Da Rhineland, Yah

Guten Tag,

I have successfully returned from the Rhineland in which German hospitality was experienced at its finest.  First and foremost before I get into my spiel, if you ever have the opportunity to go up to Bacharach or to St. Goar, do not hesitate at all.  Our trip is essentially broken down into four distinct, yet awesome, parts.

1)      The trip to Bacharach

Like most trips in Europe, we took the train.  While it was a little confusing at first, we quickly figured out that the European model of transportation works like clock work.  We had four separate connections and we made all of them, on time.  No nonsense like airlines in the states bumping your seat.  Hell, if you can’t find a seat on the train, sit on the ground and wait for the next stop for someone to get up.  Regardless, the trip up was a blur, mostly because we were exhausted from the previous night’s adventures.  We arrived in Bacharach around 2:45 pm after leaving Geneva at 6:40 am. 

2)      Bacharach

Thanks to Mr. Brown we booked a room in a hostel in what is a 13^th century castle…no big deal.  We got off the train and wandered around briefly before noticing that our castle was a good hike upward.  We made the hike, checked in, got settled, and headed back into town.  The town itself is a gem.  Old churches and houses tucked around every corner.  After hiking up what looked like a deer path, which of course was wunderbar, we headed to the local kabob place for a k-bob.  In my previous post I have mentioned the illustrious King Kabob, well ladies and gents, we found Queen Kabob tucked away in a small town in Germany.  Huge kabobs that came out to about $4 made our day.  After the k-bob and a beer at a local restaurant we hiked back up to the castle, in the rain, mimicking 12^th century French troops trying to invade the castle.  It sounded and looked more like the great American action films that Arnold Schwarzenegger, but it was fun nonetheless.  We decided that we’d kick it in the dungeon of castle and relax over a few brews, just to pass the time.

3)      Da Rhineland Yah

Our adventure on this glorious Friday starts on a ferry leaving Bacharach.  We got on the ferry at about 11:15 am and cruised around seeing the sites and the castles (below)

We finally got off about three hours later in Boppard, where some old Roman walls stood.  They were old, end of story.  The cool thing about them though was the fact that they were the border of the old Roman Empire. 

From there we hopped on the train and went to St. Goar where a 11^th-12^th century castle stands and it was in remarkably good shape

After our foray into the castle, things started to get fun.  We decided to back on the ferry and head back to Bacharach, but of course we could not leave without sampling some of the fine local brews, that would be a crime against Germany.  So, after picking up a few and getting on the boat (thank you Germany for allowing open containers), we arrived at Bacharach and returned to the glorious Queen Kabob restaurant where we downed our sandwich and went for a stroll outside of town. 

There we are, three fine American gentlemen, minding our own business when out of the blue we pass this campsite and we here what? Nothing else but Hootie and Blowfish.  Being the adventures that we are, we sauntered over to check out what awesomeness this was that Germans loved Hootie, because everyone should love Hootie/Darius Rucker.  Inside we essentially find a block party that has moved its way up the Rhine to celebrate nothing else but a beerfest.  Fully stocked with copious amounts of every kind of drink you could imagine, they invited us to stay and enjoy in their good times.  We stayed, for six hours….(side note: Hostels sometimes have curfews.  Ours had one for 10 pm…we missed it…by four hours).  Anyway, we stayed, we hung up, we learned a lot about Germans.  First, they like to drink.  Second, they hate France.  Third, they like to drink.  For some Godforsaken reason we leave the tent and attempt to wander home.  I leave this story at that.  I’m pulling a Christopher Nolan on all of you, and you can decide what happens, mostly because I’m tired of writing. 

This weekend we’re hitting up Cinque Terra off the coast of Italy for some hiking and some beach action, should be a good time.  The following weekend, I’ll be getting my country fix and attending a concert in Gstaad featuring Miranda Lambert, Patty Loveless and Craig Morgan, and some Swiss guy.  Should be a good time. 

Until then I bid you adieu.  College football starts in 6 days and some change, and I’m excited to say the least.

Deuces,

CM

Legendary

Little Doses of Grace

Bon jour,

Amazingly, I’m writing to ya’ll only one day after my previous post.  I’m surprised and impressed with my ability to even come close to meeting a deadline.  Currently, there are a few issues that are really hindering the American folk (us) in taking over this part of the world.  Here are some of the issues that we have faced:

• Lack of internet
• Lack of toilet paper
• Unpredictable weather
• Lastly, and most importantly, there is little to no access to American sports
• While enjoying a tower of beer from the local brewery (yes, even in Geneva, they have beer towers), I was fortunate enough to enjoy WWE Wrestlemania, which for some god-forsaken reason, every single person and their mom enjoyed and showed up to watch.

Anyway, these minor issues are easily thrown by the wayside, when I roll over every morning and see Geneva’s amazing fountain shooting water sky-high, I usually think to myself, “I’m living the hard life”. 

From wandering the streets to enjoying friendly conversation with ‘King Kabob’ as we call him (A kabob restaurant owner that loves us for some horrifying reason), Geneva is through and through an amazing place.  While you may have to go elsewhere to find the hardcore party scene, Geneva mixes class with beauty. 

As for grace, those of you who know me well, know that I’m the epitome of graceful.  Much like a swan, only not as pretty.  On this trip so far, I’ve managed to fall of a high bar stool in the most classy of manners, bit it beneath a waterfall in the Rhine hard, and lastly and most graciously, run triumphantly through a briar patch

My day today consisted of:

·         A long run through the city

·         The most refreshing swim I think I have ever taken…why the Swiss haven’t taken a note from Fiji and bottled up their water and sent it out to make tons of money is beyond me.

·         Went to class

·         Enjoyed a sandwich from a street vendor

·         Threw a football (American style, don’t even get be started on ‘futbol’) around in the park

·         Shared my words of wisdom with you all

I leave you for now pondering about the awesomeness that is my life right now, despite the fact that I am insanely jealous that most of you are in Oxford without me living it up.  Still I don’t regret my decision to kick off my senior year doing this study abroad thing at all.  If the first week and a half have been a good indicator of how much fun/trouble I could get into this semester, I think I’ll be okay.

Deuces,

CM

Touring the Geneve

Hey folks,

Sorry its taken me so long to get back to ya'll.  Things have been crazy to say the least.  After getting off the plane in Geneva we were shuttled by bus to a hotel where we dropped off our bags and set out for the Alps.  The first 4 days were spent in a town of 200 tucked away in the Alps....here's what happened:
[Disclaimer: Internet quality does not allow me to share my many words of wisdom with the world]

A lot of that...and a lot of this:

And a bit of this:

Capped off with this:

Then we decided we should do some work...and by work, I mean take over a city.  The Geneve had no idea what hit them, or so we thought.

Initially Geneva, seemed quiet, ordinary, and extrememly upscale.  After enjoying many a brew at the lake front, I decided it would be a good idea to take some pictures.  And this is what we did:

That's everything so far...there will be more, and more time for me to share my experiences with ya'll.  Class is beckoning, which is surprising because living here doesn't exactly make me want to 'do school'

Deuces,

CM

Tanning Spray, Fist Pumps, and Large Muscles

            Waking up at 7:00 am was a lot tougher than I had initially expected.  If only I knew what was going to happen later in the day/into the next day, I probably would have stayed in my bed, curled up in the fetal position, dreaming of all things that are American.  Here’s the breakdown of my extravagant journey, which in actuality was just a comedy of errors.

Flight 1134: DFW-Newark

Things to consider before discussing the flight/my thought progression:

·         Newark is New Jersey

o       Jersey Shore is also in New Jersey

·         A bodybuilding competition in DFW took place on Friday + Saturday leading up to my Sunday flight

o       Muscle tees and spray tans were seen frequent and often near the gate

While boarding I had the distinct pleasure of sitting next to a Danny Bonadouche clone who, as he told me, “got screwed out of winning the award for best abs because he wasn’t tan enough.”  Anyway, the flight went off without a hitch until Danny boy insisted on testing my knowledge of the 1^st season of Jersey Shore.   As David and the Walnut St. crew know, many a fun night ended with intense Jersey shore knowledge.  Unfortunately, I’m ashamed to inform all of my friends and family that I failed wannabe-Danny Bondouche’s challenge and brought immense shame upon myself.  According to Danny boy it was a ‘travesty and disgrace’ that I did not know what tanning oil each of the bro-skis used, and I failed to memorize their daily workout routine.  As a consolation prize (and I’m not kidding), Danny offered to help me improve my fist-pump.  After I showed Danny, the boss man, my fist pump with limited enthusiasm, not only did he burst out in laughter but his crew of muscular bros sitting a row up joined in on this apparently hilarious attempt at mastering the pumping of the fist.  His response to me was: “Now listen here brah, I’m doing this for all the guidos and guidettes around the country”.  What he did next was one of those moments that happen once or twice in a lifetime, where you literally cannot believe what happens before your eyes.  The fearless leader of the wolf-pack, Danny, jumped from his aisle seat, into the aisle screaming, “if you love New Jersey, prove it.” Slowly Danny, with what I learned was perfect form and flawless facial expression, started a fist pump rally (if that’s what you call it) that spread throughout the plane of about 75 people.  Surprisingly, the stewardesses on my flight did not enjoy this guy’s attempt at humor and told him to sit down and stop pumping his fist.  The flight ended a short 30 minutes later with no more exciting Jerseyisms, much to my chagrin.  Danny and I exchanged a handshake and said our goodbyes, and finally I was in Newark.

I was super pumped to wait for 5 hours before our flight boarded for Geneva, which takes us into a completely different story, full of kicking babies, annoyed grannies, and stewardesses getting ‘bowed in the face. Good times were had by all.

People who play with video settings on skype too much....

Need I say anything?

Preparing to Embark

It's currently 8:52 Central Standard Time and my life is in ruins.  Not only have a failed to pack anything in bags, I've found it more enjoyable to catch up on all the Jersey Shore that I possibly could want to watch before I leave this country.  I'm hoping that in the next 24 hours I can manage to throw my clothes and belongings into some organized fashion before my parents forcibly remove me from the U.S. of A.  On a side note major props go out to DJ DD and E-Hads for the name, it is probably a little more family friendly than the name I had previously suggested.

Tomorrow, I plan on doing all things that are American.  Tristan Chan, Dave, and the Miami summer crew of 2009 will remember it as a day of glory and justice all rolled into fun-filled activities.  My preliminary itinerary is as follows:

8:00 am - Wake up

8:15 am - Breakfast/morning swim

9:00 am - Independence Day drinking game (Andy Klausing's special rule on Jeff Goldblum's dad included)

11:30 am - Hair cut action

12:00 - Pack a bit

12:05 - Drink a bit

12:08 - Pack a bit

12:12 - Drink a bit

12:14-3 pm - (pattern continues)

3:30 - pool action/fire off some fireworks

4:00 pm - Happy hour time at the sushi place 

  *** Side note => One may ask why on a day where I'm enjoying all things American, would I go to a Japanese sushi place?  Answer: One of the most American things is finding cheap deals.  As a well-educated collegiate, I find good deals, end of story.

5:45-7 pm - Enjoying my iPhone for the last time in 4 months.

8pm - dinner/pool time/drinking time

10ish/8 drinks later (whichever one is first) - trying my best to acquire a great British accent

11 pm - bed

6 am- airport

Then....Europe

Should be fun. 

More posts are soon to come, with pictures...hopefully they won't be as horribly written as this one

-CM