So I left my last post off with saying something about the Pisa airport. So the story is that Veronica and I had to catch an early flight, and there were no trains that got to the airport early enough. So we took the latest one to the airport and spent the night outside. Thankfully the pisa airport has lovely grassy areas right outside. And we weren't the only ones with this idea. There were probably about fifty backpackers doing the same thing. As hot as Italy is though, it gets quite cold at night. And wet. The sprinklers decided to come on. That was fun. The happy ending to this story is that we got on our flight and made it up to Germany.
We landed in hamburg, so naturally we had to have a hamburger. The only burger joint we could find though was McDonald's. But we settled for it. As sad as I am to say it, McDonald's is McDonald's no matter what country you're in. The burgers taste just about the same. Though in germany they do offer America's three biggest big macs yet. I personally have never heard of these before. Who knew America had come up with a way to make he big Mac worse for you. And my question is, why isn't this being offered to Americans? Don't get all excited or anything, I did not try one. I stuck with the dollar menu. I'm happy that is universal.
After our culinary adventures, we caught a train up to braunschweig to see my friend, Kate Rooney. There isn't much to say about Braunschweig except that it's Germany and I love if. Also their shopping mall is a palace. Literally. They took a palace and turned it into a shopping mall. It was huge! I do have to say that my favorite part of Braunschweig was sleeping. Kate was kind enough to let us crash in her dorm room. This was like a four star hotel compared to the Pisa airport. Veronica and I even got to sleep on a blanket on the ground! That sounds horrible on paper, but it felt magical after the last night we had. I was as happy as a hungry puppy with a bone.
It is so interesting to get to see how other students studying abroad are living. It opens your eyes even more than just doing your own study abroad program. Just a little thought.
One day whilst frolicking around Germany, Veronica and I ended up in Hannover. Seeing as we had no idea what was in Hannover we ended up just wandering around. We stumbled upon this church, of course. I know I always talk about churches, but they're everywhere and I think they're so cool! This church was certainly like no church I'd seen in Italy or before for that matter. There were knights fighting dragons and skeletons carved all over the outside. I'd love to know the history behind this. Norse roots perhaps? If you know, please inform me. Well inside I finally got the answer I had been looking for about the resurrection thing. In the front of this church was this huge art thing, I don't know the proper name for it. But it finally had the resurrection! It went through the passion and the resurrection. I was a bit excited.
Well the next day was my last day in Germany, regrettably. But I was fortunate to spend it in Berlin. I love Berlin. Don't get me wrong, I like the renaissance and medieval history that is all over Italy, but war history is so much cooler to me! In my typical style, I did not have a plan at all going to Berlin, and so I ended up wandering around. Though this time, I bought a map. I walked around a bit, but got tired of walking in the rain, so I hopped on a bus to dry off for a bit. Here's a tourist tip for you all. If you are ever in Berlin, take the bus 100. It goes by all of the main sites and it is only a city bus. That way you don't have to pay for a tour bus. Granted, I did get a little lost trying to find checkpoint charlie. I had just given up and was heading back to the subway station when I looked up at saw a bus stop called checkpoint. I looked to my right, and what do you know, Checkpoint Charlie was right there! Thank God, literally. Because I finally found that I also got to see the Berlin wall, or what remains of it. It's really mind opening to read all about East Berlin and the terrors that went on there. Went right along with the rainy weather. I finished my tour of Berlin with seeing the Brandenburg gates and Tiergarten. And with that I had to catch a train to the airport. Thankfully I made it to the right airport. There are like five airports in Berlin and my boarding pass did not say which one I was supposed to go to. Talk about being a little stressed while traveling. And with that I said goodbye to the second land of my ancestors.
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