More from Berlin...Walking around with Franzi

Hello, Berlin!

I am quickly falling in Love with the city of Berlin, where past and present co-mingle and are expressed at every turn; on each rock; in the layout of the city; the graffiti`d buildings, and in the diverse population of creatives who flock to this city, because it bleeds inspiration.

I think it`s getting serious...

This dog is helping his human sell newspapers by doing tricks on the subway.

Yesterday I took a bike in a huge loop around the city. I saw ponds and fountains, churches and

statues, and the East-Side Gallery. The Gallery is a 1.3 km strip of the old wall, that has been repurposed by 106 artists from around the world. I walked along it with my bike, stopping to take pictures on occasion.

Visitors can leave their own art or message at the end of the gallery.

But! this is not the ONLY place one would see art. I mean, its an outdoor wall for goodness sake! and as i rode, I would see people and places everwhere. It is, as my Swedish dorm-mate said, "decorated"

I found a coffeeshop littered with families and couples and singular folks. Babies bathing naked in the fountains, accompanied by parents. couples kissing sweetly...and some a little more passionately. Amidst this there was a building that looked like an old train stn or something...It was completely covered in street graffiti, from, you could see, millions of different people.

This is Görlitzer Park, in the South Eastern part of Kreuzberg neighborhood.

people rested on relic chunks of old wall pieces, enjoying the hottest insofar Spring day of

April.

I stopped, too, to enjoy a sandwich and sketch in my notebook. I practiced drawing shadows by drawing this brigde. the Oberlunde...or something like that. When i find the name i will correct...

Bikers stopped in the park to read a book or enjoy a packed lunch. Turkish-Muslim-Berliners in barbequing and causing an entire park to waft with the smells of spiced meats and charcoal.

It´s just oh-so-present, and vibrant. Prague, in contrast is a city of history. I walked out there one morning and said, "Oh...my...I am sooooo in Europe."

Berlin, of course is very European, but moreover it is just ALIVE.

see you never, America. I want to just stay here.

For my family...

Love...

Munich in Review...

The circular Platz near Stephanie's home. Its a short walk to Marienplatz and the city's center.

Which is smaller?

This elevator or the one in Tokyo? I can't decide. I think this one. In Tokyo, we fit three people and backpacks. I think i would not be able to breathe with another person in here.

Biking along the River called Isar.

Flowers in bloom.

It is beautiful; I have a Weissbier and a pretzel in my basket.

Ducks want my food. I tell them no.

I see beautiful mountains and little towns. Perfect cottages for country living.

I am sad and I cry. I pedal hard and keep on pedaling all day.

******************************************************************************** Nude sunbathers, beer for breakfast, and lots of sausage. this is the short summary of Bavarian Munich in my eyes. oh yeah, and weird weather patterns: sunny snow, and pretzels, and biking, and um...um...spinatknodel. and hm... something that you think's a donut but it turns out to be some sort of cookie filled with hazelnut creme. ************************************************************************************ Check out what Steffi's up to!

A new recipe. I supervise in the corner.

lol

I have been terribly uncool about posting on this blog since arriving in Europe, especially since Prague, since I have a poor poor connection here. But I have been taking TONS of pictures, and will post them...eventually. It's my last day in Prague, but first I want to show you a little more about what I did in Munich. http://www.misssusanstory.blogspot.com/ PS. I have a second blog set up for my students (grade 5 and language learners~it has a bunch more pictures on it, ones that aren't on here... anyway here's some stuff from Munich many are on a file sharing program and i can't get to them till later

Englicher Gardens is popular for relaxing by the river, sunbathing (clothing optional), beer garten, and even SURFING! did you know that??? The Water is soooo cold, because it comes directly from the alps.

These young people even brought their own couch to sit on. What a nice day!

Phoos from my firs days in Munchen

Fun fact: German Computers have switched the Z and Y keys, and I keep messing up!

Furthermore, the T is sticky, so sometimes there should be a t there, but there isn´t.

Hello friends and family I miss you much.

I am in Germany staying with a friend, Stephanie who I know from Christmas travels last year.

I am about to go ou for traditional Bavarian breakfast of White veal sausage and beer; so I have very little time to write. I thought I´d post some photos to tell you that I´m having a lovely time, intermixed with some sadness, to be honest. Yes, I am sad for a plethora of reasons that are all behind in Korea, but I am still going out and enjoying the days i have here. so...pictures, enjoy!

beers by the fountain at Munich´s largest outdoor market.

Jet-lagged and walking around the river; sunlight for support. Stephanie is opposite jet-lagged from me. So As I went to bed at 7pm and was dead to the world, she stayed up till 2am. Alernatively, I was awake at 5am this morning and not sure what to do with myself, whereas Steffi is deadwood in her bed ill late in the morning hours.

Ice cream (Eis) at Mareinplatz. Germans are no secessarily so helpful as i have found koreans to be. Even Stephanie! I said, I can´t read this, can you help me?

she said ha ha no...you choose!

but they all pretty much looked the same to me. allls well though. I mean...in the end, it´s ICE CREAM! so how wrong could you go?

SE Central Munchen. I´m staying a few blocks away from this beautiful church. Its bells ring every hour, and it sounds like they´re right on top of you.

art by the river...