GREECE!!!!

So this is my last post for about 10 days. I'm leaving for Greece in the morning and won't be back til the first week in July. There's not much to say now. I'm sure I'll have a lot to write after I get back so it will probably be day to day. Um....right now we're having a little party so we sleep better or at all on the bus on the 30 trip. We're leaving at like 4:30 am and will be getting to our hotel around noon the next day. Just the time to get on the beach. I'll be going to Athens I know for a little sightseeing and I think Mt. Olympia. But other than that just chillin on a beach on the Aegean Sea. So...... I will post when I get back.

Muah

Thoughts in Berlin

I wrote all this Wednesday June 22, 2005.

3 pm:
I think Berlin has to be my favorite place thus far. Granted had it been this beautiful of weather in Vienna that might be different. This place is beautiful. I stayed at a hostel when I got in. It was pretty cool. For those who don't know what a hostel is it's kinda like a hotel. But the rooms are dorm style so I shared a room with 3 other girls that I had never met. Each room had it's own bathroom not one community on the floor. Breakfast was included in the price. It was more than just a continental breakfast too. It wasn't a full out hearty breakfast but it was all you can eat. All for a grand total of E18. And they gave me 10 free min on the internet just for choosing them.

I found myself getting bored in Vienna. It's so not the case here. I'm sitting in the Teirgarten right by Siegessaule. It's a really tall thing with a winged goddess of victory on top. It's kinda like the Washington Monument overlooking the Mall to the Capitol building. Except this overlooks a street to Brandenburg Gate and then opens uplike a big marketplace. The space between the Gate and Tower is where the Love Parade takes place. My feet hurt. I have walked all over this city. I haven't quite brought myself to use the Underground yet. There's too much to see aboveground. I thought about renting a bike, but I know how graceful I am. Plus it wouldn't be that practical with all these dadgum presents for everyone.

4:25 pm
Now I'm chilling at this little pub/cafe on the river. I had to try the beer. I mean c'mon, I'm in Germany. I told the guy a good beer. He said bitter or not? I said not.
It's good beer!!!!!!!
There are people just chillin, enjoying the day. Berlin may be a huge and busy city, but you don't feel the hustle and bustle like in NYC or a city like it.

4:51pm
Damn! That's a big beer. I guess by saying not bitter I also said large, which is .5 liters. But that's ok, I have like 5 1/2 hours to kill before my bus leaves. So while the beer is good, I'm not much of a beer person. But if I lived in Germany with this good of beer, I would be. I just had to be able to say that I drank one while here.

There's a bird on my table thinking I'm going to share my food. I don't know where it got that idea. It just got a little chilly. I don't know what kind of bird this is but it's bringing friends. Yeah they're small but still...Get Away From Me!!!!!!

5:15 pm
Ok so leaves from the tree above are falling into my salad. Not good. God that's a lot of beer. It's taunting me.
So this place had a little menu typed in English, but listening to the conversations around me, I don't hear any English, only German. Maybe that means I picked a good place. The name of this monsterous taunting beer is Erdinger. I didn't take a paid touristy tour this time, like I did in Vienna. Yeah I hit all the tourist areas but the girl at the front desk at the hostel was very helpful in telling me major points and where to start if Iwanted to walk or even bus the city.

5:20 pm
Damn birds are back. They can have my food now. They're starting to freak me out. OOOO Free pretzels!!! And theyr'e soft!!! O so good.

5:31 pm
Almost half-way done with this beer. The train sounds like a rollercoaster. I probably oughta get a move on. But my feet hurt and I have to finish this beer. It cost me E4. I'm noticing how much of American culture comes from the Germans.
The fellas are cute too! Makes for a pretty scenary. That and all the green.
Salty definately goes with beer. Not Cheetohs. Or feta cheese. I'm interested to see how this effects me when I stand up.

5:46 pm
WooHoo!!!!! Half-way!

I didn't really sleep well last night. It was extremely humid and I think i was paraniod about leaving my stuff unwatched. Yes it was under the bed where I was sleeping, but ya never know. It wasn't til morning that I realized how great of a place this was. It was very young, and there were a lot of Americans staying there. Plus they gave me free internet for 10 min for choosing them. I said that already huh?

I know how I'm going to be a millionaire. They may have invented this already. You know them. But I was thinking how handy it would be. There are phrase books and tapes/CD's to help you learn a language right? But what s really needed is a pocket electronic translator. Not only would you get a digital read out with that languages writing of your translation with phonetics but also sound. Sound so you can hear it and repeat it or type it in and let a local hear it. I'm brilliant. I knew it.

6 pm
Not yet 3/4 empty but almost. It got chilly. I don't like these glasses. They are deceiving. I don't see an end to this beer. There are 3 older guys sitting kinda near me chillin with a brew. They make me miss my dad. and JR and Shaun.
The weather is absolutely beautiful today. I love how people have time to relax. There really are more hours in a day here. It's so far north that the sun rises about 4 am and doesn't set until 10:30ish.

6:10 pm
I can see an end!!!! If my demeanor and baggage doesn't tell people that I'm American or at least a tourist, Gramma's turquoise definately does. I haven't seen anyone wear anything like it. Anywhere I've been yet.
Hopefully I get to see Ola before she leaves for Baltimore.

6:15 pm
This really is good beer. It actually tastes like ZeigenBock but smoother.
All this traveling is making me figure out my allergies. Kinda. My eyes only itch when I'm around smoke. My nose runs pretty much constantly. and my throat really isn't sore.

6:22 pm
Last Drink!!!!!!!
Wow. Good beer. I guess I can get to walking now. I still need to find the bus station. It was dark when I got in.

7:53 pm
Still haven't found the bus station. But I have until at least 10 to find it. I did find Vichy tho. Vichy makes the best chapstick.lip balm in the world, and as far as iknow it's not sold in the US. it's not sold in Poland either. So I had to buy a few of 'em.

I have two hours til my bus leaves. I have no idea what to do. I figure I'll ask or get a taxi for the bus station. But what to do until then. I've seen everything I want to see and then some. My knees and neck want to give way.
I absolutely have to go tanning everyday until we leave for Greece. I'm also noticing how diverse Berlin is. I thought the different ethnicitieswould be tourists, and some are. But I hear them speak German. not english, or chinese, japanese, swahili, or anything other else. It's kinda funny, but the big name brands in demin are Levi's and Wrangler. Yes you read right. Wrangler. and Big Star(neve heard of it).
So I found a place to get a cup of coffeeand got a donut too. There is this creepy guy staring at me. Has since I walked in. He doesn't look so creepy. It's just the staring. I don't like being stared at. Gazed upon. Sure. Checked out. Yeah. Double taken. Of course. But not stared at.
I should've taken a tour. This thing "new Berlin" offers free tours. I find out now at the end of my day. Staring guy just moved closer. I must hurry and leave, but not look hurried.

9:50 pm
I am at the bus station finally. I hurt. My legs are twitching. If I keep doing these day trips and walking the cities, I better be skinny when I come home. Especially with as little as I eat now. Granted I'm not starving myself or anything. Puh-lease! I am still me. But the portion sizes are smaller. Except beer, which is notably larger.
Ok there are these guys that just sat down across from me. It sounds like they are speaking English. Fluently. I'm going to go talk to 'em.

End of Notes

So I went and talked to these two guys. They were from New York, upstate. They were backpacking through Europe in like 30 days. Staying with friends and friends of friends. We traded stories and impressions of Europe and such. They informed me that while in Amsterdam some one only needs to eat one brownie a day. And do not mix drinks and brownies and smoke. They don't remember the next day. They also said that the city is planned to accomodate the munchies. Hopefully we'll get there. Things are looking like we will just gotta figure out when.

That's it for now,
Muah

Advertisement. Reads: Good girls go to Heaven... Bad girls go to Berlin....and the worst shop at BerlinHausShop. It was just a souvineir shop. 

Checkpoint Charlie 

Brandenburg Gate, Berlin, Germany 

Before I leave for Berlin

Ok so if you've read the last post and such then you know.

Things are cool now. I've had a cry. Things are looking up.

Sorry to those who don't know me that well and only know my thoughts thru this blog. In my efforts to prove that all Americans are NOT selfish heartless people, you still felt that we are. So needless to say I won't be writing as much as I was. Sorry for those of you back home who enjoy reading everything. Also when I get back home to the states I probably will not be writing much of anything at all. This blog has only seemed to cause problems.

Well gotta go catch my ride.
Muah

This is going to be long

So yesterday is when I actually wrote all of the following but this is my first chance to get to a computer since then.

I'm helping vern and the restaurant with this ice cream stand at a festival celebratig their town or something. I've noticed one thing about the restaurant, everything is so anal retentive and perfectionistic it borders on unorganized. Very unorganized. If a business were to run like this in the good 'ol USA it would fold in less than a year. If any business ran like any of the businesses here it would fold.
Being at this festival of sorts I'm learning that trash is trash is trash. It's not secluded to small towns. And small town politics exists even in recovering socialist states. The city committee that planned the festival, which Bogdan is apart of, said that Bogdan could have the only ice cream stand there at the center. Well this one gy on the committee that no one likes to someone else that they can have an ice cream stand too. So now Vern's competing with 2 other skanky ice cream girls. I know I could make it some money. I mean I was born capitalist. I know how to generate some revenue. But I don't know the language and Vern won't let me help. Not even scoop some ice cream.
Ok so I'm siting writing at a table in front of the stand and a group of kids come and sit right down beside me and sqeeze me off. There are fifty million other empty tables. What the hell goes through someone's mind when they do that?
I'm starting to really miss home now. It wouldn't be so bad if I was truely here alone. If I knew absolutely nobody and depended completely on myself. But since I do know someone who speaks the language, Ifeel ignored more often than anything. Left out. Like the world is one big joke that I just don't get.
The band onstage is playing "Stairway to Heaven." But without words cause they can't speak English. It's not too bad actually. Kinda serene and peaceful. And makes me think of my brother. And KRXO.
But I just keep remembering that I'm going to Berlin in 3 days and Greece in 8.
I'm going to have to rewrite my "BIG" To-Do list. One of my "BIG" To-Do's was to live in Europe for one year. I need to clarify that one. Not just Europe. It would have to be Spain or Italy. Some place that I halfway know the language or would be easy to learn. Or is not recovering from socialism or communism. Sure Italy was one of the bad guys back when but we seem to have forgotten that. So it might not be too bad. I'd love to see Barcelona and/or Madrid while I'm here, but I don't think that's going to happen. Maybe another time and stick to western Europe on that trip. Whenever it may be.
So the wind hasn't blown the entire time I've been in this country, but it seems to be making up for that today. Now it's not anything like home or West Texas but it could go away.
I've also noticed that everyone smokes here. So that's one more thing I get left out on. At least I can get free food and ice cream. They say that money can't buy you happiness, but I don't see that the quality of life being that great here. Granted I'm used to every amenity ever invented.
Ok there's this girl singing "Don't Speak" by No Doubt. I can understand if you get some pronunciations wrong but she's singing completely wrong words and forgot the bridge. It's pretty frickin hilarious.
So tonight(last night) Vern and I are going to a party cause her friend Kriss who lives in Amsterdamis in town and we need to go talk to him. We need to see if we have a place to stay so we can go to Amsterdam!!!!!!!!!! It's very important that we go. To both, party and place.
Now i'm not going to give up my "Braum's is the best in the world" theory, but Italian gellato is good.
So it's starting to get cold again. We get maybe 2 days of pretty weather. I mean mid 70's very light breeze, beautiful and then a storm decides to come block the sun out and not rain. Thank God I'm going to Greece in a week where it's HOT! Which reminds me, i need to go tanning a few more times before I go. Build up that natural tolerance.
I hate absolutely hate being told "You can't." But what I hate even more than that is being told "You know you can't." Like I'm some kind of retard who was hired out of pity or to be good for the company's image. But I absolutely cannot stand a "you can't" person. Nothing is more hurtful or demeaning than telling someone "you can't." I might not be able to speak the language but I can still communicate. So from now on I'm just going to sit. I'm not gong to help. Because I can't.
I could use a hot tottie right about now. But it's just too expensive over here. I'm starting to feel a little clausterphobic also. You know the song "Wide Open Spaces," well I'm starting to find it quite true.


Well that's enough about yesterday. Let's talk today.

It's Father's Day. I'm not at home with my daddy. It's kinda hard when you're a daddy's girl. I miss my daddy. And the rest of my family but it's dad's day so today I miss him. Cole wrote this long article thing about dad so I'll let you read the sappy stuff there. But Dad, I love you. Thanks for giving me the tools to be an injun scout. They're coming in quite handy.

Well, I gotta go.
Muah

HI JOSH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

7 hours

I am seven hours ahead of home. So if it's 3:37 pm here it is 8:37 am there. And if it is 3:37 pm there it is 10:37 pm here. Get it? Got it? Good!

01. I miss somebody right now. -my family, my homegirl katie
02. I don't watch much TV these days. - No, the TV is all in Polish and I don't understand
03. I love olives. - YES i put and olive on each finger like I'm 5 and playing with my food.
04. I love sleeping. - only at night. Too much going on during the day.
05. I own lots of books. - What are those? I know textbooks. Arethey the same?
06. I wear glasses or contact lenses. - Yes. I'm a blind bat. I can't see. At all.
07. I love to play video games. - Good ones. Super Nintendo
08. I've tried marijuana. - Um.......I am from Jones.
09. I've watched porn movies. - Do I have to answer this one. I mean we got free cable growing up.
10. I have been in a threesome. - no
11. I have been the psycho-ex in a past relationship. - what past relationship?
12. I believe honesty is usually the best policy. - Absolutely now go brush your teeth skank breath
13. I have acne free skin. - Um...I wish
14. I like and respect - My gramma,and mom, and Suzi
15. I curse frequently. - like a sailor
16. I have changed a lot mentally over the last year. - It was needed and the best way to do that was make superficial changes
17. I have a hobby. - I don't have time for hobbies
18. I've been told I have a nice butt. - Hell yeah by a few bruthas
19. I carry my knife/razor everywhere with me. - Yeah I'm a regular MacGyver
20. I'm really, really smart. - Smart? yes Smart ass? yes
21. I've never broken someone's bones. - I've broken my own. My brother's broken mine. But i have gotten to break his. Or anyone else's. What have I been doing with my life?!?!?!?!
22. I have a secret that I am ashamed to reveal. - I don't think I have any secrets.
23. I hate the rain. - Only when I'm in Vienna for less than one day and walking by myself without an umbrella.
24. I'm paranoid at times. - No not really
25. I would get plastic surgery if it were 100% safe, free of cost, and scar free. - I would do something to clear my skin. I look like I have the chicken pops.
26. I need money right now! -Actually not really. Iworked my ass off. I'm good.
27. I love Sushi. - never had it.
28. I talk really, really fast. - I'm from OK. I talk faster than most from there.
29. I have fresh breath in the morning. - i barely have fresh breath in the day
30. I have semi-long hair. - no but it's longer than I'd like.
31. I have lost money in Las Vegas. - Nope, but I want to.
32. I have at least one brother and/or one sister. - One bro back stateside and one sis who I'm visiting now
33. I was born in a country outside of the U.S. - nope.
34. I shave my legs. - yes
35. I have a twin. - No, but you;d really like me then huh?
36. I have worn fake hair/nails/eyelashes in the past. - Nails when I was little, eyelashes for halloween but hair....?eh?
37. I couldn't survive without Caller I.D. - I'm just a girl in the world.
38. I like the way that I look. - Damn I look good!!and you should've seen me yesterday!
39. I have lied to a good friend in the last 6 months. - I have no reason to lie to a good friend. I don't see em often enough
40. I know how to do cornrows. - I'd like to think I do
41. I am usually pessimistic. - I'm an optimist who brings their umbrella except to Vienna
42. I have mood swings. - I am a girl. But they're pretty mild.
43. I think prostitution should be legalized. - I didn't know this was a hot topic. Don't know how I feel about that one.
44. I think Britney Spears is hot. - NO. Jessica yeah, Britney hell no
45. I have cheated on a significant other in the past. - Have to have a significant other to cheat on them.
46. I have a hidden talent. - I'm an American. I exploit my talents for money. They're not hidden
47. I'm always hyper, no matter how much sugar I have.- That's funny
48. I think that I'm popular. - I do?
49. I am currently single. - And loving it!!!;(!!!!!!!
50. I have kissed someone of the same sex. - Yeah. Is it too early to use the phrase "it was in college!!"
51. I enjoy talking on the phone - No not really. OK to certain people.
52. I practically live in sweatpants or PJ pants. - No. But my scrub pants!!!!!
53. I love to shop. - Sadly yes
54. I would rather shop than eat. - Have you seen me? I don't skip meals.
55. I would classify myself as ghetto. - Country ghetto
56. I'm bourgie and have worn a sweater tied around my shoulders. - HUH? I'm confused!
57. I'm obsessed with my LJ. - I don't have an LJ. I have a blog. Much better. and yes I'm obsessed
58. I don't hate anyone. - Not anymore
59. I'm a pretty good dancer. - Hell yeah! Elaine was my teacher
60. I don't think Mike Tyson raped Desiree Washington. - He bit an ear off. Why wouldn't he rape someone
61. I'm completely embarrassed to be seen with my mother. - only on certain days but not most
62. I have a cell phone. - 2
64. I watch MTV on a daily basis. - now i do. it's the on;y station in English. mtv.pl
65. I have passed out drunk in the past 6 months. - I have not passed ot once.
66. I love drama. -in the movies not life
67. I have never been in a real relationship before. - I've had many real relationships but i guess only one like you're meaning
68. I've rejected someone before. - Um....yeah
69. I currently have a crush on someone. - Yes.
70. I have no idea what I want to do for the rest of my life. - No not really. I have a lot of ideas
71. I want to have children in the future. - Yeah but way in the future
72. I have changed a diaper before. - I babysat my way thru high school
73. I've had the cops called on me before. - Me? Or a party I was at?
74. I bite my nails. - What nails?
75. I am a member of the Tom Green fan club. - Damn canuck. I feel bad for him
76. I'm not allergic to anything. - I think I'm allergic to pollution.
77. I have a lot to learn. - Yeah but I got time
78. I have dated someone at least 10 years older or younger. - I'm only 20. It would have to be older and no
79. I plan on seeing Ice Cube's newest "Friday" movie. - I guess when it comes to HBO
80. I am very shy around the opposite sex sometimes. - Depends on my mood and their hotness factor
81. I'm online 24/7, even as an away message. - Yes
82. I have at least 5 away messages saved. - Like 789
83. I have tried alcohol or drugs before. - Alcohol yes. Marijuana is still a drug right? yes then
84. I have made a move on a friend's significant other in the past. - Yeah but damn their commiment
85. I own the "South Park" movie. - No but I want to blame canada for that
86. I have avoided assignments at work to be on Xanga or Livejournal. - No
87. When I was a kid I played "the birds and the bees" with a neighbor or chum. - I don't think so
88. I enjoy some country music. - Not just some all well only some nashville.
89. I love my best friends. - yeah i guess so
90. I think that Pizza Hut has the best pizza. - No....Italy does
91. I watch soap operas whenever I can. - no
92. I'm obsessive, anal retentive, and often a perfectionist. - You really haven't met me have you?
93. I have used my sexuality to advance my career. - What career?
94. I love Michael Jackson, scandals and all. - I feel sorry for the prince of pop. Beat It!!!
95. I know all the words to Slick Rick's "Children's Story." - Um.....no. that was before my time. But at least I know what your'e talkin about.
96. Halloween is awesome because you get free candy. - and dress up
97. I watch Spongebob Squarepants and I like it. - I like the sexual innuendos that the children of hippies haven't attacked yet
98. I have dated a close friend's ex. - Um....no
99. I'm happy as of this moment. - I'm in Europe for cripes sake
100. I'm hardly ever happy now-a-days. - Didn't I just answer that?

Ho Hum!!!

So I'm sitting in Verno's apartment. Just sitting. I've been trying to make some sort of plans to see the rest of Europe or some more than just Poland. Don't get me wrong I like being here with my sister but this country is depressing. I'm on vacation and in Europe maybe once in my young life. I want to see it. And I want to see it all. I keep running into opposition when I say I wnat to go somewhere. I'd love for my sis to go with me but if she can't then she can't. Doesn't mean I can't. Like I wanted to go to Prague this week. There are cheap flights. But no I need to go by bus. Bus is the only way I can travel. Bus!!!! There are no buses leaving from Katowice to Prague. I can't go. UGH!!!!!!!!!!!! Then the cruise thing to Sweden and Copenhagan isn't going to happen because the cheap deal isn't until September and she didn't see that part. And she won't talk to her dad or stress to others how important it is to me that I see more of Europe. But then I don't think she gets that that is important to me. No matter how many times I say it. I mean I came this summer because she said it would be better for her since she wouldn't be working and all and the thing that's keeping her back is the possibility of work. No actual job but whenever the restaurant needs her. And I know I'm going to catch hell after she reads this but it's a blog, a diary of sorts. It's my vent. I just don't want this trip and my money to be wasted by sitting in her apartment. I've seen all I want to see of this little town, no more exploring to do here. I'm just frustrated. UUUHGGGHH! Nobody here sees why I want to go to Berlin. First to see the wall, second to say I went to Germany while on this trip, third to see something else besides Poland. So far Vienna is the only place I've seen outside of Poland. Yeah we went to Slavakia but it was just across the border. It's like going to Progresso or Matamoras. It's no place of significance. It's just I say I want to do these things and I get an OK sounds good. And then nothing. I would find all the info out on my own except I can't read or speak Polish and Orbitz and such only operate with flights out of the US. Not international. So again I'm stuck and need help.
I am going to Greece though. That's for sure. We're leaving in 11 days. I'm ready. I want to see water and the beach and nice greek heirs who want to marry me. I deserve that right? Maybe I'll just settle on Greece being all I see. That's still exciting. I guess. 3 months and all I've seen is Vienna and Greece. Great adventure. Maybe I'll just hitchhike and back pack my way through. Just be back in here in time to leave. Wishful thinking.
I'm going to get in the shower/bath thing.

Title not exist

I know I haven't really written lately. Lately being a week or so. But I'm alive and well. Last weekend I went to Zakopane. It's a mountain town. It was cold. I mean cold. I'm not used to that kind of cold. Anyway, today Verno and I are going to her restaurant to help her uncle out since the employees are crappy. Hopefully, I will be in Berlin next week, but we'll see. Well, gotta go.
Muah

If

I've wanted to bw the Lonely Planet girl since the show went on air. Now that I'm actually living the life of the Lonely Planet girl I realize that it's of all things lonely. The show has the girl and a crew and such. I'm really living it. I got lonely. I hate that feeling. But I'm growing and sometimes lonliness causes that.
So I read this in "Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason" of all places, and I have absolutely fallen in love with this poem. It is my inspiration now.

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream -- and not make dreams your master;
If you can think -- and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools;
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings -- nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run --
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And -- which is more -- you'll be a Man, my son!
- Rudyard Kipling
Non-italicized part is my favorite

i'm not a son nor will I be a man, but I like it none the less.

Vienna

So I left for Vienna at 9 pm on tuesday night. Got in Vienna about 4:30 am. I wasn't planning on getting a hotel room since it gets light at 4 in the morning here. But I didn't really sleep well on the bus and was in a really weird mood since I got on the bus. So I walked outside the bus station and looked for a hotel nearby. There was one across the street, looked expensive but it was close and I was tired so I walked to it. It was closed. Closed. How is the lobby to a hotel closed? So I look up and down the street trying to figure out what to do next and I see another sign that says hotel. It's open. Yay! I go in and talk to the consierge. He didn't quite understand why I wanted a hotel room and 5 in the morning by myself. I said I'll be gone by 9am. 10 at the lastest. He probably thought I was crazy, but o well. It was totally worth the *gag* $60 USD. When I woke up I had to call Vern from the desk phone cause my cell phone wasn't working. So I got some information about sites and tourist stuff from the front desk. I asked him what did I really need to see in Vienna if I'm only here less than 24 hours. He sold me a ticket for a bus tour that pionted out all the historical and classical stuff. In english too. While on this tour I befriended a fella from New York who was on vacation with his parents. Peter's mom was from Slavakia so they were spending a few weeks there and this was a side jaunt for them. I told him how/why I was here. He told me I had balls. I guess I do have some kahunas. But I never really thought about it. Learned a little bit about the Hapsburg family and Austrian history on the tour. The tour ended about 1 o'clock and my bus didn't leave for another seven hours so I just kinda walked around the city went back to a couple places that we just drove by on the tour to get a closer look and stuff. But it was frickin freezing!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was only like 54 degrees farenheit. It kinda put a damper on things. Vienna is really international. I had know problem finding my way around or asking directions. Everyone from the city speaks about four languages. Then most everybody else is tourists from all over the world so. Speaking only English was no problem. Went to the bus station in enough to time so I could be stingy and get two seats for myself. Most people had two to themselves but if you get there to late you have to share with someone who gets pissed off because they did get there early. So got on the bus tried to sleep didn't sleep too much. Kept being woken up at every border. OK makes sense that's alright. Got back to Katowice about 4 this morning and went straight to sleep. It's still freezing!!!!!!! It's about 4pm and it's still frickin freezing. Whose blasted idea was it to come to a more northern country where it'd be cold in summer? O well Greece is in two weeks!! It better be warm.
Muah

This last weekend

Friday Vern and I caught a bus to Nowy Sacz. That's where Vern went to school after she left the States. We spent friday night there. It is definately a college town. It was a lot of fun. Saturday when we all got up and around we caravaned to Slavakia to have lunch. The food was very good. I was kinda surprised when we were in Slavakia. I was expecting down-trodden poverty everywhere. It was poor. But not the trashy that you think of. The mountains made it absolutely beautiful. And the food.....the food was great.
Gotta go get ready for church.
Muah

Me, Vern, Kamila, and Sasha in Slavakia!!!!!!!