Dans retrospective, top 10s and Auf Wiedersehen

ah, the time has come in the end. my grand european summer ist ganz vorbei (is over).

my heart saddens as i prepare to leave the small portion of the continent that i have called home for nearly 5 months now. my dream schöne realised, the time has come to end the dream and come back to my normal world.

i have found myself here, and have found the world i have here to be my lifestyle and the way in which i would happily live. the problems i have had here, would only be replaced by others if i was here permanently, and i believe there are problems to overcome no matter where one lives, so in this i know, that just because this has been a holiday doesnt mean the connection to this land, and feelings ihave for it would change by my being here permantly. alas at this stage of my life its not to be, but as i have learned here.... so lang man träumen noch leben kann.

so i have decided to put down my thoughts and reminice to myself, and recor it for posperity, as to my highlights and best memories of europe, so that no matter where i am in the future, i can always look back on this, and be reminded of the feelings of the past 5 months, and be taken right back here, to this moment in a heartbeat.

The top memorable event in each city

Amsterdam

apart from finally ending that torturous 35 hour flight, being taken back to the last holiday with Jon and I sharing an appartment, in my favorite city, and the enjoyment i felt in that.

Rotterdam

Dancing the night away with Ognen, getting drunk, and getting trapped in a closed underground, and having to climb over a high fence over the top of the entrance tunnel, and not falling.

Delft

The walk through the underpass, and time spent with Ognen, once we got back from the club and chilled out.

Hamburg - 1st time

The Eurovision party and the Harbour Birthday on a boat on the harbour would have to be a total tie.

Lubeck

Sitting every night on a candlelit terrace overlooking the lake with Bert, drinking way too much wine, watching the fire twirlers across the water, learning about each others worlds and views on life. Every night was magic

Zurich

Every Nervi moment spent with Marius and the endless laughing. The Fondue - what can i say.. yum.

On the outside of Zurich.. the bobsled (rohlbahn) was definately the funnest, although i was scared as.

Lausanne

Staying at the Beau Rivage, and the look on my face when we walked into the room

Exploring Montreux castle would have been higher but wasdnt tecnically in Lausanne

Ascona

Riding a bike for the 1st time in ten years, beside the lake, with Marius. Swallowing bugs and driving nervously on the other side of the road for the 1st time.

Zermatt

climbing up the kleine matterhorn and going from 20 degrees to -2 (without wind chill factor) in 30 mins. standing in a snow storm on the top and being the coldest i have ever been.

Milan

The definate highlight was the BBQ i had with Alex and his friends. Had so much fun and poor Alex having to play interpreter. and being surprised how much italian i understood without having actively ever learnt it.

Venice

aimlessly wandering the streets with Alex and amamzingly enough, getting lost together, and getting hungry, and the adventure of finding out way to where we wanted to be. (its never the destination but the journey that is the most enjoyable part)

Köln

Making my debut as a radio host. Learning to throw away my lists. Meeting a friend who has changed my life forever.

Berlin

Seeing CSD Berlin with Bert and watching Mutti dancing in the streets with a veil.

Hamburg - 2nd time

Spending CSD with Jan and Yvonne, and dancing for hours in the sun, on the steps of the Jungfernstieg. doesnt get anymore Hamburg than that.

Washington DC - Norfolk -San Fran

TBA

Dans Top Ten Songs that are holiday memories

10. tie between Troy - Die Fantaschen Vier and Ich Bin Wieder Hier - Blumchen

9.tie between 54, 74, 90, 2010 - Sportsfreud Stiller - Goodbye - Sascha

8.Telefon Telefon - Margot Hielscher (from 1957 Eurovision)

7.Schwartz Und Wiess - Oliver Pocher

6.Dursch Den Monsun - Tokio Hotel (oh god i know how pitiful but its an öhrworm)

5.Push The Button (funky house mix) - Sugababes

4.So Lang Man Träumen Noch Leben Kann - Münchner Freiheit

3.Ich Bin Ich (wir sind wir) - Rosenstolz

2.Livin` in Hamburg - Hamburger Arroganz

1. No No Never - Texas Lightening

Danke

zu alle mein deutschen freunds.....danke danke danke (ohne ende) dass euch da wären und sind.

ich habe so viel gute freunds gemacht, und euch war immer bei mein seit....durch die schöne und schlimm. euch hast auf mich bekennen. es war für mich eine ehre, das ich hat euch kennen gelernt. onhe euch, ich kann nicht sein wären.

sorry für mein falsche deutsch, ich have so viel gelernt aber so wiet vor mich zu gehen. denk mal, wann ich war erste heir gekommt, kann ich so weniger sprechen und verstehen...jetzt, ich kann nur deutsch sprechen und das gut genung ohne englisch gehts. es freut mich sehr, das ich kann mit euch in deines sprache sprechen. "wir sind in deutschland und mu§ deutsch sprechen"

kein panik auf die titanik, ich komm wieder bald. bis dann, ich werde euch so viel vermiss.

ich kann nicht zu viel danke sagen..

und errinnen - du kanst immer zwie mal mir wie du !

back on the air

hey, and we,re back from the break.

first up... there is this little vid, that you have to see....sums up the germans speaking english.. actually i reckon most i have spent time with speak very very good english, and only some are worried about speaking english afraid to make mistakes, but have joked around with many germans about the mistake going on in this clip. for you non germans, only the first 8 seconds is in german and the rest is english.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vBn2_ia8zM

well.. had a quick dash up to köln (god you dont understand what a relief is it to use a keybord that has an ö on it)

made another Kite Fm sydney program... man its weird doing that.. actually i think i get nervous with Paulo, my program director, telling me what to say, and then having to say it in a way and mood that he wants. kind of like being a voice actor actually.. which is strange coz thats what i wanted to be when i was a kid..... that and a flight attendant.. god, wasnt that a dead giveaway.
anyway after a few takes of some lines, i was laughing my head off... it was a little difficult, not only have to remember lines or make them up on the spot, but i was being directed mostly in german so i had to translate what he wanted first then try to think of sômething to say and remember it all at the same time... i think without him sitting there it will be less nervewrecking, but then without his direction ill have to fluff around until i understand the tone and the character that he wants to create.

speaking of which... guess what... im now the new guest presenter on Kite FM, worldwide internet radio program, only for surfers. god i even have a signature sign off.. i have to sign off with Eu nao fallo portugues (i dont speak portuguese) since kite fm was originated from or for portugal, but has now become worldwide. i have been given a microphone and a program to record the sound files of my voice to send over to Kite FM head office (fancy name for paulos flat) and voila!
so im spreading the word on Kite FM, become a subscriber and hear the hots, coolest hip tracks, from around the globe.... you can subscribe by using one of the links below this blog.

reckon ill have a heap of fun making promos for the lovely lotti, one of the other presenters.. the name is just great. will have to get some promo shots to send to paulo, standing at bondi beach.. but have to have a sign in otherwise who would know it was bondi, holding a microphone. any volunteers for helping me taking the pics ??

had a great time in köln, and even managed to discover a fair bit about myself in the short few days i was there. i think i gained some experiences and advice there that have had a pretty big effect, very ephiphic.. is there such a word....causing ephiphany...
very character shaping. i was hesitant on the money spending for going there but im 150% glad that i did, as was extremely worth it in the scale of life.

leaving there today was extremely heartrendering, as i knew it was the last time i was going to be in germany this year and who knows when i will next be back, although i am hoping its no more than 12 months away... its been my home for the last few months, and i truely believe i am coming back a better person. definately different, and having grown so much and learned so much about myself and the world.
luckily it was raining in köln...so when my eyes were a bit watery each time i thought of the fact i was going, no one could tell in the rain. (what is it with me and walking in the köln rain... did that last year too..but then it always rains there)
going to miss learning and speaking german, its really becoming easier now.. and i was suprised when Paulo told me my german had really improved since the last time i was there which was really only a month. i foound it so much easier to understand him this time and had no problems speaking only german for 3 days, of course its still had to be accurately descriptive and expressive when you have a limited vocab, but i can make things pretty clear i think.

back in zürich now, got 2.5 days left beforfe i ship out to the states. so much to do.. and i reckon ill be a mess when i leave here, knowing i really am leaving europe. its been a life goal to live in europe for a year or so, and this is probably the closest i am going to get to it.... at least for a while.. and sadly i am almost not ready to come home yet, and yet theres so much to go back to, that its not like i am at a disadvantage. (DYING FOR A NORMAL BREAKFAST AND NOT A CONTINENTAL ONE)

have to pack and send some stuff home by post so i have room in the suitcase. so many cds, vests, books that i want to have some room for USA. got to change my ticket still. typical BA didnt want to change the ticket when i went out there the other day even though they are the GSA, they have told me to go to the qantas office in the city but im sure there isnt one in zurich, only geneva.. so going tomorrow to arrange that.

then have to make my list of best highlights of each city.. kind of a reminder of what fun i have had.

ill leave you with some other very funny german clips, which made me laugh.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9VQLDXKiEA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjiZkTU_Sz8 (im no where near as bad as this)

probably need to be german to understand the next 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dsho-GjlFJ0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyRcFWwcc1g

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgL4GRoYrhM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYk_bWbMKGk&NR

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0RQIbRpJiI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVctHGGA_Ik (hope no germans see this one)

Daniel on radio

wow..
ok i thought my show had already been on... but Kite FM have just released episode 25 Kite FM sydney.

havent heard it yet..still downloading... but heres my 15 secs of fame i guess.
can be heard via itunes podcasts for free...

(dont ask how i managed to make a radio program from sydney while im here in europe.. thats the magic of radio !!)

Kite FM 25 aus Sydney mit Daniel ist online!I Tunes * Podcast * Kite http://starzone.podspot.de/ http://www.podster.de/view/668 http://www.clickcaster.com/podcast/view/27034 http://www.dopcast.de/channel/Kite_FM__Only_For_Surfers.html http://www.podnova.com/index_search_results.srf?searchtext=kite+fm

Goodbye Germany, Hello Switzerland

well..since there is no wireless on the train, ill write this in word and post it ot the internet when i can connect.

So, here i sit, in my little box on the night train. im in a single person cabin. its actually the size of an aircraft toilet, plus the size of a single bed. cosy but nice.

so herei sit for the next 12 hours. but at least i can lie down. i can only imagine this is what the bedroom cabins on the new A380 will be like. very nice.

the power from th epowerpoint is intermittent so im not really sure how long my battery will last. hopeflly it will come on long enough to watch a dvd or play a game.

it was so nice that Jan came to the train station to see me off as well. So Bert and Janwere both there. i felt like i had really connected to some people in germany, and it has now become a second home to me. i tried to thank bert for all he had done but he didnt want me to say too much. i know he probably would have gotten too emotional.

it has actually been very painful for me to leave, knowing its the last time i am in hamburg for a long time, and have made some really nice friends here.

ill sign off now and try to play a game...will report in during the trip if the power lasts.



well typical to all european trains, the power plug just didnt work, so i ran out of power after about 2 hours.
managed to settle in and try to sleep, but woke up at 1am, starving and thirsty and dying for a cigarette. thats when i discovered that i was really travelling on the stalag 13 prison train. i went to the bar to at least have a cigarette, but when i asked for an ashtray, i was told quite rudely that the bar was closed, which meant no smoking, and i coudlnt even get somehting to eat or drink. so i was confined to my little prison cell. you would think that the night train would provide an open bar overnight, as not everyone is going to sleep the entire way, or if someone wanted something to drink....even water.. they should be able to have access to it. i would recommend that no one take the swiss night train, unless you bring your own food and drink and smokers should probably avoid it altogether.

finally i arrived in zurich, and had access to the basic human needs once more. although the breakfast that was servced to me in my cabin was a god send. a tiny bread roll and a croissant, with a pot of jam and a cup of coffee.

decided to grab a cab to marius` house as i was way too tired to wrestle with the luggage on publuic transport, and within moments i was settled in his place. had a good sleep then went to the supermarket to do the weeks shopping.

Marius had planned for us a trip to Zermatt 2 days later. This is where the Matterhorn is. it took us about 4 hours to get there. but the drive though switzerland is so beautiful. although now i think i have seen everything....including lesbian cows. yes, you just read correctly. we drove past 2 cows, one was trying to mount the other (well had actually succeeded and was going for it) but after several double takes (was so like an old comedy routine) i could see this big old udder swaying from the undercarriage of the one on top. im not excatly sure what she throught she was going to do up there, but hey even gay cows have rights. must have been like a cow prison or something and she was top dog.

after 2.5 hours of driving we then had to put the car on a train to go thru a tunnel in a mountain. very very weird. you drive your car on to these special carrigages and then stay in your car for a 15 min train ride through a tunnel in a mountain. Then on the other side we had another 1.5 hours drive before we had to leave the car altogether and catch another train up through the valley, to Zermatt. They have no normal cars there, only electric buggies. the air was so clean and fresh, and its all very quiet. although you often get a big shock to turn around and see a buggie right behind you as they are almost silent and you dont hear them sneak up on you.

Anyway, on our first day we took the gondolas up to the peak of the little matterhorn (who knew there were 2) the real one was shrouded in clouds but we lived in hope that it would clear. you need to take 3 separate gondolas to get to the top, as you go higher, it gets colder and colder, til when you get to the top you need to be well wrapped up. it was supposed to be only -2 but with the wind chill factor of the storm that was blwoing in it was probably about -15 to -20

very stage to go from being at the bottom, in only a tshirt and 20 degrees to an hour later being in a thick jacket and beenie. i kept asking marius if i shoudl buy gloves.. and he said no, which now i know never to listen to him because it was so cold i couldnt feel my hands any more and taking pictures with the camera was a very rushed process.

at the top there is a glacial cave you can go in, but as soon as we got there, they closed the whole mountain due to the weather being too severe..typical. the ride back down was a little scary but at least the gondola didnt sway too much. i can imagine it could get a lot worse. poor marius, he was so disappointed as he really wanted to show it to me.

anyway we spent the afternoon in the pool area playing with all the hydrotherapy devices and staying in the pool and spa will our fingers and toes looked like prunes.. we met a friend of his that works in the hotel, for dinner, and had another swiss traditional meal.. this time it was Raqulet (not sure of spelling)
basically its a huge round of cheese that they place under a hot oven so that the top melts then they scrape the melted part onto a plate and serve it with baby potatoes. and you can have as much as u want. plus they serve it with pickled onions and gerkins.. not really sure why. i ended up eating so much iwas virtually sick all night..well just overfull.

the next day was better weather.. typical, and we decided to stay an extra night. decided to go hiking in the mountains and visit this picturesque gorge (theres that word again) and have lunch in this little restaurant hidden on the hillside.

went for thai food that night.... in this funny little restaurant that was like the inside of a galleon ship. the waitress was thai, and was funny to hear her mix english and german.

funniest thing was she said she also spoke cantonese.. so when i asked her in cantonese where the toilet was.. she was like "what????" prob wasnt expecting a whitey to speak cantonese.. so then i asked in german... wo sind der klo (translates as where is the closet...one ofthe words for toilet)

anyway she directs me to this door.. the one straight ahead... but on the left i can see a door with a mens sign on it.. i point to it and she says.. no the one straight ahead.. i open to the door.. and in the darkened room i can see coat racks.. oh god, she sent me to the closet.... note... the swiss dont call the WC a klo in german.. hahahaha.

went out drinking after dinner.. and sat on a balcony overlooking the street and gave commentary on all that passed. i had been told by alex, marius friend, that agnetha from abba lives in this town... so had spent all day scrutinising every blond woman i saw.. i hope i could see my childhood idol. wonder if she would be impressed if i had told her that when i was a kid, and we played abba, i always wanted to be her.

back in zurich now.. spending mornings with marius... and then afternoons on my own as he is on late shifts this week.

been speaking to kyle a bit on msn.. and getting excited that he is coming to meet me in san fran, we have booked the hotel at fishermans wharf,a nd are trying to arrange an alcatraz tour now.
keep trying to catch chris online.. as havent spoken too much to him and im staying with him in Washington... but i know when i see chris it will be like old times and feel like no time has past since he left sydney... although its going to be hilarous to be able to share commentary of the inane americanisms i will see.. apparently he lives in an interesting area.

he is going to teach me how to chew tobacco, and hopefully go shooting (targets only i couldnt shoot any innocent animals) so new adventures await there.. thank god coz its going to break my heart to leave europe but i have lots to look forward to in USA..even though it means the adventure is coming to a close.

a night to remember

well.... ledertreff... what can i say... what an amazing experience. it was a shame that it wasnt on the ship as usual, but still the replacement venue was really good. it was held in an old theater called Docks. really wonderful space with different rooms with different atmospheres.
The men, i saw so many gods there.... it really was unbelieveable.

and for the first time since ive been here i heard more english than german, although i really was disappointed at how so many americans and english spoke to the german staff there like they were in an english speaking country. perhaps have stayed here so long or have become so close to so many locals, that i wouldnt even dream of assuming that someone speaks normal english. im sure that the locals appreciated my attempts at speaking german.

whilst i saw so many sights at the party.. and so much fun rough play was going on, in particular 2 skinheads roughhousing each other on the dancefloor, i was absolutely appauled at the amount of indescriminate bare backing going on. it really sickened me. im no soapbox stander, and what goes on between two consenting adults is between them, but this really was unbelieveable.. so often i saw two guys just go up to each other and within moments were barebacking each other.. (and this is in the main hall..lord knows what was going on inthe darkroom)
i just cant believe that it could be so casual.. no wonder HIV is still spreading. im guessing that the people barebacking so casually must already have it.. but even so.. there are tonnes of other STDs that can still be spread...even if you have HIV already, theres Hepatitus and many others.. i mean it would only have taken a handful of people at the party to have an STD for it to have spread across half the party.

luckily i only went to the toilets near the start of the night.. already it pretty much stank.. but luckily i sweated so much i really didnt need to go again, but my australian friend that i went with, told me by halfway through the night, there was shit all over the walls.. (and when i say shit im talking literally)

it really was like being in a titan video, with sex going on all around.. but because of the indescriminate part, i actually found it not a turn on for me, although interesting to see. (sure i would do half that stuff in the privacy of home but not in front of hundreds of others)

well.. i danced the night away.. someone please remind me never to go dancing in my boots again.. man that was hard.. im thinking i got some interest shown (despite nearly everyone there being totally beautiful and built) but if i sensed it i mostly just ignored it as i wasnt going to be playing there.. and i think mostly everyone looks to play there and not to take someone home at the end of the night.... but there were some i found incredibly attractive.

can you believe my friend and i were there until closing..havent done that for years..although this was at 5am. and so then we went to an after party at S.L.U.T where even more indescriminate sex was going on in the bar. but we sat there and had some breakfast beers (a first for me) and then we went back to his hotel so that he could pack and get ready to go to the airport. how someone could go straight from a party to the airport to fly from germany to canada is beyond me.. but i guess he slept all the way.

me..well bert had gone home at 1am so i had to catch the train back to lubeck. the train left at 10am.. so you can only imagine how tired i was.... and dressed as i was from the party.... and my tshirt was wet from sweat and i must have stunk... to sit on a crowded train for an hour to lubeck... then i had to walk from the train station to berts house, through the middle of the city.. at 11am..still dressed as i was.. and trust me..i stuck out like dogs balls. but hey.. memories :)

got home..straight into shower.. sat down for 20 mins and had a ciggarette or two then lay down in bed around midday..closed the eyes, opened them again and it was 8.30pm.

well.. today is my last day in germany... and naturlich.. regen ohne ende! sind deutschland traurig aus mein abfarht? oder ist der grunte das wenn engels reisen der sonnescheint, und ich bin kein engel noch wochende?
(naturally its raining raining raining..is germany so sad that im leaving or is it that when angels travel the sun shines, and im no angel after the weekend?)

i have had many many wonderful times here in germany.. the last few months have really been an experience, and i have learned so much about germany, its people, and myself. some lessons were harsh but on the whole it was a very positive experience and i cannot wait to return next year.

bert, ich habe kein wurds fur was du hast fuer mir gemacht. ohne dich, mein urlaub so anders werden. und ich kann nicht danke genung sagen. mein zeit mit dir werden unvergessen (oh god thats so wrong i know it, but hey, you know what i mean) dem nachten an terrace, mit kerzen, und der lubecke feurmann... unglaublich. danke schatz.

if the leather party is on the ship next year, Paul and Kyle.. youre coming with me !! id suggest franka and garth also, but no women at all go to this.. its a men only thing. (not suggesting garth is a woman.. just what would be the point without franka) adam would probably be disgusted and joseph would be eaten alive and never be seen again.

und na, ich muss zu alles mein deutsche freunds und kumpels, ein grosse THOUSANDANK sagen, fuer alle euch hast zu mir geshouwn und gemacht. ich kann nicht euch vergessen, und euch hast mein urlaub wuenderschoen gemacht. danke euch fuer mir deutsche gelehren. wann man in deutschland bist, man muss deutsch sprechen!! (when you come to our country we expect you to speak english so its only fair)

so i have packed all my things.. im actually worried about the weight for my flight to america in two weeks.. so i have to investigate sending some stuff by UPS, as i think im about 5 kgs over.

tonight i take the night train from Hamburg to Zurich.. i have booked a private sleeper cabin.. so what an adventure... trying to focus on the upcoming adventures, and not the sadness of leaving germany (where i could so happily live) and this phase of my travels is vorbei.

Deutschland, ich sag nicht ade, ich bin nur aufwiedersehen sagen !

OH - MY - GOD !!! OH MEIN GOTT !!

had to run into hamburg to do a few errands.. one of which was to drop some boots i had borrowed off to a friend.. who lives in these apartments above this bar called Toms.

Tom's is like the sleazy(ish) crusing bar, with a labyrinthine darkroom out the back and cruise / play area (Mum dont ask how i know this...actually no one should ask me this)

anyway.. the appartments and the bar share a common entrance..... and tonight was the opening event for Ledertreff (the biggest leatherman gathering in europe) so they were sprawled out the front on the footpath, and lined up to get in.. and i had to make my way through it to get to the front door..

WELL... OH MY GOD ! if it wasnt like walking through a Titan Video (gott sie dank my mother doesnt know what that is) i was surrounded by the hottest looking muscle bears and leathermen..
For a second i was tempted to be Goldilocks. (all those bears and ooh this ones too... and this ones too.. and this one is just right) but comon sense prevailed and i had my friend waiting for the boots, and bert waiting for me in the berlini bar.. ..probably the penultimate (2nd furthest away) you could get from a leather bar. mind you there were a few good lookers in there too. ah.. me and my german men :P

so anyway.. thank god i bought myself a new pair of british boots (12 hole army boot/docs style) and no.. they have black laces before anyone asks what colour i put in. i was thinking maybe i can get away with going a bit subdued and then wondered if my choice of outfit was going to be too extreme.. but no.. puts the sydney parties to shame.

Sorted

Well i think i have finally sorted my outfit for the big huge leather party.

aparently this is the biggest leather arty in europe, where people from all over the world come.

last time i was here, it was on and the main gay street was from end to end hot muscled guys in leather. one cant help thinking, how many cows died to make this weekend possible.

anyway.. lets hope this time im not subjected to seeing too much fisting in public (hi mum)

friend of mine was supposed to be joining me here for the weekend, but he was in london and due to the whole terrorist thing, his flight got cancelled so who knows if he will make it.

WOW

i had no idea.. my friend here in lubeck told me last night about some of the ornaments on his shelf. not out of boasting but we were just discussing things.

had to take a picture i was so blown away.

The figure on the right comes from the bronze age and is about 4000 years old. The figure on the left is about 2500 years old. and the platter comes from the orient express.

i was just blown away by being able to hold something in my hands that was 4000 years old. (it about 20 cms high but is so unbelieveably heavy.)

the history that this statue must have seen !!

funny quiz results

did this silly online quiz thing.. found the results amuzing.



You scored as Straight Acting.


Heya your on the straight and narrow but still enjoy a good cute guy with a pint of beer.

Straight Acting 90%
S + M guy 80%
A Big Bear 40%
The all-round cute gay guy 30%
Raging Queer 20%
Straight Queer Basher 10%
Straight 0%

http://quizfarm.com/test.php?q_id=103354

dancing in the city

WOW....

saturday was CSD here in Hamburg. my home away from home, so it was really wonderful to be able to be here for this event finally. after 3 trips to germany i have heard so much about CSD but never seen it. this trip i managed to see it in Zurich, Berlin, and Hamburg.. and really have to say Hamburg was the best.
Ok so the parade wasnt as colourful as berlin...actually the parade route wound its way through the city, with pumping hard music blaring its way through the crowded streets. but the actual parade itself was pretty short compared to the likes of berlin, but then hamburg is smaller.

after the parade, the group of friends i was with, and i trapsed dwn to the main party, at jungfernstieg.. its the heart of the CBD by the shores of the binnen alster (the lake that is the life and soul of the city...ok apart from the harbour)

proceeded to get stuck right into the beers... have really developed a taste for the stuff....
i amazed myself by spending the whole day talking only german.. and only hearing german. (no mean feat after a few cool beers let me tell you) so i feel i have kind of graduated from this wayward tourist who couldnt really speak the lingo.. to someone who can have total conversatins with people who cant speak english, and can go into shops and bars and order my own drinks and be totally self sufficient. WOW !

anyway.. back to the party. i get the feeling that the germans are nt really big on dancing. i mean some were yes.. but most just standing around or sitting around chatting and enjoying the sights.. where as if this had been sydney the whole place woudl have been dancing and living it up. anyway.. i decided stuff it, im going to enjoy myself and i danced my little butt off. almost literally.. danced for 8 hours. but man.. what a way to celebrate... dancing on the steps of the jungfernstieg, with the city of hamburg around me... with a really nice group of people.

it was great to really let loose since i havent boogied like that since i left sydney nearly 4 months ago. i think i surprised a few people with my passion for dancing.. oh god i hope i didnt make a spectacle of myself dancing away with passion when not so many others seemed to be really getting into it.. but maybe it was just where we were dancing.
despite my fears.. i did have this very attractive guy checking me out for hours.. but still that language shyness stopped me saying hello. even though i had no problems going to the bar on my own, i stil have the slight fear of not being able to understand someone and being all embarrassed about that.. silly really since i was talking so much with the people i was with and understanding all.. its a weird sensation.

besides i was there to be with my mates not to go picking up. (but would have loved to have said hello.. shyness got the better of me.. dang!)

we danced and danced until 11pm and the party was over.. kind of thank god becuase i think i had a few more hurs of dancing left in me but really would have felt it the next day.. was nice to have just let loose for a while and leave all your cares outside the dancefloor for a while.
my smile muscles were sore the next day though. haha

well hamburg really knows how to throw a party, and really was an event i wont soon forget... being able to do that in the heart of the city i have called a 2nd home for some months.

next weekend is ledertreff... europes biggest eather party... that will be my big send off.. then off to Zurich to relax (what else is there to do in Zurich?)

whilst im getting a little homesick, its going to break my heart to leave germany. but somehting tells me it wont be long before im back here. and look forward to my return already

things we do

well.. living in my own appartment in hamburg.... ok so its only for 2 weeks.. but i can get the feeling of how it is to live here. kinda cool actually.

its only a short walk to the alster and to lange reihe.. ok so its the gay street and so cliche, but hey, at least i know people there so its a handy location.

ended up having a pleasant evening yesterday.

met bert and tom (with sheriff) for coffee.. next thing you know, im being pushed into a 4 seater convertible with bert, wolfgang and frank... being driven to lord knows where.... but at least the scenery was good.

ended up at some little restaurant in the middle of some god knows where farmland...(i mean my god they even had sheep)

was told to order the matjes fillet with hausfrausaus (housewife sauce) so i can try it.. its the northern german delicacy. well.. i was told the night before that this was raw fish, but the whole fish.. and seeing as i like sushi.. why not.

well.. it was whole fillets of rollmop.. without the brine. i like rollops... i guess the brine takes away the taste.. and thank god for the hausfrausaus because i dont think i could have eaten so much of it on its own.. was a bit much. was nice.. in small portions.. but i think its not something i could eat a lot of.

thank god there was also bratkartoffelen (fried potato slices) so i filled up on that.

was a nice little surprise though.

they they drove us to a place in Blankenese.. god i forget the name but something like Shullberg.. its on top of a mountain overlooking the harbour.. anyway. i thought i had never been there before because the way we came was so unfamiliar.. but turns out i had been there before during the day on a previous visit.. but was great to see it at night.

having fun.. making the most of my time i guess as i feel the european part of the holiday draw to a close (theres still 3.5 weeks so its not really short but hey.