The Trip is Over

The journey ended last night when I arrived back in Florida.  What a great time, but glad to be back and see Tulsa and friends. 

Back in Dresden

After coming back to Dresden I actually ran into the same journeymen that I met in Quedlinburg.  Small World!  I am back at the Sunshine Hostel where there are two dogs to play with in my spare time.  They make me miss Tulsa.

The Return to Dresden

This morning I got up and decided to go on to Alternburg.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altenburg
I really wanted to see it but when I got there, there were no baggage lockers in the station, and I had to walk 2 km from the Train Station, with all my baggage to the tourist information center.  I don't know why, but Info centers are not located in the stations, but usually in the center of town.   When I got there I found that there was only one hostel in the area and it was actually in a town about 5km in the other direction from the station, and the least expensive hotel room was 68 Euros, which is definitely not in my budget.  Totally annoying!  So when I came  back to the station I decided to get the next train home.  Although I will probably want to go back there sometime I just wasn't in the mood.  It is good to be back home.

Weimar

Goethe's House

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weimar

Weimar was the home to Goethe, Schiller, Listz, Beethoven, Hans Christian  Anderson, Walter Gropius, Etc.  It was one of the most important centers of the enlightenment in the 18th and Early 19th Centuries.  While I was there I made a new friend at the Hostel, and we went to a political comedy at a small cabaret the first night I was there.  It was a little difficult to get.  I probably only understood about 60%, but it was fun.  Then next morning we bought city tickets and set out to see the sights of Weimar, covering about 10 km, and 10 or 11 of the more than 30 museums there.  Kind of an exhausting day.  The next morning I walked out to Belvedere Palace and Gardens, which was really one of the nicest I have visited, but forgot to put the disk in my camera, so no photos there.

Quedlinburg

Quedlinburg was truly and amazing city.  There are so many fachwerk (half-timbered)  houses some that are over 500 years old, it was unbelieveable.  I think that the oldest house in Germany is here.  While I was there I ran into a couple of Journeyman Chimneysweeps at the Ritterfest. (Medieval Faire)  It is supposed to be really good luck to talk to them, so I said  hi.  Fest was actually in an old Noble's House and  courtyard.  I spent two days there and really saw a great deal of the city.  The castle and castle church were really interesting. Next stop Weimar

Hannover

After visiting Tim I went to Hannover, the capital of Lower Saxony.  It was a really beautiful and peaceful city.  I stayed there for three days, seeing all the sights.  It was also the Maschseefest while I was there, so of course I visited and had a few beers.  I was trying to upload a photo, but the connection here is so slow i almost fell asleep!  From Hannover I went to Quedlinburg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  It is known for its half timbered buildings.  There are over 1400 of them ranging from the 1400's to the Today.  I stayed there for two days and saw as much as I could, then moved on to Weimar.  Weimar was the first home of the Bauhaus school, and the first bauhaus building is here.  Today I will go to see some museums and do a little more sightseeing.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanover
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quedlinburg

Koeln

Koeln from the top of the Dom (Cathedral)

Since Friday evening I have been in Koeln visiting my friend Tim Berkenhoff.  Tim has come to Tampa a few times to visit Horst, who's father was a prisoner with Tim's grandfather during WWII.  He really spent some time and effort treating me like a King!  On Saturday we went to the House of German History in Bonn, where we saw exhibits on the History of Germany from World War II until today.  It was really very interesting.  Saturday night we went to a dance party and on Sunday stayed in, it was raining and we were tired.  On Monday we went to Schloss Burg which is an enchanting fairy-tale sort of castle begun in the 13th century.  We also went to see the tallest Iron Work Bridge at 107meters high.  Tuesday we spent at the Dom and German Roman History Museum, and walked around the city center where we met Tim's cousin.  We really had a great time. Photos on Picasa.  Unfortunately Tim had to leave today to go for training for his new job, so I took the train to Hannover.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanover 

Last Day of Class A2

Today we finished level A2!  It was a really fun day, all the students in my class and the other A2 class mad a brunch item that is typical for their homeland.  Katje (Russia) made Crepes with Marmelade, Ely and Giselle (Mexico) made Guacamole with Pita, Ka Lee and Koon Yin (Hong Kong) Made Pot Stickers, Federico (Italy) Homemade Bread with Butter and Nutella, and I (USA) made Deviled Eggs.  Our teacher Nisreen (Jordan) made Hummus and Beans with Cheese and Olive Oil.
I'm not sure who made what from the other class, but everything was good and we had a great time!  Really an international Meal.  It was really sad to see everyone planning to go home to continue their studies.  Tomorrow I am going to Cologne to visit Horst's cousin Tim.  I will be there for a week, until he has to end his vacation and go to training for his new job.

Dresdens Hot Air Baloons

Every morning and evening there are Baloons hanging over Dresden.  This was the first time I was able to get a good picture of them.  My Gasthaus is the building in the lower left corner.

Sunshine Hostel

Since the beginning of this school session I have been staying at the Sunshine Hostel.  It is a nice place on the west side of town.   But you would think that in a country that brought us the Mercedes and BMW airconditioning or at least window screens, would be available in its buildings.  We have been in a heatwave for the last two weeks, and every place is boiling.  I have to have my windows wide open all the time.  My room is the one on the top floor in the corner with the bay. 

The first course is finished!

I should have posted this a week ago, but I finished my first course in school and got a certificate for German Level A2.  Not that that means much, but I start the next course today and will have a B1 when I finish it.
I am also moving from the university guesthouse tomorrow.  They had reservations for this term before I came here, so there is no room at the inn.  I will be moving to the Sunshine Hostel Dresden which is closer to the school.  I will stay there until the 23rd of July, then go to Cologne to visit Horst's cousin Tim.

Blasewitz II

I went back to Blasewitz where the Elbhangfest was yesterday and took a few photos which I have posted on Picasa.  Its a really beautiful area.  Afterwards I went to Radebeul for dinner with my friends.
Today I went to an exhibit in Friedrichstadt of three short films about Russia.  Very interesting.  Saw a little gallery exhibit afterwards.

Elbhangfest

This weekend I went with the gang to the Elbhangfest in Blasewitz.  The Elbhangfest (Elbe Bank Fest) is a wine festival in its 20th year.  I forgot to take my camera with me, but the photo is of Blasewitz, which is one of the most prestigious suburbs of Dresden.  All around on the hillsides are Villas and Luxury Estates, even a couple of palaces.  Naturally we all drank some wine and just generally had a great time.
I am off school for the week, and practicing my grammer lessons.  There are still a lot of things that just don't make any sense to me.  I'll keep trying though.  :)

Bunten Republik Neustadt

The Colorful Republic of the New City. This weekend was one of the biggest street festivals in Germany, and it was right here in Dresden! The whole area of the city was closed to vehicular traffic.  I would say its about a square mile.  Every street has multiple music venues, from DJ's to Bands, all competing for your attention.  The crowd is so thick you can barely walk, and this goes on for two days, then on Sunday it becomes the children's festival, and all the booths and music become family oriented.  I went with my regular bunch on Friday and Saturday nights.  It was very difficult to stay together, but we all had a great time!

Trabis, Wartburgs, and other old cars

The cars of the former eastern block are now really popular collectors items.  Although I think they were hated back in the old days because they were notoriously unreliable, I see them everywhere I go.  I have decided to start a photo collection of the ones I run across.

Pirna

Today I took the Schenllbahn (fast train) from Dresden to the neighboring city of Pirna.  Pirna is considered to be the gateway to Sachsen Switzerland, an area of mountains very popular with rock climbers and backpackers.  I went there to see the officers casino at the old soviet military barracks, which was originally built for the Royal Sachsen Field Artillery Engineers from 1901-1906.  It was a really nice looking group of brick buildings on the edge of town, heading into the mountains.
The old city was almost completely under renovation, including the castle Sonnenstein which was basically being gut renovated.  Napolean stayed in a house on the market square in the old town while he was besieging Dresden.  Today was the Stadtfest in Pirna, so photographs in the old town were a bit hard to take because of all the stages and booths being set up there.  If it weren't for having plans to go to the Buntes Republik Neustadt festival in Dresden tonight I would have probably stayed in Pirna for their festival which is also beginning tonight.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pirna

My first post in German, English translation below

Hallo , ich kann nicht glauben, es ist fast zwei Wochen. Ich bin gut und eine tolle Zeit hier in Dresden. Ich habe viele neue Freunde aus der Klasse gemacht und auch in der City. Meine Klasse ist eine Menge Spaß, und ich habe große Klassenkameraden. Es gibt nur 5 in meiner Klasse jetzt. Zwei Mädchen aus Mexiko, einer aus Russland, und ein Mann aus Neuseeland, und mir. Unser Lehrer ist aus Jordanien. Nächste Woche hat sie jordanischen Für ein Abendessen für uns alle ist. Morgen abend werde ich Salsa tanzen bin mit den Mädchen aus Mexiko. Dieses Wochenende ist der Buntes Republik Neustadt Partei. sie schließen Sie den ganzen Neustadt, haben alle Autos zu gehen, keine Busse und keine Straßenbahn. die Leute bringen ihre Sofas und Stühle auf die Straße und es ist eine Band am evey Straßenecke. Es dauert von Freitag Abend bis Montag Morgen ohne zu stoppen. Ich glaube, ich am Montag wird müde sein. . Achten Sie darauf, mit Liebe, Walter
Hello, I can't belive it's almost two weeks. I am doing well and having a great time here in Dresden. I have made many new friends from class and also in the City. My class is a lot of fun, and I have great class mates. There are only 5 in my class now. Two girls from Mexico, one from Russia, and a guy from New Zealand, and me. Our teacher is from Jordan. Next week she is making an Jordanian dinner for us all. Tomorrow night I am going Salsa dancing with the girls from Mexico. This weekend is the Buntes Republik Neustadt party. they close off the whole Neustadt, all the cars have to go out, no busses, and no trams. the people bring their sofas and chairs into the street and there is a band on evey street corner. It lasts from Friday evening until Monday morning with no stop. I think I will be tired on monday. Take care, with love, Walter

First Day of Class

 I woke up at 5 this morning and took this picture from the top floor of the guest house.  I did a little better than I thought on my test and am in the second level group.  There are seven students in my class.  Two are from Mexico, one from New Zeland by way of Finnland, one from Russia, one from Hong Kong, and one from Taiwan, and of course me.  Our teacher is from Jordan.  The first day was fairly simple with an overview of the nominative and accusative cases.  All but one of the students are staying at the guest house.  I think I will do pretty well.

TUDIAS

I started school today with a placement exam this morning.  Not sure how I did, but I don't think it was too good.  It started with knowing the definite articles, proper adjectives, pronouns, etc.  Then I had to write a paragraph.  I think my broken spoken German translated into really bad written German.  We will see tomorrow.  I also got settled into the International Student Guesthouse today.  There was a last minute cancellation and I got the room.  Hurray!  I was getting a little nervous, and was tired of moving around.
I will also get my laptop tomorrow, and will be able to upload photos.  Bis später.
Walter

The Sun is Shining!

I guess its been a few days since my last post, and this is going to be a short one.  The sun is finally shining here, and I have made some new friends.  This evening I will go to a garden party at their garden in Radabeul.  Can't wait!  Hope all of you are having a great summer!