Photo Post!!

The rest of the photos from Malta:  

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2553206&id=837516&l=35c344238a

The Photos from Cairo and Abu Dhabi:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2566737&id=837516&l=40d6401b40

Cairo: 11.28.09

First things first: a very happy belated Thanksgiving to all of you! I'm quite sad to have missed out on celebrating this year, but at least the awful airplane food on our flight from Malta to Egypt contained turkey...

Second order of business: in case you couldn't tell from the above sentence, Jon and I are now in Cairo! We left Malta on Thursday after a wonderful farewell from several of the friends we made there.

Most of my free time continues to be occupied with writing my latest ebook, so I'm afraid this update is going to have to be a short one. My computer managed to lose almost all of the writing I did yesterday, and it has been indescribably tedious to re-write everything again. And to make things even worse, I'm convinced that this draft isn't as good as the first, so I'm consoling myself with a cup of hot chocolate and brandy. :)

Egypt, so far, has been a great experience. Jon and I are pretty much the Brad and Angelina of Cairo.

A detailed post is coming soon, I promise!

Malta: 11.23.09

How on earth did so much time slip by between my last post and this one?! That's not proper blogging etiquette at all...

Malta continues to be lovely. I'm deeply entrenched in working on another Elance project, which likely explains my lack of writing here. This one is another relationship/dating ebook, because apparently I really am something of an expert on the topic now. How strange!

And it gets stranger: the person who hired me was the founder of a pickup company in New York that I know! I met several of their instructors out one night when they tried to pick me up to show off for their students. Needless to say, that did not go very well...and the students spent much of the rest of the evening following me around instead of the teachers they'd hired! ;)

The book is off to a great start...it'll be around 50 pages, single spaced, which is a lot, but it's going well so far. The writing is probably my best yet (that I've been paid for, that is!), and between my client's ideas and my own, we've got some great information in it. He even had a few ideas that I'd never heard before, which is rather unusual in the relationship niche! Maybe he'll take a shine to me and take me on has his protege and teach me how to be a relationship coach....dream big, right?

This project will also be my biggest compensation-wise, which is pretty exciting, and when I'm paid for it my Elance earnings will be over the thousand dollar mark! It's awfully cool to think that I will have been paid over a thousand dollars for my writing...I think that might officially make me a "real" writer!

And in other news, we're in the home stretch of the trip! We're in Malta until Thursday, then we leave for Cairo. We'll have four days of frolicking around pyramids, one night in the UAE, and then we'll be home! Unfortunately that means traveling on both Thanksgiving and our anniversary (3 years...crazy), but it's well beyond worth it. I miss a few people and a few places, and silly little things like Sunday brunch and straightening my hair, but otherwise I'm not ready for the trip to be over! Can't I just travel forever??

Malta: 11.16.09

Observations and revelations from the past 48 hours:

1) Clicking on the shiny, flashing ad that says "Congratulations! You've won a free visa to the United States!" probably means that you would qualify as mentally retarded if formally tested.

2) The Macarena DID NOT EVER need to be remixed.

3) Walking up behind a girl so that she can't see you approaching and introducing yourself by covering her entire face with your sweaty hand and squeezing is probably not going to endear yourself to her.

3a) It's still not cool even if you stumble and drunkenly yell "It's like Facebook!" afterwards.

3b) People like that are the reason people like me - who write and teach classes about relationships and attraction - exist.

3c) Nevertheless, I was not inclined to be any more forgiving about that approach. Seriously. It was both terrifying and disgusting. If I had Purell, I would still be bathing in it.

4) Discovered that the mole on my left shoulder glows under blacklights. Am beginning to think that I might have been bitten by a radioactive spider and that a web might come shooting out of my fingers at any moment.

Malta: 11.15.09

Things to love about Malta:

--Caviar. I have been surprised on several occasions by caviar coming with food even though it isn't listed on the menu. Pasta. Salads. Even pizza.

--Ice. Malta, unlike many places in Europe, believes that drinks should be served with ice cubes. Praise Jesus.

--Every bar comes equipped with a pole. What could possibly make thumping music and cheap drinks even better? Lots of drunk girls who have consumed too many of said cheap drinks deciding it's the optimum time to try out their (extremely dubious) pole dancing skills. It frequently ends in injury, and always end in embarrassment.

--Boys on the aforementioned poles. Apparently male members of the species really need more opportunities to dance on poles. We've been depriving them for years. Every time they see one, their excitement levels go to 11 (oooh, a sneaky pop culture reference!) and they absolutely must test it out. And, frankly, they're usually better than the girls are...

--Gratuitous playing of this song (There's a little minor swearing...my apologies to those with sensitive ears!): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBH85xp9bvo This has to be one of the most ridiculous things I've heard in a while, but it's completely addictive - the very definition of "so bad it's good." There's nothing quite like grooving to a tune that celebrates poor grammar and objectifying women!


Things to look forward to about returning to the States:

--Not having to listen to the Black Eyed Peas every three and a half minutes.

--Speedy service in restaurants. You'd think a waitress would be quick to bring you your bill but...no. Not in Malta.

--My bed (comfiest mattress ever...), my computer, the majority of my wardrobe, good razors, and the ability to straighten my hair.

--Rolo shots at Keybar.

--Yoga (and hopefully a dance class, if I can find one that won't break the bank!).

-- Doctor Who and Torchwood marathons with all of my nearest and dearest. :):)

Photo Post!!

A glimpse at Malta, even though you've already seen most of the photos:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2553206&id=837516&l=35c344238a

Malta: 11.11.09

Just a quick note to all of my favorite people...I have a very important bit of advice: KEEP LEARNING.

I cannot stress this enough.

If you're in school, learn about something that interests you that isn't something you're studying in your classes. If you're not in school, take 30 minutes tomorrow to investigate a subject you've always wanted to know more about.

I've spent so much of this trip indulging in all the learning that I didn't have a chance to do while I was at university, and I couldn't be happier. Right now, for example, I'm writing both for fun and for money, I'm reading The Three Musketeers because it's a classic that's somehow evaded me so far, I've spoken and/or studied 8 languages (Russian, German, English, Hungarian, Italian, French, Welsh, Latin), and I'm learning how to program in C, a popular computer language (bet you weren't expecting that last one!). I caught a lot of flack for choosing to go on this trip - some explicit, and some just obvious based on looks/facial expressions/body language - but it's hardly been wasted time. Most students spend four years at university. I graduated in three, and spent my "fourth year" abroad learning things about the world that school couldn't teach me. It's the perfect balance.

So starting tomorrow, the second you find yourself wasting time by watching TV or eating your 5th bowl of cereal, DO SOMETHING PRODUCTIVE INSTEAD! It's that simple. :)

Malta: 11.9.09

Let's talk Malta, faithful readers...

I could really sum this post up in three words (specifically: "I love it!!!"), but that wouldn't be entertaining at all, would it?

We arrived here a little over a week ago, after our harrowing Italian adventure. As our plane landed at night, we could see very little of the island during our cab ride from the airport to our hotel. Instead, we had the pleasure of being surprised in the morning with how incredibly gorgeous this place is! Just in case "Mediterranean island" didn't already tip you off to its beauty, let me elaborate...

The skies are blue and lovely, and though it's November the weather is still quite temperate. There does seem to be a fair deal of difference between the t-shirt weather of the afternoon and the put-on-a-sweater weather of the evening, but I'm more than willing to overlook that considering the weather I would currently be exposed to if I were home in New York! A local explained to me, on my second day here, that winter in Malta is basically this weather for several months, interspersed with approximately 3 days of rain. I think I can handle that. :)

Several beaches are within walking distance, two of which are sandy and one of which is rocky:

The aforementioned local also said that the water is still warm, if one is brave enough to test it out! Diving is supposed to be amazing here, so I'd like to give it a shot if we have the chance...I have to snorkel, at the very least!

The architecture of Malta is somewhat similar to what you'd see in any beach town...Miami, Carmel... It's only a few stories high, for the most part, and it's all done in beige, sandy tones. Par exemple:

[I'm afraid I don't know why it's sideways...Blogger refuses orient it in the proper direction! When I post it to Facebook, however, you'll be able to see it correctly.]

I desperately want one of those places, but I can't decide which color door I like best...oh, decisions, decisions...life seems to be an endless succession of them!!

Our home for the duration of our sojourn in Malta is Paceville, an area that is known for its nightlife, and so far it certainly lives up to its name! Our hotel for the first week of our stay was just around the corner from the street where all the bars and clubs are located, which is fantastic in terms of saving money on cabs and saving feet from having to walk long distances in heels (though it is built on a hill, so we are still forced to suffer the podiatric hell of copious stairs), but not-so-fantastic on the "getting a peaceful night's sleep" front. All of the bars and clubs feature drink specials that add up to paying next to nothing for any alcoholic beverages you may desire - 2 FOR 1! FREE DRINK WITH THIS TICKET!! 12 SHOTS FOR 1 EURO!!! - so our pocketbooks are going to be very thankful that we chose to visit Malta instead of Hong Kong!

Feast your eyes upon a (rather blurry) snapshot of said bars and clubs:


Accommodations have also proved to be unexpectedly cheap - yet another Maltese blessing! After a week in our hotel, we moved on to an apartment at the top of the long staircase you see in the photo above. A one bedroom for 140 Euro per week...not too shabby.

And now, ladies and gentlemen, it is time to discuss what is perhaps my favorite part of Malta so far: the food. I'm Italian...what else were you expecting?

We are situated in the perfect spot for testing out all the tonsorial delights of this city. We're surrounded by Italian restaurants, are near a couple of fast food places (initially typed as "fat food," which I'm sure Freud would have appreciated) for those who indulge in such things, have two crepe places nearby that are utterly delightful, and aren't far from a Mexican place, a sushi place, and several Chinese establishments. There seems to be a great deal of UK influence in Malta, so there are lots of little pubs and several places that serve full English breakfasts and Sunday roasts...my inner Brit is very happy. :)

Most of the food seems to be taking its cues from the drinks and is relatively inexpensive (huzzah!). I'm also thoroughly enjoying cheap cappuccinos, which seem always to be my addiction when I'm in Europe and often tend to be one of the more expensive coffee-related drinks on the menu. Best of all, however, is the seafood. What else would you expect from the middle of the Mediterranean?


Jon and I managed to accidentally order something that came with AN ENTIRE OCTOPUS.

I rest my case.

Photo Post!!

You know the drill...

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2549842&id=837516&l=d34bba5005

Venice: 10.31.09

The Tragic Tale of Jon and Elyse in Venice

by Moi

It was not a dark and stormy night...in fact, our tale begins during a rather sunny afternoon in Hungary. Having spent a month enjoying Budapest, our heroes were preparing to leave the city for Malta, the next stop on their world tour. As all planes to Malta seemed to stop in Italy, however, the intrepid duo decided to spend a night in Venice first, so on October 31, 2009 they bid farewell to their cozy apartment and boarded a train bound for Ferihegy Airport.

Between a late night of saying goodbye to all their new Hungarian friends and an early morning spent packing and cleaning the apartment, neither Jon nor Elyse had gotten much rest the previous evening. Both fell asleep almost immediately upon boarding the train.

But fear not, gentle reader! They did not miss their stop. The train did not derail. No tragedy has befallen our heroes yet!

They arrived at the airport with ample time to check in, pass through security, and find the gate. They even indulged in a breakfast of grilled cheese with ham, and managed to make somewhat-respectable mimosas with orange juice and a lilliputian bottle of champagne found in one of the terminal's shops. When they tried to board the plane, however, things took a turn for the worse...

Claiming that they were carrying one bag too many, the two flight attendants scanning boarding passes refused to let them on the plane! Jon and Elyse pointed out that no one had mentioned this at either the check-in desk (despite the fact that the same two people were the ones who had checked them in) or security, and that holding the plane while arguing with them was clearly a much more disadvantageous situation for all parties involved than simply letting them aboard. A "manager" was called, and she claimed that she could do nothing but call someone from the airline (which apparently does not actually have any personnel working in the airport, because that would just be silly...) and ask for permission to let them on the plane.

Said permission was denied. More arguing ensued.

Eventually, the "manager" rang the captain of the plane, who gave the ok. Victorious and smugly triumphant, our heros waved goodbye to their foes, rode an unnecessary bus to the plane that was waiting thirty feet away, and climbed aboard. Scores of empty seats and free overhead bin space greeted them, prompting a few more disparaging comments about the incompetency of the airline before takeoff.

* * *

One short flight later, the protagonists of this tale arrived in Italy. They quickly found a cab and took off for their accommodations for the night, which happened to be in a small town just outside of Venice. Always industrious, they worked for a while before grabbing dinner at a restaurant across the street and heading out to experience the local nightlife.

As it turns out, Venice itself does not have much to do in the evenings unless you're looking for a quiet night sipping a bellini or a cappuccino. Since it was a Saturday night - and Halloween!! - something a little more exciting was in order. Jon and Elyse decided to take a train to Mestre, a location just outside of Venice that was home to a club that looked promising. Unfortunately, as it was later in the evening, the train did not stop at the closest train station. They stopped instead at a station farther away and had to take an expensive cab to the club.

The night went off without a hitch...a drink, some dancing, some terrible Halloween costumes. Both Elyse and Jon were quite tired since they had gotten very little sleep in the last 48 hours, so they decided to call it a night around 2am. They left the club and walked to the road, where they proceeded to wait for a cab in the freezing cold.

None came.

They continued to wait.

None came.

They huddled, hoping that the combined heat would be sufficient to keep them from shivering.

Still none came.

Shivering continued.

Finally, they spotted a cab in the club's parking lot. They hurried off in its direction, desperate to claim it before anyone else did.

No such luck. Dejected, they returned to the street and waited once more, and once more no cabs came by. With considerably dampened spirits, they trudged back to the club and asked one of the employees if he could call a cab for them. He shook his head, saying that he didn't know the phone number. Two more employees offered the same answer.

Tired and convinced that frostbite was setting in, Jon and Elyse waited under the less-than-sufficient warmth of a heat lamp and tried to avoid the inebriated and ill revelers that exited the club in a steady stream. Though they did manage to avoid being vomited on, they were still unable to find transport home. An hour and a half went by, and employees and patrons alike continued to be unhelpful regarding calling a taxi. Eventually, one doorman offered to drive them home after his shift for the "paltry" sum of 40 Euro, more than twice what they had paid to take a cab part of the way there. The offer was declined, as it was clearly ridiculous.

Finally - miracle of all miracles! - Elyse found someone that both had a cellphone and knew the number for the taxi service. He kindly called...and no one picked up the phone.

* * *

Still stranded by 4am, Elyse and Jon decided that the only remaining option was to travel on foot...all six miles back to the hotel. In need of exercise, they started jogging, but quickly abandoned the idea as neither had shoes that were even remotely suitable for the undertaking. Elyse gets sharp pain in her shins from jogging that lasts for several days after doing so in the proper shoes...no telling what the pain would have been like after running in flats for 3 times her normal distance!

The weary travelers passed an unlocked bicycle, and for a while considered abandoning their moral principles temporarily in favor of stealing a bike and spending less time in the freezing cold. The bicycle was old and battered, however, and neither of them could figure out how to effectively transport two people for 6 miles on only one bike. Physically, emotionally, spiritually drained, they left the bike behind and continued to walk.

They arrived at the train station and promptly checked the bicycles that had been left there. Most were in terrible shape, and all were locked.

Giving up on the bicycle idea once and for all, Jon and Elyse clambered onto the train tracks and proceeded to walk along them. Not the safest plan, perhaps, but as it was pitch black out and completely silent except for the sound of their footsteps on the rocks, they knew it would be nearly impossible to not notice the blinding light and roaring sound of an oncoming train. They hadn't gotten far before they realized that stumbling through rocks - and God only knows what else - in the dark was not a particularly good idea. It was doubtlessly going to prove an injury-inducing plan.

A train chose that moment to pass, and the rush of Arctic air that accompanied it convinced Jon and Elyse that the train tracks idea had to be totally abandoned.

That left only one option: waiting at the train station until service started up again in the morning. The blessed event was not due to occur until 5:50am, which meant a wait of an hour and 20 minutes in the bone-chillingly-cold weather.

Noses full of sniffles and bodies wracked with shivers, the depressed duo attempted to seek shelter in one of the station's elevators as they were the only areas in the vicinity that offered complete protection from the thoroughly unfriendly elements.

Neither functioned, apparently shut off for the evening, so Jon and Elyse turned to their last resort: cuddling in the short tunnel that ran underneath the two sides of the tracks. They huddled beneath his jacket, attempted to nap, and tried to stay warm enough to survive until morning.

* * *

When the telltale rumble of an approaching train sent shudders through the station, our heroes leaped off the ground and bounded up the stairs with an alacrity that belied their exhaustion, their whoops of joy filling the air. It was like the final scene of a horror movie when, bloodied and mentally shattered, the survivors crawl out of the cave/basement/haunted house (whatever dark location the catastrophic event took place in) and re-enter the sunlight. Ah, the hope and promise of a new day!

They climbed aboard the train and, ignoring the many strange looks their battered appearance was earning, proceeded bask in the pleasures of warmth and a comfortable place to sit. They arrived at the next station and disembarked. As their next train wasn't going to arrive for 40 minutes, they purchased cappuccinos and took up residence at the nearby McDonalds, which appeared to be full of Halloween-ers who had not yet made it to bed after the night's festivities.

One train ride, one walk through streets full of fallen Autumn leaves, and one elevator trip later, and the adventurers were finally able to collapse into the welcoming embrace of their hotel bed.

As it was 7:30am, however, the relief was short...check-in time arrived all too soon, and Jon and Elyse had to vacate their room. They made plans to take a train into Venice, though they only had an hour and a half to see the city before they had to head back to the airport. Jon asked the woman working at the front desk of the hotel for the time, and she announced that it was an hour later than he'd thought it was. There was, in fact, only a half hour of free time that could be used to see Venice.

Refusing to allow the whole trip to be a tragedy, Jon and Elyse rushed to the train station and began the journey.

Short though it was, the trip was utterly worth it. The city - even just the little bit they saw - was breathtakingly gorgeous.

And so we must leave our heroes...nestled contentedly amongst their baggage on the banks of a Venetian canal and dining on two scoops of truly magnificent gelato!

**The End**

Special Video Post!

Paul Van Dyk concert:

Budapest: 10.31.09

Happy Halloween to all of you back in the States who are lucky enough to be celebrating the holiday!

This is our last hour in Budapest...soon we'll be coasting blissfully down a Venetian canal and slurping spaghetti Lady and the Tramp style. I'm very sad I'm not going to be celebrating Halloween, but if you're going to be not-celebrating somewhere, you might as well be not-celebrating in Venice!

Personally, I think we ought to dress as pirates and float around hijacking other people's gondolas... ;)

Budapest: 10.29.09

Dear Hungarians:

It is not acceptable to burn me with your cigarettes, nor is it acceptable to hit my boyfriend with your cars. Please stop this egregiously poor behavior immediately.

Love,

Me

[And, before anyone worries, the burn isn't bad and Jon was merely tapped in the leg...but still.]

Budapest: 10.25.09

Ah, life...

Jon and I are currently sitting next to a table of terribly obnoxious, unintelligent American girls. Why is it that we can't seem to find good Americans on our travels? I know they exist! Apparently they're just not the ones with passports...

A few gems from their conversation:

"Men always rely on their good looks to get them things! I hate that!" (Um...yes...because women are never guilty of that...)

Girl: *looking at our food* "Oooh...what's that thing with the bread? It looks kinda weird. It must be Hungarian food..."

Elyse's Inner Monologue: ...it's a salad.

One that Jon overheard: "You can't even drink the tap water in Los Angeles. It's so dirty...there's so much...calcium!"

Jon and I have taken to holding our conversation in 5 different languages to avoid being understood by them. Clearly, in the Winning At Life Contest, us>them. ;)

Budapest: 10.24.09

With one week left in Budapest, I finally have exciting news!

I was just given another Elance project!! It's not for much, but she says she'll have me continue to write for her, if we work together well.

Her timing couldn't have been more perfect, really, because tonight I get to celebrate my victory by dancing the night away at a Paul Van Dyk concert. We've been trying for ages to find a band or DJ that was playing in one of the stops on our grand adventure, and we finally succeeded!

And all this is coming on top of free half-hour massages we both got yesterday! They were the result of gorging ourselves on all-you-can-eat sushi, oddly enough (we made it through over 60 little sushi boat plates...a new record!). When the waitress brought us our bill, she also handed us two vouchers for the massages.

Sushi, massages, work, and a concert...what a lovely weekend!!

Budapest: 10.21.09

A few notes on Budapest:

- It gets dark far too early here. It's difficult to keep working and stay motivated when it seems like it's much later than it actually is.

- There are ads with women in wedding dresses everywhere. I'm convinced now that Hungarians must think you're an old maid if you're not married by 25.

- Hungarian women have a mysterious aversion to bras...trust me ladies, if you hike them up so that they come to rest above your bellybutton, you're more likely to get married before you reach the aforementioned ancient age.

- Mexican restaurants here seem to believe that when their customers ask for hot peppers, what they really mean is "Please coat my quesadilla in layers of jalapeno halves." Ouch.

- On the whole, however, food and drinks in Budapest are really quite inexpensive. I'm very much going to miss $15 bottles champagne that are actually good.

And in other news...

Our next stop will be Malta, not Hong Kong as originally planned. Flights and accommodations were both going to be fairly expensive, and spending a month on a beachy Mediterranean island that's cheap to get to and live on was just too hard to pass up. We'll even have a one night stop in Venice on the way there!

And lastly...congratulations to the lovely Liesl Yost, who just announced that she's engaged!! :) :)

Budapest: 10.18.09

Warning: Dauntingly Lengthy Post Ahead.

Jocelyn and Andre have departed the cold, rainy city of Budapest and bid farewell to two of its American visitors, and in their wake I find myself determined to refocus my life.

I stumbled through the Hungarian language several times, in attempts to impress my guests, and it reminded me that I must recommit myself to learning the languages I've been studying. I discovered a wonderful new website, DailyLit.com, and it reminded me that I need to stop "catching up on my TV shows" and start reading again. I talked with Jocelyn about her post-college and my post-trip plans, and it reminded me that I won't be traveling forever...at some point, I'm going to need a viable plan for my life (not that it means that the plan must be unchangeable...just that I need a starting point that will eventually lead me to discovering just what exactly it is I want to dedicate my many remaining years to!).

So now what do I do?

As far as I can tell, it's time for a new, up-to-date evaluation of my goals, and the creation of another of Elyse's Epic To Do Lists. As I am currently ensconced in a velvety armchair and sipping an Irish coffee, this seems like the perfect time to tackle the task!

My apologies if this entry rambles...for the first time I am writing on the fly, and not typing up something I'd previously written in my personal journal (a treasure bound in red leather and framed in gold leaf...it's been with me since high school, and chronicles my travels abroad from Oxford onwards, as well as much of my life in New York and some of my creative writing...I think I'd waste away from sorrow if it ever disappeared!).

But without further ado...

Goals: Professional

This is one of the most difficult topics I encounter, as I find that, having spent all of my years from preschool until college wanting to be a teacher, that life no longer sounds right for me. I love education, but I don't relate well to children - that pretty much eliminates most academic professions. I could pursue a Ph.D and become a professor, but that means being willing to relocate to where ever a university is willing to give me a job. I have found that where and how I live is very, very important to me (to my happiness, my self-concept, &c), so I'm not sure I'd be willing to do that. I do love the idea of continuing my education (and being able to do so in a specialty of my choosing), however, so I suppose I can't entirely rule it out.

Then there's writing. I have loved it for as long as I can remember, and nothing sounds more perfect and romantic than being able to make a living off my words. But, perhaps to my detriment, I have always been a very logical, rational person. I know that it's very unlikely that I'll ever be able to live solely off of that, if I'm even lucky enough to make any money off it in the first place. I'm enjoying the freelance work I've done so far, but it's difficult to come by, and I have a hard time envisioning being able to support myself from writing full time. The only way it might be feasible is if I am successful writing for myself - screenplays or novels - but that is a long, uphill climb. It would be a while before I'd be able to create something and refine it to the point that it is publishable. I need a solution now.

Rachel posted a lovely article on holding down a day job while writing during one's free time, and I found it rather inspiring (check it out: http://www.litdrift.com/2009/10/17/the-day-job-friend-or-foe). I could see myself leading that life (preferably while traveling!). But choosing that existence also means never really having a "career," and probably always being a bit on the impoverished side. I don't need to bathe in Dom Peringnon and towel myself off with 100 dollar bills, but I don't want to spend my life struggling. I feel like that kind of life is perceived as only one small step up from failure, and I'd hate to think that all my expensive schooling was a waste, or that my family would be disappointed in me for not building a distinct, successful career in which there are pay raises, and promotions, and that esoteric thing known as the "corporate ladder."

That brings me to life coaching. It's a profession that I think I would truly enjoy, as the last three years in Manhattan have made me almost obsessively interested in psychology, self-improvement, goal-setting and achievement, and helping others to become the best they can possibly be. And, moreover, I think I could be incredibly good at it. I enjoy people. I understand them well. I like forging unique connections with each individual I encounter. And I hope, I hope fervently, that in some small way I change the life of everyone I meet. And as added bonuses, life coaching allows its practitioners to work from anywhere, as long as there's an Internet connection, to charge a more-than-decent hourly wage, and to set their own hours. It would probably even leave me time for writing, as well! What could be better?

It's tempting, oh-so-tempting, to follow that career path, but there are a couple of stumbling blocks in the way. One is fairly difficult to overcome, and the other is downright impossible. The latter is, quite simply, my age. If you ask a professional life coach, they will tell you that age is, as they say, just a number. Coaches are not trained to tell their clients how to live their lives; they're trained to guide their clients and ask them challenging questions so that the clients are able to figure it out for themselves. I imagine, however, that most people seeking the services of a life coach are not aware of that, and would therefore discriminate against me as "not having enough life experiences," or something else along those lines. The other impediment is money, plain and simple. I would like to complete a life coaching certification program, and would love to get my NLP certification in addition to that (perhaps even a certification in hypnotherapy - because I think those three things would be the perfect arsenal with which to start battling my way into the coaching profession! - but I haven't researched that final certification much). The coaching and NLP certifications alone will run me something in the range of seven grand and, believe it or not, I don't have seven grand stuffed in my pillow case or hidden in the back of the refrigerator behind the rancid leftovers and all the condiments that boys seem to be miraculously unable to see.

So what does that leave? No matter how hard I try to kick the habit, I can't seem to shake my love of the entertainment industry. Brutal, harsh, soul-crushing, dream-destroying, and unfriendly as it may often be, I can't seem talk myself out of having an affection for it. Is there perhaps a rehab for this affliction?? I enjoyed my work at a talent agency, and could see myself working further towards a career as an agent or manager. But that brings me back to a problem that I constantly encounter - I don't think I'm made for spending all day, every day, sitting at a desk, keeping my eyes glued to a computer screen and wondering if it's my lunch break yet. I'm just not that person. I'm convinced it would destroy any and all creativity I have in my body! It would be great to work part time at an agency and spend the rest of my time writing, but I don't think a job like that exists...and if it does, it certainly doesn't leave any opportunity for advancement. I'd always be an assistant, never an agent (which sounds considerably worse than always being a bridesmaid but never a bride...frankly, being a bride sounds like a lot of work, and being a bridesmaid was a blast!).

I also have to consider how hard the travel bug has bitten me. I've loved it ever since that first trip to England, all those years ago, as a wide-eyed seventh grader. I'm passionate about crafting a life that still allows me the freedom (and provides me the income) to travel. My curtailed trip to London a couple of weeks ago reminded me that I still love that crowded, overcast town and the silly little island on which it resides. I know that if I never spend time living there, I will regret it. I am fervidly devoted to living a life free of regrets, and so far I've done a nearly perfect job of it. I don't want to ruin my record now. I am fascinated by the idea of getting a work visa and living in London for, say, 3-6 months...but I am also tortured by a niggling voice that refuses to be staunched that says that working abroad is nothing more than a way to avoid the real world for a few more months. I would love the opportunity, and I think it would be a great resume builder, but what if that voice is right? I'm not the kind of person who likes to spend her time running from things. Working in England gives me two options: work a petty job (barista, waitress, retailer) and spend the rest of the time writing and exploring the country, or work a job that would look great on a CV and help me build a real career (a London talent agency or management company). I can't decide which seems like the better course.

Perhaps I just need to win the lottery, or invent a successful pyramid scheme. I promised Jon I'd start learning how to create iPhone apps, which would at least make me enough money to survive whilst I'm busy plotting out the rest of my future... I also have an idea for a business (I'll post on that later), but it would take a while to get it up and running. Not to mention that I know nothing about owning a company!!

So what do you think, faithful readers...any brilliant insights to share?? :)

Budapest: 10.16.09

First order of business: Sorry I've been a bit MIA...Jocelyn and Andre are visiting this weekend, so I might not get a substantial post up for a few days.

Second order of business: Happy birthday to my main man, Oscar Wilde. <3<3<3

Third order of business: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ox6aHGmfxB8

This song is gorgeous. Very simple, but so beautiful. And it explains love perfectly, as far as I'm concerned. Lyrics below:

The book of love is long and boring
No one can lift the damn thing
It's full of charts and facts and figures
And instructions for dancing but

I...
I love it when you read to me and
You...
You can read me anything

The book of love has music in it
In fact that's where music comes from
Some of it is just transcendental
Some of it is just really dumb but

I...
I love it when you sing to me and
You...
You can sing me anything

The book of love is long and boring
And written very long ago
It's full of flowers and heart-shaped boxes
And things we're all too young to know but

I...
I love it when you give me things and
You...
You ought to give me wedding rings
I...
I love it when you give me things and
You...
You ought to give me wedding rings

Budapest: 10.10.09

I am completely addicted to this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ceVn9TQvxk&feature=related

Thank you, thank you, thank you to Rachel for sending me Mika's new album!!

Jon's going to go crazy hearing this song on repeat for the next month. ;)

A few more photos courtesy of Jon (Munich)

In case you haven't figured it out yet, they get bigger if you click them...

Currywurst and fries!

Oktoberfest:

Decoration inside one of the tents:

More Oktoberfest:

The band in a tent:

Our goth look...we got called rockstars several times that night:

Photo Post!!

Hello all!

Here are new photos from Munich and London! You'll have seen the first ones, but keep going and I promise there are new ones you haven't encountered yet:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2531818&id=837516&l=029a9e5098

Again, if the link doesn't work, just copy/paste it.

Budapest: 10.7.09

I have a confession to make.

I think I am a secret sci-fi geek...I'm so ashamed. I started watching Doctor Who a week ago, and it's pretty awesome. I don't like it as much as Torchwood, but it's still pretty entertaining. And then when I think back to my childhood, Star Trek: The Next Generation is one of the first shows I can remember ever really loving, and Star Wars became an obsession as soon as I was introduced to it. As for my taste in books, I grew up loving fantasy, which is practically the fraternal twin of sci-fi, and was later introduced to the wonders of people like Ray Bradbury, H.P. Lovecraft, and Kurt Vonnegut. As far as I can tell, what this all adds up to is that I'm even more of a nerd than I thought I was! :) I think I'm just going to claim it's part of my "charm" and then attempt to forget about it!

So where did I leave off? Ah yes, London!

Our plane left London in the evening, so we had a bit of time to enjoy the city before heading off to Budapest. I grabbed ice cream with mint Aero bar chunks in it, which was pretty awesome, and wandered up the street to Waterstone's, a bookstore I frequented during my Oxford days. I picked up The Time Traveler's Wife, because English majors all love it and I haven't read it yet. Apparently I really am obsessed with time and time travel! I never realized, until now, how much of what I watch, read, and write has those topics as central themes. I definitely am from another era.

Jon and I made a trip to the hotel's gym (oh my, am I out of shape!) and pool, and wandered around Covent Garden a bit. I even gathered the courage to try steak and kidney pie! I figured it was a bit of a disgrace to be an Anglophile who had never tasted such a classic English dish. And it turned out to be delicious! English food has such a bad reputation, but everything we had was really very good! Would have been better with a side order of John Barrowman, but *shrug*. Can't have everything, I suppose! :)

I should have known better than to visit England for such a short time...I miss it! It's been five years since I was last in the country, so I wasn't sure if I would adore it as much as I once did...but it turns out I do. I guess I really will need to find my way back there somehow, someday!

London and I parted, determined to reunite in the not-too-distant future, and soon I found myself in the tiny Budapest airport. We made our way through the world's simplest customs and hitched a cab ride to the center of town, where our newest apartment is located. The building is a bit old and run down, but it kind of gives it charm! The floors and banisters are very ornate, and all the apartments are built around a cute little courtyard. Our apartment is small, but has great high ceilings to compensate for it. We have a sitting room with a table and couch (ooh, leather!), a tiny kitchen, a lofted bed, and a bathroom that's practically the biggest part of the apartment. We even have our own washer/dryer!

So what's been going on in Budapest, you ask?

Not a whole lot, just yet. Working on a small Elance project, narrowly lost out on another. Rewatching Torchwood and starting Doctor Who, as I mentioned, so that I can study their character development. Their characters are exactly what I'd like to create. They're heroes, but they're flawed. They can be serious, but they're also humorous. They have complicated back stories. They evolve over time. They sometimes make tough decisions, but the audience still roots for them. When they're happy, you're happy too. When they die, you cry. You want so badly for them to be real, to be able to call them your friends. You can't stand the thought of their stories, your acquaintance with them, being limited to specific story lines and a set number of episodes, so you create fanfiction. I think that, to be honest, is what I want more than anything else. I'll know that I've "made it" when fanfiction for my stories starts popping up. It'd be so cool to know you've created characters that are that well-loved, and that you've inspired other people to be creative. :)

This is mostly what consumes my days, at the moment!

Nights aren't that much more exciting, I'm afraid! This isn't a country with a whole lot of money, so I don't think a lot of people can afford to go out. There are lots of small bar/cafe places, but they're always very empty. The busiest place we've been so far was a salsa night! We tried to find a place to go dancing (dancing of the non-salsa variety, that is), but it was surprisingly difficult. The only place we found with a dancefloor didn't have particularly good music. There was karaoke on the lower floor, though! There were actually a couple of decent singers in the bunch.

Things are bound to get better soon...the lovely Ms. Jocelyn will be coming to visit me on the 15th!!!

Budapest: 10.4.09

üdvözlet magyarország!

No idea if I said that properly, but at least I tried! But first, to London...

I'm usually rather an expert on the native language there, but at the moment I'm not sure that the English lexicon contains words that will suitably encompass the amazingness of the past few days. Life is just brilliant, you know? I'm still shocked at the frequency with which I have moments that completely take my breath away, moments where all my brain can think is "How did I get here? How did I get so lucky? How is this my life?"

The most recent collection of these thoughts began on Monday, the date of our last excursion to Oktoberfest. Noelle joined us once again, so we could have a last hurrah together before we left Munich for Budapest. We ended up in a tent that's supposedly known for having cheap beer and young people (the two tend to go together, dontcha know!). It was quite obviously one of the lesser tents at the festival. Noelle and Jon ordered beers, and I stuck with a flask of a Bailey's wannabe we'd bought earlier. It appears to have been a good idea... Jon and Noelle both said the beer was terrible. Not that they managed to consume a whole lot of it - drunk people kept falling on the table and knocking drinks over!! Noelle's attentions were quickly commandeered by a middle-aged man (Noelle and I both tried to explain to Jon that he wasn't so bad looking for an "older gentleman," but he wasn't having any of it!) and I was being entertained by two moderately cute German boys. They said it was a shame that I had a boyfriend , and asked if I was talking to them because he's boring. :) We rocked out to some "I Love Rock 'n' Roll," "We Will Rock You," and - Lord have mercy upon us - some more "Sweet Home Alabama" before the tent closed for the night. We picked up a last caipirinha and ended the night at a strange rotating bar. I'm not quite sure who's brilliant idea it was to put drunk people on a rotating platform...

A bunch of Noelle's friends joined us and decided to take us to a bar they like, so we walked for ages trying to get there. The bar, once we finally arrived, was cute, but packed. We didn't stay for long, and instead went back to our apartment to finish up the Bailey's substitute, gabbing away late into the night.

And with that, we found ourselves living our very last day in Munich! We got our final bratwurst at the market, and made a trip to the post office to mail some books home. We spent the evening at Green Leaf to say our farewells to Noelle, after enjoying our last camembert and bread. I've added her on Facebook, so hopefully we'll keep in touch...

After Munich came the moment I've been giddy about all week - our one night stay in London! :D We got up very early in the AM - it was still dark! - and made our way to the airport. One short flight, one pasty, one train ride to Victoria Station, and one cab trip past Buckingham and Trafalgar later, and we had arrived at the Waldorf Hilton, our 5-star accommodations for our stay in London! :) I wished so badly that I had my girlfriends around!!! I wanted to jump up and down and scream and be girly with someone because that night - that wonderful, legendary, epic night - was the night I had tickets to see John Barrowman in La Cage Aux Folles. :) Brilliant, no?

We grabbed food at a pub around the corner (mmm...tasty English fish and chips!) and then went home to get ready. Because let's face it - when you're going to see Barrowman and you know that there's the slight chance you might be blessed with the opportunity to be in his sacred presence after the show, you want to look your best! Even Jon made an effort...Armani shirt, leather pants, and a little glitter! Combine that with my artful make up application, vintage-looking heels, and Monroe-inspired dress, and we were pure Barrowman bait. ;) I so loved that Jon was getting into the spirit of things! He would even periodically shout "Oh my God, JOHN BARROWMAN!!" at me in his best girl voice. :) The theatre was, fortunately, just up the street, so we high-tailed it out of our hotel and scrambled to the venue. Heaven help the person who got in my way and made me miss curtain!

We arrived just in time, and had the pleasant discovery that our seats were balcony, front row, just off center - perfect. Our neightbors to the left were an old couple with southern US accents and I kept wondering if they were aware of the content of the show for which they had purchased tickets! :) They survived...or, at least, they didn't leave grumbling about morality, anyway!

I don't know what to say abut the show...it was incredible. It was the best theatre I've seen in ages. Nathan Lane was pretty much born to play that part, but Barrowman was a close second. He just looked like he was having so much fun!! It made me miss doing theatre so much...

I spent the entire show sitting on the edge of my seat, laughing like crazy, often with my hand clapped over my mouth because I couldn't believe how ridiculous the spectacle on stage was. The Cagelles, the guys playing the drag queen chorus, were so fun and full of life. The guy playing the butler was the perfect over-actor. And Barrowman...there are no words for him. Sparkly dresses, heels, wigs, and enough rhinestones to bedazzle Big Ben. His voice is to die for...
I think I nearly expired right there in the theatre, hearing him sing "I Am What I Am" live! What an unforgettable moment...it's one of my favorite songs he does. It just has such a good message, and it sounds so Me. I think Jon got an audio recording of it. I haven't tested it yet, to see if it worked, but *crosses fingers*. Barrowman also wandered around for a while in frilly underwear and a corset, and in a short, sexy nightie. It takes a brave man to pull that off! Though it will be rather difficult to watch him play an action hero again without giggling. :)

Favorite moments, beyond the performance of "I Am What I Am," included Barrowman trying (and mostly failing) to dance like a woman, the classic "teaching Albin to play it straight" scene, Barrowman flashing the front row, and the way that amazing man looked in the final scene - black tuxedo pants (with sparkles in the stripes!) and a plain white button-down shirt. So simple, but completely stunning on him. I think if the scene lasted any longer, I would have melted into a gooey puddle of slush on the floor!

Oh! And then there was the scene where he broke down in a fit of giggles...unprofessional in anyone else, completely adorable and endearing in him. :)

The show ended with a thunderous crashing of applause (even from Jon, who never claps at shows, so I know he enjoyed it way more than he expected to!) and smiles throughout the theatre. We exited the building and decided to hunt down the stage door. I hate being an obnoxious fangirl, but how many times in my life will I have the opportunity to say hi to John Barrowman? To see the patented Barrowman smile, up close and in person? We joined the excited throng and soon the man of the hour arrived in our midst. He was clearly very exhausted, but he was very sweet to everyone. He signed every autograph he was asked for, and chatted with anyone who wanted to talk. I give him a lot of credit for that! He signed my program, and was utterly delightful when I chatted with him.

We considered asking for hugs (Jon included!), but La Barrowman looked so wiped out that I didn't want to harrass him anymore. Too bad...would have loved a pic of Jon and John hugging! :) We ended the night with a martini and fell -oh-so-contentedly - fast asleep.

* * *

How on earth did this happen to me?! What could I have possibly done to earn enough good karma points that the universe allowed me to fly to London - just for one night! - to see John Barrowman being amazing? In such a great show? And then to meet him afterwards?!

*sigh*

Life is great. :)

* * *

Oh, and here is Barrowman singing "I Am What I Am" - you're missing out if you haven't heard it yet!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGrQ8e2mFck

London: 10.1.09

For those of you who have been living under a rock lately...

This is the lovely, talented, swoon-inducing John Barrowman:

This is how I normally know him, as the dashing Torchwood hero Captain Jack Harkness:

And this is how I saw him last night, starring as Albin in La Cage Aux Folles:

Life doesn't get any better than this. :)

Full update on this incredible fabulosity coming soon...

München: 9.28.09

As you can probably guess, we spent most of Tuesday sleeping off Monday night. :) We alternated between resting and working all afternoon, and only left the apartment briefly that night to see Noelle at Green Leaf. Unsurprisingly, she didn't remember much of the night!

With one week left in Munich, it became time to start doing all the things we wanted to squeeze in before leaving. We tried to go dancing on Wednesday night, but the club we ended up at - 089 - was packed to the rafters. It was barely even possible to bounce up and down! We danced as long as we could stand the confined space, then went to sit on a balcony outside. A few guys nearby soon befriended us, curious about where we're from. We explained where we live and what we do, and instantly we were heroes. :) It feels very strange to call myself a writer when asked what I do, but what else can I say? That is what I've been doing to make money! What a dream come true!

One guy was particularly fascinated by pickup, and wanted to hear all about how to get girls. Meanwhile, a girl was trying to get his attention and he shooed her away. :) 1st rule of attracting women: don't ignore them in favor of talking to us!!

The rest of the week has been pretty quiet...Holy Home (where a bartender tried to kick Jon out for asking that an incorrect drink order be fixed!), working under the bridge again (where I learned - the hard way - that the water temperature is actually quite pleasant), a last trip for currywurst and fries, and another night at Oktoberfest. We ended up in a tent we hadn't seen yet - can't remember the name of it, unfortunately. It was a typical night in a tent...lots of toasts with random people, lots of singing, lots of dancing with strangers. After the tent closed we wandered amongst the rides, enjoying the incredible people watching opportunities that Oktoberfest offers. I also finally got the candy apple I've been aching for, and Jon got the giant bratwurst he's wanted. Both were quite delicious. :)

The highlight of that particular night, however, was the "friend" we made on our way out of the park. It's really no wonder other countries often have such bad impressions of Americans...I haven't met a single cool American since we've been here! This particular guy was from Alabama (I know, I know...a red flag already) and was stationed in Munich with the Army. Good God, I hope there aren't too many like him representing our country abroad via the military! He was nothing but loud and obnoxious and rude. And don't get me wrong - it was hilarious for a while - but it got old fast!

He accompanied us to the street where all the clubs are, all the while regaling us with stories about how he's sick of German girls because apparently he's gotten so many of them since he's been here that he's totally over it. My favorite story was about accidentally talking to a girl who turned out to be a tranny and then sprinting down the block to get away from her, because apparently if he'd stayed a second longer he might have suddenly found himself feeling the urge to put on a dress and prance around in a pair of stilettos to the dulcet tones of Cher and Barbra. I pointed out that if he couldn't tell it wasn't a natural girl right away, he should actually consider himself lucky - he'd found a good tranny! - but he seemed less than impressed with my rationalization. :) *pats self on back*

All of the clubs were packed - a Saturday during Oktoberfest! - so before he could follow us any farther, we told him we were going to go check out a gay party. If you're going to be a homophobic ass, I can at least use it to my advantage, right?! He left us immediately, and we headed to Eden, the bar next to the gay club. Dancing like fools and an unexpected meeting with old friends from the beginning of our trip completed the night.

Fun Fact: The word for shot (as in "a shot of vodka") in German is "schnell," which technically translates to "fast" or "quick"...I thought that was cute. :)

Other than that, we're trying our hardest to learn a little Hungarian before we arrive in Budapest on Thursday, but I'm finding it surprisingly difficult. The hardest language I've tried to learn so far, actually. I've also diligently been studying theories on how to create effective plots and characters, in preparation for starting to outline my new story. It's getting pretty exciting...I've never really actually studied this stuff before, but from what I'm reading I've already been doing a lot of stuff naturally! It's very encouraging!

Also encouraging: the little bro smashed a track record that had been held for four years, and pulled off a top three finish with a broken car!

I spy, with my little eye, two siblings with very rosy futures... :)

München: 9.25.09

Failed to quit while I was ahead on Monday. Oops!

But, in defense of myself and the institution of Oktoberfest, most everything about the night was tons of fun. :)

Our first and most glaring mistake was having next to nothing to eat all day. A little fruit for me, a little pasta for Jon, and some bacon for both of us. The plan was to get meter long bratwurst for dinner at the park.

We met Noelle, our bartender friend from Green Leaf, on a nearby bridge and walked to the park, poking fun at the barely-remaining-upright revelers who passed in the other direction. Little did we know that we would be among their ranks just a few hours later! Noelle led us straight to the Augustiner tent, which has a reputation for being one of the best tents at Oktoberfest. Not only did we get in without having to wait in line, we actually found seats at a table! The atmosphere inside a tent is electric. It's worlds away from the ambiance of the rest of the event. "Merry-making" sounds like such a twee phrase, but it's the only way I can accurately describe life inside a tent. So many people are dressed in traditional clothing; the building is decorated in greenery and fairy lights; everyone is waving around a mug of beer, shouting along to the classic German tunes played by the band at the center of the room. Oktoberfest might be the only place in the world you can dance on a table and not be called a slut! Everyone is standing on the tables, arms wrapped around each other, swaying back and forth. Cries of "Ein prosit!" pour forth from a thousand smiling, blissful faces. The energy is completely infectious...after a short walk around the tent, I too had developed the same giddy grin and euphoric look. If the world could always be like the inside of an Oktoberfest tent, it would be a very happy, peaceful place.

We ordered our beers and settled into conversations with the Ukrainians to our right and the New Zealander across from us. He had some pretty amazing stories...he's traveling and working for a couple of years (and I thought six months seemed like a long time!) on a bus that he rented with a bunch of his friends. He'd just come from running with the bulls...twice. We were also joined by a Canadian ex-pat who now lives in Germany, and a guy from Seattle. This is what I knew I'd love about Oktoberfest. It's a chance to meet people from all over the world and everyone is immediately friends, united by a common cause (even if that cause is drinking!). It's like Burning Man, but with significantly less glitter. Though rest assured that I was doing my part to make it as sparkly as possible!

I desperately wanted to join the throngs of people dancing on the tables, but it's a little hard to get wrapped up in a song when you can't even understand the lyrics. I was hoping and praying the band would eventually oblige me with a tune in my native language. A little "Ziggy Stardust," perhaps? Some "Satisfaction?" A rousing round of "Pokerface," at the very least? Finally, I began to hear the opening measures of something I recognized. I jumped out of my seat and launched myself onto the table, overwhelmed with the excitement of finally being able to join the bobbing, throbbing masses when -

No.

No, this cannot possibly be.

My shoulders fell into a disappointed slouch and the proverbial wind whizzed out of my proverbial sails.

The song the Augustiner tent had chosen to represent my homeland was..."Sweet Home Alabama." Quite possibly the most over-played tripe this side of "Love Shack."

But, when God gives you lemons, throw some whisky over them and have Lynchburg Lemonades until you can't remember the problems that made you start drinking in the first place! I did America proud and sang as loud as the best of them. After that catastrophe, the band treated us to some swing music and a beautiful rendition of "Hey Jude." Somehow two more beers appeared for Noelle and I, so we diligently began working on round two. Ah, the blessings and curses of being a girl! On one hand you get lots of things for free, often without even asking for them in the first place. But on the other hand, you then feel obligated to consume said things as a way of saying thank you for them. Oh well. I'm generally pretty good at looking like I've had more to drink than I actually have, so I abandoned the tail end of the drink when the tent began kicking the crowd out at the end of the night.

We spent the rest of the night wandering around (never finding dinner after all!), doing what Oktoberfesters do best - being generally loud and obnoxious. Singing, dancing, laughing, meeting entertaining people, giggling at public nudity...all the staples of the world's biggest drinking festival.

The journey home was pretty uneventful until Noelle walked straight into a parked scooter, which promptly keeled over and trapped her, prostrate on the sidewalk, beneath itself. That attracted a little bit of police attention, so we figured it was in our best interest to keep moving!

There are few times in my life I have been quite that happy to see my bed. I can only imagine how Ben's frat put themselves through a week of this and came out alive! :)

A few photos courtesy of Jon

Bacon-wrapped sushi!! (Moscow)

The crowd in the subway before the soccer game (Moscow)

Jon being artsy (Munich)

The elevator, on the way to a night out (Munich)

In our 5 star hotel (Moscow)

A bridge near our hotel (St. Petersburg)

Photo Post!!

From Moscow:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2531811&id=837516&l=91bab52fbe

From Munich:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2531818&id=837516&l=029a9e5098

Enjoy! :D

* * *

PS: If clicking the link doesn't work, try copy/pasting the URL instead...Blogger seems to be having an issue or two!

München: 9.22.09

Sorry for the delay in actually writing something of substance...most of life is just so quiet here that I think "Not much to report, I'll do it later" and then I never do! Shame on me.

Monday and Tuesday were, however, just that quiet. And Wednesday was even more quiet, because we worked too late and decided it was silly to go out at that hour in a city that closes so early.

Thursday managed to be a bit more exciting - we went swing dancing!! :D Who would have guessed we'd have found a bar with a once a week swing party here? They even had a live band, and the place was packed. The Germans really love their swing dancing, apparently. Some were quite good (and one was delightfully, spectacularly bad)...I couldn't stop staring. I miss it!!

I felt a bit icky on Fri, so I stayed in and sent Jon for a boys' night out (although really just a boy's night out, I suppose!). I caught up on reading and job hunting, and hopefully he caught up on enjoying bachelorhood. :)

Saturday was the big day...the start of Oktoberfest!! So far, I have mixed feelings about it, but I'm sure that at the end I'll remember it all fondly (if I remember anything about it at all, that is...if you remember your time at Oktoberfest, you probably didn't celebrate properly!). The event is completely insane...how does this city put up with it for two straight weeks?! We got a bit of a late start - work and trips to the post office come before revelry! - but headed to the park where it's held as soon as we could. The place is an insane asylum with flashing lights. So many people that you can't move without brushing up against someone else. Lederhosen and dirndls as far as the eye can see (particularly funny because the girls, of course, try to skank up their outfits as much as possible!). The food seems truly amazing: crepes, sausage, giant pretzels, chocolate covered fruit. And of course, there is the beer - giant, one litre mugs of it.

We started out first experience of Oktoberfest by grabbing lunch, which ended up being a sandwich with some kind of fish in it. A lot of the sandwiches looked quite good, but unfortunately this particular fish turned out to be a little too fishy. We abandoned it a short while later, heading instead to the dessert booth that had, of course, caught my eye. :) It was absolute heaven (and not at all fishy!). I'm fairly certain that I will end up enjoying Oktoberfest more for the food than for the drinking! Oranges, bananas, and strawberries on sticks, covered in all different kinds of chocolate. Candy apples in a rainbow of colors, and apples dipped in chocolate as well. Assorted fruits smothered in some kind of thick, sweet glaze. *sigh* I think I'm gaining weight just writing about it! We settled on the strawberries, and then began exploring.

We wandered around the various tents and carnival rides before choosing Lowenbrau, which I took a fancy to because their tent is decorated with a large mechanical lion drinking a beer. :) Turned out not to be such a good idea...we waited in line for two hours, and still didn't make it inside! We did meet a few cool Australians, though, and one or two that were terribly obnoxious. After getting too fed up (and extremely touch phobic...I had no idea that still bothered me so much!), we left the line and settled for standing outside. I thought I was going to be miserable all night, but it turns out that one litre beers improve morale considerably. We proceeded to hang out with a girl from Ohio and her boyfriend (who writes about cars, so of course we started talking about racing!). I popped into the bathroom quickly, and returned to find Jon talking to two very drunk Italian sisters. One in particular kept tipping over backwards, even though she was just standing! She was obsessed with San Francisco and the " 'ippy life!" :) After we left them, we wandered around the park and bought delicious roasted nuts and a caipirinha (they make you leave a deposit for the glass, in case you don't bring it back!). We called it a night shortly after that...after all, this is Oktoberfest and neither of us were sick - quit while you're ahead!! ;)