Just write the check.

I should not be posting in the state I am in - Spud you will get this reference. Look at the dialogue between Homer and his brain and just writing a check. Any way, I am sitting in Berlin while the town erupts in joy. Deutschland just won the Game. The only way I can put this into words is to imgaine the Bears, Hawks, Cubs, Sox and yes the Fire all won a Championship in the same day! I know this may be wrong to compare but it is like winning a huge battle in a war but without anyone dying. Everyone is out of there minds including me. Lets just say I had a bartender snickered at me when he said he only had Erdinger Dark Beer left for me - it is kicking my butt right now.

Funny thing, some things are universal. A couple in love on the train to the game, rowdy fans ready for the game...and the fighting couple on the way home from the game. I couldn`t understand a word they were saying but all I know was the guy was doing a lot of talking and the woman was giving him the eye.

People - I can't provide the words necesary to describe Berlin during a German World Cup Win. I should (should) be in Frankfurt tomorrow and should be able to load pics. Dad you will be proud, during my stooper...walk home, I thought I should take a pic of the Lock system. I was thinking of you.

And yes Tony that was a Banner Personnel shirt that I was wearing and have been wearing while here in Germany. Tell Emil that she has Turkey coverd, I have Germany.

Blog problem

If the post Man down, Man Down! doesn' show up (it wasn't as I was trying to post) just click on June Archives on the right of the screen.

Man down, Man down!

Houston we have a problem. We are OK but we had a change of plans. Something got a hold of Tom and he is not able to leave the hostel (needs to be near a WC). So he decided to call it quits and play it safe and just head back to Frankfurt on Sat. Can't say I blame him. No fun being sick and not being at home.

So I am back in Berlin but not without my own minor problems. Got off the wrong stop in Berlin at 10:30PM last night. Try navigating a city late at night, no one around, for some crazy reason everything is in a foreign language, and its cold out. Fun. Made it back to my hole in the wall and convinced the front desk person to allow me run a load of laundry. Not a good idea. She new very little English and was going to be no help if I need some (foreshadowing). So I figure a washing machine is a washing machine. Heck I sold these things at Home Depot - I know my stuff. Yeah I was all wrong.

The short version is didn't have the water on - couldn't figure out the German instructions on the wall or German knobs on the machine. The detergent ended up getting stuck on the little window, didn't really get any soap into the wash - couldn't unlock the door when finally figured out how to start it and get water going in. Wash kept going for 2 hours - now 2:00AM. The load never rinsed just keeps washing, figured out combo to open the door and have to hand wring the clothes out in a sink. Start dryer at 2:00 which has sign saying "please don't start wash after 11:00PM" do you know why? Cause the dryer is WWII surplus and is as noisy as a jet taking off - and it says for wet loads it takes 85 Minutes. In the end at 3:30AM I take out the still very wet clothes, and now extremely hot(but no less dry) and lay them out in the room. Hey this is just part of being me.

So far and looks like for the remaining trip I am using hostels - yeah want was I thinking. To be honest it is a bit more dirty over here than I thought. So unless I pass out somewhere I am going to make use of the these little rooms.

On my way to the fan fest in Berlin to see Germany advance on to the next round!

Time to get back to Deutschland.

Prague was great but now its time to get back to some serious soccer. Soon I should get some new photos up and some clean clothes. Life is good. Just a quick entry as I am about to jump on the train back to Berlin.

Prague? Did we miss a turn?

Nope, we decided on side venture to Prague after getting some tremendous help from a group of Americans in Kaiserslautern. K-town as the Aussies called it is near the Rammstein Air Force Base. Sorry no photo updates, seem to be on the run and haven't found an internet cafe that allows the plug in. Also - so far no homeless nights! Been rooming at some hostels for 40-50 Euro a night which isn't so bad.

Oh and by the way, went to watch the Espana / French game in the big Fan Fest - those rumors of German efficiency way over blown. Granted it was built for a big game like Friday but they didn't shorten the way to get into it for these small games. Imagine Wally world and that you have to go through the whole line labyrinth to get into the viewing area. It took about 10 minutes to get in to set with the other 4 people watching in this big tent. I was kinda ticked. Oh, Oh and they wouldn't let me in the front gate! I had to go back and buy a ticket (not marked well) and then the ticket said I had to go into Gate 12, which was the opposite side of this damn thing. And Krauts being Krauts, following all the rules, they wouldn't let me in the gate I was at - you know in case of a mad rush of people. - OK, enough of a rant - it was still awesome(except the French won).

And the comments everyone is leaving is awesome! I got a post from my niece Nicole!

I did tell Katie the sights are great but I haven't found a laundry so someone is getting a little ripe.

This is going to be tough.

I am not sure I can put into words what I felt walking into the World Cup game. What an incredible rush. Huge lines of people all geared up for a great match. The noise of the crowd before the game was intense. You could feel the energy in the place and the feeling watching the game play out - I can't put this into words. One interesting thing is the wave of feelings going through the fans. Italian fans cheering on the Aussies before the game - yelling at the top of their lungs during the game and shaking fists - and then drinking and laughing into the early morning. Damn those Aussies can drink. It was hard to tell that they had lost.

One note - I did end up paying a bit more as there were tickets for sale near the gate for about 2/3 what I paid but who knows if they were real and besides I saw a freaking World Cup game!

Photos

Couldn't get pictures to load here so I created a web site via geocities. The link is on the side with the other links. Things may get a little less updated as we are now with a hotel until we break down and get a room. Off to see the Italian game. This is so freakin awesome.

It is unreal how much we must stick out - everytime someone addresses us they go from speaking German to English. One guy was asking everyone around us if a seat was free at this coffee shop - he gets to us and asks "Hey guys is this seat open?" like we were downtown Chicago. Unreal.

Guess who is going to the GAME!

So I got a ticket to the Italy game tomorrow in Kaiserslautern. Who knows if it is real, who knows if I can get in, who knows if Das Welt doesn't end before I find out. But I am going!!!!

BTW, note that the z and y are interchanged on German kezboards so I am going to trz and tzpe correctlz but I maz slip sometimes.

Back to the ticket! Can you believe it - I am going to a freakin game!!! I feel kinda bad but the guy who sold me the ticket is from Italy and I am going to be cheering the socceroos. Katie, don't worry I only had to sell a kidney and Tom into slavery. Two Romanians picked him up for 40 Euro - I thought that was a good deal. Sorry Claire (Tom's wife).

Still working on the picture thing. All is well, Tom and I are spending time hanging out at coffee shops and just watching the world go by between games.

Oh and 1 more thing

So far no Dachshunds and no German Shepards. What the hell. But Ed's I did see a Huskie.

OK

Whatever I said before forget! Seeing Germany win in Germany...priceless. Well worth the ticket over the pond. Just went to Sechsehnhaus strasse? puts Molly's to shame you NIU alum. Whoa. What a show - got in a shoving match over the Argentina - Mexico game between 2 huge German guys. Why wouldn't I. Let's just say the good German water was flowing and it seemed the right thing to do. Guy, plenty of English fans over here - actually buy the horde. I am turning into a WestHam fan due to the abundance of fans. Not really, still a Gunner. Guy, what is the name of the Web site you always go to?

OK so really. Nothing like being in Frankfurt when Germany wins. What a crowd! Crazy Krauts all over the place.

Here is the sappy moment of this blog. I miss Katie soooo much. Right now since I am in a hotel and have all the creature comforts, Katie would enjoy this. 48 hours from now when I am sleeping with the bums I have befriended, then it would be more a time for Brian L or Spudman Dan.

Day 1 and still alive.

Well I just tried posting a picture and it didn't take so not sure I can do that here. Anyhow I was kinda joking about the trouble we could get into here but I guess I shouldn't have been joking. They and to clear one of the stands at the Fan Fest during the Tunsia and Ukraniane game. Nothing too bad but still full swat, cops and paddy wagons. I don't think anyone thinks its a big deal here until they break out the tear gas. Other wise seeing the sites, watching the games everyone speaking English. Honestly, we almost have to remind ourselves that we are in Germany.

Well we made it!

This is kinda tough as the Web site is in German so I am not sure if this will post correctly. The Air India experience was very interesting. And of course we were greeted by a McDonalds as soon as we got off the plane (which will make my future Father-in-law happy). I plan on uploading a picture of that fine welcome to Deutschland if I get the camera thing happening. Things seem cool and I can't wait to get to a Fan Fest for one of the games. And you better believe we had a beer after a pretty much sleepless night, met some English soccer fans and checked in. It's a start!

That was a close one.

OK, you can read Katie's account on the 108 Blog, I am just saying I knew the ticket had to be around somewhere. Whelp, don't know what all the hooplah was all about - finished packing with an hour to spare. Now I am just bored. Yes I am this far into my Blog entry without mentioning that USA just got eliminated from the World Cup by Ghana...I am not making that up. Please take a second and look up what size Ghana is and then compare to the USA. Who would've thunk it. Oh well. We are heading to the Fatherland!

You aren't packed yet?!?

Ah the ladies. I have heard the same comment about the approaching adventure, "Aren't you packed yet?" And the answer is always, "I am getting there" but the reality is I have been busy getting things done. Well actually watching the World Cup games, downloading music for the ipod I am not bringing, and catching a nap. OK so now I am really getting down the the last minute and need to make sure I get down to the important stuff...like updating a blog :) To be completely honest Tom and I went over our lists of what we are bringing and we feel good. I bought two emergency blankets for sleeping outside and we have enough money for beer. I am getting last minute tips about how to order beer (thank you Andy) and not get pick pocketed (thanks Pops). We are taking off less that 24 hours.

Get ready, Get set...Get ready

With Katie being out of town my job is to belie her fears that I am ill prepared for this little sojourn. So to do that I figured I should start packing. Some of you know that I am cramming my stuff in a small backpack. Traveling light seems the best approach especially with the amount of walking I think is in store for me. So, I got home from work (plug-Banner Personnel) and almost got started, but then I was saved from that tough work from a couple of good friends. Dan called and said we should grab a beer before I leave for Germany and he leaves for Colorado. Great idea. Then Paul called and said he is in the neighborhood and why don't we grab a beer. Great idea. Needless to say, packing will have to be done at another time and I know what you are thinking...I will try to do it before I am running late for my flight. Oh please, you know I will be running late.

The Story.

For those who don't know yet I am leaving for Germany on Thursday, 06.22.06 with my friend since High School, Tom W. The plan is to travel around Germany to catch some World Cup action. To add a catch to my first every European trip, we are only booking rooms for the first 3 nights. After that we are living off the land or the kindness of strangers...or we break down and book more nights. Tom is returning on July 1st so I will finish out the adventure as a solo act. And then after the big game (July 9th) I will be returning on July 11th. Both ways I am traveling Air India, which for those who know me and my travels, fits just perfectly. No worries, meeting new people never seems to be an issue.

The idea is to do the World Cup on the cheap. With a wedding coming up in August, a house that is a mega project in itself, it seems "on the cheap" is the best way to go. Let me be honest and say that spending Euros will be prioritized in this order: Beer, possible game ticket , food and then room (with food and room being optional).

My plan is to update this blog along the way as I am told Internet cafes are very common. So if you don't hear from me it may be that I was shanghaied and sold to slave labor in Budapest. Though Katie has laid down the law and the rules are: I have to come back, if I get arrested the bail money has to come out of the trip budget and absolutely no funny stuff - you know what I mean.

Well, bis spater dudes and dudettes.

A good Test

Just doing a little testing before I leave the States. Trust me, he is excited by the World Cup. We just finished watching the Netherlands beat the Ivory Coast.