Tracy was like “are you seriously you gonna be the whole day in Pisa? It is very small, what are you gonna do there?” Noooo don’t worry, the tour will be Pisa – San Gimignano and Siena. Then she was relieved to know it, quote “then it’s OK, you won’t be bored”
Tomato tomatoes with the day before, tour starts at 07:30 AM meeting point at 07:15 AM, it does feels like a disciplinary holiday 😉 the only reason I enjoyed waking up early. On the way to the meeting point, I met a couple, her name is Meta, she said she got an Email explaining they will got a refund because the Bishop decided to have a Mass on Siena’s church. I don’t get any Mail nor WA, then I know they went in a full mode including wine tasting + lunch + guided tour in Sienna while I only for transportation version.
We’ve got 45 minutes at Pisa. Our guide Fabi explained there are 4 parts to see: Baptistery – Church – Pisa Tower – Cemetery, describes the beginning and end of life.
I looked for another solo rider, aha, found her, Nora from the States 🙂 Passed the gate, seeing Pisa was an overwhelming feeling, although it was or is not considered 7 Wonders of the World, for me it is. I always saw it in Internet now it’s right before my eyes.
When you see the bottom of it, it does tilt, the picture didn’t do the justice. Obviously you need to have a mandatory pushing Pisa pictures haha.
We circled around….that was it hahaha! The whole city was literally centered in this square haha. Previously I was confused to why should I be bored in Pisa? #Understood 😉
We’ve given up on where’s the cemetery. Some says “you’ll find what you’re looking for when you’re not searching for it”. That’s exactly happened, we find the last part of life when we were supposed to be back to our meeting point. With that, Pisa: checked!
Fabi counted if all people are on the bus, she said “please sit back at your original seat guys, no revolution” hahaha so changing the seat consider revolution now heyyy 😀
Next to a medieval hill town called San Gimignano. Meta and Nora are the full tour people, they will have their wine tasting and lunch. Which means, I explore this town all by myselffff. Right after I entered the gate, I followed arrow to Punto Panoramico, what will it lead me to? A green panoramic view 🙂
Need to refuel my energy with Lasagna + Hugo. They have the best ice cream in the world ~ Behauptet, whilst I believe it, however the lines were just too long. I prefer see around what else do they have here.
I always set up a timer on my phone, met a couple from the group asked them what time we should meet up? #Sicher ist sicher. They speak no English, either Spanish or Portuguese. I opened calculator 😉 it has many functions not only for bargaining in China but also to talked about time. Thanks God I met them otherwise I will be the one whom everyone waits for, they saved me from my walk of shame haha
Last Chianti experience is Sienna. Initially I didn’t get the grasp of it as to where should I go, somehow I took the wrong turn, is it really what this city can offer?
Luckily I managed to see the heart of this city, the Piazza del Campo where the student from Poland named Maksymillian took me as a confused tourist, brought me to Duomo di Siena. For a student, you can get in to Duomo for free, aha, it was an ancient times ago. Before we went back to the oldest bank in the world meeting point, we closed the day by sharing a very hype Ice Cream Grom #FOMO which similar to his last name Krom, nope he’s not the owner of the shop 😉
I have to say I wasn’t walking that much in comparison to the day before, yet of all the accumulated walking, I had to ask Tracy for a Voltaren or Counterpain or whatever gel to release muscles. She doesn’t have it, what she does though a massager, oh way better! She asked “so tomorrow you are going to Rome?” Yes – “At what time?” 8AM is the train – “Gosh hearing your schedule I already feel tired” haha I called it a happy kind of exhaustion 😀
Facts: I paid 65 Euro from Get Your Guide website “Tuscany: Day Trip to Pisa, Siena, San Gimignano and Chianti” the full tour including lunch + wine tasting + guided tour in Siena was about 122 Euro, I do the exchange rate because Meta paid in USD. According to them, the lunch + wine tasting wasn’t so good, they can’t have options for lunch it was already prepared and the wine was too little to taste anything, they regret it.
I asked Nora what are the most interesting information from the guided tour. She explains that Siena divided into 17 “groups” who were in horse war each year to decide who would be the ruler / winner for the year. The horse was decided 3 days before the race, within 3 days they need to find the jockey and…… the horse can win without the jockey. In the end, it’s rather based on luck other than any training whatsoever. There you go 😉 now you can decide if you want for a full tour or the economic version haha
Sightseeing in Florence day 2, I am going to Cinque Terre! Saw some pictures while I’m booking for Pisa from Get Your Guide website, hmmm… this does looks like Amalfi Coast, it’s a M.U.S.T 😉
Tracy did mentioned the possibility to go to Cinque Terre by myself, normally that what I would do but since I have not really do my usual preparation, decided to just do it with the tour, one less concern.
The tour departs at 6:40 AM, meeting points 20 minutes before, walked from Tracy’s place needed 30 minutes. Calculate backwards you know what time I should get up right? As a comparison my first alarm for waking up to work is at 6:30 AM, doesn’t mean I really got up though. However, if it’s about travel, trust me, rain or shine, I’ll be there! #Dedicated. Little did I knew when I arrived at the train station to register myself, the ticket lady said my tour is the “Bus Transport” only, doesn’t include visit to all villages, if I want to upgrade I will have to pay 51 Euro. I asked if I can take the train by myself or there is really no other transportation way other than by car? Getting yes as an answer, Ok I’ll do the first, checked on trenitalia website, the cost of each train ticket is only 5 Euro. Perfectooo!
They dropped all of us at Levanto Train station, that’s where we separated, some people goes with the groups, I bought my Cinque Terre Card for 19,50 Euro. I’m all set! Adventure for one: starts!
Cinque Terre = Five Lands, consist of Monterosso al Mare; Vernazza; Corniglia (up in the hill, bus needed or walk up 1 km); Manarola; Riomaggiore.
According to Tracy’s the best is Monterosso al Mare. I made sure it was my first station, had she not tell me, it would me my last’s as it was the closest to Levanto where our meeting point is.
Not only beach, there is a kind of Fortress here, I’ll hike up!
Where the fortress? haha got distracted by a tunnel which lead me to “city center” area offering some places to eat + church. If I continue walking, wouldn’t reach the Fortress at any time soon so I had to go back.
Now I’m ready to slowly walk up 🙂 Mind you, my legs are still sore from yesterday full day walking haha I did have my doubt, nevertheless after put one step in front of the other, it’s kind of doable. I used some chance to sit every now and then.
On the way down, well… up too, I just didn’t pay attenzione, written a graffiti “just the 2 of us” but I’m only one hmmmm
My plan next is going to the further side (Riomaggiore) then back getting closer and closer to Levanto. If they don’t have mussels restaurant, I would say Riomaggiore is not my fav, sowohl small als auch only way up, there are stairs too that leads to have no idea, I saw it and immediately throw white towel haha.
Manarola on the other hand, is walking friendly, even though at some point you also reached the higher position in contrast to when you started, you don’t really feel the hike. I’m not sure if you can swim on the beach side, it could be only on Monterosso. I do not mind, I’d say Manarola is giving me the most Amalfi Coast vibe.
Follow the path, ended up in a slightly higher level, feel so happy aaaaaaa! It could be better than Amalfi Coast due to the fact Cinque Terre is in the north part of Italy. The Italy I always have in mind.
Einerseits I still want to stay a bit in Manarola, andererseits I’m also FOMO gotta see the last 2 Terre in less than 90 minutes. Move move moveeeee, next is Corniglia. To my disappointment, it was not as good as the others. Since it was raining + located on top of the hill, I will / had to wait for the bus with the hope I would still catch the train on time to Vernazza.
Ran to the Platform, yes! made it on time. I love Vernazza! It’s good to have this as the last stop, they actually have a castle. I didn’t even know where the castle located, for some reason didn’t see it. Sara from the tour went there she said its cost 2 Euro except she didn’t have time to see the church. I do the opposite way from her.
What I like about joining a tour, got one more amiga in south of Spain 🙂
When I visit my other Sara haha, I’ll see you too 🙂 until then… ¡Hasta luego!
Much needed dinner! Tracy brought me to her favorite pasta place ~ Alla Vecchia Bettola, we both took a scooter, it was a bit juggling because the road in Florence is not smooth, in the end I manage it! The foods are delicious! I like their pasta #no question ask, surprisingly the liver of the chicken too! We go full version with ice cream! #Wenn schon denn schon.
Tips: You can also do the same like me from Get Your Guide website choose “From Florence: Cinque Terre Day Trip by Bus”, it cost 54 Euro while the full tour cost 99 Euro, if additional on the day then +51 Euro. The tour does include cruise by boat ~ if Zeus against it, no refund was given. I’m not sure how much if you go by train / bus by yourself maybe back and forth from Florence, perhaps it could cost cheaper than 54 Euro.
Once you arrived Levanto buy the Cinque Terre Card it cost 19,50 Euro and you can go to all 5 Terre, using the bus to Corniglia too. I agree with leaving Florence around 6:30-7:00 AM if you want to see all 5 Terre on one day then better arrive as early as possible. I only have no more than 1 hour on each Terre, it was enough whilst I also need to hurry. Imo, Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza and Manarola are the best. The rest it’s totally OK to skip, you won’t miss much 🙂
If you can’t go to Amalfi Coast, go here, Tracy also had the same view, she commented: they both have same concept, colorful house and beaches, only the color in Amalfi is more nude. Just an alternative if you’re not mentally ready to face Southern part of Italy 😉
***Triggers Warning: Disturbing Content, Includes Violence, not for fainted heart***
My legs has already given up at this point, on the other hand I’m running out of dates to do this dark mystery tour therefore I kept going! #Ain’t like tomorrow.
My tour guide was Angela, she was funny, she said we only enroll to this dark mystery due to we enjoyed family drama haha she was so right! She reminds us that the tour we are about to embark based on real story, what was really happening at that time & how they handle it, not about ghost.
First we were at Palazzo Grifoni named after a noble family Grifoni who married for love. Regrettably this blissful marriage only last for 3 days because he was sent to war. Every day his young wife waits for him to come back, she looks for any sign of him from her bedroom window. Hence the window is always open, day and night, winter or summer, all the time.
Unfortunately, he never came back, he died at war. She too, died in old age. After her death, their relatives moves in, they closed the window. This is when strange things starts happening ~ weather always bad, furniture moving by itself usw. It is believed the spirit of his wife is still there, still waiting for him to return, they decided to re-open the window and the strange things stops.
The windows remains open the same way including when it’s under constructions, no one close the window ever again. Now the palace is not functioning as a palace rather a private house by Budini family. Can you spot the open window?
Moving on to the Duomo area, precisely in the corner between the Bell Tower and Santa Reparata. Angela said underneath is used to be a cemetery for noble people #Didn’t surprise me at all.
Shakespeare wrote Romeo and Juliet while Florence has a real life version named Ginevra degli Almieri and Antonio Rondinelli. Ginevra was a very beautiful girl in the final year of 1300. She was only 16 years old when she fell in love with Antonio. However, Antonio’s family is the enemy of Ginevra’s, without a doubt her father didn’t bless their relationship, her father arranged her to be wed one month later to Francesco Agolanti. Her father said “you will not get the permission, forget Antonio forever or we can kill him.” Thus, she obeyed.
After the marriage, she was always sad, became very sick, didn’t want to eat, cry, fell into deep depression. Four years later, she was found fainted to the ground in a very bad condition with blood etc. The doctor convinced she has caught plague, she needs to be burry immediately to prevent contagious. Her body was covered from head to toe so the people of Florence won’t see it, closed in marble coffin.
The midnight after her burial, it started a storm. What they didn’t realized is….they buried her alive! Sad to relate, at that time it was “common” that people were mistakenly dead. How do they know it? Once they want to moved the cemetery, the skeleton was found not in a normal position of how people died, some died while trying to get out from it. In this case, Ginevra managed to get out of the coffin, she broke her nails, in a dirty condition with Erde & blood.
She went back to her house where Francesco lived, he and her family were in grief.. Once he opened the door, seeing Ginevra, he thought it was a ghost of her. He told her to get away, “I’ve been praying for you, you are the ghost of my wife, please leave me alone, go back to your tomb” Her own husband rejected her, she went to her parents home only to get the same answer. Heartbroken, confused, where to go? she remembered way to Antonio’s home. He recognizes her, removed her veil, welcome her to his place. Being loved by Antonio, Ginevra’s health got better then finally the two decided to get married.
Of course news arrives to Francesco and parents of Ginevra. He seeks for revenge, went to the Bishop to send executors for Antonio. Thanks God the Bishop disagreed. He said “Ginevra comes to you but you rejected her thinking it was her ghost. Since then she is a free woman” Francesco is looking for a new woman, except no mother is willing to give their daughter to him knowing the treatment he has done to Ginevra when she came back alive. Therefore, no descendants coming from Francesco.
What is happening with Ginevra and Antonio? Is it happy ending? I wish. Something happened to Ginevra, as she tries to break out from the tomb, she saw corpses in a very bad conditions namely without head etc. She became to see it everywhere she goes, on the market, at home. In today’s language she is having a mental diseases caused her to lose her mind, she’s like a baby again, impossible to cure. Antonio couldn’t take it, he died perhaps due to big suffering in his heart. Both buried outside Florence, the cemetery for normal people.
The first time she was mistakenly buried was 1. May, it is being said every first day of each month there is her spirits walking until the end of the street then disappear. The name of the street was via la donna della morte. However in year 1800 the government change the street name to Bell Tower Street for Touristic purpose.
Next we stopped at Piazza della Signoria / Palazzo Vecchio where The Neptune fountain is located at. The statue with man on the horse is one of the Medicci family member. Back then, instead of fountain, this area was filled with torture machines to remove nails, organs, including genitals from both male and female.
If a woman (only woman) survives after the torture, she would considered as a witch, consequently, she will be burn alive. They could suspect anyone to be a witch for example if you have red hair, have job without husband, independent woman, yep you might be one of them.
There were 3 ways to kill someone: First, hiring executor who wears a black mask so people won’t recognize him, he always carries an axe which could never finish the job in one cut. Second, ties both hands and legs to 4 different horses who runs in different direction. Lastly, hang for 3 days from the first floor of the palace.
One day, all of these horrible things stopped, one day to the other. Why? Because the last two male of Medicis are homosexual, they didn’t have kids therefore no successor. The last female heir Anna Maria Luisa obliged to married old king from him she got syphilis’s that caused her not be able to born a child. Medici family has a pact with Austrian family, Duke of Lorraine. First thing he did once he was in Florence is cancelled the torture on the square. Not an Italian family solved this problem, obviously the Austrians do the wrong things too. Even so, do not forget they civilized the city of Florence.
After that we went to a normal street corner that has a very dark facts, even darker to know it was happening not so long ago, on 27.05.1993. It was all starts when two judges from Palermo fights with a Mafia who has been hiding from police, living in bunker for 30 years. When the big Mafia boss got caught, they bombed the judges. The group decided to put bombed in Milan, Roma, Uffizi quarter. About 200 kg of TNT was placed at this corner, one student (Dario Capolicchio) was crossing this street being burn alive + young family (Fabrizio Nencioni, Angela Fiume, 9 years old Nadia and 50 days old Caterina) found already carbonized. You can see the bricks are different because it was the hole from the bombed where they lived.
Whenever you see two people kissing each other, stretched their arms into an olive tree meaning mafia attack in those place. On the wall it was written poem from Nadia two days before the attack as if she got a feeling something bad gonna happens.
Still around that corner, hanged a sculpture made by Barney. The blade symbolize Mafia, 5 figures represents the victim. Those 5 victims are walking in blade but never falling down. It is a message of hope and love, to let people know they will forever remains in our lives.
Gladly the tour is coming to an end, I was sick to my stomach already. As if all of those facts weren’t enough. Angela closed our evening walk by telling us notorious serial killer started in Chianti Area in 1968. Two couples around the age of 18 decided to made love in the car, they chose the wrong night, wrong place, they were followed. Somebody has a long iron stick, broke the window and shot them. The killer took the genitals of the guy, cut the breast of the lady only to attach it to her genitals then leave it on the ground. The day after, police was called, they were terrified, it was the first time something like this happened in Florence. This was happening for 14 years… the serial killer repeated it to 8 couples a French + German couple tourist became victim too. The youngest female victim was 16 years old, the oldest was 30 years old. The killer decided to cut her breast while she’s still alive to sent it to the police. How sick of a mind can someone actually do that?
In 1945 police caught a farmer who has bad record such as raped his own daughters, after some years he was declared innocent due to alibi he has. He died hanged, it was still not clear if someone kills him or he commits suicide. Strangely, when he was in prison the killing stops in Chianti… only to happened in other city. Until today the killer is still a free man, no one knows, no one being caught. The big questions is if the killer move to other place of Italy?
There are 3 main hypothesis: first, it was a surgeon because the cut was so precise. Second perhaps it was somebody works for police as the gun was the same gun from police office which could be stolen. Third it could be a practice of satanism or illegal human trafficking organ. Angela said there is a movie made from it called The most Florence in Mostrow and Zodiac. Watch it if you want to not be able to sleep for some days. It is very disturbing hey.
This dark mysteries tour is really something different, it goes beyond family drama, regardless this is facts that was happening in this city. We can’t / shouldn’t / mustn’t erase nor forget it, all we can do is hope the killer will die slowly in hell and raise our awareness of danger / predator possibility.
Be safe everyone! If something feels off, it’s off. Hope we will never ever encounter something evil like that.
When I told Julius about my Florence holiday, he directly said I must visit Uffizi Gallery and Michelangelo’s Museum. That Sunday before my trip I really sit down, arranged, booked everything.
FYI, Florence is small + Tracy lives in kind of city center, everything is walking distance within 25-35 minutes, besides the Bus App are really not user friendly, I gave up trying to understand it. First trip is from her home to Accademia Gallery where Michelangelo’s David statue placed, bought the first entry time slot between 08:15-08:30. I went out before sunrise, walked pass an expensive Salvatore Ferragamo boutique shop, Burberry with funny jacket on its mannequin, some Piazza until I reach the line queuing for my David’s.
Tracy said I wouldn’t spend more than an hour at David’s, the first floor are not very interesting because it has wayyyy too many Christianity paintings then David then room of Statues, last second floor. Just like she described, first floor is full of painting about Jesus, Maria and the Saints. Also on the second floor, I had to agree with her, at some point, you just have enough.
Wait until you arrive to the magnificent David, the one you have been waiting for, he looks very shiny from afar. The details, his eloquent pose, the size, it was really a WOW. He is the superstar in the whole Museum. Of course I asked people to take several pictures of me and David, from different angle, none of them are pleasing my eyes. Oh well, gotta live with it. These are the best I got 🙂
I started to go around him for complete look, Michelangelo is a genius! was in total AWE, how come someone sculpt someone he never sees… very handsomely? Look at his vein, abs, stature! #Melting. If only he’s a real person! #Drooling <3
I knew what room of sculpture she’s talking about, I was there. One of them reminds me of Mr. Whistler’s Mother from Mr. Bean movie haha I’m so sorry sculptor, didn’t mean to offend you.
Guess how many hours I spent there? Perhaps three! haha not because I was looking at all paintings but rather it was raining outside, at the end I was just skimming and sit for some hour before I continue my trip haha.
Walked pass Spedale degli Innocenti / Hospital of Innocents where I found this meaningful pink ribbon on the middle of the Piazza with QR code. Go visit nudmfirenze.noblogs.org it is a symbolic for women who have no more voice as they were assasinated.
We planned to have lunch together however Tracy was really swamped at work so I choose a random Pasta + Hugo place around the Duomo ~ heart of Florence. Tracy mentioned “you know we are not located near water right? so you might not get or have a good seafood pasta, order rather a meat one” Nope, you can’t stop me, Pasta with seafood it is hahaha, it’s still verrryyyy delicious!
Ready for my next analytic project: Uffizi Gallery. This is huge! as in H.U.G.E! It has many collections from Leonardo DaVinci, Raffaelo Michelangelo, Caravaggio. What amazed me the most are the ceilings! They are all decorated very beautifully.
I did recognize some of the names though, for example Julius Ceasar, Titus, Painting of Wedding in Cana, Adam and Eves, John the Baptist, Salomon. There is a red room where you can’t enter, you can only see from the sides.
I was very overwhelmed hence I decided to sit down every now and then. Tracy informed in the middle of it there is a Cafeteria, I can’t missed it. After almost 3 hours I reached it, let’s have a rest first, so much deserved 🙂 There I got the chance to know Juli from Brazil who located in Zürich, aha! since then we visited the rest half of the Gallery together 😉
She knows some art, she was very happy to see Carravagio Medusa! Look at the painting of the wine, you can see the bubbles, very real. I have to snapped a picture of the important family in Florence, the Medici!
Once we finished, we decided to have Florence “Döner” hahaha right after that we separated, I went to my Dark Mysteries of Walking Tour #First timers, very curious!
to be continued… my day hasn’t finished yet 😉
Facts: It was actually confusing to buy ticket for David and Uffizi from the official site, it always leads to B-Ticket website with 4 Euro fee. If you want to wait in line to see if the ticket office still have tickets for that day it will only cost 16 Euro, on the internet is 20. Same for Uffizi, I paid 26 + 4 while some people might get it for 19 Euro on special day or special time or so. The walking tour guide Gabriella told me, of course I didn’t pay attention about the how, since I received this info late, been there anyway. To my personal view, David is a must visit while Uffizi hmmm unless you really understand Renaissance, interested in paintings, prepared to walked for over 4 hours then you can go too, if not, feel free to skip it 😉
On my second day in Munich, I was the only one who still on holiday, don’t want to disturb the Home Officinas, I went back to die Wiesn. Gio gave me some tips such as Teufelsrad + Tobogan + Käfer Zelt where all Promis located, Kaiserschmann for sweets, Old Wiesn~ have to pay 4 Euro entrance ticket. This time when I re-enter die Wiesn, I really take it all in, looking at all the stands, row by row.
Had to had some snacks wie Bretzel, Mais, hot chocolate because it was still considered early, the attractions hasn’t really started yet. I made some note in mind about where is what, what’s here that are not on Kirmes, what would I do. I was always outside, which means later on it’s (read: I) kind of getting cold.
I went to watch Floh Circus with zero expectation what is all about, didn’t even know what Floh means. The guy explained in German yet it was Bayern German, have 0 understanding whatsoever, all other people seems to got it. What I know is the Flea are somehow tight into a “cable” thingy, their movement combined with other tiny stuffs result into some “performance” named it kicking a ball or other things like what people on Circus do. Thank you for the ticket lady who gave me Student price haha you made my day <3
Being inside the circus for 10 minutes inspires me to go to another insiders, proceed to the Teufeulsrad! spent almost an hour there chilling, watching how the same kids keep holding his position as last man sitting! The MC divide the participants by saying, now is the age from 1-8, 9-14, 14-17, all the seniors or so. Some kids really good at it, when the round need to change but the last kid still there, come the Lasso! I would like to join however when they said “Erwachsene ab 18” all the guys as big as rugby player just jump in, I was like whatttt???? they said “we need some ladies” no way in hell I’m gonna compete against those guys, #Intimidated 🙁
Usually the Reihenfolge always from younger to oldest, not-usually, it will depends on the MC’s mood. He had special round for paramedics, then special guest from Australia. Ich so hääää, am I hearing it correctly? Australia is….far….? it knocked my concentration out. Doch the MC said it again! “Here is our special guest, we are doing live show from Münich for Australia, hope the Übertragung works, we need lady with Dirndl”. That’s me!!!! my bad I wasn’t ready at all, was busy drinking water from Claudias foldable Wasserflasche, wasn’t fast enough to drop everything then join them. One of the German lady was so excited she managed to snapped some pictures, make an eye contact with her colleague to record a video with him. I thought these two Ozies guy must be something, lets have a selfie with the Promi, this is my Ziel anyway! Nervous, started slowly, getting closer to them, whatever! tapped one of them, got it! Wohooo Proudly send it to Sissy only to get a “Huh?” comment.
Second special guest, which are Youtuber, meh he looks like a normal German. Literally how my colleague looks like, selfie’s not needed. I already forget their Youtube name, Zauber? Zabeer? something with Z. He did spelled it to me, in a hurry…. porque?
After my encounter with the Promis or so I thought haha they inspires me to keep my eyes open for another Promis just like the first week of Oktoberfest where my Instagram were full of Bayern Fußballspieler wearing Lederhose, posting picture with one mas Beer, hoping I will see one of them.
Mission hopping around from Tent to Tent, searching some subtle signs, looking for someone who being interviewed or followed by cameras. Result: don’t see any Promis 🙁 Those two were the one I kind of managed #Right place at the right time. Approaching 16:30 I wasn’t allowed to get into the Tent anymore as they are only for RSVP.
As the final act I wanted to try the Tobogan escalator, obviously holding the guy’s hand. I mean… if I fell down hahaha there are thousands of people watching at the bottom. Them, myself included laughed at some people who fell down, as a believer of Karma, they would do the same to me. Therefore I decided to get his help from the beginning.
Not only it was very fast also the surface wasn’t really smooth, consist of connecting Holz, not one long Holz, in between you will fell the separation that’s the moment where some people lose their balance.
Closing the day in the Wiesn with seeing the view from Tobogan “Tower” is top hey, tomatoes tomatoes with sunset on the beach hahaha. I will for sure come back with the same program: one day with table RSVP, second day without! Had to be honest, you are tempted to spend your money here, every Mitbringsel are eye catching. I was looking at Oktoberfest shirt cost 30 Euro, I came to my sense, meh! my Dirndl cost 200 Euro, this is the real Oktoberfest outfit! #Willpower vs Running out of money already, depends on which sides of coins you are looking at 😉
Since I only had snacks at the Wiesn, stomach is calling for real food! We three had dinner in an Arabic? Lebanese? oh my, now I sounds racist. Regardless, it was a very good one, all people that were eating there were considered authentic, we got no tourist from the Wiesn 🙂 have many meat dinner!
Oh, don’t forget to mention how me & Claudia somehow matchy matchyyyy like sister from another mother, Gio needs to be out from the picture hihihi
On my third day~ the so called departure day back to Dortmund, I met QQ #unbedingt, I always informed him if I go to South part of Germany and Krisma a.k.a my neighbor in Karawang when we were toddler, we never met again up until now!
I craved for Asian Noodle, Gio said Max Beef Noodle is the place to be, that’s where we go #nomnom. Afterwards QQ went to Wiesn whereas we continued with having Kaiserschmann 🙂
Thank you my friends, Claudia & Giovanni for sowohl hosting als auch dinner invitation, QQ & Krisma for having the time to meet me. We will see us again, I still have to make my half accomplished mission to full accomplished 😉 until then….auf Wiedersehen Wiesn! You’d been spectacular #wowed
My colleagues are very curious bezüglich my first Oktoberfest experience, everyone said be careful, the beer there has more % of alcohol, there are only betrunkene Leute.
I took train to Thomas & Janine then we three drove together to Munich. Stopping by at Thailanese Restaurant Khanittha on Werksviertel for lunch. Thomas’ colleague said this place is pretty authentic one, yeah, including the service, they slightly ignoring us although it wasn’t really full, you need maintain strong eye contact if you want to request something.
We ordered 3 dishes, I mean every Asian should know that it was meant for sharing. I know we were also 3 people, could be the German way of eating 1 dish each…. imo still no, the logic ain’t logicing. Since they didn’t give us some plates, we decided to just hau rein while waiting if we could grab their attentione.
There was some Werbung on the table to scan our bill for winning a trip to Thailand. Had never expected Thomas has never been to Thailand considering he’s the diver King. Hope one of us will win it!
Continue driving to our main purpose of the day: Claudia & Giovanni’s apartment which is directly in front of Theresienwiese. We parked 2 stations away, walked with our luggage + bags only for the security guy to stopped us. Thomas said “wir wollen darüber gehen” he doesn’t care, detour we must.
Made it, there are several homeworks to do in their place: Thomas manually pumped my Luftmatratze ~ secure my sleeping place for tonight or else I’ll have to sleep in the Badewanne 😉 , Freya arrived, Giovanni distributed our entrance + voucher. Claudia still have to work a bit, that’s why we headed first!
My first feeling entering die Wiesn was WOW! Marina said it’s a Kirmes, like any other Volksfest except much much much bigger! Had to say Jein: Ja ~ can see the Kirmes style Achterbahn, snacks und co. Nein ~ not only all of them are on Jumbo size, the atmosphere were just different on every level, everyone wears Dirndl & Lederhose, it’s like Alice entering Wonderland. Good I went to Canstatter Wasen with Andreas before hence I know the tent wasn’t made of circus tent haha this is not #This is the greatest show oo oo oo oo, it involves woods, bricks and his friends.
Our tent Pschorr Bräurosl located in the middle. My colleague Sabrinchen also there, she and her partner – Manuel came to visit me for one Mas! We work together in Dortmund yet had to go to Munich to meet outside the office hours 😀
The waiter came, Manuel ordered 6 Mas. I was confused at first because in Wasen there are more type of beer options, in here, in our tent there is only one: Bräurosl Beer! The mas! the 1 Liter Beer, it’s heavy! Can’t hold still, reached my Maximale Belastung! hahaha Giovanni asked if I already trained “Mas Heben” #facepalm.
After some time, Claudia finished her work, yeay! We are still waiting for the other 4. I had to say Claudia & Giovanni are the profi, they brought Müllsacke to put our jacket protecting it from the dirt, foldable Waserflasche, tag for their beer. I might follow all of their tips for next year.
Thomas and Giovanni, they both really excited to see me drunk, not happening bro. Thomas said “If you drunk no problem, we can carry you home, if you feel sick, there is the Badewanne.” Gio kept prost-ing my Mas, prost prost prost…. stop, waitttt!
Some hour later I really mean some, at least 1,5 hour… my Mas is finished! I have to ask Claudia for bullet proof documentation. Stephan came late yet he finished his Mas before me. He asked “what do you usually drink?” “I don’t! That’s the whole point. The reason why they always “Marlyn, come on 加油加油” Leute, it is not about the 油 that’s need to be 加 😉
It helps to know some songs in German….or in English…. or in Italian haha Music in general. There are some songs which was played more often than the other called Ein Prosit. The crowd hype out of nowhere on “Hey Baby, I wanna know, if you’d be my girl” Followed by Hulapalu, Cordula Grün, Atemlos durch die Nacht, Skandal im Sperrbezirk, 99 Luftballons. Overjoyed they include Bella Ciao on the list too! Bella Ciao Ciao Ciao. What’s else? Gimme Gimme Gimme the man after midnight, then I can sleep in Badewanne. Claudia cut “in his Badewanne, not ours” 😉 On the Mamamia song, Thomas said “Marlyn, stand here, pointing at the bar / separator between the tables” Aye Aye! Going there! You can see from the video how by then I lost my balance. The final song in every tent #Gio’s word is forever and always Angels von Robbie William.
Kai + Coco + Elena + Stephan need to leave earlier, the last man standing was….. the Food Nerds people! hahaha as always 😉 plus Freya!
During his 2,5 Mas Thomas realized he lost his wallet! Oh no! Even though I was tipsy, my brain still can work. Asked the waiter if he saw a wallet maybe on the floor. Me, Janine, Claudia, Freya looked on the floor with our flashlight. Damn! Whats inside? at this point, money is the less concern, it is more like bank card, ID, things you need to go to office, make some report pfff too many Aufwand. Of course we didn’t find it, they told us to go to the office downstairs.
Me and Claudia went to the Büro while Thomas and Janine search elsewhere. Guess what? His wallet was safe and sound on the Schublade! Phew!
Once we out from the office, Thomas was walking on our way to the Büro, we stopped him.
He couldn’t believe it!
I am on cloud nine for my first Oktoberfest with all of these people. Of course I don’t talk much with all the 4 who went earlier, however I got the impressions they are all nice. Elena was so creative she was the snow white from Innsbruck 🙂 #What a memory, Innsbruck, love it. Stephan who I thought at first has some family connections with Andrea due to his ring is kind of similar with Andrea’s #They’re not distant family. The cool Freya, we hold umbrella side by side actually she was holding it, because of that she got free umbrella on the street haha.
Undoubtedly my food nerds! Grateful we have been friend for a looonnngg time, almost a decade! With Thomas since 2016 who introduced me later to Claudia & Giovanni, had I not met him I wouldn’t know them! Giovanni who always relaxed and welcoming “Ah your friend Sabrina can also join us, we still have place on the table, let’s meet in the Tent” Claudia the queen of Dirndl ~ perfect from top to bottom, who calm Thomas & Gio when they unstoppable hyping me up with my Mas! Thomas & Janine who I finally have a picture of you as a couple ~ only you two, just in case someone will ask again! 😉
What a happy ending, it’s all work out in the end, I don’t sleep in Badewanne + Thomas got his complete wallet back!
Would be very excited to be with the same people on the table again hopefully next year I could get more chance to speak with the fantastic-four 😉
Very excited to witness my colleague Hainka tied the knot to Lena in Propsteikirche then party at Wimbern Schützenhalle. The church ceremony starts at 14Uhr, Monicita picked me up at 12:30, dropped Itzel, went through Sperrung after Sperrung, made it to Werl super on time aka 15 minutes before. We sat at the next first rows after their families.
Comes Hainka’s nephew bringing a shield “Onkel Andy, hier kommt die Liebe deines Lebens. Hier kommt Leni” followed by kids from Lena’s sister carrying wedding candle, wedding ring, flowers. Last but not least, the person we are waiting for, Lena accompanied by her father.
On the church courtyard they have a symbolic Baumstamm sägen to reflect the necessity of working together in their marriage. Germans, everything has to be about work 😉 We got our Bubbles, Autoschleife even though I don’t have one, tried to put the Schleife on my head, didn’t work, wasn’t creative enough.
We were trying to snap a photos on the alley, where I positioned myself in the middle of the crowd. I’m 100% confidence I won’t be in the picture #Invisible.
Had circa 2 hours gap, we thought there will be a tapas etc in the Schützenhalle, wronggg! PV said “wir können nicht die erste sein oder?” Ehemmm yes we are. Monicita and Ignacio decided to go to the other wedding only to come back in the evening for the party. While PV and me tried to find some places to eat, we saw two Imbiss #Shäbig, instead a Tankstelle was our choice. Once both Auto and ourselves tanken, headed back to Schützenhalle.
There are some reserved tables, some free ones, like the Germans, we marked our seats by placing our souvenirs haha good that PV realizing it. We blocked the seats for 4 of us with Maik and Celina.
There is also a photobox I aimed to get the sign “I’m here for the cake” yet Maik already took it, OK, let me grabbed I’m next! that’s gotta be it!
Monicita came back from the second wedding just in time before the wedding dance. Their couple dance consist of many songs, it was ended with Mamamia which means the dance floor has opened!
Learning from the church experience where no one notice me, I go right on the first line during the throwing wedding flower things, no way in hell I’m not seen. Two probabilities though, I was really in front or they don’t have many singles left haha rather the second I guess 🙂 Whatever, not my problem!
They need to know I’m exist therefore must help me getting it. Larissa and Monicita asked “Marlyn, soll ich dir helfen?” ja bitte! Standing adjacent to Monicita who actually got the flower, she gave it to me, I acted as if I won an Oscar #Always something to celebrate.
#What an evening, thank you for sharing your special day with me. Thank you also to my colleagues who make sure I got transported from one place to the next 😀
Who’s the next ding ding ding gonna be? The next “I’m Next!” or the “I’m Next – Adjacent” Meghan Markle’s friend introduce her to Prince Harry, no pressure but I guess it’s time for my friends to do something hey 😉 #don’t you think so?
My hair is a like a double edge swords, blessing and a curse, too thick, too straight plus too many. Sure Sissy would agrees…
Last week, Andrea sleptover in my place, she brought her Dyson! People! it’s DYSON! The Dyson Curling Dingsbums #Starstruck! I gotta put my hands on it yo, must use this super expensive curly hair style thingy.
My first encounter with THE Dyson was in Shanghai when I borrowed Dennis’ small / sofa vacuum cleaner. He was a bit worried because I took the Metro. He said “hmmm be careful” “of course I won’t let anyone touch this…. what… 500 RMB…” before I finish my sentence he cut it with “3000” reflects I responded “Oh! I will guard it all the time, don’t you worry about it, will return it in one piece”
Second encounter when I visited Helene in Belgium for our Harry Potter Ausstellung, she has a hair dryer! Originally didn’t have any intention to wash my hair but since it’s Dyson! Gotta do it!
Third encounter was just now when Andrea bei mir übernachtet. I’m almost reach my Schnapszahl yet only had 3 chances with the holly top tier Dyson! Not gonna waste any opportunites!
Andrea curled her whole hair in 30 seconds, when I did mine, she realized…. hmmm, I think your hair is too heavy, need to take bit by bit. Tried again, it does work! However… took me about 25 minutes haha
It still not complete btw, I somehow don’t have the ability to curl my right side pffff. Reached the points where all the curls are pleasant enough for the eyes then head to NW Sommerfest only for it to not last haha #Hopeless.
Yeah…. curling my hair with a curly iron stick stuff even the most expensive brand….. it’s not happening bro!
One of our department home office’s rule is someone presently need at the office always, it was quiet often to be me. During that period, I was responsible for a lighting project, which means I have to repeatedly communicate with one of the product manager named Sven. I’m glad it was him, back then I wasn’t able to speak much German ~ Of course he could feel our language barrier, therefore instead of explaining on the phone, he always come to me with printed version of everything. I am 100% sure any other PM wouldn’t bother to do what he did, nach dem Motto “nicht mein Problem”.
Definitely he has other projects with my colleague Andreas, sometimes he would like to speak to him but there was only me holding the fortress of our Flügel, asked “Wo ist Andreas?” to which I replied “Zu Hause”. This happened a lot until he comments:
Bist du alleine?
Du machst definitiv etwas falsch! deine Kollegen mag dich nicht 😉
Du bist wieder ganz alleine, ich muss jeden Tag zu dir gehen um zu gucken ob dir gut geht oder was passiert wenn du hinfällst? Niemand wird es wissen!
He kept his words! came to check on me, I can see from the corner of my eyes when someone is coming proceed to scream “Sven ist da! Sven ist da, da ist Sven!” “OK, gut zu wissen du bist immer noch da or du bist nicht verletzt”.
Before long, the lighting project is finished, alas: his visits stops. However, I have an obligation to let him know I am OK or just want to keep the tradition. So…. I come to him…. almost… every… day 😀 Little by little the “Sven ist da” became shorter to only “Sveeennnnnnnnnnnn!”
His desk is not facing the door, that’s why he always shocked whenever I appears. Running, out of the sudden behind him, “Sveeeeennnnnnn”. His colleague ~ Carla constantly say “lässt der arme Sven doch in ruhe” Gurl, what were you thinking? no way, he can’t escape it. Whenever he do Home Office, I call him just to shout “Sveeeeeennnn!”. My colleague PV said “Oh Got Marlyn, der arme Sven eh”
It slowly started became a habit to showed him anything I have which considered as ‘new’ for example my collection of hats, shoes or any other random things possible in order for me to be able to yell “Sveeeeeeeeennn” His comment was never be longer than “Gut” or “Hervorragend”
Besides showing him something, I also consult about random things from residence permit, passport validity, apartment keys. He is very international, he and his wife were once stayed in New Zealand, went to Asia many times for holiday etc. He knows a lot!
His colleagues ~ Carla and Tobi already got used to my “Sveeeeeennnn” Andreas proceed to call him Sveeennnn on the phone. I did it all the time, including in form of writing.
One day, I overheard Milena talked to CB something along the way Sven will leave Nordwest.
Was Milena? Hast du gerade etwas über Sven gesagt? Welcher Sven reden wir jetzt?
Unser Sven
Was? Sven? Sveeennnnnnn!
Monica joined the group, “Marlyn que?”
Sven und seine Familie werden nach Kanada auswandern.
Wer? Sveeeennnnnnnnnn?
Jap, genau, der Sveeennnnn!!
I talked to myself, “komme zu Sven” Monica followed me “ich auch” we both stormed out “Sveeeeeeeeeeennnnnn” his reaction was looked at his watch, “oh die Info ist schon bei euch angekommen”
The day when Sven will leave NW is getting closer. Asked Carla if we do something for him, she said no…. doch! Everyone in the room is doing / making / collecting gift for him except me haha I was there only for one last “Sveeeeeeennnn”
Makes matter worse, I wasn’t suppose to be there btw, see the original email hahaha this is the jungle rule when you’re not invited, you invited yourself! 😀 habe auch mit ihm gesprochen und er sagte “Ja, du darfst da sein”
On his last day in the office, I came to him like 3 times he stated “Ja, ja ich komme gleich” whenever he’s still not here I called him. PV reminds me “Marlyn, der kommt noch bestimmt” eventually he really came “Sveeeeennnnnn, Sveeeeeennnn, Sveeeeeennnnnnn” “ich mache eine Runde und komme ja nochmal, muss mich mit Marlyn nochmal verabschieden” On his final moment “Also, jetzt gehe ich” then we hug. When he walked out I kept screaming “Sveeennnnn, Sveeennnn, Sveennnnnn”
Tobi wonder “Marlyn, what should we do now? should I write in the job descriptions that the applicant should be called Sven?” Even so, Sveeeeeennnn ist nicht ersetzbar!
One thing I know, I will never come to Flügel 1 the same way again. All the very best to you, your wife, both of your children in Canada. Although Tobi reassure you are always welcome back… come on, you won’t 😉 Canada is something else #Stay stay stay.
Er ist in Kanada!
This conclude one more reason to put Canada on my bucket list!
As we all are well equipped with Smartphones, we are familiar that our phone create memories using Photos available in your Gallery. It is a pleasant felling to know your friend’s phone made a collection of your own photos.
From Julia, it was a mix between work & pleasure located in Shanghai and Germany. Preserving memories from our Saturday’s habit at our no longer existed place-Zapatas 🙁 The controversial M1NT Club with its shark tank entrance to which I remember Thorben was so against it.
Apropos Thorben, second video was from his phone, displayed mostly pleasure, in form of delicacies #Yum! nom nom… or parties 😉 located in Shanghai and my hometown.
It’s enjoyable to be reminded of the past times; what did you do, ate, happened to you, your whereabouts.
Tausend Dank for still having my pictures in your phone!
