Backpacking: Stuttgart

So where to from Paris? Well, my original plans had changed. As one may recall (if I ever wrote it):
London
Salzburg
Munich
Paris
Nice
Geneva
Well, we scratch out Nice and Geneva and replace it with Stuttgart and Vienna. Vienna I was excited about. Stuttgart I knew nothing about. But travel from Nice and Geneva and back to Berlin was mad expensive. The trip alone from Geneva to Berlin would have been more expensive than my combined travels to Stuttgart, Vienna, and back to Berlin the way I booked. So I went to Stuttgart. Here are my recommendations about Stuttgart: Don't go unless you reallz have something in mind planned. It was rainy and basically miserable. It's an industrial town with little to nothing to do and as my RA/TA in Berlin said, "Stuttgart is a city with a lot of money, but with little taste." He was right.
Adding to Stuttgart's already gray atmosphere was the horrible weather I was cursed with. Nothing but rain. There aren't really any hostels either so I forced to book a hotel falsely advertised as a walk from the Bahnhof...nope, it was more like a 30 minute U-Bahn ride and 15 minute walk from the Bahnhof. Oh well. I spent most of my time there because it was warm and dry.
I finally managed to venture out for a little bit because I was just beyond bored and hungry. I went down to the Bahnhof and found out that about a block away is a pretty active shopping center. Of course, I bought nothing. I bought iced tea, does that count? I did get myself a really great meal though. I went to a place that I'm almost ashamed may be a chain, but it was delicious.
Best steak and baked potato of my life. The steak was perfectly cooked and the restaurant has its own special sour cream concoction. Serve with a small thing of coleslaw, which too was delicious and I never eat coleslaw and a huge piece of garlic bread. Wash down with Bionade.
Oh and by the way, add a check mark to my to-do list for my entire time in Europe for trying Bionade.

The Stuttgart List:
Find something to do [check]

Schlossplatz is part of the shopping area. It's one of the touristy buildings of Stuttgart. I saw it in the rain. That counts.
More on my current location, Vienna soon.

Backpacking: Paris (cont.)

Okay, so I said that I would continue to say a little more about Paris considering I had such little time and space to do so yesterday. Paris was amazing. It's a beautiful city and I was able to catch up with an old friend from high school too. All around good time. Did I mention making conversation with Americans at a café? Underfed and overtired, I wandered the streets of Paris looking for something both small and cheap to eat. One because I didn't one to spend money, but two to not eat a heavy meal that would weigh me down for the rest of the day.

That being said and it only being about 11 in the morning, I found a small café where I heard an American couple talking to another American man. I plopped myself down, feeling strangely homely amongst the four of us considering we were the only ones occupying the café at the time. The couple was just leaving and I ended up making conversation with a guy a little bit older than my dad from Portland. We talked about my studies, about Paris and Berlin, about how his wife works mostly in Paris hence the travelling he or his wife get to do a lot. He gave me a few recommendations about what to do in Paris on a budget and then as he was about to leave, paid for my bill. Damn, should have ordered something more expensive. Just kidding. I politelz protested, and he argued with, "I was once a student too."
"Fun times being a student in the recession."
"All the more reason you should let me pay. You're still paying for school."
Done.
Anyway the day continues with me mostly wandering aimlessly around Paris somehow becoming more accompanied with it than I thought would be possibly. When I did finally meet up with my friend later that evening I felt like a Paris pro...despite the fact that I had no idea what anything was called that I had actually walked to.
We grabbed dinner, which was great. I think anyone living in London should make the trip to Paris just to eat because it's nearly the same price, if not cheaper, and the food doesn't suck. Yeah, London, I said it. Take it. Oh, did I mention we got desert on the Champs-Élysées? Yeah, we're just that classy.
I found the people...French. I lie. Overall I found them incredibly pleasant except for one woman who wouldn't sell me a few things because she didn't want to break a 20 bill for my 4 Euro purchase. Once I produced 4 Euros in coins, she was more than pleasant and obliged. She was indeed French.
Paris was stunning and it may be best to let the pictures do the talking...once I'm able to get them posted. Give me a day or two. It's hard to say everything about a place. I know it was great so that's that, I suppose. Pics to come soon.
Paris List:
Eat croissant [check]
Eat brie [check]
Eat baguette [check]
Wear a beret [check]
Smoke a Gauloises cigarette [check]
Drink wine [check]
Listen to one Jacques Brel song [check]
Eat crepe [check]

Backpacking: Paris

Well, like always, a little bit of my writing about what has already happened. In reality I'm in Vienna right now, but what about Paris?
I mean, I guess I should write something about it. Paris was beautiful. Unfortunately I can't upload pictures right now, but soon I will. The city is basically overloading with beautiful architecture, which I love looking at. I get the feeling that it could take me a life time with a camera just to even understand some the architecture of Paris. That being said I wish I did drugs because I think the Palais Garnier (Paris Opera House) would have been even crazier if I were tripping balls.
Arrival in Paris was unique as I've said, but what I may not have said. I think that I trekked around Paris for nearly 10 hours that day considering I came in before the sun rose. Maybe a few hours more. I sat a little, maybe an hour and a half tops between coffee and two small meals. It's not really a bad thing when you think about it, until you factor in the 22-pound backpack I lugged around all day. In short as far as my trekking goes, I watched a beautiful sunrise over the Palais Garnier and the Seine, was scammed at the Eiffel Tower (but whatever). It pales in comparison to the rest of my stay.
Ok...I will write more in a bit, but paying for internet with two minutes left means I better make sure I log out of everything. bis später.

The Writing in SNL

I think the writing is coming back because I can't help but think SNL is just plain awesome lately. Thanks SNL, for becoming awesome when I moved to Europe.

Arrival in Paris

So let’s just say the experience on the sleeper train I was so excited for was well, interesting. The ride was pleasant and as one would expect about a sleep like that, I had awoken several times during the night only to finally get comfortable and sleeping rather deeply as we were approaching the station in Paris. C’est la vie. Fuck yeah, I said it. I probably spelled it wrong though.
Anyway after some much needed confusion on my own behalf as I wandered aimlessly around Paris Est for some time and tried desperately to call my friend though I could not connect, I finally decided to suck it up, buy a metro ticket, and head out. By the way, it was still before sunrise. I take the subway to Opéra, because let’s face it, I would like to see the Palais Garnier once in my life instead of the Vegas imitation of it. To be honest, I thought the Palais Garnier was probably located somewhere else and decided that I would go out on a whim to the Opéra subway stop. Perfection. I get out of the subway, turn around and behold, the Palais Garnier. Beautiful. I know, I keep reiterating the fact, but to be honest it was one of those great moments: the sun was rising over Paris and hitting the building in morning light. That’s pretty fucking gorgeous, admit it.
This is then followed by more confused walking until I got here, well, here for the time being. That’s a Starbucks on a street that I believe is Rue de Seze. I have no idea. But realistically I can’t get internet right now and like most of my posts, this is written ahead of time. So at about 9:00 am in Paris, I was/am/etc sitting in a Starbucks (I know what you’re thinking about that too) without internet with 10% battery left and an electrical outlet that won’t work. But that’s ok. I’m here. Sore, confused, maybe frustrated, relieved…but here nonetheless.

Backpacking: Salzburg 2, Munich 1

Belated posting (nothing out of the ordinary):
I left Salzburg this afternoon for Munich (Oct 22). A few pictures I said I'd put up about Salzburg:
Breakfast outside of Mozart's birth house:
Walking along the banks of the Salzach:

Eating handmade bon-bons in Mirabell Garden:

Mozart family grave:

More updates on Munich later.
Hofbrauhaus Munich:

Backpacking: Salzburg

A quick update on London. Crumpet were not accomplished. We can cry about it later.

But Salzburg had a rather short list:
Find some form of Edelweiss [check]
Watch at least ten minutes of the Sound of Music [check] (I ended up watching over half)

I love Salzburg.

I don't know what it is about Salzburg that just makes me completely in love with it. I left friends in London at about 2:15 in the morning to take the hour long bus to Stansted and then the 6:30 flight to Salzburg. Horrible with shitty sleep, but once I hit Salzburg it didn't matter. After all was said in done with arrivals and S-Bahn I arrived at the hostel at about 10:30 and considering I was a half hour early to check in, I went to the lounge, made cheap conversations with some Aussies and watched the first half of "The Sound of Music." I'm not ashamed to admit it. I was tired. And CHECK on my list of stuff to do.

As for that form of Edelweiss. Apparently there's something here called Edelweiss Beer. I held back though, not wanting to both bust my budget or drink really. I had a half a small beer last night and that was just enough with my semi-splurge food.

More to the point about my arrival is that I had been expecting to sleep when I got to the hostel and perhaps venturing out a little later, but once I got in, I was fine. I locked my bag up and hit the town. I'd say I was on my feet for a good 5 hours or so yesterday. Stopping to sit for about ten minutes to have a cappuccino. More walking, more walking. And I loved it all. It didn't matter to me that I was more than likely dehydrated, under-slept, and under-fed the entire day. Come to think of it, here was the menu for the whole of yesterday:
2:30: Apple
3:50: Cappuccino
7:45: Dinner
And that was my whole day of eating yesterday. I felt a little hungry maybe once. And that was it. Not bad considering I hadn't eaten since about 7 the night before for my pre-show dinner. More on that another time.

I can't help but feel at least just a little sad about leaving Salzburg. There's more things I want to do here, but it will have to wait another time. I'm going to come back. Beyond its complete and utter beauty, I just have this sense of peace about it. Yes,"Sound of Music" makes it happy-go-lucky, but it's beautiful and pleasant without that. The weather was just beyond amazing that I wished I was wearing short-sleeves instead of my layered outfit yesterday. So yes, I stripped down to my undershirt and took on the city, walking along the banks of the Salzach, climbing up to one of the many bell towers that overlook the city. Stunning, everything about it. It could be pouring rain and I'd probably still think it was great, but of course the weather was more than perfect.

Ah, well, I will put some pictures up when I can. Of course, I left the wire to my card reader back in Berlin. Pictures will come when they can.

SNL and the Palin Rap

Dear SNL, you complete me.

Love, Jill

Euro-Backpacking To Do List: London

London

eat crumpets

drink tea [check]

eat scone [check]

see show [check]

eat fish and chips (extra check if with mushy peas) [check][check]

use word "tube," "queue," and "holiday" properly [check][check]

eat curry/Indian food [check]

listen to at least 1 Mary Poppins song [check]

try Guiness (from this side of the Lake) [check]

smoke Benson and Hedges [check]

Damn you crumpets for being so hard to find that the place called "Crumpets" was run by idiots with no sense fo patience and a menu that lacked the word "crumpets" that I felt like an idiot to ask. So no crumpets.  I have 13 hours left in London.

Backpacking: London

I’ve been bad about keeping this up. I’ve started writing things and never actually finished them or posted them, but the most updated thing comes from here.

And thus starts the European Backpacking Adventure. Oh yes, I said it. And here goes another check mark on the list of things that I have to do before I die.

Jill’s list of things to do before she dies:

Work on a production in a professional NYC house before age 25 [check]

Go backpacking in Europe [check]

Be successful (emotionally and financially)

Have a high position on a film or broadcast before 25 [check]

With that last point being said, a little shameless self-promotion that I will be billed as Associate Producer (so they tell me) and was the stage manager to “filmed” version of “Voices in Conflict,” which is set to air Nov. 10 on CPTV.

And back to other stuff. So the vacation list more or less looks like this:

London, Salzburg, Munich, Paris, Nice, Geneva, some area of Germany and then back to Berlin

I’m doing the whole spiel. I’ve got the backpack, the hostels, the Ryanair flights, and the trains. The only thing that’s missing is a real sense of money, but I figured that could always be worked out later…well, we’ll see.

So here I am in London staying with some friends in the NYU Abroad program. Thus far I’ve seen Buckingham Palace and seen other things from afar. Yeah, it was at night. It was cold. I was tired, hungry, lazy. I’ve got another day so I’ll shove it onto tomorrow. I’m happy to say that my list of things to do in London is nearly complete as well.  You can see it below. 

Surprisingly, crumpets are not as easy to come by as one might think.  You can get this enormous breakfast though. Looks more like a cowboy meal than a “full English breakfast.”

London is grey. That’s a given, but so is Berlin. But the transportation system here is okay. It’s spread out for me and I suppose I’m almost disenchanted by the fact that the city is rich and established. It almost lacks personality. I don’t even know if I’m forcing comparison to Berlin or New York, but London definitely has a different feel to it. As much as I had held high hopes of England, I couldn’t help but immediately feel the “Oh…you’re an American” pompous attitude. It started the moment we came in through Stansted.

“Oh, they're Americans it makes sense now,” muttered the guy checking our passports as we came up to the counter in confusion.

“And this one’s from Texas. That makes even more sense,” he commented on my friend’s passport.

Upon hearing that we’re studying in Germany, he immediately perked up to another one of us with a, “Bleiben sie hier?” to which I responded that most of us didn’t speak German. “Typical American,” he continued. So for the rest of the time I spoke German to him, wishing him a sarcastic “Schönes Wochenende,” before moving along.

Remember to make sure you know exactly what you’re getting or the restaurants will keep adding to your bill.  It’s under the assumption you’re visiting. Refuse additional foods or services and the list goes on.

But the experience of being in London I think is a nice one. I do get to see friends and experience something that I may never be able to do again.  For that I’ll take it for what it is.

The next destination: Salzburg, Austria.

Do, a beer, a female deer

And we're back from an exciting and somewhat overwhelming weekend on the German and Austria road.  For anyone who is planning to spend a decent amount of time in Germany, I highly recommend renting a car and hitting the road.  Major props to our driver who taught himself manual transmission within a few hours and drove the near seven hours to Munich to our campsite.That's right, you read that correctly.  Campsite.  Seven us squeezed into a car to drive seven hours to Munich to sleep in a freezing tent in lovely Munich.  Of course, I don't really know how beautiful Munich or Bavaria it was so overwhelmed by Oktoberfest.  

Ah yes, the drunks came by the thousands to bask in the warmth of a crowded beer hall and stuff themselves with tourist-friendly German food and liters of Paulaner beer (the beer of Oktoberfest 2008).

....I think this is the post that lack motivation to be finished.