End of year round-up and then some

Well, 2007 has been a pivotal year, the harbinger of my graduation from college and my first venture out of the U.S. No complaints, thus far, about how things have panned out. Yes, I am in debt - but who isn't? That aspect of life has been established for quite a while, so why not be in debt whilst traveling Europe?

Living abroad and meeting people from all walks and talks of life has been eye-opening. This, of course, is a gross understatement. Those that have entered my life since the fateful decision to make my home in Germany have become, in many cases, family. Not family in the traditional sense, but in that we are all experiencing the same removal and nearly complete separation from that which was once familiar. This fact, I feel, inspires a quicker-than-usual attachment than many have experienced before. I have made friends here that I am certain will last a lifetime because of the months spent here away from family, away from life-long friends; and has inspired, recently, a delving into my own concept of the world and life in general. Without going on too long here, it suffices to say that I have grown a fair amount in the few months that I have been here. That being said, let us move on to things more informative and fun!

NEW YEARS EVE

I have decided to forgo Christmas for two reasons: 1) It didn't feel like Christmas as I have always known it, and as such it passed very much like any other day. 2) All I did was work.

New Year's Eve was, safe to say, if not the best night of my life, then damn close. From the onset, the night was of questionable fun value. I, along with many of my close friends, were scheduled to work until 11:30 operating a children's program at the hotel. We were, rightfully so, fearful that the parents would get caught up in the festivities and want to leave their children until just before midnight, thus robbing us of our chance to effectively celebrate the holiday. Thankfully, this happened to be a well thought-out concern of my lovely boss for the evening, Andrea. She had every kid checked out around 11:15. I had phoned a friend of mine that owned a cab and arranged for a ride to the center of Garmisch, and to pick us up at 11:30. We hopped in the cab and was there in plenty of time for the count down.

Now, just imagine a place where fireworks are legal, in fact seemingly encouraged. A place where there is no Citibank-sponsored firework show, but rather hundreds of people firing away at will, and you would have Garmisch on New Years' Eve. As midnight approached, Garmischers were setting off every type of pyrotechnic imaginable all around us as we stood in the middle of the pedestrian district. Encircled by nothing but smoke, flickering lights, and explosions, the experience was nothing short of magical - made especially so by the snow that was falling on us in chunks that could have blocked out the sun had it been present.

My Blog - revisited

Hello all,
and sorry for the shabby job keeping this thing updated. No photos this time, but plenty to tell to be sure. Lately things have been a little crazy and I have been working quite a bit. To be honest it is a welcome change, as a few weeks ago I was struggling just to get any number of hours accumulated. Now, I have the opposite problem and I think I like it - keeps me out of the pubs and money in my pocket.

I have been crazed by the travel bug lately as well. I discovered a website that, if booked far enough in advance, you can score really cheap tickets to ust about anywhere. I have already booked two trips for early next year. In February I am going to Catania, in Sicily Italy. It should be amazing and it only cost me 45 Euro. I found for the same price a round trip ticket to Palma de Majorca - a city on a spanish Island in April. It is so exciting to be booking trips to places that I never would have thought I would have the opportunity to visit.

I have been working for 8 straight days, and am scheduled for 5 more without a break. On Monday, the only day off anytime soon I will be trying something rather new to me - couchsurfing. On couchsurfing.com, you can join up and enter a community of world travelers that offer their couches, free of charge, to those passing through their respective towns. I have already secured a location in Munich on sunday night and will be relieved to be getting out of Garmisch, if only for a day, to explore Munich with a local. For anyone that may read this blog and would be interested in this type of thing, please sign up!

www.couchsurfing.com

Well, until next time, love to all and stay in touch!

Munich, the Klamm, and other freakishly cool shindiggs

This posting is dusted with photos from a few of my recent excursions - enjoy!

Okay, for those who may not already know... I have the greatest gig ever. I am currently working for the recreation department here at the resort. Today, I walked to work (in the rain) and clocked in around 8am. I then proceeded to get PAID to take a tour of Munich. I have serious reservations concerning the sanity of any person that does not like, nay love, this damn town.

We walked around for about an hour while I tried to contain myself. The architecture is simply amazing. Munich is one of those cities that I have only read about or seen on the travel channel. Now, having been there, I feel like I watched a travel channel special in IMAX... it doesn't seem quite real just yet. I was not able to take my camera because I was "working" but there will certainly be return visits.



I ate at the Hofbrauhaus during my visit. Great food, flawless beer... 'nuff said, as words are wasted in trying to describe the party that took place in my mouth. Afterwards, I had coffee and dessert on the roof-top patio of a cafe. From where I was sitting I could see the booming market, the Glackenspiel in the Marienplatz, and nearly every church in the city. AHHH, words failing me again here, so you will just have to wait until I can post some pictures of this amazing place.

Tangent: This is a look at what I see as I walk/ride to work every day:I love going to work these days...

Yesterday, I had an unexpected day off and decided to go hiking to a place called the Partnachklamm. The Klamm is a gorge that has been carved through a section of the Bavarian Alps. After I emerged from the gorge, I decided that the day was too pretty to be over with and hiked up a mountain and had a beer at the restaurant I found on the top.









The Gorge was impressive





















And the hike was tiring... but certainly worthwile!

Germany!

About a week ago I hopped on my very first plane and landed in Central Europe. The 18hrs spent traveling may prove to be the most anxious and exciting time of my life. Upon walking out of the Munich Airport, the air was cool, crisp, and clean... a welcome change from Charlotte. The bus ride to Garmisch was uneventful, that is until the shadows of the Bavarian Alps came in to view. Luckily enough it was a crystal clear day and I could see every craggy mountain-top in full detail. The other people in the vehicle with me were chatting and passing the time with no regard to the freakish natural beauty around them. Me, I sat silently, head upturned in awe at the treeless mountain tops sprinkled with waterfalls.


My first week has been nothing short of (for me) totally unbelievable. I have already taken a bike ride with my new roomie, Tom. We climbed one of the smaller mountains in Bavaria and visited King Ludwig's castle at Linderhof. On the way back we stopped at a monastery called Etal and enjoyed one of the beers that the monks brew there. On Thursday, only 4 days after my very first time in any country other than the U.S. I went on a tour into Austria and got paid for it. As if that wasn't enough, a few people invited me to Maastrickt, Netherlands for a few days. I accepted, of course. Maastrickt was amazing, as everyone in the city was wearing the most fashionable garb available. I was certainly out of place, not to mention very high... legally!

For the past few days now it has been rainy in Garmisch, and the city is picturesque as ever. This morning I woke up to walk out on my balcony and see that the Alps are now capped in snow... gorgeous!

Pictures will be available soon... and sorry for the long time between posts. This should become a steady thing now that I have settled in a bit.

Auf Wiedesehen!

Oktoberfest here I come!!

I just got in from Washington DC and thought I would share the news: I am soon be leaving for Germany! I had my interview for the position in DC yesterday morning. It went extremely well and I was offered a job... I took it. Now All this left to do is to:

Graduate in August (easy)
Work relentlessly (easy)
Pay off almost everything I can (difficult)
Stash away about 1000 bucks for my first month in Germany (impossible?)

I hate money. I suppose most people who don't have money feel the same way. I really just hope that something as useless and petty as dollars and cents doesn't keep me from this.

It certainly feels very good to actually have a plan though. Ambiguity is hard to live with I have found. Now that I know that the door to Germany is sitting wide open, I only need to be careful not to kick it closed somehow.

Ok I need food.

Wilson's Creek

Due to laziness and lack of time at home lately, these photos are long overdue...


We went to the Wilson's Creek area of the Pisgah National Forest last Sunday


There were more waterfalls and lagoons than you could shake a stick at














For once, it was sunny and the pictures nearly took them selves

Up's and Down's....

Life if full of 'em! Here's an example from recent days:

Wednesday was the first mountain bike race of the season! Woohoo, so I'm cranking around this 15 mile race course in 2nd place and feeling great. That is, until the chain pops off the bike and sets me face first in to the blackest dirt on God's green earth. Enraged at the situation, I actually pick up the bike a run it for about a mile before I found someone with the tools necessary to fix me up. Back on the bike, I end up in 5th place.... out of 5. But I did finish and get some points.

up, down, up-ish

After the race I cheer myself up over the idea of snagging a pizza and watching LOST with the crew. In the Little Caesars' parking lot I shred a tire on some metal monstrosity and change the tire while the pizza cools beyond enjoyable temperatures with the entire staff of CVS looking on. One guy actually said about 10mins into the operation: "Get a flat?"

I pointed at him and in the most candid ass-hole voice I could muster shot back: "you must be the manager"

LOST, once I got home and out of eye-sight of the damn car, was great as usual. I went straight to bed to prepare for a new, better day.

down, up