Hey howdy hey!

Well I’ve been putting this off long enough I may as well get down to it. Here we go with the final entry about my German ventures.

I have to say, even though I allotted more time to Germany than any other country/city, I still feel I didn’t see enough. However I did see as much as I could in that short time. I visited cities Berlin, Potsdam, Hamburg, Cologne and Bonn. Berlin and Hamburg being the sort of “big cities” of the bunch, a little more touristy, but for good reason. Both are rich with history. And that’s what’s so great about Germany and Europe, in general, is how rich this continent is with world history.

Hamburg

In Hamburg I visited Miniature Wonderland, which is exactly what it sounds like. Trains, sets, magentically controlled vehicles all move, drive, respond all around these massive sets of European cities and even a bit of America. Or what is perceived as American which was mainly Vegas and the old west. Ha. Loved it though. It was really amazing, the detail, and my photos don’t do it justice at all.

Memorieeeesss

The scale of some of these sets are amazing.

My only problem with it? The fucking children. They’re running around, they’re screaming, they’re pushing me aside so THEY can push the button to make the fire truck siren blare…little bastards. I want to make the firetruck go, not YOU. It’s MY turn. And kids sound even more obnoxious when they’re speaking a foreign language that I could never master. Bunch of show-offs. Mustn’t grumble…

Hamburg City Hall...I think...

Most friends knew that Germany was at the top of my “To See” list before coming over here. Some of you knew I had been wanting to travel to Germany since first moving to Toronto, but never got around to it. So some of you wondered why I left Germany for one of the last places I was seeing through my mini-tour across Europe. Here’s your answer…

Christmas Market, Hamburg

Christmas Market, Cologne

Christmas Market, Bonn

The Christmas Markets are so much fun. My German tour has mainly consisted of a massive pubcrawl through every Christmas Market I could find. The handmade crafts, the food and the mulled wine were fantastic to sample. Not only that, but it seems like this is a big event to get people out and about. Everyone is extremely friendly and welcoming, and you’re allowed to drink on the streets of Germany which is pretty amazing. I wonder if I can use the excuse “But I did this in COLOGNE!” when I’m back in Toronto…

Speaking of, Toronto folks, is the Distillery still doing their version of the Christmas Market? Would love to hear some feedback if any of you made it out to it.

One of the twin towers at The Dom, Cologne.

Did you know Beethoven was born in Bonn? This be the house.

Even though I tend to run into some sour weather, I’ve at least managed to outrun the snow. It snowed a bit in Hamburg and there was snow on the ground the morning I left Cologne. Luckily, now in Bruges, I’ve managed to outrun it again. Being in Cologne and Hamburg was great. Both are good cities to just get lost in, especially Cologne. I love aimlessly wandering the streets with no real plan to go anywhere…so long as I can find my way back home at the end of the night. Was lucky enough one night to find a small jazz bar with Karolina. This place was packed, but for good reason. The band was fantastic and they performed swinging holiday tunes. And the trombone player looked like Kenny Rogers. I wish I had snapped a photo…

Reunited at the Bonn Christmas Market.

In conclusion, Germany was really beautiful and everything I wanted it to be. Special thanks to Klara and Karolina who took the time to show me around and keep me company.

So now I’m In Bruges (get it?) and readying myself for Christmas. It was a rough train ride yesterday (I think I hit the Christmas Market a little too hard the night before) but I managed to make it in one piece and with my stomach holding it together. From what I’ve seen of this place so far, I think I’m going to love it.

Christmas is only four days away, and it feels odd that I’m not home but at the same time I’ve lost track of time whilst on the road and so it could be October 16th for all I know.

Um, holy shit, right? Gave me fucking goosebumps through the entire trailer. It’s so far away from release, I guess I have the animated series to hold me over until then. Sigh.

Here's my Christmas dinner. Happy holidays!

My writing has gone down a bit. But it’s been a busy couple of weeks constantly moving and out and about. Still jotting down ideas, but that’s about it. I miss music. I miss holding my guitar and I wish it wasn’t such a bulky piece of shit and I could’ve traveled with it. Also two of the zippers on my dufflebag no longer function which makes for fun times getting in and out of a packed train. Ha. Not complaining, merely reporting.

So has anyone Skyped Santa? This seems like a ridiculous concept. And isn’t it a bit disappointing that perhaps visiting Santa at the mall will soon be a thing of the past you’ll have to explain to your children someday?

I’m not going to focus too much on Christmas, because I plan on a Christmas post on Christmas. Oof, I know that was a lot of “Christmas” in one sentence but I’m not editing it. Fuck it.

However as I expect everything to be shut down In Bruges (did it again) on the 25th I’ve started preparing what I would usually do at my parents’ house in Ottawa. Which is not showering and watching movies all day. This list is for my own self-enjoyment, bear with me.

Batman’s X-mas Movie Marathon:

Home Alone Pt. I & Pt. II

Nightmare Before Christmas (Don’t care if you think this is a Halloween movie, you’re wrong)

Jingle All The Way (SINBAD)

Mickey’s Christmas Carol

A Charlie Brown Christmas

Muppet Christmas Carol (Best holiday movie of all time)

Select holiday episodes of The Simpsons (seasons 1 through 8)

It’s a Wonderful Life (This will be new as I’ve never seen it before, but hear good things)

Any other suggestions out there? Don’t suggest Die Hard, not interested.

But there’s bound to be at least ONE pub open In Bruges right? Maybe I’ll find several other lonesome people and we can all get together, buy a few cans of SPAM and cheap red wine and celebrate together.

To those in Toronto, I am still on the search for an apartment for January/February of the new year. So if you hear of anything, let me know. I am looking for anything at this point. And the shorter the lease, the better. That being said I’m not picky…

Right now I’m in the midst of trying to figure out my travel plans for London. By plane or by train is too expensive. The bus is perfect, but there’s no ticket counter In Bruges and I don’t have access to a printer to print my ticket online so I don’t know what the fuck I’m going to do. I love traveling alone but it would be nice to have one person with me so THEY can do all the work when it comes to planning. I hate planning.

All right, twats. I’m going to call it here so I don’t completely run out of shit to say for my Christmas post. Should I try to get through that one without cussing? I don’t think it’s possible. Even at our family household the cursing be a-flowin’ all Christmas day. Mainly from the mouths of my brother and I.

Cheers,

- B.