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Day 2: Germany to Poland
Aug. 16th, 2012 08:19 amRemember when I said I was going to sleep? That didn't happen. This may be my only time in Berlin, there are adventures to be had! I tracked down the location to The Last Cathedral, a goth club that was just a few Underground stops away. The decor was over the top Goth: red walls, skulls everywhere, murals on the wall, a teeny tiny dance space in the back. They also served Strongbow, which was the first cider I encountered in Berlin. I just missed returning on the Underground at one, so I stayed out until three. There's a story about what happened next, but that's for another time.
I checked out and had breakfast at the hostel, surrounded by twenty somethings and a few older folks. I think I heard about six different languages being spoken. According to the maps, I should be able to take the Underground and a bus to the airport to meet one of my gaming
friends. I could have spared myself a thirty euro cab ride to the hotel. Remember that number.
It took about five connections, including some overground lines, which gave me a wider view of Berlin. My hostel was in an older part of the city (near Potsdam Plaza), the place I crossed was newer: lots of apartment style buildings covered with satelite dishes. Another thing
about Berlin; every train car comes complete with it's own homeless person begging for change. It was a bit alarming.
I met Matt and Casey (his girlfriend) at Schonenfeld airport. We contacted one of the ETC organizers, who sent a cab from Gorzow Wielkopolski to pick us up for 87 euros. That's right; cab ride form the airport to the hostel? 30 euros. Two and a half hour ride from Poland to Berlin and back? 87 euros.
So far, Poland is very rustic; lots of forests and farms with cattle in the field. We drove on many small rodes with no houses in sight, and came to rotaries where six roads converged in one tight circle. Eventually we arrived in Gorzow Wielkopolski. There is a distinct style and feel in Europe. The buildings are often painted in bright colors, and the architectural feel is older and sort of timeless. Some neighborhoods still have cobblestone streets. We spent a bit of time at the school where the ETC is going on, then back to Hotel Azyl to crash with the USA team. Today's lesson was that English is much rarer in Poland than in Germany.
It's a little after 8:00. We'll off to breakfast (kielbasa and pierogies!) and then we return to the school for some pick-up games, and meeting with the rest of my team. Tomorrow the ETC begins. What is the ETC? Tune in later to find out!
I checked out and had breakfast at the hostel, surrounded by twenty somethings and a few older folks. I think I heard about six different languages being spoken. According to the maps, I should be able to take the Underground and a bus to the airport to meet one of my gaming
friends. I could have spared myself a thirty euro cab ride to the hotel. Remember that number.
It took about five connections, including some overground lines, which gave me a wider view of Berlin. My hostel was in an older part of the city (near Potsdam Plaza), the place I crossed was newer: lots of apartment style buildings covered with satelite dishes. Another thing
about Berlin; every train car comes complete with it's own homeless person begging for change. It was a bit alarming.
I met Matt and Casey (his girlfriend) at Schonenfeld airport. We contacted one of the ETC organizers, who sent a cab from Gorzow Wielkopolski to pick us up for 87 euros. That's right; cab ride form the airport to the hostel? 30 euros. Two and a half hour ride from Poland to Berlin and back? 87 euros.
So far, Poland is very rustic; lots of forests and farms with cattle in the field. We drove on many small rodes with no houses in sight, and came to rotaries where six roads converged in one tight circle. Eventually we arrived in Gorzow Wielkopolski. There is a distinct style and feel in Europe. The buildings are often painted in bright colors, and the architectural feel is older and sort of timeless. Some neighborhoods still have cobblestone streets. We spent a bit of time at the school where the ETC is going on, then back to Hotel Azyl to crash with the USA team. Today's lesson was that English is much rarer in Poland than in Germany.
It's a little after 8:00. We'll off to breakfast (kielbasa and pierogies!) and then we return to the school for some pick-up games, and meeting with the rest of my team. Tomorrow the ETC begins. What is the ETC? Tune in later to find out!
