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Hey there!
So I have a lot to update you all on, since my last post some pretty cool stuff has happened!
So last weekend I went off to Koeln to meet my Uncle Marc and Auntie Maryse from Luxembourg! The plan was to meet at the cathedral entrance to the Koeln Hauptbahnhof at around 6:00 pm on Friday evening.
Friday came around and as you can imagine I was PUMPED AS. I got back from school at about 10 o clock and proceeded to pack my bags for the weekend. I included essentials such as my Kaossilator, my Harmonica, and of course the bare minimum of three dashingly handsome scarves. In short, I overpacked. I then had (what I thought) was plenty of time, so I hit the couch and watched a ridiculous and thoroughly hilarious French gameshow for about an hour, and then proceeded to visit my computer for a bit of last minute skyping. So earlier that day I had planned which tram to take to get to the Karlsruhe Hauptbahnhof in order to catch my train to Koeln on time. I chose a tram which arrived at ten to two, giving me 20 minutes to battle my way through a sea of people to my train which was to leave at ten past two. So when I hit the computer for a bit of skyping I thought nothing of it - I was packed - ready - styled up for my journey.
Now I have always had problems with the time, and being thoroughly amped and feeling independent and adult-like, I had managed to chose a tram arriving at the train station at ten past two, not ten to two. Ooops. So I casually rock on downstairs to grab a glass of water and catch my tram at about 1:45, when my host brother says to me: "What are you still doing here - shouldn't you be on your way to the train station by now?" I of course confidently replied: "Nah bro its sweet as I still have like 3 minutes to get to the tram station". Turns out Moritz was right, and there was no possible combination of tram lines that could get me to the Hauptbahnhof any earlier than 1 minute before my train left. Upon my realization of the potential for catastrophe and chaos in the next 20 minutes, my heart sunk a little. I was stressed AS.
So as I flew out the door in the attempt to catch the tram arriving at 1 minute before departure to Koeln, Moritz casually calls out: "Chill man, I can drive you there and you will be at the entrance in like 8 minutes. Good. Thanks for telling me that before I put my coat on backwards and ran out the door looking like a fool with my shoelaces undone and my fly down low. Thats cool. Actually it was VERY cool of Moritz to drive me there given that it was nearly lunchtime and he had no obligation to do so. So as I thanked Moritz profusely for saving my arse, I checked my ticket - it said 14:12, platform nine and three quarters.
Jokes its was platform four. But I know exactly where platform nine and three quarters is. Just saying.
So I bolted out of the door of the car and hastily headed into the Bahnhof to catch my train. I was just in time. I had the opportunity to soak up the sun for about 30 seconds, and then in came the EC100 train from Basel. My one. So I hopped on, found my seat, stowed may heavily laden bag and sat down. For three hours. In a tiny seat. Facing an old German woman who managed to crunch on an apple for a good two hours with hardly a pause for breath. Many awkward moments arose when I looked up and found her staring straight at me.
The bonus was that I had a window seat and that the train travelled all the way up the Rhine river valley! It was really really beautiful - this was an image of Germany that was entirely new to me. The wide Rhine river winding its way through rounded hills, with quaint and typically German villages scattered around the shore, serviced by a myriad of tankers and passenger boats travelling up and down the great river. After such a beautiful (but long) trip I was heaps ready to see Koeln! And of course my Uncle and Auntie! But they had arranged to pick me up at 6. And I arrived at 5. So after finding the train station main entrance, I sat down in the sun in a seat outside Starbucks and enjoyed a wee sip of mocha while watching the huge volume of people passing by. I met an Australian couple who were in Koeln racing horses, and whom had visited many times before as their horses lived in a stable there. They gave me heaps of reccommendations and were really friendly and interested. It was so rad to be able to talk a bit of english with some total strangers!
So after a good olde chat with the horse crazed Australian couple, I managed to find Marc and Maryse! They took me back to the hotel that we were to stay in for the weekend - a design hotel built in the shell of an old monastery. It was the most incredible hotel I have ever stayed in. Everything was so well thought out! From the bathroom door that doubles as a wardrobe door, to the internet IN THE TELEVISION in my room. Wow. I even had my own work of art in a class case above my bed. Pretty cool.
So after dropping off our gear, we headed down to the waterfront for a pre dinner drink. Of course Marc was the guide and he took us straight to the coolest bar in town. It had these HUGE comfy egg chairs and really modern interior design. I enjoyed a beer (In Koeln they serve their pilsener in ridiculously small glasses and call it Koelsch) and a really good catch-up with my uncle and aunt! Then we headed back into town and went to a really yummy Japanese restaurant - THEY HAD NZ BEEF TERYAKI - I was so proud to be a New Zealander :D We then headed back to the hotel, and chilled out in our respective rooms. I headed straight to bed as I was tired as and had to get up at 8 the next day.
So the next day came, and I met Marc and Maryse for a delicious breakfast before we headed into the centre of Koeln for some shopping. Marc and I stuck together as we had been planning to go to the HUGE music store in Koeln, while Maryse went clothes shopping. So when we arrived at Music Store Professional I was in heaven. This store takes up an entire block, thats four separate shops merged into one. And each shop has three stories. It was EPIC. We headed to the acoustic guitar section where I tried a whole load of amazing sounding electric acoustic guitars - Marc had wanted to buy me one for a while now and here was the opportunity! So the hunt narrowed down to a Maton, and two really beautiful Martin guitars. We tried them out for an hour, testing them with and without amplication, with fingerstyle guitar and with chords, and finally we both agreed that the Martin DC-1E was the one. You can check it out on: http://www.martinguitar.com/guitars/choosing/guitars.php?m=DC-1E&p=i
After buying the most beautiful guitar we had a walk around Koeln, saw the old and new city and enjoyed a cold beer together. Then we had a bite to eat at a wee cafe tucked away down a side street. Finally we bought a really cool jacket for Marc and meet Maryse for a drink at a cafe. We then headed back to the hotel, and Marc had a nap. Maryse asked me if i wanted to go running with her along the Rhine river and of course I said yes. We ran along the Rhine for 45 minutes, in the sun and surrounded by the many tourists parading the waterfront. It was a really enjoyable run, despite being pretty long by my standards! Maryse was so quick haha! Then we headed back to our rooms, I showered, played some guitar and soon it was dinnertime! We headed into town to a restaruant called Dinner Club, where each of the waiters and waitresses performed a musical item, and the entire menu consisted of small spoons. I chose six different little spoons - all of which were totally delicious! We then headed back to the hotel and relaxed after a truly amazing day in Koeln.
The last day was Sunday, and it rained! So we headed to the famous Koeln Chocolate Museum! This place was amazing! It had its own small scale chocolate factory which was currently making bars of Lindt Chocolate. We saw displays about the history of chocolate and of course WE ATE SOME TOO
I then headed back on the ICE super fast German train, which was an altogether brand new and very exciting experience for me. It was so fly, there were power sockets in the seats and FREE WIFI onboard. Nice as! So I arrived back in Karlsruhe well tired, with a new guitar and some chocolate for the host family, enjoyed a typically scruptious meal, and headed straight to my room to jam with Moritz. We were singing and strumming together until 11:30, when we decided that getting up at 6 the next morning was going to be difficult if we kept on making music. So I hopped into bed far too late after a truly amazing weekend. And I was straight out to it!
This week in school has been pretty awesome so far! The sun is shining every day and I only had one lesson today! Home by 11 - heck yes!
I will post a photo album from Koeln on facebook and here on Off Exploring soon as. I promise!
Keep in touch! Miss everyone back in NZ so so much!
RUFF CHUUUSSSZZZ
x
Nic
- comments
James Awesome blog bro. Super jealous about the chocolate factory/museum. Photo's on Facey are epic awell haha
Dad Hi Nic! Your blog entries are so enjoyable to read and give your reader the impression to be there with you. Did you not go to the famous Koelner Dohm? Dad
Maryse Hi Nic, finally i managed to remember your blogadressereally nice blog. I liked to read it. Mark and myself had as well a great time with you in Koeln. Hope to see you soongreetings from me and your uncle mark