Best NYE ever!
Yeap, with 100% I can tell you that these days in Berlin around the NYE made the change of the year unforgettable.
At the great host Jonathan, gathered 11 wonderfull persons, Guillaume and Patrice from France, Cristi and Ioana from Romania, Silwia, Agnieszka and Kasia from Poland, Fabienne from Switzerland; and also Maartje the second Dutch person.
It's amazing to gather such a mixture of people... all with their specialities and all with their own Cultural backgrounds.
Let me try to get back in memory lane, Saturday 30 december the adventure started...
At 14.30 I met, for the first time in my life in real at Utrecht Central station, after having some short chats with her before, Maartje. Since we were both on time, we could even take one train earlier then I planned, after we bought some stuff for underway.
We went to Amersfoort to get on the ICE to Berlin. In Amersfoort railway station we bought two different newspapers (which we didn't read at all) and nice cappuccino and coffee (thanks Maartje), we left to Berlin. It was a long travel from Utrecht, six hours "trainhours", and all the time Maartje and me talked.
I was already prepared so I had 1,7 l. of drinks with me ;)
During the trip I had a strange guy sitting "next to me". When I sat down, he came to me if I had the reservation, and since I had it, I could say yes, and he left again... during the first 5 hours he sat at several places (sometimes came for a visit to get something) and in the last hour he finally sat down next to me, and talked with us.
He's studying psychology; and he knew Breda better then Maartje, while he's not from that town and Maartje is living in. The other connection was that they both now Nijmegen well.
When we finally reached our destination, we said goodbye to Piotr. When we were at the station I sent a sms, as we agreed upon, to Aga, suddenly she called me. It was hard to hear, and till now I still don't know why she called me and what she said. Because I thought she wanted to meet us at Alexander platz, but when we got there; I sent another sms, as agreed the day before, she called again... I was so confused. As if I can't find my way, while I have the adress on the map of Berlin which I bought the day before... I'm not from a small town in Poland :P
When we got out of the U-bahn, Fabienne and Aga just got there. It was nice, so they could help with the luggage. :) Maartje had a very heavy backpack... :))
The appartment was very close to the station, so we didn't had to much to walk. The people ate already, since it was ten in the evening; so Maartje and me, when out for some Kebab :)
It was a nice evening, the dinner was great, and we went to bed late :) And as almost nomally I was the last to enter bed :) And I kept doing this all the time during my stay in Germany.
Sunday, the last hours of 2006.
This day started a bit later, and also it took some time for the eleven persons (5 man) to take shower, since there was just one. Normally just three guys are living over there, so no problem... but now it took ages to have all a shower, it reminded me about Napoli and 20 showers for 700 persons :))
We had our first guided city tour by Jonathan, he showed us some parts of east Berlin. We saw some interesting buildings, we had a nice tea break in an Arabic tea house. Then we needed to go home to prepare for Ner Year's Eve. Besides preparing dinner (Fabienne, Jonathan did most), we also needed to dress up :D
Besides the 11 people present two more Germans came for one night sleeping at Jona's appartment, and besides them one lady from Argentina and four more German girls. The dinner was great. At 11 o'clock we celebrated for the first time New Year, since in Romania it's one hour later, and I sent then right away an sms to Cata.
At around 11.25 we left to the Oberbaumbrücke. We just came there before midnight. First we were standing in the middle of the bridge, that was notthat safe so we left to the right side of the bridge. We brought some champagne with us, and I had the graanjenever with me from Ketel 1. It was really a cool celebration, even I met a stranger, whom suddenly offered me Chardoney and he had some Dutch backgrounds. Then we met one of Jona's friends, he had some fireworks with him, since I normally I always buy fireworks I was more then Happy to help that guy, but it was very windy on the bridge and out of the five rockets I burned twice my finger, but it was worth it!
Maartje was very very drunk, Sylwia and me walked her home. When we got home, the first after party started. In the end I was left with the three Polish ladies, suddenly we ended up drinking Tequilla. We drunk 4 in a row :) Was very nice :))
I really don't know at what time I went to bed, the only thing that I know that the first night I had in my room the two Romanians but the went to the sisterhood of Bitches room and also Patrice slept there, so just Guillaume and me slept in one bed :)
Monday, the day after...
We really got out of bed late, and since we needed a brunch and shower, we just left the house at four in the afternoon.. It seems that in the beginning we would see Berlin only from dusk till dawn, since we had a strange rithme of living. We had another tour by Jonathan, this time we went also to the Ampelmann Shop, that guy is the person you see on traffic lights in Germany, this is the only thing from the east, they will take over in the west of Germany. It's a cool shop.
Then we went for a drink at the High End 54, it's the a really nice place, you don't think that when you enter the building :) We had some drinks and then we went further in the building and went to one of the "galeries"; the funny part was that the guy is from Holland, but he made great stuff.
After eating something from the Kebab, we went to the holocast memorial, it's really interesting during the night, gives you a strange feeling. There we made also the gost photo, you can find in the first picture blog entry. When we got home at 8.30; Our host made some nice homemade pizza's.
Since I ate a lot of the Kebab, I didn't felt like eating. We had a lot of fun, for sure me with Maartje and Fabienne, in the end even Ioana helped those two girls. We ended up all in the same room, but again in the end Guillaume and me ended up in the same room.
Tuesday, the first person left :(
On this day Fabienne left at 7.15 in the morning, she was the first one to leave... Most of us were awake and said goodbye, but I was to tired to get out of my bed... but I was there mentally ;)
That day we saw again some more of Berlin, by out wonderfull host, and we even went this time inside the Holocast Memorial. It's something you shouldn't miss. After visiting it, we went for a drink nearby; When the bill came, and since I had only the 50 euro bill left, Patrice challenged me... he said: will you pay for us. Then I got the bill, and went to pay it... they were amazed :) Never challenge me with something like this, if I'm in a good mood.... ;)
Jonathan needed to do something so his girlfriend Sylwia did the last part of the tour to the east side gallery, it was very nice, it's a part of the wall which is now used as a art gallery. We ate in the pizzaria under the U-bahn stop Warschauer Strasse. It was really funny. The Italian pizza baker was so cool :)
This time no home party, after the great pizza, we walked home, refreshed and then went to a nice bar. They played there very cool music and there was also a fast playing tablesoccer; so we pleayed some. That evening we didn't made it to late, we made some nice interesting video shots, and at three we went to bed, but Guillaume went out on his own and came back at 4 in the night :) So finally my roomie came back.
Wednesday, the day of goodbye...
The first friends whom left were Ioana & Christi, and not that much later also Guillaume & Patrice. At eleven Maartje left also back to Holland. After I took my shower and helping with cleaning the house, I went out to get some lunch. I made some girls happy with marzepin crossants. I ate some nice sweat stuff :)
At four I left again the house, this time with Kasia. I carried her heavy bag to the Ostbahnstation, after i did that, I went to Benedetta, my goodfriend from Padova, whom is already living for 2 years and 8 months in Berlin. We have been together in the Culture Working Group, and she made the first CWG event in years with my help. The fun part is, that the hostel I found then for that event, she is working there now.
After drinking first some tea, we went out for dinner. So I ended up with eight Italians, speaking Italian... but next to me was sitting an architect student whom spend an Erasmus in Rotterdam and also she loved to make photo's so we talked a lot. After dinner I went home, I rested, and went to bed early at one; as normally I listened music, so I went really to sleep at 3.45
Thursday last moments in Berlin...
Thursday morning was the day Aga and me left also Berlin, in different directions, and different places. Aga went home, she left after 12, I went before since I needed to get up at a different station, the hauptbahnhof. After saying goodbye to the host Jonathan and Sylwia, since they needed to do something, I was alone with just Polish, since the evening before one of the two other inhabitants of the house cameback and he's from Poland and he brought two more with him :)) Since I left at 12 the house, I just managed to get my train... on my way to the next stop in my vacation: Osnabrück.
At the great host Jonathan, gathered 11 wonderfull persons, Guillaume and Patrice from France, Cristi and Ioana from Romania, Silwia, Agnieszka and Kasia from Poland, Fabienne from Switzerland; and also Maartje the second Dutch person.
It's amazing to gather such a mixture of people... all with their specialities and all with their own Cultural backgrounds.
Let me try to get back in memory lane, Saturday 30 december the adventure started...
At 14.30 I met, for the first time in my life in real at Utrecht Central station, after having some short chats with her before, Maartje. Since we were both on time, we could even take one train earlier then I planned, after we bought some stuff for underway.
We went to Amersfoort to get on the ICE to Berlin. In Amersfoort railway station we bought two different newspapers (which we didn't read at all) and nice cappuccino and coffee (thanks Maartje), we left to Berlin. It was a long travel from Utrecht, six hours "trainhours", and all the time Maartje and me talked.
I was already prepared so I had 1,7 l. of drinks with me ;)
During the trip I had a strange guy sitting "next to me". When I sat down, he came to me if I had the reservation, and since I had it, I could say yes, and he left again... during the first 5 hours he sat at several places (sometimes came for a visit to get something) and in the last hour he finally sat down next to me, and talked with us.
He's studying psychology; and he knew Breda better then Maartje, while he's not from that town and Maartje is living in. The other connection was that they both now Nijmegen well.
When we finally reached our destination, we said goodbye to Piotr. When we were at the station I sent a sms, as we agreed upon, to Aga, suddenly she called me. It was hard to hear, and till now I still don't know why she called me and what she said. Because I thought she wanted to meet us at Alexander platz, but when we got there; I sent another sms, as agreed the day before, she called again... I was so confused. As if I can't find my way, while I have the adress on the map of Berlin which I bought the day before... I'm not from a small town in Poland :P
When we got out of the U-bahn, Fabienne and Aga just got there. It was nice, so they could help with the luggage. :) Maartje had a very heavy backpack... :))
The appartment was very close to the station, so we didn't had to much to walk. The people ate already, since it was ten in the evening; so Maartje and me, when out for some Kebab :)
It was a nice evening, the dinner was great, and we went to bed late :) And as almost nomally I was the last to enter bed :) And I kept doing this all the time during my stay in Germany.
Sunday, the last hours of 2006.
This day started a bit later, and also it took some time for the eleven persons (5 man) to take shower, since there was just one. Normally just three guys are living over there, so no problem... but now it took ages to have all a shower, it reminded me about Napoli and 20 showers for 700 persons :))
We had our first guided city tour by Jonathan, he showed us some parts of east Berlin. We saw some interesting buildings, we had a nice tea break in an Arabic tea house. Then we needed to go home to prepare for Ner Year's Eve. Besides preparing dinner (Fabienne, Jonathan did most), we also needed to dress up :D
Besides the 11 people present two more Germans came for one night sleeping at Jona's appartment, and besides them one lady from Argentina and four more German girls. The dinner was great. At 11 o'clock we celebrated for the first time New Year, since in Romania it's one hour later, and I sent then right away an sms to Cata.
At around 11.25 we left to the Oberbaumbrücke. We just came there before midnight. First we were standing in the middle of the bridge, that was notthat safe so we left to the right side of the bridge. We brought some champagne with us, and I had the graanjenever with me from Ketel 1. It was really a cool celebration, even I met a stranger, whom suddenly offered me Chardoney and he had some Dutch backgrounds. Then we met one of Jona's friends, he had some fireworks with him, since I normally I always buy fireworks I was more then Happy to help that guy, but it was very windy on the bridge and out of the five rockets I burned twice my finger, but it was worth it!
Maartje was very very drunk, Sylwia and me walked her home. When we got home, the first after party started. In the end I was left with the three Polish ladies, suddenly we ended up drinking Tequilla. We drunk 4 in a row :) Was very nice :))
I really don't know at what time I went to bed, the only thing that I know that the first night I had in my room the two Romanians but the went to the sisterhood of Bitches room and also Patrice slept there, so just Guillaume and me slept in one bed :)
Monday, the day after...
We really got out of bed late, and since we needed a brunch and shower, we just left the house at four in the afternoon.. It seems that in the beginning we would see Berlin only from dusk till dawn, since we had a strange rithme of living. We had another tour by Jonathan, this time we went also to the Ampelmann Shop, that guy is the person you see on traffic lights in Germany, this is the only thing from the east, they will take over in the west of Germany. It's a cool shop.
Then we went for a drink at the High End 54, it's the a really nice place, you don't think that when you enter the building :) We had some drinks and then we went further in the building and went to one of the "galeries"; the funny part was that the guy is from Holland, but he made great stuff.
After eating something from the Kebab, we went to the holocast memorial, it's really interesting during the night, gives you a strange feeling. There we made also the gost photo, you can find in the first picture blog entry. When we got home at 8.30; Our host made some nice homemade pizza's.
Since I ate a lot of the Kebab, I didn't felt like eating. We had a lot of fun, for sure me with Maartje and Fabienne, in the end even Ioana helped those two girls. We ended up all in the same room, but again in the end Guillaume and me ended up in the same room.
Tuesday, the first person left :(
On this day Fabienne left at 7.15 in the morning, she was the first one to leave... Most of us were awake and said goodbye, but I was to tired to get out of my bed... but I was there mentally ;)
That day we saw again some more of Berlin, by out wonderfull host, and we even went this time inside the Holocast Memorial. It's something you shouldn't miss. After visiting it, we went for a drink nearby; When the bill came, and since I had only the 50 euro bill left, Patrice challenged me... he said: will you pay for us. Then I got the bill, and went to pay it... they were amazed :) Never challenge me with something like this, if I'm in a good mood.... ;)
Jonathan needed to do something so his girlfriend Sylwia did the last part of the tour to the east side gallery, it was very nice, it's a part of the wall which is now used as a art gallery. We ate in the pizzaria under the U-bahn stop Warschauer Strasse. It was really funny. The Italian pizza baker was so cool :)
This time no home party, after the great pizza, we walked home, refreshed and then went to a nice bar. They played there very cool music and there was also a fast playing tablesoccer; so we pleayed some. That evening we didn't made it to late, we made some nice interesting video shots, and at three we went to bed, but Guillaume went out on his own and came back at 4 in the night :) So finally my roomie came back.
Wednesday, the day of goodbye...
The first friends whom left were Ioana & Christi, and not that much later also Guillaume & Patrice. At eleven Maartje left also back to Holland. After I took my shower and helping with cleaning the house, I went out to get some lunch. I made some girls happy with marzepin crossants. I ate some nice sweat stuff :)
At four I left again the house, this time with Kasia. I carried her heavy bag to the Ostbahnstation, after i did that, I went to Benedetta, my goodfriend from Padova, whom is already living for 2 years and 8 months in Berlin. We have been together in the Culture Working Group, and she made the first CWG event in years with my help. The fun part is, that the hostel I found then for that event, she is working there now.
After drinking first some tea, we went out for dinner. So I ended up with eight Italians, speaking Italian... but next to me was sitting an architect student whom spend an Erasmus in Rotterdam and also she loved to make photo's so we talked a lot. After dinner I went home, I rested, and went to bed early at one; as normally I listened music, so I went really to sleep at 3.45
Thursday last moments in Berlin...
Thursday morning was the day Aga and me left also Berlin, in different directions, and different places. Aga went home, she left after 12, I went before since I needed to get up at a different station, the hauptbahnhof. After saying goodbye to the host Jonathan and Sylwia, since they needed to do something, I was alone with just Polish, since the evening before one of the two other inhabitants of the house cameback and he's from Poland and he brought two more with him :)) Since I left at 12 the house, I just managed to get my train... on my way to the next stop in my vacation: Osnabrück.
posted by René Keijzer | 12:19 PM
4 Comments:
I thought it was clearly explained already but it seems not. I thought that I explained you about proposals for making the way easier, so changing Haupt- for Ostbahnhof and as well as about 2 messages without report back. Is it finally clear?
And next time there will be no proposals for a guy from a big dutch city for making a way through the city easier and shorter... He has a map! :p
There was no report back since I didn't had any battery left, so instead of sending a new one to me you should have sent one to Maartje ;) And did you said that on the phone??? And it's not about being from a big Dutch city, but about travelling on my own in bigger cities then Berlin, like Istanbul... 16M ;)
Someone told me tonight that he had no idea that you are such an international guy. Nothing could be more perfect to descrive you.
Well you seem to be to be abile to intercat with so many people and learn a little bit of each culture, a word, a sentence, a habbit, a song...
Maybe is also the Aegee influence, but this NYE and the triped seamed made for you especialy.
I'm so glad you had so much fun and looked after my sister.
Pupici from the one left at home but with you all in her heart.
Hey Rene !
It nice to remember all those wonderful days in berlin. I will create a link of your blog on mine to keep in touch...
Your pictures are really nice and i hope to see you again in Rotterdam or in Ultrech to disturb Pink Paradise...
See you
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