German Homestay

It always nice to find the a home in my homeland. Staying with family in Germany was great not only did i get to see alot more of Germany but i got to see some of my family including cousins, parents, and siblings on this trip. Catching up with them made me feel welcome and reminde me of the good things in germany that i missed. You can see my ‘big’ sister left.


I have also seen more of the black forest - famous for it’s cake, schinken, and cuckoo clocks. In fact left is the worlds largest cuckoo clock, cuckooing, and some lovely waterfalls in the forest right. Other highlights include rivercruises outdoor theater.



There are of course more many more castles and historic towns and scenery i don’t have time or space to mention... but in light of my previous occupation i thought i would mention the ‘atomkeller’ the cellar in which the nazi time scientists tried to harness atomic power. Here is photo of the reactor each of the squares was a cube of uranium oxide and was suspended in a heavy water solution.


World Cup update: On to Argentina v Germany . Or as the English newspapers put it “the german warmachine marches on” meanwhile Australia marches toward another 4:0 this time at the hands of the English cricket team...
I am glad to report that according to some aussies i just met Australia has won the 4th??! Today?

How i am to see the next game i don’t know... i will be on a train.

Berlin, Beer, fussBall

The city of Berlin is a nice mix of history and modern life. It has a huge collection of museums galleries and historical sites and bars and hotels. The museum island is impressive to say the least. If you want to see some of the finest Roman, Greek, Israeli, Babylonian, and Persian buildings in the world, you only need to go to berlin.
Now I sit on the banks of the river, drinking my German beer, and watch the reflected sunlight dance across the ornate carved stone edifice of the building opposite me. I can relax in the warm summer air, a cool breeze keeping the temperature comfortable in the last of the warmly dying daylight. I listen to the music and consider where to go next... Berlin is a beautiful city in the daylight – vast palaces tree lined streets and large parks. But at night it comes alive. Even this a Tuesday night holds it’s share of relaxing lounges, exciting clubs and riparian entertainment aplenty. My only chore is where to go, and when i need to rise.

Australia faught back with a vallient defeat of Serbia and Germany is through to the next round. Germany's next game is against england, that's been an exciting re-mach since 1945.

A Man’s home...

...is his castle, and this one (right) is mine. For a night anyway. There are so many castles and churches and cathedrals each with their own history and stories and scandals. These castles some built just 500 years ago and many restored are impressive to behold. The structures are much more impressively built with artistic as well as cannon and rifle defence in mind as well as the traditional pike and sword. I was amazed to see their selection of hand cannons (a gun that fires 2-4 inch shot) that needed to be ramed against the castle walls because of the recoil. As you travel down the banks of the rine and mosel nearly every major hill top is crowned with a castle or with ruins and every bend in the river harbours a small town of beautiful old buildings. The Köln Dom built in 1248 it is impressive in not only the grand scale and the intense detail covering every available space but also because it is Nestled in the centre of the city right there at the main train station.





The castles certainly rival anything built in the near east at that time. And it’s not like there aren’t roman ruins here too. But the style is very different, uniquely European (german), as you can see in the images of castles and churches above.

C’mon Aussie, C’mon! - World Cup 2008

The Soccer World Cup (Fusball Welt Meistershaft) atmosphere is alive and well you see alot of german flags on cars and people and vuvuzelas (trumpets). The pubs all play the cup and even the big sport stadiums and public spaces are converted to a kind a cinema (and the beer is 2 euro per half litre). So here i am in a stadium of 34,000 supporters (33,996 german: 4 australian) I stood there with my Australian flag, awash in a sea of black red and gold – ready to yell and cheer at every goal... So where were they??!! Australia needs to lift its game if it is to get out of the first round, and if i am to hear the end of it in here in Germany.

It was a good atmosphere in the stadium, and Germany played well. I did like the way that the Germans cheered when the first German was given a yellow card for having a little dive. But they cheered louder at the goals...

Waiting for the Launch that wouldn’t come...

Orlando is america’s gold coast complete with amusement parks.
Hanging out at downtown Disneyland with my man, micky. I just went to the Disney quest park and as it turns out I suck at computer games – There were heaps of retro games and some newish ones like guitar hero, lots of fly and drive and shoot things... all of which i got whooped at by 9 year olds.. and sometimes by 30 something year olds too. More practice may be required i seem to be getting rusty. Except the Pirate challenge, a 3d thing with mock cannons. You pull on your gun repeatedly in a jerking motion to shoot your balls, turns out i’m a pro at this :)

Then there was Aqualand a possibly New Zeeland themed (though it includes at least one "Tassie twister” ride) It has a few things named after a kiwi and what i assume is supposed to look mauri carvings but end up looking like a naruto set. Plus there are annoying announcements saying "g'day mate" and "a corker of a ride" in an American accent... all very strange let me assure you...



Then I went to a magic comedy show and got my car impounded. The show was good and thank god that there was a really lovely couple that offered to drop me off at the towing place which had my car. This turned out to be 8 miles away (however far that is) in a shady looking part of town. I got my car and got back out to my place.

Meanwhile the shuttle has one excuse after another, first electrical problems, then rain, then hydrogen leaks and then issues with foam. End result the shuttle is delayed another month. But at least i got to see it and the Kennedy space centre tour is really good. There is a launch simulator where you strapped in and experience the closest thing to launch conditions without actually being an astronaut.

Full of sound and fury...

Today i visited the ancient castle of Nür, a place where men forged a ring of power long ago. This place has been a battle ground through the ages. Still today mighty clans from germany Italy England and beyond battle for supremacy in this highly contested holy site. You can hear the mighty battle crys, low growls, and awe-inspiring roars reverberating across the valley and up to this high tower. I saw such fierce clans as lambogurgini, porsh , maserati, Audi, Ferrari, Hyundai, Mercedes, Lotus and may more. Here is my fearless i20 preparing to lap the Nürburgring... it took about an hour as i wouldn’t actually take it on the track and i had to squeeze past some loggers on the way but i made it! It’s actually amazing driving all around this region as you drive though hills valleys forests and plains – mind you a few more horses would help, especially on the autobahn.. 0-130 speed leaves something to be desired, but i found if you keep it at over 3,000 rpm it can accelerate nicely. I have rediscovered the skill as well as the joy of driving. In Australia we are spoilt by obvious signage and cornering speed (those little yellow signs you ignore?). In Germany you need to pay attention and you need to use your accelerator and breaks as well as your brain.

A new look and feel

Ok time for a new template with a bit more page width.

I would also like to thank my loyal followers who read my posts with adoration and frequency, uhm both of them.. oh wait one is me so... Thanks Mum!
Also for those who want to know more about how to post there is a help section as well as the PLAN section wich sort of shows my plan... hmmm


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Also i have a german/international phone now 01578-7595712 in germany (+49)