paths. It was hard to really picture what it must have been like to live in that place with so many people for so long. Even still ( Read more... )

Utrecht is nicer than Amsterdam. Like a smaller version of it, but much less crowded and more young folk. Brick streets and small stores and brasseries. And floating hookers. Utrecht's red light district is actually a half-mile stretch of houseboats. Much more low-key and discreet than the one in Amsterdam, with quirky paintjobs ( Read more... )

Amsterdam is a big, beautiful place filled with Turkish foods. I waited at baggage claim for three hours for a plane to finally bring my bag to me, and that got tired. So did I. Now I go to bed so I can wake up early and tell Anne Frank I demand a sequel.

I cough a lot when I get nervous and before I go on trips. This morning, there was some almost vomit in the sink. We must be strong. If we vomit pre-flight, the terrorists win.

Let's hope I don't go for a swim or do any premature big city sightseeing.