Nein!
The Eugene World Tour 2007 continues - next stop, Berlin!
Left Rome early this morning. A few more brief thoughts on Rome.
Didn't get robbed at all during my time in Rome, which was a nice surprise. Just to remind me that vacations aren't all rosy and perfect, had to share a bus ride this morning with a mentally ill Italian woman, screaming the entire trip at no one in particular. Though, I'm glad I took precautions - unlike the moron at the restaurant whose U.S. Passport was sticking out of his back pocket. I wanted him to get pick-pocketed on general principle.
Went to mass at St. Peter's on Sunday. That was fun - quite an experience going to church in THE church. Though, after communion, just like at any Catholic mass in the U.S., people cleared out and took off running. I don't get that. Okay, I get that some people go to church each week out of force of habit, and they just want to get out of there as fast as possible, and I get that some people want to beat the parking rush and ditch church early. BUT THERE ARE NO DONUTS IN THE ST. PETER'S PARKING LOT AFTER MASS. YOU ARE NOT GOING TO MISS OUT ON THE LAST BEARCLAW BECAUSE THAT ARCHBISHOP GOT HIS SNEAKY MITTS ON IT FIRST.
After mass, went out into the square and saw the Pope speak from his window. Which was nice... because, get this, he went on his vacation the next day. I like to think the Pope was really into his speech that he gave, and not thinking, "Man, I can't wait to get out of these vestments and get to work on my tan." Oh, the Pope gave part of his talk in English, and gave a blessing to the visitors who had arrived in Rome for the International Handball tournament. I'm not making that up.
We left Rome, with a connecting stop in Berlin. Flying into Schoenfeld Airport, I looked out the window to eye the German countryside... and then stare incredulously at the Ikea next to the airport. Something comforting about flying into Ikea.
Though, that's the only thing comforting about Germany. While I'm terrible at other languages, I'm REALLY bad at German. More than once today, someone has had to smirk and speak English to me, just because the terrified blank expression on my face spoke more than volumes. The first time someone said "Nein" to me, I thought I was going to cry.
With several hours to kill, we took the train into the center of Berlin to do some sightseeing. On the train out there, I was in a car with some German guy, who sneezed loudly. Suddenly it hit me. Do I say Gesundheit? Oh, this is the perfect place to say it! I'm in Germany! Wait - what if that's just one of those made-up things that we say in the U.S., but Germans find stupid. I don't want to look stupid. Will saying Gesundheit make me look stupid? Drat, it's too late. The moment has passed. I chickened out - I should've said it.
As for sightseeing, I gotta say - the Brandenburg Gate? A lot smaller than I pictured it. Maybe I'd built it up in my head, since all the Cold War stories used to involve some sort of espionage or intrigue at the Gate. Heck, there was an entire sequence in the game Golgo 13 that took place at the Gate. In real life? It's kinda small.
Lastly, what is with all the Burger Kings in Berlin? I saw at least two of them. Actually ate in one for dinner while waiting here at the airport. Know what they call at Whopper in Germany? They call it a Whopper. But I'm sure they call it Die Whopper.
And we all know that the Whopper cannot die. It can only choose to stop living.
Left Rome early this morning. A few more brief thoughts on Rome.
Didn't get robbed at all during my time in Rome, which was a nice surprise. Just to remind me that vacations aren't all rosy and perfect, had to share a bus ride this morning with a mentally ill Italian woman, screaming the entire trip at no one in particular. Though, I'm glad I took precautions - unlike the moron at the restaurant whose U.S. Passport was sticking out of his back pocket. I wanted him to get pick-pocketed on general principle.
Went to mass at St. Peter's on Sunday. That was fun - quite an experience going to church in THE church. Though, after communion, just like at any Catholic mass in the U.S., people cleared out and took off running. I don't get that. Okay, I get that some people go to church each week out of force of habit, and they just want to get out of there as fast as possible, and I get that some people want to beat the parking rush and ditch church early. BUT THERE ARE NO DONUTS IN THE ST. PETER'S PARKING LOT AFTER MASS. YOU ARE NOT GOING TO MISS OUT ON THE LAST BEARCLAW BECAUSE THAT ARCHBISHOP GOT HIS SNEAKY MITTS ON IT FIRST.
After mass, went out into the square and saw the Pope speak from his window. Which was nice... because, get this, he went on his vacation the next day. I like to think the Pope was really into his speech that he gave, and not thinking, "Man, I can't wait to get out of these vestments and get to work on my tan." Oh, the Pope gave part of his talk in English, and gave a blessing to the visitors who had arrived in Rome for the International Handball tournament. I'm not making that up.
We left Rome, with a connecting stop in Berlin. Flying into Schoenfeld Airport, I looked out the window to eye the German countryside... and then stare incredulously at the Ikea next to the airport. Something comforting about flying into Ikea.
Though, that's the only thing comforting about Germany. While I'm terrible at other languages, I'm REALLY bad at German. More than once today, someone has had to smirk and speak English to me, just because the terrified blank expression on my face spoke more than volumes. The first time someone said "Nein" to me, I thought I was going to cry.
With several hours to kill, we took the train into the center of Berlin to do some sightseeing. On the train out there, I was in a car with some German guy, who sneezed loudly. Suddenly it hit me. Do I say Gesundheit? Oh, this is the perfect place to say it! I'm in Germany! Wait - what if that's just one of those made-up things that we say in the U.S., but Germans find stupid. I don't want to look stupid. Will saying Gesundheit make me look stupid? Drat, it's too late. The moment has passed. I chickened out - I should've said it.
As for sightseeing, I gotta say - the Brandenburg Gate? A lot smaller than I pictured it. Maybe I'd built it up in my head, since all the Cold War stories used to involve some sort of espionage or intrigue at the Gate. Heck, there was an entire sequence in the game Golgo 13 that took place at the Gate. In real life? It's kinda small.
Lastly, what is with all the Burger Kings in Berlin? I saw at least two of them. Actually ate in one for dinner while waiting here at the airport. Know what they call at Whopper in Germany? They call it a Whopper. But I'm sure they call it Die Whopper.
And we all know that the Whopper cannot die. It can only choose to stop living.
posted by Eugene at 9:38 AM
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