(Hope to upload pictures soon!)
Heidelberg
Walking through the main street in Heidelberg was like entering a postcard picture, but with hordes of tourists and citizens brushing past you. In this cute university city I came to love German beer, and I tried all the typical stuff: bratwurst, döner, schokokuss and glöwein. I saw the giant schloss ("Have you never seen a castle before?" Anne asked me) and made it to six out of the 10 places Alison recommended: Yufka's, Cafe Burkardt, Falafel, Vetter, the castle ("duh"), and weihnachtsmarkt (christmas market). I loved having a German friend to explain what I was seeing and what people were saying. But it was just the beginning, and I wondered how much more I would discover.
Mannheim
A gray, and pretty unhappy looking city. The bright christmas market, as well as the university -- a castle, really, were its redeeming sites.
Hardegsen
Also known as donkey town, this place gave me a feel for a Germany without so many tourists and build up. Anne grew up here, so I got to experience a christmas with her family and dog (Aura).
Göttingen
Beautiful city I saw at night with christmas lights and street performers.
Chemnitz
I could be anywhere in the world with Vikki and have a great time. I saw a giant monument of Karl Marx's head and soviet architecture. But I have fondest memories laughing, eating, watching movies, talking and getting sick with Vikki.
Leipzig
Awesome city. A university city. I could see myself moving there. We celebrated new year's on top of a tower overlooking trees and neighborhoods.
Berlin
I wasn't there for long, and I got sick, so I didn't have much energy to explore the city. I met my friend Chris, who showed me some of the most important landmarks. I stayed with Vikki's friend's friend's friend, who I have a mutual friend in America with, and who works for Rotary, the organization I went on exchange to Spain with.
The trip back
I could barely talk on the plane ride to Stockholm. I noticed the guy in front of me had a book sticking out of his backpack by Yann Martel. "What book is that?" I asked him. "It's 'Life of Pi'," he answered. "It's the first book I'll ever finish." I told him I just read "Beatrice and Virgil" and asked if his book was just as weird. "Yeah, but I like it." Turns out we were riding on the same plane and subsequently taking the same bus. I learned that he is a photographer/videographer (carrying all his gear) from Montreal, and bursting with creative energy. He had been in Portugal on a shoot and was going to Sweden for a while to meet a girl he met three years ago and shared an amazing five days with. He didn't know how it would be getting back together, whether she had a boyfriend or anything, but he seemed to be pretty struck by her. In any case, we got along really well, and parting was like saying goodbye to an old friend.
Later I was met by a couchsurfer in McDonalds. I was exhausted at this point, and it hurt to talk. "It's okay, you can listen," he told me. He then led me on a tour of the city, and in the evening we went to the museum of modern art. I found out that he was also interested in film and documentary, and is currently working on footage of the occupy movement in Sweden (not so huge). It was the second great connection in a row, and my health was declining. Soon we both had to leave.
I spent the night at my first couchsurfer's house. He was a Swedish web programmer with long red hair. I was initially nervous about staying with a stranger, but when I met him at the apartment, I felt instantly comfortable and fine. He was extremely kind and helpful (even getting up early the following morning to walk me to the ferry!). The couch was comfortable, the view was nice, the location was convenient, and his roommate and their friend were great. They made a vegetarian dinner and we talked about Sweden, Finland, travels, couchsurfing, etc...
The ferry from Stockholm to Turku was ... special. Twelve hours of special. Luckily I had a whole cabin to myself. I slept, went upstairs to the cafe, sat near the window looking at the water, and ate (a little). I was horribly sick at this point, and felt dizzy when I walked. I asked the woman at the info desk if I could see a doctor. "There's a nurse and it costs 15 euros to see her," she said. "I don't have money, and I'm really sick," I persisted. I was really out of money (had just enough to take the train from Turku to Tampere). There was nothing she could do. Finally, we arrived.
I finally made it home. Sick, exhausted, lonely, but extremely happy to have a bed and a warm room.
It was quite the adventure, and I wouldn't mind a little relaxation for a while.
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