whew...

Well, after bring up for 24 consecutive hours, I am home. I think next time I would plan the flights a little differently. We left Berlin at 1pm (4am PST), then had a layover in London for 3 hours before getting on the flight to Vancouver that left an hour late at 5:45pm GMT (8am PST), then were on the plane until 6:45pm PST when it landed in Vancouver. We had a semi-long wait at passport control, and kind of got grilled a bit (Eric more than me) and then a really long wait for our bags. So we missed the PCL coach from the airport, and we had to take a taxi to the ferry ($$$). Then we caught the 9pm ferry. Simon and Kira met us at the ferry terminal, and we drove Eric home and then I got home, at 12am PST, which is 9am Berlin time, precisely 24 hours after I woke up.

I think I would have a longer connection maybe. Either at least a day in London, or perhaps a connection in Toronto. I know it sounds crazy, who actually asks for connections? I do. I spent far too long on an airplane yesterday.

But I had a great time over there. I saw a lot of sights that we don't have over here, ate some different foods (some of which disagreed with me, but all of which tasted good). I even saw an English-language version of "The Queen" in Berlin. All of our hosts (Hannah in London, Miriam and Tara in Berlin) were very gracious, and full of good sightseeing ideas, as well as some more obscure, not-quite-on-the-map sights, like the East Side Gallery in Berlin.

Anyways, I have more then 700 pictures to look through, so I will have some to post shortly!

and I'm back.

enough

The trip has ended...

Almost. We are just about finished here in Berlin. And I have to say that I am ready to go home. I am craving my own things. My bed, my pillow, my food... I am kind of tired of having to 'figure out' everything, you know? I got a little bit lost on the transit systems today (Berlin has three different kinds of trains operated by 2 different bodies, but one schedule) and I had a little freak out when I couldn't find a map of the system in the largest station on the network.

But that aside, I have had a good time. We went out to Sansoucci today, which is the Versailles of Germany. It was beautiful, it is this huge park with 5 palaces in it. The park itself was beautiful, but it was kind of cold and windy too. Eric and I went to Potsdamer Platz on the way back for dinner, and ate an Australian bar. I had a burger, but I could have gotten kangaroo meat if I wanted to! Eww!! I couldn't imagine eating a little kangaroo!

It is Sunday night here, we are planning to watch the Oscars tonight (live, which is 2am-6am Berlin time), and then Eric and I have Monday in Berlin before flying out Tuesday afternoon. 1pm flight from Tegel Airport, we will layover in London for 4 hours, and then back in Vancouver at 6ish on Tuesday night. 9pm ferry home, a gracious ride from the ferry courtesy of Simon and Kira, and then off to my own bed.

I'm out for now!

Ich bin in Berlin!

Hi all,

I am in Berlin now, and have been since Monday night. But internet access here isn't as cheap or frequent as North America, so here I am at Tara's place, finally catching up on email and dropping a note to the bloggers.

I had a good time in London. I really enjoyed spending time with Hannah and Eric while we were there. I will admit though, that I had a little breakdown on Monday. Hannah had gone back to Exeter for class the previous night, and Eric and I were spending our last day together in London. We went out to Madam Tussaud's Wax Museum, but it was too long of a queue, and the admission was £25.00, which is too much.

I wasn't feeling well, kind of nauseous. I went to a chemist and got a drug that I had never heard of, and then got nervous about taking it. So I decided to get some food. I saw a Subway (I know, we can get Subway at home, but it really appealed) and I got lunch. Eric left me there and walked up the street to see where the Sherlock Holmes museum was. I decided that I wanted to talk to Liz, so I called her, and got the answering machine. I left the weirdest message ever, and then hung up. I don't know what did it, but all of a sudden I just had the uncontrollable urge to cry. I kept it back for a little bit, then the floodgates opened. So I had a quiet little cry sitting on Baker Sreet in London, and Eric came back and found me weeping into my sandwich. Well, I had realized that I was a little tired and overwhelmed by the city, and a little bit homesick. But after my little cry, I felt a lot better. My nausea was gone, and I have been enjoying myself since. Even the language barrier in Berlin isn't really bothering me that much.

But I must go. We are going to watch a movie and drink Radlers. It is this gross-sounding drink that it half-beer, half-orange Fanta, but it is freaking delicious! Everybody here drinks them.

We are seeing the sights, and I have tonnes of pictures to show when I get back. I will try and post again before I head back.

Tschuß aus Deutschland!

from the UK

Hi everyone,

I arrived in Exeter late last night. Travel was a little bit of an ordeal, but here I am. I STILL don't feel like I have arrived though... Exeter looks a lot like Victoria. I mean a lot. For one thing, there are seagulls. Another thing: it is pouring rain, grey, and overcast. Third thing: everyone is carrying an umbrella. Fourth: the university architecture is almost identical. I could be writing this on a grey, rainy day in the Craigdarroch residences at UVic.

But, I am sure that will change later today. Hannah has her Chaucer class until noon, and then we are off into Exeter itself to see the cathedral, and the rest of the sights before catching a train into London tonight. I think when I get to London I will really feel like I have gone somewhere.

Travel: Flight leaves at 8.30pm. Must take 1pm ferry to ensure we are at Vancouver International soon enough. Get there early, at 3.15pm. 5 hours before our flight. Wait one hour before the check in desk even open. Check in. Discover the plane was late leaving London, so our flight is delayed until 9.35pm. Clear airport security. YVR has embarked on a massive reno project, meaning there are 3 cafes, 1 duty free, and a pro shop open. Can't even buy a book. Waste many hours sitting in terminal, getting increasingly cranky (sorry Eric!). Plane arrives, excitement builds. Then all of a sudden "British Airways is paging the following passenger: Would David Ross please report to gate D52 for a message." Heart leaps into throat. Go to D52, turns out that they were concerned they had lost my bag: both of our bags were checked under Eric's name. No problem. Finally board aircraft. Oops, they have to run tests. Sit on the tarmac for ten minutes. Finally take off, at 10.40pm, more than 2 hours late.

Flight over OK. Dinner and drinks served after takeoff. Chose a movie, fell asleep. Got woken up at 5am PST for breakfast, which was nasty. Delays at Heathrow. Holding pattern for 15 minutes. Land. No free gates. Wait ten minutes. Finally get off the aircraft. I feel like garbage, and my cough is coming back at this point. Get through Passport Control pretty quickly (20 minutes) then off to the Arrivals level. Bags claimed no problem. Take Eric to the Heathrow Express station to get him settled on his way to London. I go the National Express desk to pick up my ticket for the Bus to Exeter. I pick it up at the Terminal 4 desk, as instructed on my online confirmation. The lady says "The bus leaves from the Central Bus Station at Terminal 1. Go take the Heathrow Express (no charge) but you will probably miss your bus." Run back to Heathrow Express. Run down the esclator. Run into Eric on the platform. We get on the train. Train gets to Terminal 1 at 5.15, bus leaves at 5.25pm. RUN down the worlds longest corridor. Follow sign to Terminal 1. Take a long escalator ride. Get off escalator. Go around corner, another escalator. Ride it. Another corner, another escalator. RUN up it with my bag. Go around corner: long hallway. Start running. Completely don't see the travelator, so ran next to it. 5.20pm. Arrive in hub where 4 corridors meet, no more signs for the Central Bus Station. Finally spot an elevator with a paper sign on the door "Temporary Lift to Central Bus Station." Take it. Get to bus station. 5.23pm. Run to info desk, go to platform... Bus is 30 minutes late.

Got on the bus, and slept, slept, slept. 3.5 hours later, arrived in Exeter. Hannah met me, we walked back to her flat at the school, and was finally able to relax. Took the best shower of my life, and went to bed.

I suppose it could have been much worse. It actually isn't that bad. I just wanted to document that part of my trip before I forgot.

I can't wait to get to London tonight!

and I'm out for now!

Europe, here I come!

I'm off to Europe tomorrow! I'll see you guys later!!!

here i go...

I am enjoying my last two days off before I leave for my trip. Today is Saturday, and I leave on Wednesday! I am getting very excited. But my goodness, I have had a lot of work to do in the meantime.

Every time I do something to get ready for the trip, I am reminded of just how close it actually is. Today, I went to the bank and bought some pounds sterling so that I have a little cash when I land in London. I asked for £50, and it cost me $116 Canadian! But I am trying not to think about the expense of the UK, I'll worry about the VISA bill when I get back.

But yes, preparations abound. I need to make arrangements to get to the ferry terminal on Wednesday, go to my parents to get the suitcase I am using, I need to do laundry, get my carry-on bag prepped with the bare essentials (apparently British Airways has been losing a lot of luggage lately...) I have so much to get done!

But it will all happen. Speaking of which, I need to go. I'll try and post another update before I leave!

and I'm out...