Brussels Pt. I, 11/25/11 - 11/30/11

Prepared Thanksgiving feast with Emily & her roomies. 16 guests.
Atomium, giant iron-crystal atom built for '58 worlds fair.
Christmas market, gluhwine.
Delirium Cafe, 2004 kinds of beer.
Cantillon Brewery, only brewery in Belgium using 100 yr old techniques, still using original machinery from 1900.
Royal Museum of the Army and Military History.
EU Parliament/ Parliamentarium, most interactive museum I've ever been to.

(Photo of Thanksgiving spread)

(Photo of Atomium)

(Photo of Delirium Cafe)

(Photo of aging barrels at Cantillon)

(Photo of painting at Royal Museum)

(Photo of EU Parliament)

Granada, Andalusia 11/19/11 - 11/24/11

Went to the Alhambra, absolutely breathtaking.
Explored the city.
Checked out the Cathedral.
Walked the Albayzin.
Saw some local musicians.
Lots of tapas. MMMmmmm.

(Photo of me looking serious at the Alhambra)

(Photo of ceiling at Alhambra, camera can't really express the detail)

(Photo of waterworks at the Alhambra)

(Photo of Cathedral)

(Photo of local musicians playing in a park above Albayzin)

Valencia, Valencia! 11/9/11 - 11/14/11

Arrived to marble sidewalks, sunshine, palm trees and 75 degree weather.
Went on pubcrawl with hostel friends.
Went to the beach with Australians.
Free walking tour with hostel.
CouchSurfing with North Carolinan.
Houseparties with exchange students. 
Off to Murcia!

(Photo of Home Backpackers Hostel)

 (Photo of masturbating gargoyle)

 (Photo of ham in Central Market)

 (Photo of me at the Beach)

Around Bavaria. 11/4/11 - 11/9/11.

Met up with Stephen, friend from Ecuador, in Kempten.
Dinner with Heavy Metal heads.
Saw a way too gaudy Cathedral.
Checked out wetland restoration project.
Met up with Uli, a coworker from Ecuador, & his family in Memmingen.
Quality time with the family, saw wild pigs and deer.
Went to old castle that belongs to friend of Uli´s parents (they´re middle-class now, but have to maintain the castle according to German historic preservation law)

(Photo of one of many golden alters at Cathedral)

(Photo of Stephen & I at the wetlands)

(Photo from L to R of Me, Uli, his son Otto, Luz & little dog Dida)

Munich. 10.31.11-11.4.11

Halloween party with good friend Jamin from Ashland. Lots of exploring, saw surfers in the park.
Traditional Bayerish lunch.
BMW World.
Another great CouchSurfing experience.
Most beautiful city I can ever remember visiting.

(Photo of surfers in the English Garden)

(Photo of a traditional beer hall)

(Photo of me being excited about trees)

Last Days In Göttingen.

Tina's birthday celebration in Oldenburg. More work on the farm.
Lots of wood chopping.
Postponed buying train ticket for 2 hours, ticket doubled in price.
Going to Munich.

(Photo of Tina on top of the world)

 (Photo of a hard days work)

(Photo of farmhouse enterance when purchased by great-great-grandpa in 1800s & now)

(Photo of backyard lounge area at the farm)

Around Göttingen Week 2

Explored Burg Plesse castle.
Trees are changing colors and it's absolutely gorgeous.
Went to a class with Tina at Geor-August University.
Figured out the rest of my trip.
Munich & Bavaria--Spain--Belgium--UK

(All photos take at Burg Plesse 10.25.11)

Göttingen Days 5-8. 10.21/22/23/24.11

Roadtrip to Wildeshausen with Tina, reminds me of Ashland.
First time on the AutoBahn.
Work on Hannes' family farm.
Drove a tractor, cut some wood.
Pork for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
MMmmmmm. 

(Photos of me driving tractor/ Hannes guiding chicken coop roof, Chicken run, Wildeshausen's park)

Göttingen Days 2-4. 10.18/19/20.11

Feeling a little sick from too much fun.
Checked out a student farm project.
Saw the countryside.
Finally some rest.

 (View from my room)

(Agricultural land in the hills around Göttingen)

End of Berlin/ Göttingen Day 1. 10.17.11

Admired street art, last of Berlin.
Took DeutscheBahn to Göttingen.
Met up with Tina, friend from Ecuador!
Wandered Göttingen city center & University.
Saw welcoming ceremonies from incoming freshmen. Puts those of American universities to shame ;-(

(Photo of Gänseliese statue in Göttingen center, "the most kissed girl in the world)

Berlin Day 5. 10.16.11.

Went with Andre to Mauerpark flea market, wanted to buy everything.
Tried Currywurst, traditional Berliner food. 
Moved to U Inn Berlin hostel.
Last night in this amazing city, wish I had more time!
Something about Berlin just makes you want to do art, to create something.

(Photo of Mauerpark Flea Market)

Berlin Day 4. 10.15.11

Said goodbye to Leonie.
Saw some amazing street art.
Used CouchSurfing for the first time, met Andre my host.
Danced until 6 a.m.

Berlin Day 3. 10.14.11

Met up with Leonie (a good friend from Ecuador) and her Berliner friend.
Moved to beautiful apartment in Kreuzberg for the night.
Wandered Kberg with Leonie & Christin.
Went to a heavy metal pub.

(Photo from L to R, Leonie, me, Stefi, Dennis & Christin in Kberg)

Berlin Day 2. 10.13.11

Explored Potzdamer Platz.
Wandered through Tiergarten.
First couchsurfing event.
Met German girl.

(Photo of me being a goober at one of the many Tiergarten ponds)

First entry. Berlin. 10.12.11

Arrived at Berlin-Tegel airport.
Easy to use public transport.
Comfy hostel.
Sleeeeeep.

(Photo of first beer in Germany)