Frohes Neues!! (FROY-es Noy-es)

Happy New Year, Germanophiles!

Flight was only slightly turbulent (immediately after eating dinner- thank you windsheers)! Made a new Phillipino friend (hi Julio!) and arrived in Frankfurt with no problems. Met another new friend (Hi Camille!) who is a bostonian studying abroad in Berlin and we lost our luggage together (turned out we were just standing at the wrong luggage turntable thingy!) (Unfortunately, she actually did lose some luggage, sorry Camille, gotta run!) The hardest part, honestly of trying to get to Koblenz, was figuring out how to use these gosh darn payphones!

I think airports are built to intimidate/impress foreigners (this was done successfully in Frankfurt).

When Sarah met me at Koblenz, we visited the grocery store, and walked back to her apt. (her roommate is a total hottie, but I have yet to speak a full sentence to him. He only speaks to me in gestures through Sarah. We'll figure something out, maybe I'll be able to converse with him in the language of Love.) Here are the grocery store and some graffiti!

After a nap to catch up with my jet legs, we were startled by the prevalence of fireworks on our brisk walk down a tributary of the rhine. we visited Kaiser Wilhelm and Mozel + Rhine meeting point and admired the European tone of the place. also, the ducks. (and a swan)

This is a terrific photo mainly because it does not show how Terrified Sarah was of this swan!

We ate a delicious dinner of fresh pasta, fresh bread and red wine. Then popped a bottle of champagne before we headed into town to see the real celebrations! (we brought the champagne with us Mimosa style in a Nalgene, very tasteful, very chic.)

We joined a large crowd of people admiring the fireworks in a square. There was a band playing American Rockabilly which was terrific for dancing, however my lack of German hindered me on the dance floor. I asked one guy who then spoke to his friend and giggled like a school girl and didn't respond. I then wrote him off as gay. Sarah and I danced our faces off and had a killer time. My dress made a bigger hit as we wandered Koblenz looking for another place to dance. We stumbled into an Irish bar and started dancing with some seamen, we were bought tequila shots. We were stars! ("from the big apple!")

What a wonderful Night! Its a great time to be in Germany (without knowing German)!

Auf Weidersehen!

Gigi

p.s. here's the Rockabilly band Danny and the Wonderbras during their encore.

My Mother Dresses Me Funny

Hey Germaniacs!

Just checking in one last time while in "The States". When I arrive in Frankfurt, it will be about 6am local time on December 31st (or the 31st of December if you're European). I'm getting in on New Year's Eve! Now, my mom says "if you can't wear a sequined dress on New Year's, when can you?!" then she promptly bought me a sequined dress. (exhibit A)

Listen, I know this dress is ridiculous. (I even tried that line on Momma.) Especially since I'm betting the circle of German folks my dearest (and often bohemian) Sarah will be celebrating with tend to stray from the Richard Simmons end of the wardrobe spectrum. I however, will be flashier than a Hollywood whorehouse. In conjunction - oh how I long to blame this on my mom, but unfortunately I must own up - I painted my nails a heinous silver to go with the outfit. (exhibit B)

So there's that.

Mom also talked me into buying some gold shoes to coordinate with my outfit. I hope I'm not mistaken for the Star of Bethlehem, there would be too much explaining in sputtering, mortified, tear-filled English to non-native speakers. (alas! no pictures of the shoes, they're packed away. You'll see them in later posts I assure you.)

Worry not, my dear readers. I will own this outfit. Just like I have owned many of my other "cute" outfits. One day, around age 10, she came home with Pepto-Bismol pink loafers from TJ Maxx. I gagged at the sight and demanded they be returned. She insisted I try them. They were my favorite shoes for the ensuing 9 months. Honestly! Who wears Pink Loafers?!

I did.

I've learned to give in and let Ingie's terrible taste in clothes be my fashion statement.

Pray for safe travels and nice weather!

Auf Weidersehen,

Gigi

Preparations!

Merry Christmas everybody!

I'm going to Germany on December 30th! Sarah Fetterhoff is living in Koblenz and my New Year Resolution is to spend every New Year's Day with her! No flight over the Atlantic is complete without a (photo)blog of your trip!

In preparation, I've decided to take some of my Christmas money and diminish it's spending capabilities by turning it into Euros!

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I'm excited to rifle through the box marked "Ugly Christmas Sweaters" and load them into my luggage to ward off those Deutschland chills. (I wonder if those foreign men fall for girls dressed in sequins and wool?) I just realized my expected travel time is something like 23 hours. I'm really thrilled! because that means I'll get to time warp into the future by about 7 hours! But honestly, I have no idea what kind of food to pack so I don't starve or dehydrate. I guess this legitimizes my near constant watching of Survivorman today. I'll make a urine still and capture airport scorpions to maintain my food energy. I hope security doesn't confiscate my multi-tool.

Here's my list:

Get Cash

Load iPod

Pack Lots of Warm Clothes

Books
Snacks

Present(s)

Save room for wine

Passport

Wallet

Don't forget toothbrush

I think that just about covers it. And my cordial cherry buzz is fading.

auf Wiedersehen,

Gigi