Berlin

We just rolled into Berlin, tired as hell. Our Hostel is... how should i say, budget.
Tours and shopping tomorrow.

Birthday in Schwerin

My amazing relatives here in Germany set up a party for me with many gifts. We look a little tired due to the 8 hour drive that day from Amsterdam, but it was more than worth the drive when we got "home" to Schwerin.

I am very lucky to have family as amazing as the Steckers.

Paris Photos

This is me in front of Caeser in the Louvre. If you haven´t been the Louvre is probably the single greatest meuseum in the world. It takes an entire day just to see it all, and more to really do it justice. We had a blast, and spent the whole day wandering around it.

Then off to Notre Dame, which is an amazing site itself. Right on the river, it is striking.

Then the party. We didn´t realize it was June 21st, the summer solstice. We also didn´t realize that ment it was a non stop party on the streets of Paris. The 5th 6th and 7th arrondissements where full of bands, playing right on the streets. It was the largest rock concert i had ever seen.

A-Dam

day 2 in Amsterdam = day 1 of recovering.
we took the red light district by storm, walking almost all of it.
then we entered the "Moulin Rouge" live sex club...
the first 20 mins went by with little fan fare, strange show with
huge lady bringing dudes on stage with a big ending involving a banana.
then a regular strip show
then the live sex show
not going to change your life, but worth the visit. the real excitement that night was the people in the club with us. after 20 mins mike and i moved to the bar area closer to the stage
the whole place was VERY small and we had to squeeze by this loud
group of ladies all in their 40's who were very drunk, and very Irish.
they saw us coming and began the hooting and chattering, and as we
tried to squeeze by (me in the lead) we were, how should i say, fondled.
and not just by one. picture a long bar with stools, and a wall very close behind the stools, we
were trying to get past behind them and they almost all leaned back, and started gropping.
they claimed they were the 7 Irish Virgins, and when we mercifuly got past the
chatter didn't stop. Mike and I now know what it is like to be a woman walking by a contruction site. as it turned out they were a blast to talk with as we watched the show.

We realize after about 2 hours that the show just keeps repeating the same 4 acts, and we were about to leave. then a college rugby team walked in. about 30 of them all in their jerseys. they packed in the entire area behind the bar and more. we were packed in tight, and the fun began again. by this time the vodkabulls began taking effect on me and i started to poke some fun at the rugby team, some nonsense about american football, and real men don't run around in shorts and kick the ball when someone's coming... i decided this was a poor corse of action for two reasons
1. they were all very cool to talk to and good houmored
2. there were 30 of them
these guys were great to talk to, and we talked for at least an hour straight, only interupted by the entire team breaking out in a team chant, or the stripper pulling an impressive move involving 30 feet of string and no hands. after my 10th vodkabull and 3rd time seeing the show revolve we spilled out into the night only to be hammered by rain and cold as we headed back to our hotel.

a night to remember

Eiffel Tower Weds, Louvre on Thursday

My dogs are barking! I have walked Paris and it was worth every step. I have some great pics, but this internet cafe besides having the most confusing keyboard in history, cannot load pics. We went to the very top of the Eiffel Tower, a two hour round trip experience, an hour and 45 mins of it standing in various lines. Worth it though, we saw all of Paris from the top, beautiful. TODAY we hit the Louvre for 5 hours, then Notre Dame, and much to our suprise when we came out of the church the Paris night was full of music. Being summer solstice, the streets were FILLED with bands and people. We saw at least 10 bands playing on street corners. Full bands, drums, bass, and all. There were punk bands, metal bands, electronica, all kinds, and people everywhere for blocks and blocks, it was the first time i have seen cars just flat out lose, the people owned the streets... amazing.

pics to follow

Hamburg Tomorrow

We are off to Hamburg tomorrow, and then Paris on the 20th.
Pics and stories to follow.

Pizza Night

"Crazy Dog" pizza
Pickles, chopped up hot dogs, bacon, bbq sauce.

wow
i cant say i would recommend it.

Cousin Elisa und mich

More pics from Baltic sea.

Relaxing in Schwerin

A non-stop feasting here supplied by my German realatives. I have had more meat and taters in the last few days than the whole year before. Where we are straying is beautiful and the people are amazing. As always pictures will follow the next few days.

We are off to Radune tomorrow, it is a small villiage that has had a Stecker (my mothers side of the family) resident in it since the 14th century. We will be seeing the "stecker farm" and church area in the morning.

On another note, i have finaly gotten my cell phone situation straight. Right after getting my German number my phone went out and wanted info i did not have, 3 more days of no phone after that. Now all is well, my number if you call from USA is 011491734322589 lotta numbers.

More later

Schwerin Church

The main church in Schwerin was built in 1175 with many additions later. This stairway was 219 steps to the tower, it seemed like 1000 steps.

Mike tries windsurfing on Baltic Sea

My traveling buddy Mike takes a shot at windsurfing, after 2 hours he gave up.

At the Guinness Brewery

Schwerin

Wanted to get a few pictures up. These were our 1st of 14 Guinness we had in Dublin. Yeah 14 each, was a very fun two days. Dublin was beautiful and the weather was amazing. We saw many many pubs, including the Brazen head which is the oldest pub in Ireland, est. 1198.

Guinness anyone?

Day 2 in Ireland has been amazing
Guinness brewery tour, bus tour of city.
all after late night of hitting the pints
we managed 7 pints of Guinness each
and handled a phone call from mother in the middle
of it all.

I have many amazing picture to put up when i can.

tomorrow
Hamburg