NOTES FROM BERLIN

[jenni_blog]

I arrived in Berlin, Germany on Tuesday night, more than 5 hours later than I should have. Again, the delay was caused by heavy snowfall in Paris. Since I was flying Air France all my flights have had to go through Paris. What a bummer.



Anyway, now that I am here I am enjoying it immensely. I have had the pleasure of meeting another online friend, aglaiya who has been showing me around Berlin, a most beautiful city about the same size as my own, Toronto. There is so much history here and despite the rather heavy falling snow, on Wednesday we both walked and took the tram to the Brandenburg Gate, past the University and some other impressive buildings and things. I also got to walk through some of the Christmas markets, which are fascinating, although I haven't bought anything yet. I took lots of pictures and when I went through them on my camera, they look really great, even though it was snowing.

We stopped for coffee and had a nice dinner at my hotel that night. Then aglaiya went home, but we both watched Argentine football online (she is a huge Argentine Primera fan - she blames her obsession on me because I introduced her to it). It was so much fun because we conversed via MSN Messenger during the match. There was a lot going on that night. First, the Velez vs Huracan match was on. Velez is currently in second place, with Estudiantes in first. They are only separated by one point. At the same time Estudiantes was playing River Plate. We both are Velez fans over Estudiantes fans (although I am primarily a River Plate fan, I like Velez - it is a nice team with very hot guys), and even though Velez won their match, River could not beat Estudiantes, so the standings remain the same with only one game left to go in the Apertura! Right after those two matches was the Godoy Cruz match. Godoy Cruz is another very nice team and a nice club, with a nice coach. LOL. Also on Wednesday night was the Copa Sudamericana final, and Independiente beat Goias of Brazil to win it! What a fantastic result! There was no way I could stay up for it and aglaiya had tried, but fell asleep at the end of regulation time when it was tied. It ended up going to penalties, with Independiente's captain, Eduardo Tuzzio, scoring the final pen!

Okay, then on Thursday (yesterday) it was snowing such heavy, wet snow (the kind with huge snowflakes) I had to break out the Athletic Club toque, gloves and scarf that I bought in Bilbao. Thank god, because that hat saved me. I would have been soaked like a rat. It wasn't particularly cold yesterday, but it was very damp and was quite windy so that if facing the wind, the snow would hit you smack in the face with a wallop
.
It was quite exhausting walking around, but we went to Alexanderplatz and to the Alexa shopping mall, where it was nice and warm inside. I did some Christmas shopping and we went to Starbucks for coffee and lunch and just a nice sit down and chat. Then aglaiya had to go for an appointment and I went back to the hotel for a nap, some reading, and then had dinner in the hotel restaurant. I watched the Real Madrid/Auxerre Champions League match that they were showing on TV in the restaurant so I finished watching it in my room afterwards.
Today we will go to the post office first so I can mail some gifts to friends and then do some more sightseeing/shopping.

Again, it has been great to meet an online friend, and especially another one who is so warm, friendly and generous with her time. We've had some great chats and I consider myself so lucky to have met some genuinely awesome people on the 'net. I know some people who have had not such good experiences, but I consider myself so lucky that every single person I have met so far has been absolutely wonderful. XD

Comments

[lennongirl.livejournal.com]

Aw, glad to hear you're having so much fun and so many wonderful moments!

Btw, from Berlin, it's 1.5 hours to Hannover via train (ICE) and there are still tickets left for tonight's match, just thought I'd mention it, LOL ;)

ETA: Or you could go here: http://www.dasroteberlin.de/ It's a 96 fanclub in Berlin, and they have this bar where they meet up and watch the matches. All 96 fans are welcome ;)

[txorakeriak.livejournal.com]

Yay, great to hear you're having such a good time in Berlin! I had to snicker when I read about all that football you were watching, LOL! I'm a bit miffed that River didn't win, but at least Vélez gave you a reason to be happy! :D Enjoy the rest of your stay! I so wish I could be there with you!

[blue-eyed-miss.livejournal.com]

Estudiantes :)

Pleased that you got to Berlin okay in the end and are enjoying it !!

Have fun, I will write more at some point :)

[fanged-geranium.livejournal.com]

Glad to hear you made it to Berlin!

[blueforever10.livejournal.com]

I heard about Paris yesterday on CBC Radio on the way to work and I was wondering if you would be stuck at the airport!

[quabazaa.livejournal.com]

Yaaay that sounds so lovely :) Too bad you haven't come to Zürich yet! XD I also have been blessed with online friends, especially those I met through lj! It's wonderful! Hope you enjoy your time there and stay warm :)