GERMANY; CHRISTMAS, COUCHSURFING AND MORE FOOD AND SNOW

After 2 weeks in and around Munich it was enough for a while. The snow disappeared last week although in Holland they warned people not to go to Munich because of heavy winter/snow conditions.

Thursday the 23rd of December; The long way to the village people with 2 confused navigators

My last steps in Munich and trying to book my next tickets and destinations online. Munchen, Paris, Lyon is the final plan. Many people told me that I could always come if I was in their country, but most of them? Nope...it's Europe. They are too busy, stressed or having the happy life of a relationship :-) So only a few of my really good friends and travel partners offered me a couch/bed, respect! And after 15 months of booking busses and trains of maximum 20 Euro's (for distances up to 24 hours/3 days) I realized I was in Europe. Damn, Christmas and New Year is not the best period to travel. Forget about the planes, overpriced. Some bad bus connections. And going back to The Netherlands was impossible with the many train connections, everything was sold out. So nighttrain to Paris, expensive but no better options. Luckily today Michaela, Angelika and I drive with a packed car to the North to the wonderful village of Dieterskirchen. Yep, a stay with their families for Christmas. After a long ride in the dark and having discussions about left or right (they still don't know what these 2 words mean) we were welcomed by, of course what else, wine! Hans, Bernadette, Matthias and Melanie thanks! I had to put the balls in the tree. The German tradition is to do it on the night before Christmas Eve (also putting the tree in the house that day).

Friday the 24th of December; Visiting Czech Republic and Christmas Eve the German village way

Last night I stayed at Michaela's family. Finally abed that didn't fall apart LOL And I got what I asked for, a white Christmas. So much snow, beautiful. Fill your stomach with cookies, I still don't understand how people can each so many snacks every day. Mich and I jumped in the car to Czech Republic. I was expecting to go to Prague, but unfortunately the weather conditions were not good enough for reaching it in time. So Pilsen was the first stop, one of the bigger cities in Czech. Well, I haven't seen many places as depressive and dark as this one. A dirty city with sad looking buildings, everybody on the street looks sad and grumpy. The snow is black instead of white here because of all the dirt and pollution. Our first experience in the city? Walking along some police lines and a crashed car. Reason? Someone jumped of the roof on the car to kill himself...Welcome to Czech! Maybe the historic city center is just as exciting? Well the Christmas Market is a laugh, there isn't any. A group of grumpy people gathered in front of the church to listen to a sort of local rock band, they looked even more sad than the square itself. It's not like Munich, they don't use salt or clean the streets from slippery snow. So you fall on your as all the time. Bring ice skates and try not to fall in the horse shit. Yeah, they also walk with horses on the street. Christmas feeling? No way! Trying to find it anywhere in the city. Almost everything closed, no restaurant or bar open, except god old McDonalds. Walked into a vintanage for some wine tasting, but it seems that you are only allowed to do that if you speak Czech. So let's go back to Germany, Czech is not the right time to visit, summer is a better idea for Prague.

I had to surrender myself to the local German Christmas Eve of the family life in a small village. That means visit the church. Mwaaaah, after a long day it was hard not to fall asleep with all those slow holy Christmas carols :-) But after the whole ceremony you're not going home. Outside you gather with the whole village, everyone wants to know you, you drink heaps of Gluhwein in the snow and of course you have snowball fights. The Christmas meals at the house; white sour sausages with sauerkraut. I thought it was an appetizer. Nope, it was the main course. Christmas presents for all the girls (4 sisters) and the family. The presents had to be used the same night, so we played one of the games and one of the girls got a sheesha (water pipe). Because I'm from Holland they expected that I was a professional of using these things whahhaaaa. Well, not that professional, it didn't work. When Martin came it was clear...nobody tells you that you have to put loads of Glycerin on the tobacco to make it work. It took hours and some disappointed faces to make it work. So a long night of playing games and losing, a long night of hot stuff and sheesha. Santa was again nice this year.

Saturday the 24th of December; Musical mayhem :-)

Eating, eating, eating...all they do during the day. I tried so many Bavarian foods, I'm exploding. 'Yeah Vince, we go to the church again!' They were laughing so I thought it was a joke. No, same same but different. Different town actually. It's was freezing. So you need exercise...let's take a slee and walk on the hills for some sliding. Deep snow, hardly possible. We tried hard, making yourself dizzy and cold with rolling down the hills to make a flat track. Those Germans think that is the easy way? Many attempts, none of them really successful. It was more fighting in the snow, eating snow and getting tired. Today another village, Nittenau. First some more drinking at Elke's place, making the cat crazy with a Christmas present; an electronic police car with a remote control. And after all the young folks (and some old) went to a concert. Sold out so it should be good? Uhm it was the concert of the local Orchestra...but it seems that everyone in Bavaria seems to play an instrument. They were having fun, because I enjoyed the first part of the concert with my eyes closed. The second part was way more interesting with the half rock versions of Michael Jackson and everything. But it was not over yet with damaging my ears... The girls took me to their favorite local 'club'. Rast in Rotz whahahahaa, a farmer's discotheque! Great... you have to experience their life Vince, enjoy. It wasn't that bad, the schnitzel baguette were tasty, the local beer mixed with coke and kirsch was acceptable (OMG, they love to mix everything with coke in Bavaria), the dice game was easy for a drinking game. Only the drunk kids and the music, not exactly my thing. Surprisingly enough we left at 4 in the morning. And finally some good music; the pumping beats of Diechkind in the car; JIPPIE JIPPIE YEAH!

Sunday the 25th of December; Getting exhausted and the first injuries.

1-2 hours of sleep, perfect start of the day. What is better than to enjoy a big hot bath together and watch out over the incredible snowy landscape and having the champagne next to you (Unfortunately the bottle was a present and we were not allowed to open it).The family of Mich think I look so skinny and said goodbye with giving me bags full of cookies, marzipan and chocolate. It were wonderful days here with these people. I was very happy with my personal translator, because Bavarian is hard to understand. Up to Windmais, my next couch surf address. Again not really a couch, it was more like a hotelroom (including floor heating, stereo system etc.). Another warm welcome and time for some activities; langlaufing whohooo. Angelika and I have never done this before, no instructions and it took us some time before we had all the stuff on our feet. Going uphill was a funny experience, sliding backwards many times. But we managed to reach the top of the hills. Going down was way more fun than expected, I'm still surprised that I didn't break my legs or hit some trees. Or hitting some cars when we ended up on the road, it was hard to stop when we were sliding down between the driving cars whahaaaa. After hours of intensive sports I was exhausted. Telling the family my travel adventures and eat the most delicious steak you can imagine. I want sleep!

Monday the 26th of December; Another random day at work? Hahahaaaa, still enjoying the good life!

6:30 alarm clock! Shit, not enough sleep. Neunburg and on the way to Czech again. Why? Snowboarding in Arberland with Angelika, Melanie and Matthias. They gave me board, boots and some warm(?) clothes. Having these sorts of friends is enjoying the good life. Finally some bigger ski area to practice, several lifts and much snow. Practicing the lift goofy footed was fun, and a fun way to meet people going together and hugging them. Many attempts to learn to board, many times hitting the snow with my ass! And many breaks. Because of the alcoholic behavior of Michaela in Munich (we didn't drink, just for 1 day), I was the party starter now. Goodbye hot chocolate and hello Gluhwein and Jagatee. My teacher (Angelika) was exhausted and falling asleep all the time...she only talked when I didn't want her to talk...SHUT UP! I'm trying to concentrate! :D A long long day. Instead of getting an injury with snowboarding, I got an injury with the gate of the ski lift, pole turned down too early and crashed into my knee. It was over, an injured foot and knee, last try? Well, we felt out of the lift. A sign that we should stop after a full day at the piste. Nobody touch my hair! It was white and literary frozen. Melanie and Matthias were good hosts; they gave me delicious meals (pasta, salmon, spicy sauces, hot apples, ice-cream and don't forget Caipirinia's). And what do I see there in the garage? A massive quadbike! This will be so much fun in the snow. But dark outside and me not capable of keeping my eyes open? Not the right moment for Jackass-stunts. Next time I will terrorize the village ;-) Their sister Kathi joined and it was again gametime, still surprised that there are card games I don't know (Rumi). My aim is always not to win, but not to loose. Angi, thanks for being the worst :D And 23:00, maybe time for some sleep, of course not... First some healing and getting bandage around my injuries. I look like coming out of a hospital after a crazy accident.

Tuesday the 27th of December: Recover, relax, snowbar and the rumors in the villages.

Boom boom boom! Wake up Vince, it's getting late. Eat another German breakfast. Hmm, the painkillers don't work that good, my ass hurts bad! A sunny day and a walk outside. Lunch is already waiting; pork curry with rice and more wine. Damn, I can't fit my new jeans anymore. And what do I hear, it seems that I'm famous in the area. In several villages they are talking about the handsome guy that walked around in a suit with Christmas Eve. They thought I had asked someone to marry me LOL. But more people know me; of course they saw the foreigner with his stunt on the langlauf skis. Rumors, rumors...everyone talk about me here. A drive to Murnstersee, a couple of lakes in the neighborhood, good for some movement and a good walk in tiefschnee. A goodbye drink and why not? The neighbors build u gigantic snowman and snowbar and placed a Christmas tree filled with Schnaps in the front garden. It was time for some shots with the locals. And more local stuff; wurst salat and definitely my last bottle of wine guys...stuffed! The trains during winter are delayed, but I didn't miss my connection to Paris. Again meeting up with complete strangers at the train station for buying a Bavaria-ticket together; 3 hours in a train for 5 euro's in Germany, great deal. It was a week not to forget soon, very nice people and enough reasons to come back. The train trip ended up in card games and beers with the Munich students. I need more sleep :-)

The CNL (City Night Line) trip from Munchen to Paris? What a laugh! Tell more in the story of France...? No. Just ended up in the wrong German city (Mannheim) at 3.30 in the night, no busses, no trains anymore to Paris, hundreds of people in minus 10 to minus 20 degrees, aggressive families trowing with suitcases and little kids (really!). As you can expect it escalated. When 2 drunken Mannheim Germans put some 'oil on the fire' it was enough, had to hit and jump on one of the drunken guys, called the police and it took a while before they came. Some people decided to take a taxi from Mannheim to Paris, are they fucking crazy?! 1,5 hours before the first busses came, not enough busses of course. But I managed to squeeze in. A long trip to Saarbrucken, Metz and finally Paris. Half a day later after driving many hours in mist and snow. Again fights, this time between angry passengers and the bus driver whahhaaaa! VIELEN DANK DB BAHN, Deutsche Bullscheisse :D