I’m literally a victim of advertisement if anything related to Harry Potter #Guilty of charge 😉
Before Halloween 2024, there were a Werbung from Haribo in Instagram, showing they will have a Harry Potter series. Waited unpatiently until Halloween arrived, been to Rewe, checked the sweets sections many times, WHERE IS IT?!?! days after days, months after months, I “forget” about it, maybe it’s not in Dortmund.
Until it appears on the shelf in April! Aaaaaa! gotta have it! Too bad they didn’t have Slytherin version 🙁 How does it taste? Exactly good like any other Haribo haha what a smart que to tricked the die hard fans 🙂
Our boss always inviting his team for a BBQ at his house once a year in September. That’s when one of our colleague ~ Christina initiated a Party Weekend in Willingen. It’s all sounds very interesting, never been there nor knew about it.
October came with realistic date that our Party Weekend will be in March 2025, November was the time where we all booked our hotel. I kept thinking to myself, Willingen is less than 2 hours away yet we booked the hotel as if it’s an Ausland Trip haha. To my surprise, the hotel where most Nordwestler stays are already full. How come?
Last weekend in March it was, 28-31.03. Being picked up at 14:45 ish arrived at around 16:30. We five: CB, Robinhood, Haribow, Monicita and I stayed at B&B Hotels. Went to Rewe, CB was very smart he said, let’s take the car eventhough it was only 200 meters as none of us want to schleppt it. Afterwards we walked to our Restaurant for dinner, following a romantic way of a young “couple” whom we saw at Rewe #Stalker!
Their appetizer was rather a what the hell experience, food wasn’t I expected but acceptable. First club of the day is called Vis A Vis. Entrance 5 Euro only cash, both place and dance floor is small. Me and CB need to change our position to avoid me being knocked out in the head from some people who were dancing as if they were in the Halle. Me and Monicita went back at around 23:00, it was more than enough for me, CB couldn’t let us walk by ourselves so he accompanied us. Milena said “you can book a Taxi” no way man, we are ~ well I am #OnBudget 😉
After breakfast we were chilling until it was time to meet up at 12 AM in front of the Sailbahn. Didn’t get place in Siggi’s Hütte therefore we stayed outside all the time, from 12-16:00. Thank’s God they closed at 16:00 or else they will still there. Cost up of Sailbahn is 9,50 Euro #You can really walk honestly.
While all other people drinking, me and Tanja were playing on the Spielplatz, visiting the “observation deck”, ate Bratwurst 4,50 Euro. People, bring cash! Without her, I couldn’t even buy anything. Later Monicita also wants to go to the Spielplatz, our final act were doing frog observation. At last walked down, took opportunity to play with some snows left, chill a bit at hotel while watching Gefragt Gejagt.
Moving on to Pörtner room, have Sekt, had dinner with Monicita alone. Evening arrives, proceed to second club: Brauhaus, entrance 6 Euro plus locker 2 Euro. I like this club way more than Vis A Vis, we have enough place to breath. Wanted to go back but after everything has been paid to enter this club, I said to Monicita “Wir haben es schon bezahlt, muss ja durch!” this became our Mantra 😀
Last day, only frühstücken before ab nach Hause #Hourray!
How does it feels like? As a non-drinker, it’s too much, we do nothing other than drinking. Probably better if we have some sightseeings activities. In my view, you can always drink everywhere, no need to specifically dedicated weekend in Willingen. Overall experience? only Good to Erleben aber nix für mich.
It was indeed a good time with my colleagues, gar keine Frage, it’s not a cheap holiday yet to spent time with them, thinking it would be my first & last, from the bottom of my heart: totally worth it.
During the dinner of my belated birthday celebrations last year with my Freunde-Gangs, we discussed about Karneval 2025, how they have a friend who could get us the ticket. Hell yeah to my first Karneval! Julius immediately got a brilliant idea “Du kannst als Asiastischer Reis verkleidet” LOL. I kind of like his proposal, stay true to my roots plus experiencing German culture #Why not?!
That evening, I got serious, couldn’t sleep, was searching the possible Reissack material for my costume. Initially my concept was to buy a big bag of rice maybe 25kg one, cut the label, sew it on white T-Shirts. Or I could be a rice cooker? Claudia said, “no, people in Germany will think you are an Air Fryer”, back to Reis.
How about this packaging?
No, if you wear the real Asian Reis, no one in Germany would understand. I think you should go with the orange “Uncle Bens”
Mehhhh, then the Asians wouldn’t get it.
It was actually easy, your costume will be all white, take “Jasmine Reis” buy some alphabets and sew it on. Hmmm maybe not Jasmine or else people will think your name is Jasmine, Basmati Reis to the rescue!
Everything’s set! Feli came to sew my rice!
She was very dedicated!
Julius was “wow! Es ist wirklich gut geworden” yeap, all thanks to her 🙂
I’m very satisfied with my costumes, it’s a normal one, doesn’t have to invest too much money. We are not a crazy Karneval fans after all, perhaps….. I might can wear it again? or I become a hardcore fans? #Who knows?!
D-day, I did home office at Claudias, Alina arrived later, we inaugurated Karneval with Berliner then off to Stadt mit K! Alaaf. Arrived our Hotel, since our idea were only to drink, therefore had early dinner at Olymp.
Draumfess is the name of the place where we will go celebrate Karneval, about 300 meters away is our Hotel 😉 The celebrations starts at 19:11 but we weren’t there on time haha still on preparation. Claudia thought I could have the white hair spray too, as the color of the rice is white, turns out it’s only enough for hers haha
On the Draumfess itself, they have a system where we need to buy some coupon, no card transaction, everything is with Bar #Germany, come on. We exchanged it with the drinks bzw. Schnapps, Feigling, Kölsch und Wasser.
There were performance from Tanzgruppe Flamme vum Rhing and Porzer Dreigestirn that we didn’t see, that’s why we couldn’t beuerteilen. However we saw a very very superb band called Aluis! I like them a lot, they are all handsome too hahaha what a bonus 😉 They’re really good, not only their faces but also their music, swaying from left to right, jumping #Top top top.
Next band is Fiasko, I only like their last song, sadly I couldn’t find it anywhere on YouTube, the lyric was “machs Gut! bis zum nächsten Mal” 🙂 There was a kind of Coldplay moments where one or two giant balls were thrown away, confetti, etc.
In every Karneval, they have Princess, Bauern and someone else.
Then the Guggenmusik Zieefägge, I don’t know what to expect, they are coming with a Truppe. I felt a bit weird for the flag holder… I mean can’t you have a stander for your flag then play some instrument? Hmmm
Not forget to mentioned DJ Pultt for all the music in between live performances 🙂 Without you, who will accompany our drinking session?
After all of that, I’m d-o-n-e! When we return back home, we arrived exactly at 11:11, the special number for Karneval fans! I even sofort got back to Dortmund, need to lie down on my bed, getting old has never been real #Snozzzzeeee
Thank you my friends for the evening, I really like it! any events to let me turn a valve, let off steam, verkleidet, drink and dance to the…. Karneval music hahaha. Will join again! Perhaps I’ll upgrade myself by taking a day off on Rosenmontag! #Man immer schlauer werden.
I’ve got my first visitor ever from the Hungover Games, yeay! finally can show the city I called home for the past… ehem…. 4 years 5 months 21 days #Still counting ~ till the day Dennis arrived. I really needed this day-off more than anything therefore I was genuinely happy he visited me 🙂
On his first day, I showed him what Dortmund has to offer, which are: our version of 南京西路, instead of having 外滩 at the end, we went to Ubahn Station to visit our second destination, Dortmunder U. Dennis, the U is from the Dortmunder, not from the U-Bahn 的 U.
They offer free Museum entrance, it has two floors with quiet interactive videos or “sounds” instalation if we press the very well hidden button. At first we were confused on where does the sounds come from until the security told us then we proceed with moving our asses from one button to the next haha
There is a room where they explained about one specific painting, how they transported it around Europe. While we looked around Dennis realized “oh this is the real box”.
Dennis wanted to have a magnet of Dortmund, I brought him to BVB Fanwelt. When we’re done we went back to the Ubahn Station where I almost brought him to the wrong direction. He said “Darling, we just went straight, did you already forget when I said ‘such a nice path’?” haha
Off again to our version of 南京西路 to have coffee at Maximilian. Once recharged, continued our daytrip to Phoenix See, it is always good to show the manmade lake alongs with the big houses from rich Dortmunder. Closed the day by having dinner at Mukii. We weren’t convinced if we want to have All You Can Eat, our response was: are we gonna able to eat more than 36 Euros? Dennis answered, “well, we will make sure we reach it!” It was like a fun and strategic eating, in order to reduce food waste, we can only order 8 dishes within 10 minutes.
We formulated so many strategy such as “okay maybe not all rice, let’s do some skewers” Followed by “let’s have snacks like Edammame” Done it. No matter how perfectly our plan in the brain, the executing was a bit difference. After 3 full rounds, the Ipad will be unlocked within 10 seconds, Dennis said “Darling, we need to order again” Boahhh…. were really full. In the end we can only eat full of 4,5 rounds, they did forget one menu which we were so greatful #Thanks God!
On his second day, I do HO whereas he went to Düsseldorf, only to come back ontime to see our Proud Dortmund: Signal Iduna Stadion. Hainka picked us up at my place, we went to the Schwimmbad not for schwimmen, only to gangged up with his friend before the game started. Okay, this is the moment, moving on to inside the Stadion. We were there one hour before kick off, they have the Camera shot to audiences, I realized they shot our area but I didn’t see myself. Dissappointed…. no more! the camera rolled once again. Hiiiii, it’s me! me me me me, here! 😀
We did felt the Euphoria for 3 seconds before BVB Goal was considered as Offside 🙁 Nevertheless, it was a good experience, at least I was on the screen! although it’s not for people outside the Stadion, yet it’s good enough for my existence 😉
Tausend Dank für Hainka and Kowal um Ticket zu besorgen, 谢谢 Dennis for being my guest #Till we meet again 🙂
I spent too many times on my phone, saw one reel on IG where Mercado in Spain changing the way of dating, by simply putting upside down pineapple in their shopping cart for someone who open to date #I know, it does have another meaning in the USA. Sent it to Feli saying “I gotta go grocery shopping in Spain”, be careful what you wished for #Genie is hearing. Few weeks later she sent another reel showing the same concept in Edeka Germany. Do I have Edeka near me? Yeap about 1,5km away.
As if the distance is not a problem, it came literally to my Rewe!
They did put it in the middle, instead in the front where people getting in #OMG, complaining, proof I’m already eingedeutsch. Even Hainka texted me saying “you could change the basket”
It’s real, not reel anymore, didn’t I wished for this? After hearing Sophie grabbed the pink basket, can’t remember if Feli did that too hmmm… well, I’m not on any App, this is the traditional way where people got rejected for real and not with Emojis.
Proud me, I took it! did someone talk to me? of course not, they’re Germans! What do you expect 😉
Nevertheless I have done my part #Klopf mir stolz auf die Schulter.
First step is always the hardest, from now on I’ll be brave on taking any baskets.
It was end of January when I #wie immer sleepover at Claudia’s, we were in the living room, Alina proposed an idea “let’s do Murmeltierlauf for 7,5km” it’s the virtual walking activity, you walk on your own then upload your results.
She meant to do it only for the three of them as they always do Sport on Saturday, the place was about 3 km away therefore they thought let’s walk to Sport and walk back. The Mascott is a very cute Murmel, Claudia even thought to buy the Medallion too, decided against it, cost too much money, let’s just pay the registration fee 5Euro. Alina clicked next “oh the Mindesteilnehmerzahl ist 4. Julius immediately “Marlyn, danke dass du da bist” #ins Schwarze getroffen. Haha Okay, let’s do it then, I’ve done the 12km Firmenlauf, I can do 7,5km lauf. “Willst du aber?” fragt Claudia, yeah, it’s OK but then we have to do it on a Sunday as we can’t really time the Saturday if the Bahn will be on time or not to catch your time after sport. With that say, I came back to Claudia’s the following week.
I’ve got the favourite number for every Chinese, 800! This will brings me luck!
Julius does have an extra tracker that he couldn’t wear anymore due to Metal allergie, he lend me #behaupte his Withings. We did the set up, at their place there are a lot of Bluetooth devices, “maybe this one?” nope it’s my watch “how about this?” also no it’s my phone.
We managed to find the correct Withings Bluetooth, we couldn’t connect it because Julius still have the App on his phone. He removed it and I said “don’t do that, I will only wear for today” of course not, it belongs to you now. Whooaaaaa!!!! good karma, what goes around comes around 🙂
I simply have to be on the right place at a right time so they can participate, in return I got a new watch with Fitness trackers! Thank youuuuuuu.
Since it will be like a normal spazieren at Nordwest, I wear jeans + leg warmer + sunglasses + heiße Veste + Jacket; while the three were sportier, they all have proper Wanderschuhe #Germans, always prepared!
Alina brought Wilma, a very smart dog! we walked on the Berg, the weather really plays a significant role, it was brezzy yet bearable. I did have a Gevelsberg view from the top. In the km where I thought already half done, only to get it shattered completely, was barely 2km hahaha oh nooooo. Julius commented “my friend, you need to walk” Hey I’m moving but I need to decide where to put my feet to the not so muddy grass.
Almost at the end, Alina found what could be my Lebensversicherung for this year Kirmes? Had it’s not broken, we already saved 13 Euro 😉 How long did it take me? Almost 2 hours haha FYI Father, don’t worry I’m not the last 🙂
Egal, Hauptsache we made it! #Sunday well spent, good job! Here is the compilation videos made by Alina 🙂
My mom has a wide broad collections of fridge magnet for every places she or anyone in the family visited, it’s an absolute souvenir. I do not want to start with the same item / keychain or whatnot because once I did, I need to keep it durch #Couldn’t resist. What kind of Mitbringsel I opted for? mal earrings mal books.
In our family the one who always loves reading is Sissy, almost all books at our house belongs to her, I on the other hand only read Comics Doraemon or Detective Conan, even that’s very little. However, around 14 years ago, can’t simply remember where I bought it, perhaps Singapore ~ got myself two very interesting books consist of short “story” / “activity” although I’d never wrote it down on the book #Don’t want to mess it up haha anyone got the same point of view?
Anyway, out of nowhere I want to sort out my life by getting reading as my new hobby. I knew right away I wanted to start with those two books collections. Number 5: Where will you be five years from today? & Number 7: How many days in a week can be extraordinary? Organically I thought there will be 1-7. Then I realized on the bottom corner there is the website live-inspired.com
What?!?! it has been there all along yet I literally acknowledged it more than a decade later?! pffff if that takes me that long, don’t bother to think where will I be five years from today mwahaha #Hope not, jokes aside 😉
Unfortunately the customs + delivery cost to ship from USA to Germany is more expensive than the books itself. Amazon it is, a used version. Ordered Number 1: How many people does it take to make a diffference? & Number 2: How will you create something beautiful together?
Number 2 arrived, well it’s a book for appreaciating your partner #Don’t have any, can’t say much about it.
By chance, this book shattered me #Tragic. I thought my collection completed, nope! there is a number 10: What’s on your top 10 list?
Dude come on! Cant complete my stash now hey?
Back to their website, didn’t sell it anymore, feasibly they stopped printing it. The used edition from Amazon year 2013 cost 24 Euro! Aiyoyoooo monopolize at its finest. Nevertheless, I should buy it, otherwise FOMO will kick in!
Someday you’ll see my all-inclusive compendiums #Just not happening now bro 🙂
Approaching the end of Eras Tour, traffic of Taylor Swift’s on my IG raised up. Tracy posted sth about it to which I commented “do you know how can I watch the stream?” I thought one must have register somewhere first. Nope, it’s from YouTube! She gave me the YouTuber name: Ammir Shah, pressed that “notify me” button. Spoiler alert: He is A-Ma-Zing!
Taylor’s last shows was in Vancouver started at 03:00 AM German Time. Never had I ever set an alarm at 02:53 AM giving me few minutes to open my laptop, turn on the light, getting into upright position, landing myself in Canada 😉
Of course I didn’t make it on time at 03:00 AM -_- #Delayed. I do woke when it rang yet went back to sleep until around 04:30 AM, do that airline procedure, hearing Gracie Abrams “close to you, close to you, close to youuu just let me be close to you” didn’t catch any other lyrics as it was the end. Directly search it afterwards, now the amount of me repeating that song is unhealthy 😉 Kept reading the chat, we had 20-30 minutes Pause until Taylor appears slightly before 05:00 AM or maybe exactly at 5 AM? #Who knows
Some 1,5 hours later, I fell asleep for 15-20 minutes mwahaha not get used to this 5 AM Club -_- I think I skipped Foklore Eras, woke up to her Champagne Problem, from that song on, managed to keep myself awake #Proud.
It was fun to watch via Stream! Chats was active as all Swifties around the word guessing what Taylor’s dress color, how many points Ammir got it right etc. One Eras after the other, we reached the end, meaning it was 08:30 AM #Rise and Shine!
Ammir has his After Show “dialogue” where he discussed about what just happened, during this session, his subscribers went up, he was starring at his screen, lost of words. He wishes he will reach 100K to receive the Plakat from YouTube. I watched how fast the numbers scrolls until its rounds back to zero, his subscribers pierced 100K! He couldn’t contain his excitement! Even I was nervous, like “can it be now? on live?” Can’t imagine how it must feels for him. Big congratulations to you 😀
Okay, 2nd last shows: done, FOMO kicked in, can’t missed her her last show hey? Perhaps she would announce Reputation Taylors Version or Backstage Film or books or any other hype the Swifties has been swirling themselves ever since the beginning of the Eras hahaha #They wouldn’t let go 😉
Asked Tracy if he will stream the last day, she said “Yes, he does almost every day” Cool! Must witness the historic tours folded out. I have two YouTube tabs, switched between him and other streamers especially when the live people suddenly press the wrong button or what not but mainly back to him.
Next streams, I did the opposite from the day before, I missed Taylor’s grandiose arrival. However, I saw Folklore house 😉 On TTPD The Smallest Man Ever Lived Ammir also fell down with Taylor, look at his hand on his camera streams. On the accoustic sets, she played what everyone wished / guess for: Long Live on the Piano. Genie does exist, we got our song!
Once Karma hat gesungen, they gathered in circle made a group hug then went out to the back of the stage together. A round of applause Taylor Swift for closing such a successful sold out tour in each city! You are an incredible woman! It was rare, I was there, I remember it all too well <3
Yeah, it’s officially end everybody…. on the after show, someone is getting engage, wow so many celebrations here!
When I quit the Stream, Ammir’s follower are keeps adding. Thank you also to the people who were holding their phones for like 5 hours straight, you guys have the strongest arms! I guess TT means TikTok? pffff I’m too old for this shit, here are some of their IDs: Repudaytion, Dontworryjustbreathe, Ashleyschultz87 hmmm sounds German, Tessdear, hollyclarkedu, 1989vinyl, Wendyraehill. Last but not least, Ammir who operates as a fast response operator switching between streamers here & there to make sure we watchers got the best experience. Wish you success and growth on your career Ammir, be that as it may your YouTube channel, content creator or any other zillion things you do on the internet. Thank you for giving me opportunities to watch Taylor Swift Eras Tour again.
Can’t wait to see another streams of yours, you said perhaps you will do Sabrina Carpenter, Gracie Abrams or Coldplay, yais please!!! Guys, this is the bio of Ammir, he is unbelievable hey, look at “Ammir’s Creations Drive – Eras Archive” #Encyclopederas 🙂
#It was the end of an Era but the start of an age, long live!
I am a very active Instagram user which brings me to Nicolas’ story, one day he post something in die Richtung of showing his plan to visit Europe, replied “which part?” with a lingering hope it could be Germany. My wish came true, Berlin it is! Never have I ever book DB Bahn so quickly, gotta catch him there #Mission.
He arrived Thursday morning while I was on evening however we didn’t meet until Saturday lunch time. I was staying at Maria’s apartment, did home office on Friday as I only have one day-off left this year. I really don’t have any plan other than meet him 😀 To my knowledge there will only be him + Rick + Sebastian. When I arrived at Scheers Schnitzel this is the exact order of who I saw: Sebastian, Nick, Rick, Anderson, Davide? Whattttt?!?! there are more people??? I don’t mind at all, to the opposite it was a nice surprise! I knew Anderson & Davide from Shanghai but we never really talk much, I’m so glad we had this opportunity! Thank you Nick!
Turns out, there were 19 of them! haha The birthday boy Ty who played archery regularly after Covid hence I didn’t get to know him at all #Rookie vs OG a.k.a us 😉 On the table where I sit there was a new friend called Mischa. In summarize our table were Archery + Mischa, well…. Sebastian is not in Archery ~ he is Nick’s brother #Same same but different.
Then Ty came out to us, casually asking me if I would come to the party, I replied awkwardly “I do not know I was allowed to join you” Being a friendly OZ “Yes, you can come of course” Definitely I’m in. He said the theme party is Cruella de Vil. What?!?! There is a theme?!?! The guys said they would gonna wear nothing too far from black or white. I gotta be creative, had black shirt, need to mention they knew the matter for quiet some time, in addition we have Anderson, he’s always TOTAL. I must at least try to match them #FOMO.
After eating, we originally would go to the Wall Museum, until we realized they charged 14 Euro for entrance. Hell no! Sebs + Davide + me opposed to it, what could be a wall museum when the wall is literally outside and we have walked passed it? Sebs said “OK, if we are in a democracy they already lose the vote”.
Moving on to the board game cafe, apart from our Board Game King-Rick, none of us know much of it. We played Saboteur, Dopple OG + Dopple Animals which I don’t even know the name of each animal. Saboteur was really the fun game especially when we put our suspection to the wrong people. Sebs won all the game even though he barely know how to play anything, quote “it’s hard but I won so I don’t care” haha
During our game, Nick went back to his AirBnB. Nate wanted to go to some second hand shop for tonight’s ocassion. I wanted to go to Uniqlo, hearing that brand Davide was shocked “They have Uniqlo here? I miss that Brand so much!” Yes, the feeling is the same! I must buy another layer because I definitely not prepared for Berlin’s weather. Exactly on Aleksander Platz I found some property for tonight! Reported to Nick, saved for the partyyyyyyy. Doubt if I should wear the hat, had the temperature wasn’t that cold, I wouldn’t do it.
I went dinner with my friend Sunny then join them to “Süss war gestern” Club, Vicky will be there too! Yippii another Shanghai connection. Saw Nate near the entrance door, he immediately recognize my hat fits the essence of tonight’s celebration. I gave up my jacket, Nate said “take a picture of your number” doing it, Nick came out saying “hey, you stole my friend’s hat”.
We were quiet split up, don’t know where we were going. The guys keep saying “let’s go downstairs” Sebs replied “where is downstairs?” we were walking in circle, in theory we just need to look for stairs thats going down. How hard could it be? #Failed! stay where we were until close to midnight when that secret doors open, we finally went downstairs haha.
Where are the Cruella de Vil people?!?! They only wear normal black shirt and black jeans. There is no one, literrally no one with Cruella de Vil, not even Ty. Cruellnah de Vil it is! I’m the only one with the crazy hat that makes me looks like a Russian Tsar. Nick said it fits Mischa perfectly due to he was half Russian.
Davide loves my hat! Sebs commented “You’re hat is the best” Then Anderson said “I’d like to take picture of everyone with your hat”
No no, let’s say “Happy Birthday Ty” in our mother tounge with this hat. He agrees, who has a better iPhone? Nick was around us, thus he became the videographer.
Once we finished, Mischa had a brilliant idea: “we should go ask random people to do it too”. Split second to think, let’s do it, we are tourist anyway, they won’t remember us. It felt sooooo challenging to tap someone’s shoulder, asking “Hi where are you from? can you please do this for our friend?”
Then some of the groups going downstairs joining us, one girl said “it smells like a Pizza” I understood it as “do you want a Pizza?” “No I already eat” realized immediately we didn’t talk the same language, Mischa was laughing his ass off. Hey! it was a loud club of course I could get the wrong interpretation haha.
I wasn’t really planning to stay longer yet I did once they have Super Mario Bross!!!! The couple before me didn’t know how to play it gimme gimme gimme! The video didn’t do the justice 😉 I did get better after some screaming + concentrating + guidance from Rick on where to go #Efforts!
The other guys still continue, according to Nick until 5AM, hufff I need my beauty sleep, me and Rick went home perhaps at 01:00 max. Next day I went to their apartment, only Nick + Rick + Sebs were alive, the other were still sleeping, jetlag hit the OZs hard!
We played three card games, couldn’t remember what’s the game called, I prefer Rick’s card game other than the one from the Cafe. Sebs analyzed the game, asked can we only play these with 2 people? #We don’t have many friends. 100% Sebs! totally agree haha we need a board game where we can play with as less participants as possible 😉
One by one; a divers game which we do not like haha; we do like the 8 animals drinking water game, I was on fire when we weren’t played according to the house rule. On our last straw, we played monkey vs manager game where explanation regarding the meaning of “over-sell” really needed #Facepalm. Once Sebs took notes on his phone about what he thought his card is, we did the same. Rick was “guys, come on it’s not that hard” we didn’t even play the wild card where we can switch the fruits, no no no too many mathematics after a night out, we were not in our 20s anymore, our brain works differently now #Adulting.
My last day before I took my train back, we had dinner at Maximilians then walk to Tophography of Terror when I said “we need to have a picture to show exactly we were in Berlin” what else other than Check Point Charlie!
Thank you so much guys for the weekend! Keep posting so I can follow your next plan #Not a stalker! Just want to put it out there so everybody is conscious 😉
Sightseeing in Florence day 5: Last day 🙁 don’t be disheartened, I will give my full gas! #Planned
I arrived before our meeting point for walking tour about Medici Family with Gabriela, giving me some time to soaks in the Renaissance beauty.
We gathered in front of “don’t judge a book by it’s cover” church at Piazza San Lorenzo. Gabi’s theory is if the church is not so pretty from the outside, it will be pretty on the inside, vice versa. Any proof?
We went to one corner where Palazzo Medici Riccardi located, yep they owned a palace ~ doesn’t mean they were royal residence, instead just a very wealthy person who can own an impressive formal building. They started as a humble shepherd family from selling wool to one of the wealthiest and most influential families in Europe, playing a major role in banking, politics and art. They realized the great power of art, if he wants to ties some business in another city, he would sent Michelangelo and Botticelli for example to decorate Sistine Chapel.
Gabi talked about the entrance of the bank is in the corner to be easily spotted as in the past they don’t have street name. The palace was normal lookalike from the outside with a reason: Medici wants to be liked by people of Florence, spreading their subtle message “I am just a normal people like you all, I also want my voices to be heard by government”.
Next is the heart of Florence, Duomo di Firenze. The exterior of Duomo is a collections of marbles: green from Prato symbolized hope; white from Carrara symbolized faith; red from Maremma symbolized charity or love. The 16 people are not Apostles #Math ain’t mathing 🙂 they are notable citizens such as Galileo Galilei, Michelangelo, Dante, Leonardo da Vinci. At the center of the façade, there’s Virgin Mary and baby Jesus surrounded by 12 Apostles.
No one died #officially during the building of the Cupola owing to Brunelleschi’s engineering methods and his attention to worker safety. Not officially is one died because he drinks too much wine. We do want to live a longer life, therefore Gabi brought us to the lucky boar ~ Il Porcellino which obviously a replica, the real one is in Museo Bardini, do not under any circumstances tried to touch his snout, no luck gonna come to you. You can only touch the replica ones 😉
There is a secret passage near Uffizi connects Palazzo Vecchio to the Pitti Palace. All we need to do is look up haha #Not so secrets anymore.
Anna Maria Luisa de’ Medici was the last of the Medici family, she was a smart woman, every reason why Florence still have everything is thank to her. Before she passed away she signed a packed to keep the Medici’s belonging inside Florence, it can’t be sold elsewhere. 18th February is celebrated as her day, many museums are free of charge.
I decided to go to Piazza Michelangelo, tried to use bus initially, in the end taking the same mode of transportation for the past 5 days: on foot. The view does pretty up here, some says at sunset it will be very good, seeing view of Florence from the other side. This is the Economic slash budget version for someone who wants to enjoy sunset from a higher ground. I however, will be on the Cupola 😉
I bought the Brunelleschi Pass for the Duomo cost 30 Euro consist of Cathedral, Santa Reparata, Baptistery, Bell Tower, Cupola. I am dead at this point #Too many walking. Seeing the line to get inside the Cathedral, hmmm I have bought the complete pass yo, can’t be waiting with all this free people #Devil’s laugh who only wants to get inside the Duomo.
I went first to Santa Reparata, using the other entrance, you will get inside the Cathedral as it’s located in the basement, make sense since it’s an archeological site. Back to first meeting with Gabi, she does has some point though, idk if it’s due to the Duomo is still under construction or is it only this simple hmmmm. In the Santa Reparata there is a bench, great! I sat there for 40 minutes before I move on to Baptistery.
Once I got inside, it is almost all covered due to construction. I really need to come back hey! Door of Heaven, why? Fun version: it was named by Michelangelo, it has taken ages to finish the door, he said he might have been in heaven when the door is complete. Once it’s done, he still not yet in heaven 😉 The serious version: baptistery is a crucial site for Christian initiation. Baptism is viewed as a rite of passage into the Christian faith, symbolizing the entry into a new life and the Kingdom of Heaven. Real fact: None of the door is original for there was a flood in Florence, they moved it to the Museum of Duomo.
Rest from my pass is Giotto’s Campanile Bell Tower, Cupola (got the timeslot) and Museum. I calculated if I managed to climbed the bell Tower prior my time slot to go to the Cupola. I can’t, I cannot, I am unable to can. #Reality is different from planned. What’s fortunate is this ticket valid for 3 days, meaning I can still go tomorrow morning before my flight back to Dortmund. I choose the later, went to a coffee shop, sat again for another hour, preparing my legs for 463 steps to Cupola.
While waiting on the line, I leaned on the barricade, suddenly snapped “we haven’t even started and I already tired” if I can get refund I would #First thought
Climb started, it’s all spiral, at some point I could need some seconds, sat in between the hole, letting all other people to go through. After gathered up some muscles back, I continued my journey in between a couple from Amsterdam and USA in front of me and USA Family behind me which later becomes my motivation to still continue the journey. Gabi said “if in the end you can’t going on anymore, drop it guys, its not worthy, you want to have fun on your holiday, don’t torture yourself”. Nope Gabi, I’m gonna make my money’s worth! #Dedication…or economic logic.
Finally I reached the top, the father from the USA family behind me said “if you want some pictures let me know” oh don’t worry I will have every pictures on every angle, I’m gonna make my money’s worth #Mantra. Jon and Rianne alas the couple in front of me patiently took every pictures of me + holding my bag. Without a doubt we were the loudest there on top, I don’t care, I paid for it, repeating my mantra over and over again until it’s being heard.
Thanks God I have an Asian mentality in my blood, I didn’t follow my first thought otherwise I wouldn’t have met Jon and Rianne. Leute, we really into this, we’ve got it all, all views only and view with ourselves #Were very busy!
We were second to last groups that went up at 18:00, the guide shouted “continue to go down please, its over, time for next group”. Walked passed a room of handgun or something, its not even pretty yet I’m still gonna take picture of it as a proof, chanting my mantra. We were back to inside the cathedral, one higher level in comparison to when we went up to the Cupola, what I want to express is we could see the frescoes clearly and the bottom of the frescos are so ugly fulls of devils or so. I said this to Tracy at home she commented “yeah hell is a scary place”. Stimmt!
OK we got out from the church now, we do live by our mantra on that evening. As if all the thousands pictures on the Cupola weren’t enough, we must make a picture with the truck too hahaha
Rianne is dead tired, nevertheless I brought them to the front side where you can see 4 buildings in one: Baptistery, Cathedral, Cupola and Bell Tower. She gained some energy for last couple of pictures.
Only Jon lived by the Mantra ~ he followed a YouTuber with all money’s worth tip 😉 he solely will come up to Bell Tower the next day while Rianne wait downstairs. Usually the wife is the one who comes up whereas the husband wait, well, its time for a change now hahaha. They will start later while I need to be there once they opened.
Big shoutout to Jon & Rianne, I’m really grateful we met, my Duomo experience would be totally different had I not met you two! Climbed up solo, climbed down with friends 🙂 Since we are geographically neighbor, I really do hope to see you guys again in the near future!
On my last evening, I went to have dinner with Tracy, she said once you were on the top of the Cupola, you don’t need to go to Bell Tower, it will be with Grid plus its lower anyway. Oh girl, no way, I am not only FOMO but on a mission to make my money’s worth, I still coming up hahaha. I was very happy I didn’t go on the same day to both tower or else my leg might get amputated hahaha #For real.
Next day it is! On the way to Bell Tower there is also some benches to rest, I took advantage of it. I’m not in a hurry anyway, this and Museum then I crossed all my list.
Last pass! Everything you see from outside is the replica hahaha the real one is in the museum. It is a three floor museum with statues of the churches. The idea of Duomo, look at this the “possibility” of how the Cupola might looks like based on different architect.
There is also a movie where I watched two times in Italian and English so I sat longer hahaha
Then a Poem from Michelangelo, I think was good, well he’s a legend 🙂
Michelangelo Buonarroti, Rime.
Sonnet written in the years he was working on the Pieta.
The course of my life has brought me now through a stormy sea, in a frail ship, to the common port where, landing, we account for every deed, wretched or holy.
So that finally I see how wrong the found illusion was that made art my idol and my king, leading me to want what harmed me.
My amorous fancies, once foolish and happy: what sense have they, now that I approach two deaths-the first if which I know sure, the second threatening.
Let neither painting nor carving any longer calm my soul turned to that divine love who to embrace us opened his arms upon the cross.
Closing the day with some shopping, I need to get myself something yo, reward after all this one million steps hahaha. Tracy said about a gloves leather shop called Madova and a pendant charm store at Santo Spirito called Giuliano Ricchi.
The experience at Madova was amazing, she held my hand, in an instant knew exactly my size ~ it’s 6,5, like Tracy described. The price cost either 47 Euro for Silk or 53,50 Euro for Cashmere. I don’t ask if they have any other style, I choose the silk one.
The Giuliano Ricchi Jewelry is a normal house you need to ring the bell, I bought a necklace with one charm, it cost 25 Euro.
Yes I managed to get it all, in additon sip my last Hugo.
Once more, regardless of many Baustelle, Italy has my heart. I will come back for sure, until next time Firenze!
Tips: The Duomo is a must, I strongly suggest to buy all the Brunelleschi Pass like me, yes its cost 30 Euro. Need to mentioned, other than the time slot to Cupola, it’s valid for three days, you can do one each in Ruhe.
