Archive for December, 2003

Episode 10

Published on December 11, 2003 0 Comments Tags: , , . Post made from or about Freiburg .

Here I am, waiting at the train station to go to Munich, and… since its cold outside I thought Id go to the internet cafe while Im waiting and write to you all!

Freiburg was really nice… just what I would have expected from a small german town - good beer, beautiful old buildings, really good beer, christmas markets, some damn good tasting beer, friendly people… oh… and did I mention the beer? ;)

Its amazing how both the French and Germans seem to appreciate their alcohol so much. Makes us Aussies just look like drunkards… (I mean, who would drink VB just cause they like the taste?? The best beers in Australia are nothing compared to what they have here)

Germany is SOO much colder than France was - this is the first time Ive worn my warm coat. Not only that, but Im wearing thermals!! (shock, horror!). Met some really nice people in my room here - a Japanise guy hoping to get into tourism, an Arabic guy who is looking at studying in Freiburg, and an American 18-year-old on his “welcome to the big wide world” experience (but he seemed to be struggling a little more than me… I think Ive got Paul to thank for making things really easy for me - showing me all the ropes in Paris, and then setting me free - so to speak). Its been good traveling with him a bit, but its also been good being able to go off by myself and see things at my own pace. But soon we´ll be meeting up again and spending the rest of the trip together (think Ill be able to handle it?? hehehe)

Oh… one more thing before I go… the hostel here was in the most beautiful area. Out the front was a creek, and a nice park (covered in ice in the mornings!), and behind…. a mountain with a forrest! It was SOOO beautiful - Ill post some photos when I get a chance.

Anyway, Ive got more I want to say, but Ill have to save that for another time.

See you all soon!

Episode 9

Published on December 9, 2003 0 Comments Tags: , , . Post made from or about Freiburg .

Oops… i forgot to write a subject for episode 8, oh well.

Im in freiburg now, and this is just going to be a quick one (Im nearlz out of time)

Having an AWESOME time - visited the Aussie bar in Lyon, and it was SOO funny. Picture everything you can buy in a tourist shop in Aus up on the walls… dodgy Fosters advertising, and a bunch of French people dancing to American music, and thats the pub I went to!

I wish I stayed longer in Lyon, it was definitely my favorite place so far… leaving Freiburg tomorrow to go to Munich, then heading off to Berlin soon after that.

Hope everyone is well (i just saw a picture of the storms in Aus that my dad sent me…. is quite scary!!)…

Ill hopefully write more soon.

See ya! (dont know how to spell it in german)

Update: Photos from Freiburg


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Episode 8

Published on December 6, 2003 0 Comments Tags: , , . Post made from or about Lyon .

Well, somehow Ive managed to get free internet Here I am in Lyon (the less-wet alternative to venice) and I think its worth it. Lyon is beautiful, the hostel Im staying at is awesome - comfortable beds in clean well designed and even good looking rooms. To top is all off, the view from my window is awesome, and there are lots of cool people there.

Ive gotta move rooms tonight cause I couldnt get one room for the entire time Im here, but its not too much of a hastle.

Ive been hanging out for it since I arrived in France (Paul will back me up here) and Ive FINALLY seen someone walking their poodle down the street. Theres lots of other people with dogs, but I hadnt seen a single poodle until this morning - isnt the poodle supposed to be the typical Parisian pet??

Another thing Ive discovered about Lyon - the drivers actually appear to take note of pedestrian crossings! In Paris drivers seem to speed up when they get to pedestrian crossings, and I think they’d just drive right though red lights if there weren’t any pedestrians already on the road in front of them. But here they actually slow down and stop. I couldn’t believe it when it happened the first time - a courteous driver?? In France? Well, Ill tell you now it CAN happen!

Im planning on staying in Lyon until Monday, when I go into Germany and see Freiberg for a couple of days (Pauls reccomendation) and then Ill head off to Munich to meet Paul again. From Munich onwards, we should be travelling together until we return.

Here in lyon they have “trams” as well, but they’re not quite what we’d expect - they’re busses that get power from overhanging powerlines. They dont run on tracks! It seems that most, if not all, of France has a similar public transport system. After getting to know the Metro in Paris, it has been really easy to figure out the systems in Montpellier and Lyon as they use similar tickets, maps, and signs - makes me realise how far we’ve got to go in Melbourne!

Anyway, time to get out and see some more of Lyon!

Doesnt look like I’ll be able to upload any photos while I’m here as all the internet Cafe’s are just kiosks (I cant plug anything in), but we’ll see what happens when I get into germany.

Update: Photos from Lyon


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