To Update

In the past week I:

• Went to the public viewing Deutschland vs. Australia (4-0) with Holly

The arena (similar to Vector Arena downtown Auckland) was full, and the 19,000 people outside were the ones who were too late to get inside. All up there were just over 40,000 people at the public viewing in Köln. I can only imagine how many people would come for a more serious match.

• Went to Düssledorf to visit Rose (aus Wellington, NZ)

I took a trip (about an hour by train from Köln, 40mins from my station) to Düssledorf, the next city up the Rhein, to visit Rose, another exchange student, from Wellington, NZ. She lives in Dortmund, even further up the river, so Düssledorf was our half-way point. We went for a walk, checked out the city, ate some pizza and caught up on whats been going on.

Was also the day NZ had their first game in the world cup! Hence the NZ flag.

• Asked for more money for the first time

I came over with a lott of money but this week had asked for more for the first time this year. :S I know who's going to be reading this and what you are going to think haha so let me tell you how expensive it really is here, and understand I have to pay for thing's I wouldn't usually have to in NZ. 

About NZ$2000 has been spent on past travel (France, Switzerland, Denmark and Rome) and bookings for future travel (Kiel, Paris, London).

Quite a lot was also spent on the camera I bought upon arrival in Frankfurt (Canon EOS 450D)

And the rest was spent on necessary items: clothes, food, alcohol, toiletries etc.

I also know I'm not the only one who was spent what I have in the same amount of time.

• Have started to feel more comfortable with my german

I have been speaking strictly only german at home now for around one and a half/two months. 

The plan is that once I have no problems speaking german, I can choose to speak English at home, and help my host-father to learn. This was my idea - I was never forced to speak german at home. I think it was hard at first, but it is getting so much easier. I talk on facebook with friends in german and have no problems, though in different situations such as at school I find there is still quite a lot of classes in which I couldn't tell you what we are doing or have been doing the past 4 months, because I understand little to nothing.

I find sometimes it is very easy to 'switch off' when people are speaking german, because when one learns a language, it requires a lot of concentration to pick up the words, translate them to english, understand the tenses and the 'he' 'she' 'it's' then re order the words in the sentence. When the people around you talk so fast, you don't have time to figure out exactly what is being said, but manage to pick up words in the sentence and get a general feel for the flow of conversation.

• Become good friends with a girl I met in unexpected circumstances

• Shaved my head

Don't really know how to explain this one. 

I give you a map if you like

To cross of the list:


Cities to Visit: 

#19 - Rome, Italy

Countries to visit: 

Italy

Vatican City


To photograph:
The Colosseum

Rome really is an amazing city full of so so much history and religion, every way you turn,

Though, I didn't expect it to be as much of a tourist destination as it was - I was constantly surrounded by english, the most I've ever been since I left New Zealand, and surrounded by people, literally everywhere. The underground metro (and i mean underground, way down down down), and the buses, were the most crowded I had ever been on, every single one. 

There was graffiti like this over every metro train. Like this photo

Everywhere you went there were people trying to sell you the same crap the guy before you was, and I cannot begin to tell you how many times I heard the words: "special price, today only, just for you my friend, because I like you!"

I was there with a friend from school, Marco, and his older sister plus two friends. We had 4 straight days of almost perfect, blue sky, each one hitting 30C. It was a good feeling reverting to the familiar jandals and singlets, only this time there were no easily accessible oceans or pools when you needed them. 

On our second day we spent 1 1/2 hours in line waiting to enter the "Vatican City",  a country of it's own in the city of Rome, where the Pope lives (saw him speak the day before aswell). In the museum is located the famous painting "A criação de adão" by Michelangelo, and although there was tight security and a strict ban on photography, the opportunity to attempt to capture it was too good too pass up. No flash, faster shutter, low app, highest ISO and I was impressed with the final result, considering it was more of a hit or miss kind of photo. After some editing, here is the final shot: 

(Click to enlarge)

While I was in Rome and had some time away from the others I had the opportunity to catch up with a mate from NZ, Hugo Dunphy. It really was a cool feeling to be able to speak once again in person with somebody who knows my culture, my slang, my friends, and whats going on back home. 

Beer from Burger King! Didn't taste half bad either

The highlight of the trip, I would have to tell you it was saturday night. On our way to Hugo's apartment, Marco and I met a 19 year old Canadian girl living in Prag who was in Rome by herself for the weekend. The four of us went out for a drink, and she was cool, but we told her the bus to where her hostel was stopped at 11 so she would have to catch the last one soon. And so she left then it was back to us. We went to an old square, and the place was alive. It was so warm, and there were once again people everywhere, though more young Italians this time. 

The three of us kept drinking, met people, drank more and met some more people, then went to a shot bar. 

New favourite bar.

Simple concept:

Come in

Get your shot/s

Get out

After a night of drinking, finishing with a Blowjob and two Absinthe from the shot bar, you'll be drinking from the slushy machine, eating crepes filled with nutella, heading back to Hugo's apartment in town with american girls who think you're 20, then taking leaks off the balcony.

At least I was..

and it was dope.

Two best nights since NZ:

• Horsens (Denmark) with Anton
• Rome with Hugo

and to Hugo: 

So good to see you, can't wait for you to come stay, or our trip to Amsterdam, and I hope to make it back down in the summer. 


Or to one of your trainings to meet the sponsors haha

ps. You weren't wearing your goon goggles haha

Sunday Morning 8am


After three hours of sleep, still drunk, and switching camera to 'auto', it was time to check what all the fuss was about, and cross off my final item on the bucket list I could this trip:

To Photograph: #7: The Colosseum

All up, the trip was a success. Expensive, but worth it. I got to see some of the oldest, most famous churches, monuments and ruins there are in today's world. Each day we were tired from walking and tired from the night before, it was always hot and sticky, but none of it mattered. It was the best experience and the memories are irreplaceable.

Good luck packing

I swear I have the same problem each and every time I want to travel - I never know what to pack and try to take as much as possible.

I'm flying to Rome tomorrow with a friend from school, Marco, and his older sister plus two friends of hers. It seems so casual, flying to Rome for the weekend.

ROME.

I can't wait.

I started packing earlier this evening, and saw my clothes overflowing the suitcase. Although on a much smaller scale this time, it took me back to two days before my departure from New Zealand and reminded me how I tried to pack my life into 20kg's and failed miserably, in size and in weight.