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!