April 4th-6th Hamburg and a Cancelled Course
If I ever go from Bremen to Hamburg with the Metronom train again (and I probably will, soon), I'll know better to arrive at the station early and get a seat in the train, because last Saturday it was really crowded, both ways.
Anyway, the excursion to Hamburg was very different from Lightbird's previous visit to the city in February - Hamburg does seem completely different in Spring than that gloomy, grey (but somewhat beautiful) place as I saw it before.
Adam, one of the Polish guys, had decided to be the guide, although it was his first time there. We went to the Rathaus, and this was the first time I explored the courtyard with the barocal fountain - I didn't know it was even possible to go inside... until last Saturday. Then we went to see one of the two dark churches near the Rathaus, unfortunately I do not remember the name of it. We, some 15 people who went for the tallest church, tried to climb up to the top of the tower, some 142 metres over steep spiraling and wooden stairs and, seriously, I rarely remember a time when I would have felt so close to fainting, but somehow, taking some 2 minute breaks here and there, I forced myself to climb until the end. The view was great. The platform was dissappointingly small for 15 people. When going down my legs were feeling like made from jelly.
Then we went to the ruins of another church and went posing with statues, with Adam saying, from time to time, that "they are so slow". I made the conclusion that he is mildly impatient, but lacks a strong fist at times... like gathering up the group. Or that he should better just ignore the true fact that each of us has a different excursion speed :).
Then a lenghty walk around the Elbe riverbank, and with the sunny weather and the many pedestrians there was something of a festive atmosphere to it. We managed to take interest in a boat trip, for which we didn't go, in the end. Ate overpriced and lukewarm french fries and meatballs, watched musicians and decided to drop in to Reeperbahn. Reeperbahn, on the other hand, looked much more ragged in Spring's light, really a come-have-a-look-and-leave place. Then a futile search for a pub (after having our "guide" pissed off because of not wanting to see any more churches), to draw a conclusion that it's more worthwile to drink back in Bremen. On the way back, we spent much of the time on boarding platforms of the cars, again due to overcrowded trains, and Benedikt envied my ability of thinking about my food for the trip beforehand :D.
Yesterday seemed pretty festive in Bremen, probably because of the football game Hannover - Werder Bremen, whose colours are green and white (or orange if it's a sponsor supported scarf :-p). I managed to get to know the washing machine, finally, and none of my laundry items died. Also, finished watching the Princess Tutu anime - I had never seen such a sad happy ending, really could make one's heart break. Funnily, when I started watching it, I was rather skeptical of the show, but it was definitely worth watching. Then started watching Tsubasa Chronicle, about which I had read many "awesomesauce!!!!" reviews. It definitely has a great adventure feel to it and I'm afraid I might get hooked really soon :D
Today my lectures were supposed to start, however, at the ZHG (Zentrum fuer Human Genetik) 2 other students and I found out that the course Aktuelle Humangenetik has been cancelled due to lack of sufficient applications. So, had to search another course, which my provisional timetable would allow. The only thing I found was Naturschutzbiologie und Naturschutz, under General Biology Studies. Sigh. I've never been much into active nature protection. But, yes, I am respectful. Just not really interested. I hope it will be something seminar-like and more interesting than it sounds. Also, had a bit of a fuss when arranging a meeting with a far distance driver, who's an employee of our relative's company. I needed some some prescription cream tubes for my dermatitic skin, and you can't really send any medicine via mail. First, we couldn't arrange a place. Second, the place we arranged was somewhat... not far, but in one of the parts of Bremen I still don't know. Got everything sucessfully, though.
Which made me think that I really should 1) explore, read more about Bremen and go all around it, because otherwise I find myself a bit bored... just because of not being acquainted with the city well enough to be sure about where it's worthwile to go, 2) or apply some hobby course. Now I'm considering a singing course "for improving emotional expression", on Mondays, starting from April 20th, 3) or both (the best option, probably.
I settled myself by going to Buergerpark and indulging into the Chcete mluvit jest'e lēpe česky? textbook and already found out that I've grown a need to revise basic noun conjugation, mainly considering Dativ, Instrumental and Locativ.
The truth is, the internet is an evil invention, which is swallowing all my time.
Good night for now.
Anyway, the excursion to Hamburg was very different from Lightbird's previous visit to the city in February - Hamburg does seem completely different in Spring than that gloomy, grey (but somewhat beautiful) place as I saw it before.
Adam, one of the Polish guys, had decided to be the guide, although it was his first time there. We went to the Rathaus, and this was the first time I explored the courtyard with the barocal fountain - I didn't know it was even possible to go inside... until last Saturday. Then we went to see one of the two dark churches near the Rathaus, unfortunately I do not remember the name of it. We, some 15 people who went for the tallest church, tried to climb up to the top of the tower, some 142 metres over steep spiraling and wooden stairs and, seriously, I rarely remember a time when I would have felt so close to fainting, but somehow, taking some 2 minute breaks here and there, I forced myself to climb until the end. The view was great. The platform was dissappointingly small for 15 people. When going down my legs were feeling like made from jelly.
Then we went to the ruins of another church and went posing with statues, with Adam saying, from time to time, that "they are so slow". I made the conclusion that he is mildly impatient, but lacks a strong fist at times... like gathering up the group. Or that he should better just ignore the true fact that each of us has a different excursion speed :).
Then a lenghty walk around the Elbe riverbank, and with the sunny weather and the many pedestrians there was something of a festive atmosphere to it. We managed to take interest in a boat trip, for which we didn't go, in the end. Ate overpriced and lukewarm french fries and meatballs, watched musicians and decided to drop in to Reeperbahn. Reeperbahn, on the other hand, looked much more ragged in Spring's light, really a come-have-a-look-and-leave place. Then a futile search for a pub (after having our "guide" pissed off because of not wanting to see any more churches), to draw a conclusion that it's more worthwile to drink back in Bremen. On the way back, we spent much of the time on boarding platforms of the cars, again due to overcrowded trains, and Benedikt envied my ability of thinking about my food for the trip beforehand :D.
Yesterday seemed pretty festive in Bremen, probably because of the football game Hannover - Werder Bremen, whose colours are green and white (or orange if it's a sponsor supported scarf :-p). I managed to get to know the washing machine, finally, and none of my laundry items died. Also, finished watching the Princess Tutu anime - I had never seen such a sad happy ending, really could make one's heart break. Funnily, when I started watching it, I was rather skeptical of the show, but it was definitely worth watching. Then started watching Tsubasa Chronicle, about which I had read many "awesomesauce!!!!" reviews. It definitely has a great adventure feel to it and I'm afraid I might get hooked really soon :D
Today my lectures were supposed to start, however, at the ZHG (Zentrum fuer Human Genetik) 2 other students and I found out that the course Aktuelle Humangenetik has been cancelled due to lack of sufficient applications. So, had to search another course, which my provisional timetable would allow. The only thing I found was Naturschutzbiologie und Naturschutz, under General Biology Studies. Sigh. I've never been much into active nature protection. But, yes, I am respectful. Just not really interested. I hope it will be something seminar-like and more interesting than it sounds. Also, had a bit of a fuss when arranging a meeting with a far distance driver, who's an employee of our relative's company. I needed some some prescription cream tubes for my dermatitic skin, and you can't really send any medicine via mail. First, we couldn't arrange a place. Second, the place we arranged was somewhat... not far, but in one of the parts of Bremen I still don't know. Got everything sucessfully, though.
Which made me think that I really should 1) explore, read more about Bremen and go all around it, because otherwise I find myself a bit bored... just because of not being acquainted with the city well enough to be sure about where it's worthwile to go, 2) or apply some hobby course. Now I'm considering a singing course "for improving emotional expression", on Mondays, starting from April 20th, 3) or both (the best option, probably.
I settled myself by going to Buergerpark and indulging into the Chcete mluvit jest'e lēpe česky? textbook and already found out that I've grown a need to revise basic noun conjugation, mainly considering Dativ, Instrumental and Locativ.
The truth is, the internet is an evil invention, which is swallowing all my time.
Good night for now.