The Begleys in Germany: A visit from my family

My last post ended with Lois and myself eagerly looking forward to the arrival of my Mum, Dad and Sister, who were to visit for the second week of the Easter holidays. And as the second week of the Easter break draws to a close, all I can say is what a week it was.

A welcome breakfast

Lois and I welcomed our guests on Saturday morning (my family had arrived in Regensburg on the Friday evening, but after a long day travelling got an early night at the hotel) with a breakfast fit for kings. A fresh fruit salad, bagels, toasts, yogurts, eggs, bacon, cereal ensured their stay in Germany got off to a good start. Welcoming them into my flat was a surreal experience but it was so so nice to finally have them here and show them where I have been living. Being able to chat face to face without technical glitches as experienced on our Skype calls was something I had really missed and chatting and catching up with each other was just simply the best. Fortunately the sun was shining as we caught the bus into Regensburg. We wondered around the city as I explained where and what everything was and it gave them a chance to see, what has been for the past 8 months, my home town. We had a look in the cathedral, which even after all this time, I still find breath taking, I pointed out the famous 'Historische Wurstkuchl', where we bought some of the famous sweet mustard as a souvenir, and also showed them the well-renowned stone bridge. Perhaps the nicest thing to do in Regensburg however is just to stroll through the small little alleys and passageways, which we also did. It didn't take long for Mum and Dad to fall into the German way of things, as we soon found ourselves having the standard afternoon beer sat out in the sun. We took them up one of the church towers which gives a fantastic view over the city and after more exploring, a little shopping, and an obligatory ice cream break, we made our way to L'osteria - A great Italian restaurant in Regensburg, which serves perhaps the biggest pizzas you've ever seen! 3 pizzas were more than enough between the five of us and it was tasty! The restaurant was full and even some of my friendly Year 10 students were there with their football team, which Freya seemed to enjoy ;) We left the restaurant and caught the bus back to mine, said our goodbyes and looked forward to the next day.

On Tuesday morning we hopped in the car and made our way to Eichstätt to see where Lois has been living. Lois and I are making the most of the visit by sending home all our heavy winter clothes in order to make the packing at the end that little bit easier. The car was loaded up with Lois' clothes to be sent home and Lois gave us a tour of her accommodation as well as taking us around the town, which included a cake stop at our favourite café in Eichstätt. Once again the weather was lovely and the park and market square looked beautiful. With much of the afternoon still left we made our way to Augsburg. I had heard that the Augsburg Volksfest had just started so suggested we go and show Mum, Dad and Freya some real Bavarian culture. The festival wasn't well signposted and we actually ended up at a flea market thinking that that was it! I was convinced this was too small and relaxed for an annual beer festival, so we set off again and after asking for directions, successfully reached our destination. The Volksfest is similar to a fair or gala and this was the first day. It was great to see so many people wearing the traditional dress of Lederhosen and Dirndls. We soon found ourselves in a very lively beer tent. Beer was being served by the litre, huge pretzels were being munched by those who had already had a little too much to drink and a band were singing party songs - from chart toppers to German nursery rhymes. The atmosphere was electric so we sat ourselves down to soak it up. It was fantastic for them to experience something like this. A few beers and a pretzel later, we moved on to sample the food. Obviously, since this was a German fair, we had to have Bratwurst. Freya was intent to go on one of the rides and Lois and I were persuaded to go on with her. The ride swung and spun and really went quite high. A good 4 minutes and several stomach churning turns later we hobbled off the ride with the Bratwurst - Beer mix still spinning in my stomach. We left soon after as we had a drive back to Regensburg, but we were all buzzing from our experience and I'm really glad we were able to see so much!

The Begleys in Eichstätt

Eichstätt made a good impression in the sunshine

Dad getting into the German spirit with a 1/2 metre Bratwurst

The beer tent was alive and kicking!

If you look hard enough you can see us!

Monday was Easter Monday and was therefore a national holiday. I'm sure you're now aware that Germany enjoys a nationwide shut-down on Sundays and national holidays but fortunately we learnt that Nuremburg was hosting an Easter Market, so we decided that was our best option. It also gave us the chance to use the train and using the Bayern Ticket meant it was extremely good value. In typical German fashion the train was late (due to hitting an animal on the way to Regensburg believe it or not!) but it didn't dampen our spirits. We soon arrived in Nuremburg and explored the Easter Market which was in the main market square. The market had all sorts of gifts and products and was a hive of activity for a national holiday. Lois and I took Mum, Dad and Freya to the castle which overlooks Nuremburg. It gave us a great view over the city, although I'm pretty sure Dad enjoyed listening to the Czech band playing at the top a lot more than the view. After descending from the castle we made our way outside of the city to visit the former Nazi party rally grounds. To be able to see such an iconic piece of history and be able to actually stand in the spot where Hitler himself once stood was both fascinating and eerie, but was interesting for all. It was here that we also discovered another festival - The Nuremburg Volksfest had also just begun. It was warm, we were tired, so we enjoyed another beer break at the bustling festival before going back to the city for our evening meal. The train back was fortunately on time and we were soon back in Regensburg.

 

On Tuesday we once again found ourselves spending the day in Regensburg. Dads car had been experiencing a few issues and with plenty of miles still to travel, we decided it was best to get it checked out. And since Germany are so well known for their quality cars, why not make the most of being here! We took the car to the mechanics in the morning and after a few hours waiting around and some friendly German hospitality consisting of free coffee, we were given the all clear and made our way to the city. We did some shopping at the modern shopping centre before sampling some typically German food in the form of 'Döner Kebaps' and Leberkäse Sandwiches for lunch. Then it was back to the old part of the city to soak up the atmosphere as well as the sun. Mum and Dad enjoyed browsing in some of the more luxurious shops the city offers whilst Freya, in typical girly fashion, bought herself some shoes. The sun was energy sapping so by the time tea time came around we were all ready for it. Tuesdays venue for our evening meal was mine and Lois' favourite Mexican restaurant - Margaritas. We enjoyed a full round of cocktails (it was happy hour after all) before Nachos to start and then five huge main meals. As a little surprise at the end, we were given five free shots of Tequila. Mum was driving and Freya is too young, so being the good souls we are, Dad, Lois and I had the five shots between us. I never expected to be doing Tequila Slammers with my family on their visit to Germany! The food at Margaritas lived up to expectation as always and it was really nice to show my family where Lois and I often eat. We were left the restaurant full up and had an early night in preparation for our next busy day.

Thursday was set to be a long day as we decided to visit the famous Neuschwannstein Castle in the deep south of Bavaria. With a 3 hour drive ahead of us, we were up and out early doors. Mum did her stint as driver and got us there in great time. Neuschwannstein Castle is in the foothills of the Alps in Füssen. You can see on a map that it lies almost directly on the border between Austria and Germany but it's definitely worth the drive. I had been before with Lois and her family when they visited and it was just as spectacular the second time around. Fortunately we had booked tickets for our tour inside the castle, so managed to avoid the huge queue that had formed. We picked up our tickets, took a deep breath and began the steep, one mile walk up to the castle. Freya and Dad stormed ahead leaving Lois, Mum and myself to sweat it out at the back. Once at the top we made our way to Marienbrücke which offers the best vantage point of the castle. It was here that Lois and I had a very important task to fulfil. Several months ago I bought a lovelock for us and we decided that this is the spot we would like to put it. We locked it around the bridge, shared a kiss and threw our keys into the gushing water below. It was so special and just how I imagined it. The lock looks striking with the view of the castle in the background and the thought that our love is forever sealed at this beautiful place, with such a magical castle in the background, is a very warming thought indeed (no matter how soppy I sound) After our little romantic moment and the obligatory picture taking we proceeded across the bridge to a 'secret' woodland opening which offers even better views of the castle. It was now lunch time and with our packed lunch in hand, what better place than this to enjoy our sandwiches. It was so cool eating our lunch with such a spectacular view - a definite once in a lifetime moment that I'm really glad I could share with my family. We made our way back to the castle entrance and after a quick refreshing drink at one of the restaurants located close to the top, we entered the castle for our tour. I had never been in the castle and it was really interesting to be able to see this part of it. We were told stories of each room and given interesting information about King Ludwig, the owner and only inhabitant of the castle. The castle was as expected lavishly decorated and bigger than I thought it would be. The views that can be seen from many of the rooms mean this castle is totally unique and if not the most, one of the most, wonderful castles in the world. With our tour complete and after seeing the castle from almost every angle possible we made our way back to the car and then drove into the serene town of Füssen for our evening meal. Füssen is, in itself, a beautiful town, yet the castle located on the hillside just above the town steals most of the attention. It was evening so we didn't get much chance to explore this pretty little place but we did have chance to enjoy some Bavarian food in the form of Schnitzels at a cosy restaurant. As we made our way home we enjoyed the stunning views of the Alps and alpine lakes for the last time and another super day, which included several unparalleled experiences, was over.

Our lovelock

 

A picturesque picnic

 

This was the view we had from our picnic vantage point

Thursday was the final day in the stay of my family and we had planned to go to Munich, my favourite German city. Again we went on the train (Mum, Dad and Freya were far too excited about being on the upper deck of a train!) and this time, it was on time. The sun was blazing and we were all looking forward to another day in a city. Our first point of call was however something a little more sombre. Dad and Freya were keen to visit Dachau, the concentration camp located just outside of Munich. We spent the morning here and although it was mine and Lois' second visit, all of us found it very interesting. The hot weather and bright sunshine made it hard to imagine the atrocities that took place there. The amount of information that is available is staggering and far too much even for a whole day, so unfortunately we had to brush over a lot of it. I'm glad we visited as I think it really gives an unmatchable insight into such a difficult part of history and something that can only be done here on the continent and something that books or films in England just can't compare to. Once we dragged Dad away we then made our way to Munich. Everyone was blown away by the magnificence and beauty of Marienplatz, the very centre of Munich, as well as many more of the 'German-esque' buildings. We enjoyed delicious ice cream and a refreshing drink before splitting up to explore the city. Mum and Dad enjoyed looking along the expensive Maximillian Straße whilst Freya enjoyed the fact that there are 5 H & M shops all within walking distance of each other! After being entertained by some typical Bavarian knee slapping and spoon tapping in Marienplatz, we made our way to the central institution in Munich - the world famous Hofbräuhaus. No other beer hall can compare and if you want real Germany, this is the place to come. As we entered the band was already playing the typical German beer hall songs and we sat ourselves down in close vicinity and got into the spirit with a huge one litre 'maß' each and some typical Bavarian food of 'Schweineshaxn' , 'Schweinebraten', 'Spätzle' and 'Brathendl'. It was delicious and the atmosphere was incredible and my family loved it. Yes, it is a little touristy but I think it's great and you simply have to visit if in Munich. This was the perfect end to a fantastic week.

'ARBEIT MACHT FREI' on the gates into Dachau

The town hall in Marienplatz looked amazing in the sun



Bavarian food all round!

The Hofbräuhaus is a must in Munich!

On Friday morning we said our goodbyes as I filled the remaining space in the car (Mum and Dad had bought a crate of German beer to take home amongst other souvenirs) with my winter clothes and anything else I can survive without for the next 6 weeks. It was hard seeing them leave, especially since the week went so fast, but knowing I will see them again in just over a month makes it a lot easier. The week was incredible and I wouldn't have changed anything. I had been counting down to this week for so long and it definitely didn't disappoint. I really feel they got to experience 'real' Germany and they were able to learn a lot. Being able to show them where I've been living and the country I've been living in meant a lot to me too. Me and Lois are used to life here now, but having guests from home made us realise just how cool many parts of German culture are and we've come to appreciate these things again. Being able to order in German for a family and ask questions when needed also gave me a new found confidence in my speaking ability.

One of the other highlights of a visit from home

The weekend that followed didn't consist of much. We spent the time recovering from our busy week and finalising the last bits of our essay ready for submission during the week (boy, that's a relief!). This also marks the end of our 2 week Easter break. It's gone fast but at the same time it feels like we have done so much! We've both agreed that this has been the best two weeks of our Year Abroad so far. But now it's back to what we came here to do. We only have 5 weeks left in our schools, which isn't long at all and I know this will go fast. The home run has begun!

Until next time,

Tschüß

Breakfast in Berlin, Dinner in Paris

Lois and I have just recently returned from a busy 5 days spent in Berlin and Paris. As two 'Year-Abroaders' in Germany, we felt we simply couldn't return from our Year Abroad without having visited the capital of the Fatherland. And Paris - well, why not!? The fact that we have two weeks to do this is just another advantage of being a Language Assistant on a Year Abroad. If you're thinking about doing a Year Abroad and you would like to travel, being a Language Assistant is definitely the best choice for you.

So, here's what we got up to:

Our break began very early on Saturday morning when we caught the first bus and then one of the first trains to Berlin. Since we are money-savy students, we travel using the cheapest option possible, which often unfortunately means this is also the longest. So our journey to Berlin lasted 8 hours, and we had several changes and it took up most of the day on Saturday. However, the time passed pretty quickly and we soon found ourselves in Berlin Hauptbahnhof. It is huge and so, so busy. Since it's the Easter break, we obviously aren't the only people enjoying time off school and work. We made our way to our hotel to drop off our bags but this is where we encountered a little problem. We had made a note of the tram stop which was right outside our hotel before we left, but we had noted it down with one subtle mistake. The stop we were meant to travel to was called 'Höhenschönhausen Str.', but we had only written 'Höhenschönhausen', and yes, there was a totally different stop, in a totally different area of the city, which was named this. We soon found ourselves in the total wrong area and after asking several people where the hotel was only to be met with blank faces and a shrugging of shoulders, we worked out our mistake. After sticking a map which showed the location of our hotel which was on Lois' iPad into a mans face and asking him to tell us how to get there and after receiving some very friendly assistance, we eventually reached our hotel. It was a nice room and the hotel was right next to a tram stop with regular trams to the city, so the location was great. It was now pretty late so we promptly returned to the city to find somewhere for our evening meal. We found ourselves in Alexanderplatz, and large area of restaurants and shops which is in the former Eastern sector but is now quite developed. It is also home to the famous TV tower which dominates the Berlin skyline. With no real idea of what was on offer, we went to one of the first restaurants we saw which turned out to be a good choice. We enjoyed some tasty Japanese food at a very reasonable price, which surprised us to say we were in one of the busiest areas of a capital city. This moment was special because I was able to talk Lois into trying something new. Seeing as though Lois had never had sushi before, and seeing as though I really like it, we got a portion to share. This wasn't ordinary sushi, oh no, this was duck sushi, also a food Lois hadn't sampled before. It was really nice and Lois was a fan. A huge fan in fact of the duck. After finishing with a drink else where, we made our way back to our hotel for the night.

The 'Fernsehturm' or TV Tower is the tallest
building in Berlin and located
in Alexanderplatz

On Sunday morning we caught the train to a little area just outside the city called Wannsee. Before we reached Wannsee we stopped off at a station called Grunewald. This station, whilst also being a working train station, is also a memorial site and has a platform dedicated to the Jews of Berlin who were sent from this very train station to their deaths at various Concentration and Extermination Camps around Europe. The platform, platform 17, has inscriptions all along the platform stating how many Jews were sent on specific days throughout the entire period of persecution. It was really interesting and quite shocking to see just how many were sent off, often only days apart, and this was just from the city of Berlin. It was also interesting to see how the numbers varied as the persecution increased and then as, quite literally, there were no more left, and the numbers decreased. I was surprised to find that even as late as 1945, when the war was all but over, the Nazis still had the capacity to continue with this sordid work. To think this happened throughout the country and even wider, is alarming. After visiting this memorial, we continued on the train to Wannsee and visited 'The House of the Wannsee Conference'. Wannsee is a really beautiful area outside of the city with a large lake (the Wannsee) and lots of very desirable properties. The place was buzzing with cyclists whizzing up and down the streets in the sun and people enjoying the outlook over the lake. But Wannsee is also infamous in history. The Wannsee conference was were the fate of European Jews was decided in 1942 by leading Nazis and various other important people. The extermination, or what we know as 'The Final Solution', of, among others, the Jews was decided here. The house, a very nice Villa, is now a museum giving a huge array of information, from the rise of the Nazi party to the persecution of the Jews as well as showing the minutes of the actual meeting. I found this part particularly interesting and it was intriguing to see just how subtle they were about what was to be done - Whilst the words 'murder of the Jews' wasn't used, this was certainly implied, leaving no doubt in the minds of those present about what was to happen. We have both visited the house before with our schools, but it was all the more interesting since we now have a greater knowledge and interest in this particular period of history. After this we returned to the city and found ourselves in the very centre of Berlin, beneath the Brandenburg Gate. We bought some lunch and Lois had a true Berliner Bratwurst whilst I jumped at the opportunity to try a real Berliner Döner. Next to the Brandenburg Gate is the memorial to the murdered European Jews. Opened in 2005 it consists of 2,711 concrete slabs which vary in size. At the edges the slabs are almost unnoticeable, flush with the floor, but in the middle they tower above you, up to a height of 15ft. What the slabs represent is a matter of interpretation according to the architect, but whatever the 'meaning', they certainly make an impression, especially in the middle. By this point we were feeling a little cold, despite the sun, so nipped back to the hotel to wrap up. We returned to the city in order to visit the Reichstag, the German Houses of Parliament. In an effort to reduce the threat of a terrorist attack in order to enter the Reichstag you have to pre-book (I'm pretty sure if a terrorist wanted to enter, they could quite easily also pre book, but that's beside the point). We had pre booked our visit so were able to walk straight into the security area, leaving behind a crowd of disappointed people outside who weren't aware of the 'pre booking' rule. The security area made us feel like we were in an airport - everything was checked and as usual, I had to be 'patted down'. We took a lift to the top and listened to a very clever audio guide which worked out where you were standing and told you information in relation to your location. We learnt some really interesting stuff. On top of the Reichstag is a glass dome, designed by English architect Norman Foster (He also designed the Gherkin in London amongst others). You can ascend this dome up a spiral walkway and it gives a great view over Berlin. You can see just how big the 'Tiergarten' is - this is a giant park located right in the centre of Berlin which can be likened to Central Park in New York. Below the dome you can actually see into the chamber where the party representatives, including Frau Merkel herself, sit and discuss all matter of politics. The glass is meant to represent the 'transparency and openness of German politics' which is actually quite a nice idea. The Reichstag building itself is really impressive and the top was definitely worth the visit. A must do in Berlin! After this we found our favourite Italian chain, Vapianos, enjoyed a meal and then returned to the hotel.

The House of the Wannsee Conference

  

Platform 17 - The memorial to the Jews of Berlin
sent to camps around Europe. This particular section reads:
27.3.1945 18 Jews sent to Theresienstadt

I simply had to try a true Berliner Döner -
It was the best one I've ever had!

The Memorial to the murdered Jews of Europe

A rather poignant plaque. In 1933 the Nazis held a huge
book burning in this square where books written by Jews, Communists,
Homosexuals etc were burned. Written here is a quote
by Heinrich Heine, a German Jewish author, who wrote
in 1821 "That was only a prelude - where they burn
books, in the end they will also burn people."
Despite being written over 100 years before, he
was indeed right.

The Berlin Cathedral

The Reichstag

The glass dome atop the Reichstag

Russian inscriptions written during the final days of the
second World War can still be seen

Monday began with a walking tour of the city. This was really interesting and provided us with lots of interesting information and facts. The weather had deteriorated slightly meaning we got pretty wet, but we saw lots of sights including the Berlin Wall, Checkpoint Charlie, the site of the 'Führerbunker' where Hitler saw out his days, the Berlin Opera house, the University buildings and so much more! It was really great and we both enjoyed it, despite the rain. It lasted until the afternoon which didn't leave us with much time, but we visited another museum, namely 'The Topography of Terror' (sounds scary, right?) which is on the site of the former Gestapo and SS Headquarters and is now a fascinating museum, with the emphasis on pictures rather than reams and reams of text, which was really effective. After this, and by now we were pretty tired from a day of walking, we enjoyed a final meal and drink (I had the Berlin delicacy of Currywurst, but on a pizza!) and made our way back to the hotel for a final time.

The site of the Führerbunker. Now it is nothing but a car
 park - pretty boring really!

Marking the point where the Berlin Wall stood

Tuesday meant it was time to leave and move on to our next destination - Paris! We were flying there from Berlin but frustratingly, once at the airport we learnt our flight had been delayed. (We were flying with Air France and we're blaming the French). We arrived in Paris later than we wanted to, but successfully navigated the huge metro network and got to our hotel and discovered the worlds smallest and highest (the 6th floor and no lift!), yet comfortable room (We had written the location of this hotel down correctly this time!) We had planned to have the afternoon enjoying Paris, but as a result of our delayed flight, we found we didn't have much time left. Without hesitation and like real tourists, we made our way straight to the highlight of the Parisian skyline, the Eiffel Tower. As someone who had never been up this famous landmark before, I was keen to do so, so we immediately began queuing. The queue was big even though it was early evening but we saw that the queue to ascend via the steps was, naturally, shorter. The ascent wasn't particularly difficult and it was actually much nicer as you could appreciate the view, rather than speeding up in a lift. From the second level you can then take a lift to the very top if you wish, but at an extra cost and the queue was once again huge. We found that the second level was high enough and it gave a beautiful view of Paris. It was a wonderful evening and Paris looked far better than I expected. It was getting later and we were getting hungry, so we found a typically French style bistro and enjoyed typical French food. I had the Beef Bourguignon whilst Lois had the duck - that's right, the duck she tried for the first time in Berlin must definitely had made an impression! It was absolutely delicious and just so French. Whilst the portions weren't as big as in Germany, the quality and flavour was certainly there. Finishing with a true Crème Brulee and we felt almost French. We returned to our hotel after a long day.

I told you the queue was big!

A French breakfast on the go!

On Wednesday, after a quick visit to the famous Notre Dame Cathedral, we began, once again, with a walking tour. This was once again totally worthwhile and we learnt so much about a city, which before the tour neither of us knew much about. We learnt about Paris during the French Revolution, during the second World War, about Napoleon and about modern Paris and it really, really was interesting. The sun was shining and Paris looked so pretty. We finished the tour at the end of the Champs Elysees, which worked really well as this was where we wanted to be. We strolled up this famous road taking in the Parisian atmosphere and enjoying an ice cream. The Arc De Triomphe lies at the top of the road and after learning that it was free for students decided we'd be silly not to go to the top. After a short queue we found ourselves once again climbing stair after stair but once at the top found it was worth it. To be able to see the Eiffel Tower from a distance was spectacular and looking down the bustling Champs Elysees was also quite a sight. After wandering back down the Champs Elysees we met up with our friend Jake, who is working in Paris on his Year Abroad, at the Eiffel Tower. It was now tea time and what better way than to enjoy a sunny French evening than having a French picnic on the lawn in front of the Eiffel Tower. After buying baguettes, ham, cheese and wine (of course!) from the supermarket, we sat down in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower and ate. It was such a memorable moment and I think it's such a cool thing to have done. The evening was still warm and we had a great laugh catching up with our future flat mate. After our simple, yet tasty tea we went to the best place to view the Eiffel Tower, the Trocadero. It was now dusk and we were there just in time to see the spectacular Eiffel Tower light show, which makes the Eiffel Tower literally sparkle. It was amazing. After a relaxing drink sat out under the evening sky, the evening was soon over and it was time to say goodbye. Despite only spending two days there, we had had a super time in Paris and I would say it was just the right amount of time for us to spend there. We did everything we wanted to and even more. On Thursday morning, after leaving the hotel at 5:00, we learnt again that our flight had been delayed. After a long morning sat in the airport, we were soon back in Germany and then back in Regensburg by early afternoon. But our day was not yet over. With the arrival of my family on Saturday, and with the shops being closed on Good Friday, we had lots of shopping to do. By evening we were shattered but seeing as though Friday was going to be a quiet day, we were able to have a solid nights sleep and a deserved lie in.

Notre Dame

 

 

  

The view down the Champs Elysees

The grave of the unknown soldier and the eternal flame

A French picnic!

Wine in front of the Eiffel Tower
- Oh, how French!

The light show, which is shown every evening
is really pretty

So what do we think about these two cities. Berlin was fantastic. There is so much to see and do that a week would be a good length of time to spend there. Whilst it is certainly not as beautiful as Paris, there is more to do. There is something for everybody and I felt the atmosphere was more relaxed than the stiffer, Parisian atmosphere. Berlin is home to some spectacular buildings (The cathedral, the Reichstag) and it has more history (or at least more history that I find interesting) but the buildings and landmarks in Paris are pretty breath-taking. Berlin was surprisingly cheap and very good value, whilst Paris is expensive. Berlin was, for me, very 'un-German' in comparison to places like Munich and Nuremburg, but Paris is what I consider to be, very French. Berlin was certainly more my kind of city, with the culture and the history, whilst Lois preferred Paris, with the style, flair and romance. It's also worth mentioning that I felt very 'uncomfortable' in Paris, due to not being able to speak French. In Berlin we can order and ask questions without a problem, but in France, I hadn't a clue! It brings home how cool it is to have knowledge of a second language, yet I now feel very rude when I can't even attempt to say something in the language of the country I'm in. However one thing that has to be said, is that we were both really surprised at the amount of English we heard. Yes, it's Easter and obviously both cities are tourist hotspots, but the fact that the German / French to English ratio was easily 50:50, was really surprising. It brought home the importance, and the power, the English language holds. Also, Paris is, obviously, stereotypically a city for lovers, and I would certainly agree with this. It was really special going there as a couple and I think this is the best way to experience this. As soppy as it sounds, I wouldn't have wanted to go with anybody else.

And that brings me to now. We're just about recovered and we're super excited for the arrival of my parents and my sister tomorrow. The weather forecast is looking disappointing but hopefully we can still have a nice time altogether. We have lots of ideas so hopefully I can tell you all about it next week.

Until next time,

Tschüß