We were sooooo happy we could finally find a day to go to Split, I heard so much of hype from this city. Took the earliest Flix Bus from Dubrovnik depart at 07:15 AM, spent exactly one working day ~ 8 hours before we had to take last bus to Dubrovnik at 20:30 PM.
Directly told Dom about what kind of Photo I must have! Not gonna leave Split before taking it.
#Split in front of Split
We had lunch at the Promenade, were not on a position to be picky, we must eat before Hangry kicked in.
Only then we started our day trip, mind you it was very very very hot, stayed inside a church for a good 20 minutes because it has AC and I kind of overslept for a while too 😉 Been a bit recharged, were on a mission to find: Diocletian’s Palace + Old Town + Cathedral + Peristil Square + Campanile + Salona.
What to visit first? opted for Salona as it was the furtherst among all, took us approximate 1,5 hours with 3 bus rides, had to stopped strangers car for direction. The entrance cost 8 Euro, nope, we “paid” it in another way which is on finding where Salona is. I was satisfied to just see from outside, in my opinion no need to see the ruins in the inside area. Be honest, this is not Rome sooo don’t really see the necessity of it hahaha FYI, the real named called Archaeological site Salona.
Continue our journey back in the town, strolled around until we stumbled upon a statue whose big toe color has changed due to so many people rub on it. Little did I know, it was a statue of Grgur Ninski ~ a Croatian Bishop. Across from this statue, there are two students doing a Part Time job posing as a guard, prepare your change to give them tips. Then one after the other, we ticked our sightseeing list.
The Diocletian’s Palace reminded me of Carlisle Cullen from one of his scene on New Moon. Peristil Square is pretty cool. Bell Tower was closed ~ not an issue for me, didn’t even plan to climb up.
We owe big time to Cornaro Hotel for “allowing” us to use their bathroom many times a day 🙂 While walking we got the urge to use the loo, where then? I hate paying, see a sign “Cornaro Hotel” okay, in theory, every toilet located in the corner. We just need to come to the receptions as if we were waiting for someone, be there with some confidence. And we’ve done it! May God bless your hotel with more worthy tourist 😉
I have to admit, I have sooo high expectations from Split. Facts is their Esplanade with coconut trees is really really on another level ~ something that Dubrovnik can’t offer. Also facts: we missed Oyster so much 🙁 plus swim in the city beach ~ although not so much but that’s not the point, it’s about the availability + accessity!
In the end, we found ourselves longing for the embrace of Dubrovnik once more <3
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.
A peculiar traditions millions of German do on NYE is watching a black and white English language television sketch called Dinner for One. First time I watched it in year 2020 with Julia, they were all laughing ~ only one not. It’s safe to say “we have a different kind of humour” don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t bad or so, it’s just not as funny as what the Germans thought.
The whole sketch was about 2 same sentences repeated by James the Butler to Miss Sophie and her answers. What are those two sentences? You’ll see 😉
One day, Hainka texted me regarding Kirmes Soest in November, ah yes! need to remember the dates; Gevelsbergs is end of June, Schwelm is at beginning of September while Soest ist November. We decided to go on the first day because other than that day I would be in Berlin, when I’m back the Kirmes is finished. Me, Hainka and Lena were the fixed member, Hainka said Monicita & gangs will join too. Well, in that case I’ll ask Feli + PV. I know PV is not a big fans of Kirmes but I don’t want him to feel left out. In the end….. it doesn’t even matter ohhh ohhh why? Only the fixed member made it 🙂
This guy inspired me! I told both of them we need to dress the same like last year. Check our photos!
We reminisce our last year path; repeated the one we liked : Ampelschnapps + try the Bullenaugeschnapps #Lecker! + skip the one we don’t #No crazy carousels #Safe Kirmes I want
My favourite game which I cannot restrain from: Froggyyyyyy still with Promat Hammer. I will keep playing until I got the froggy!
Oh gosh 😀 was very confused as to why the frog is still there when I know I hit something, I could hear the sound yet no Frogs jumping haha #Nicht den Tisch kaputt machen
What was the two sentence from Dinner for One that they said over and over again?
In less than 24 hours we will step into new years, will we have same procedure as every year in 2025? 😉
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!
One of our dear food nerds friend, Thomas, is getting married in Franzin Alm. The Nerdies featuring Claudia + Giovanni, Sara + Diego, Fiona, Christian will be there, what a nice Shanghai reunion <3
A little bit of history background, I knew Thomas in year 2016, we became close somewhere in 2018 with new people like Claudia & Giovanni + Sara. In 2019 the Wechat group Food Nerds was established, not long after that, Diego joined Sara in Shanghai, followed by Christian then Fiona to the group. Why food nerds? because we do nothing other than eating, especially our weekly ritual Bar Centrale every Sunday for Buy 1 Get 1 Free Pizza + happy hour Aperol Spritz. To this day, I am actually biased of what made us come often to Bar Centrale, is the Pizza that good? or the money deal is undeniable? Long story short, we knew each other for some time.
That is why when I got a text from Thomas about his wedding, I am really happy for him 🙂 I’ll make sure I’ll be there!
Prior to the wedding there are many discussions on both Wechat & WhatsApp group regarding what will we do for the couple. The core members of both groups are the same ~ meaning I only know us the Nerdies, there are some other new people too that I haven’t even met. With bigger crowds come bigger discussion, many ideas thrown out yet not a concrete one.
The classics one was always a slide show presentation about our time in Shanghai, that is why “someone” asked for a photo to be uploaded in a google link. I have a lot of photos from me and Thomas, we were friends for years. Additionally, I visited Thomas in Bolzano in 2020, obviously I have many selfies.
Had to mentioned, I have never met Janine before, so does other people. It is common some people in the group only know one side, either they are friends of Thomas or Janine. Few people actually friends with both as they first met in 2021. Some factors weigh in such as the famous Corona lockdown makes it harder for larger group to gather around.
Little did I knew, “someone / he” mistakenly took me as Janine! due to the reason, he never met neither me nor Janine! I think I’m the only one who sent a lot of selfie with Thomas on the google drive. Then, I realized he wasn’t make the classic slide show, he made a hat! for us to wear on the wedding dance floor! A hat with my selfie + a lot of hearts…it’s a funny hat for me, not sure what would the newlyweds think!
How did I found out about this hat?
During dessert time, I was talking with Thomas’ brother Philip then Rickard put something on my head. It must be a hat, what else can it be? I didn’t think it was THAT HAT! I thought a hat from PhotoBox. I utter the word “ah what kind of hat are you putting me on” Philip replied “a very nice one” took it out from my head, I WAS SHOCKED! directly hide it under the table, no no no no, you can’t do this to me, breath breath breath! Philip didn’t know the background story. I told Philip what “the hat creator” told me, according to him, he asked photos from Janine & Thomas. I misunderstand it as “please send me a photo of you with Thomas or you with Janine” Philip laughed, he said, let me see the hat, give it to me.
I really didn’t want the hat to spread around, I have never met Janine before, I don’t know how she will react. Started with Philip, it created a chain of information. Now it is to Diego, to Sara, to Claudia, to Giovanni. Giovanni said “give it to me Marlyn, I need to see it” Claudia cut it “no, not now, after the wedding. Don’t give it to him Marlyn, it’s dangerous if he has it”. When Manuel see on the ‘storage room’ there are a lot of these hats packed in a poly bag, I freaked out, ran, closed the door, put all the hat into the Koffer, no no no no this can’t be. The Nerdies were just laughing, they all said “I want to have one of it”
My hat was hid perfectly well on the pocket of my jacket, others I put it inside the Koffer. So far so good, no one needs to know other than the Food Nerds + Philip + Manuel.
The wedding party went smoothly, food after food, cakes after cakes, first dance, party started!! we were all having fun….until…. the hat reveals itself, boah I can assure you, all food nerds were flabbergasted! there was a brief moment where I locked in eyes with Claudia on the opposite side, our jaws dropped to the floor before burst into laugh. You can see on the video, Giovanni hasn’t stop laughing! The reason why I was shaken was…. how did Janine found out? who’s giving it to her?
Now the cats are out from the bag, no secret anymore! haha we all can wear the hats! Diego said “Marlyn, whoever from us married next, we will make a hat with your face and the guy’s face on it” The Nerdies hats are special, we have Thomas & Janine signed on it. Thomas has one with my name written on it. He said, when you are getting married, I don’t care if I’m invited or not, I will come with the hat and ask your guy to sign it as well, I will tell him “See, I have been there before” hahaha
After the wedding, some guess put the hat on the lobby area, hey! don’t throw it away! Luckily, the hotel receptionist approached Claudia to asked “is this belong to your party?” “Yes” “do you know the person on the hat?” “Yeeessss!” so now Claudia has two!
Sara, Diego & Fiona stayed a few days after the wedding, they did hike together with the hats! oh God! this hat really will go everywhere! They won’t let it go easily.
Perhaps we will wear it all together when we meet again, Oktoberfest hey? See you all soon nerdies! don’t forget about our hats!
FYI, now that I’m calm down, I scrolled the chat, he didn’t specifically mentioned Janine AND Thomas, not like what he told me on the wedding day. He and his wife told me because they never met Janine before that’s why they asked in the group to send a picture of both Thomas AND Janine. They said “And you send your selfie, so we print it” Nope, no prove of you saying that word ‘AND’. The whole time I thought I misunderstand them, I wasn’t! They fucked up then they wanted to throw the shit out of me, not gonna happen brother, I backed up by Janine humorous personality.
Well…. sometimes mistake must happen in order to know the real character of the person, I’m relieve Janine took it as a jokes 🙂 it could potentially be really schief gegangen, thank you for not letting it go south.
Love you Food Nerds! Happy Wedding Thomas & Janine, thank you Janine for being a fun individual!
Claudia asked me to join Gevelsberg Kirmes, it’s a yearly fun fair where they have a lot of food stands like in Christmas market only on summer, I have been there before in 2022 and would like to be there again 🙂
Our program: always gathered at Alina’s home ~ her place is exactly where the entrance of Kirmes which also become our Pipi Box #Save money! There I met new people, Karen and Jens.
Gevelsberg Kirmes’ located on a hill, once you reach the “top” there is a Ferris wheel. Claudia & Alina established a ritual, every Kirmes day they will ride it. We also have it in Christmas market Dortmund yet for whatever reason it never attracts me #perhaps someday it will. Now I’m at Kirmes, let’s follow their ritual. Leute I’m not gonna lie, I was scared! shit man! getting old’s never become realer!
As I mentioned before, you will see Mandel, Cotton Candy, Ice Cream, Langos etc. I ate Kartoffel Twister, once I paid, I moved to the other lady who will pour which spice I want. The lady was “Wo ist die Dame?” “Bin here!” did she missed me while I’m right in front of the Theke? pfffff. Besides eating, we must have shots Rhabarber + Himbeere at the middle stand #Always.
Around 22:00 where it was dark, Claudia & Alina afraid I will lose in crowd of people, they bought me my Lebensversicherung. Both of them were “I will buy Marlyn Balloon, let’s do it” The seller wants to give me Peppa Pig, it wasn’t so good, Claudia choose die Katze as a representatives of HB who is sitting at home with Julius. Neither do they know, that Balloon costed 13 Euro! Damn! ~ Long time ago it was 2 DM hahaha. Too late to cancel, I’m proudly walk with it! it is very convenient for them, they know exactly where I am 😀
We are sure we will meet some NW people, we did! Sabrina, Melanie, Claudia (other), Carsten. Apart from Arbeitsleute, we met with Claudia’s Bootcamp people, Markus & his wife Kathrin. Yeah, forgot to mentioned on a Saturday they always do sport which means I am also doing that #Gruppenzwang. I was participated on their Bootcamp before so I knew Markus as Mario guy because he was dressed up with hat + hoodie like Super Mario color. One of the guy, Alex asked me what do I think about the workout? Eww Brother, I’d rather sleep! Valentine’s training plan was better than before…however #No offense, I still don’t like Bootcamp training haha. TSC Eintract Dortmund, why oh why you cancel my Yoga class during EM!
Back to Kirmes Topic 🙂 On a Saturday we rode das Riesenrad for the second time #Ritual. Honestly, I have less Angst than yesterday. Claudia believe “Höheangst kann man überwinden” you only need to do it more often. Apropos, we have a Gevelsberger 2024 Pin! Alina took it for us, she has a sharp eye to see where the bucket is! #Ess dä Kiärmis inne Gänge, schmeet ek mie inne Menge.
I went back to Dortmund on that Saturday kurz vor Europameisterschaft as DE vs Dänemark plays in BVB Stadion, it’s die Hölle los für Dortmund! I need to get myself a seat or at least able to Bewegung because I will bring my balloon to NW! Therefore I must survive the crowd!
Did I? Half! until Unwetter greeted me right on my Ubahn Station. Blitz, Donner, Hagel usw. FYI, Feli informed me the game stops for 15 minutes. I always bring umbrella but I have to protect my Balloon, took shelter for a while at Dogewo21 before decided to just hit the rain, made it home! ballons saved! can’t wait to show it to NW!
Almost 4 years in Germany, even though I don’t have a lot of friends here, my friend does 🙂 I’m lucky enough to have her who introduces me to all of her friends, love you Freundin! Oh wait, how about my friend? Julius is not a big fans of Kirmes, still he picked us up, no matter what time, thank you my Freund. Now I know what I’m gonna do every last weekend in June 🙂
Approaching Taylor Swift Era’s Tour in Europe, my Instagram filled up with her new or old feeds. I am no more a rookie Swiftie, I know she held a secret sessions for her fans one month prior her album open for public. Well, here I tell you my own secret sessions, consist of secret people who all “failed” to keep it that way 😉
The first week of March was a busy week for someone who their works has something to do with importing tools from Asia as it was the Köln Fair meaning all Asian supplier will be there. In another word, our Agent from Far East are coming 🙂 We have a guest! Meet Nilesh, this was the first time I met him personally, all this time we only meet online. First few days he didn’t stay in Dortmund but once he stays here, time to turn the valve, let off steam.
Welcome to the 2024 Secret Session! The Errors Tour 😉
Remember when I told this secret is neither secret nor exclusive anymore? Who can’t keep it? First is Nilesh, he ask his friend Abhi to join, I don’t even know him. Second is me haha I told Esther about Amigo. He wasn’t sure if he can come as he live and work somewhere else but he will try his best to make it.
Me and Amigo texted few hours before on where to show Nilesh, options are Hörde or City Center. Unfortunately at that day there was a strike for Bus & Bahn. In the end we decided to just come to my place, do a home tour, have a drink nearby.
It was the first time Amigo step into my apartment, his real first one was only until stairs to handed me Rewe groceries as I was positive. I gave him my best slippers which to him the unmanliest ever. Hey this slippers has been travelled from Netherlands-Shanghai-Deutschland, very international!
I do the apartment room tour where these two kept commenting about how big my place is in contrast to how small I am, yo you don’t understand this apartment is generational!
We gave up the idea of waiting Abhi, decided to have a drink without him. It took him forever why? the real reason is not because there is no Bus or Bahn as my place is only 20 mins away from Hbf, rather a series of errors: Nilesh give him my address instead of Schmackes plus he carried a big luggage and two backpacks. Me and Amigo was shocked! O.O where is he going? what is his intention with those stuff? most important, what’s inside?
Why Abhi is not on the picture? Dude, we just get to know him, he didn’t earn his badge to be included on our secret sessions yet haha! We literally waited for him to arrived to take us that picture, why didn’t we ask the weiter? For whatever reason, it’s a no haha
Gracias Amigo for inviting us for drinks, just my two cents don’t do it often to the Alcoholic #You know who he is 😉
What is the core activity I do in every place I travelled to? joined the Walking Tour! Sadly mine was cancelled on last minute where I was already on the way to our meeting point. I still could get some chance of changing it to the next day, although it will only be for less than 1 hour as I have to go to the Airport in the afternoon.
Marlyn, you are not a beginner travelers, take yourself to explore Madrid! Search, ah Templo de Debod! let’s do this. Since we are visiting an old temple, let’s go back to ancient time, queueing for at least a good 1 hour long, good news: it’s free 😉 The descriptions match the engraved wall, although it wasn’t so clear like emboss effect, you could still see the patterns.
The outside appearance still hold its majestic, what makes it more magical are the gates still there! The location of the temple itself is also magnificent, kind of on the top of the hill.
There is also a look out area on the far end:
Mahlzeit eh? I’ve already eaten delicious Spanish food except…. Churros! Andreas and Irina told me the best churros ever: San Gines! I have to checked that, one portion of Churros for myself with chocolate please 🙂
Now I’m ready for…. Plaza Mayor! there is a fence due to some parts still under constructions where I met…. Sunny! she has a very good Handy with 0.5x camera ability! Girl!!! I gotta stay with you hahaha she was so nice! she let me borrow her phone, from Plaza Mayor we wanted to go to the Parliament House, passing a beautiful church. I went inside while she’s catching the sunset from the Parliament House.
The Sunset was very pretty, she got a spot on the edge, we take turns on taking pictures literally don’t give our place away haha don’t make the same mistake twice! she gave up her spot while looking for me, therefore when we found each other, nothing gonna part us from our edge!
We separated after that, I went strolling with no specific destination like Chueca, stopped when people are taking angle wings picture, want to have it too! #FOMO. Back to Cibeles Fountain and Banco de Espana. I’ve only witness the beauty in the daytime, now on nighttime it was beautiful too! As it says, lo que es bonito es bonito.
I got hungry heyyy! Irina wrote me some dishes I can try, most of them I tried it all with JP & Co, except one: it’s the stew meat. I already know I wouldn’t like it as much as I like the others yet I still give it benefit of a doubt. Was I correct? Yep! Should’ve had the Jamon with Patatas instead 😉
What did I do in the end? I texted Eric I might give it to the homeless people. He replied “if it doesn’t taste good for you, do you think you do a favor by giving it to the homeless?” Well….. he is a Spanish perhaps he will like it haha
Oh who is Eric? Very funny I met him while asking for picture with my La Casa De Papel Mask in front of Bank of Spain, turns out he’s from Switzerland so we speak Deutsch! Finally it starting to make sense of learning the language 🙂
My last day is here… didn’t get much from the less than 1 hour walking tour. While Paris has Eiffel Tower, Madrid has Puerta del Sol. It’s a bear eating Madroño ~ similar to lychee, fermented with alcohol. The bear will take a siesta after eating it then got thirsty once she wakes up haha
In some governmental building it will have 3 flags: EU + Spain + Madrid. There are 7 stars in Madrid’s flag who represent the seven stars in the Starry Plough constellation closest to the Ursa Major (Great Female Bear) Constellation.
Like every statue, people can’t keep their hands to themselves. It says if you touch the feet of the bear you will get luck, for his ass you will get love. Everyone is able to do it by themselves, except one 😉
Joy helped me to reach it! Maybe this is why I haven’t find one, I just need some help from the good samaritan along the way. Lady, if I found both of them after the trip, rest assured you get the VIP Treatment! #we shall see.
Despite it wasn’t designed for me, I determined to touch it! didn’t reduce my spirit!
Thank you for the warm weather Madrid! Made me wanting to go to another city in Spain already 🙂
Also gracias to all Good Samaritans I met, wouldn’t have all these wonderful pictures without you 😀
Andreas is kind of Kirmes’ fans, me on the other hand was only OK, apart from the public knowledge such as the biggest Kirmes is in Soest, I don’t know any ‘property’ of Kirmes: when its starts, where to get what from which stands etc therefore when he asked if I want to come to Kirmes Soest on the first day it started on 08.11.2023, my answer was yes!
We took Eurobahn from Dortmund Hörde to Soest. After several attempt to ask our colleague Maik or hoping Mike ~ yes thats 2 different person 😉 if he can drive us to Hörde failed, took the matter on our hand ~ take Bus instead. Lena joined us in some stations before arriving Soest.
Wiiiii! it’s indeed bigger, the location is direct on Soest’s Altstadt, surrounding by many old Fachwerkhäuser, makes the atmosphere even more beautiful! Like a Christmas Market minus the Glühwein + Christmas Baum.
As an introduction to Soest Kirmes, we had the rote Ampeln-Schnapps! It’s literally the translation of traffic lights ~ meaning 3 schnapps in one go with color red-yellow-green. I shared it with Lena, according to her we need to drink from the least favorite to the most, starts with Green. Had to agree with her, I do find green is the less tasty than the yellow & red. I like them both!
Moving to Langos, not this one, the Langos that parked near the Honig-Schnapps-Laden. Wokei, follow you! On the way there Andreas showed me Mr. Honig guy ~ he’s pretty famous in Kirmes area, owing to his singing ability that attract people to drink Schnapps with him, not all Schnapps, it has to be his Honig-Schnapps in his Laden.
I saw a girl holding a microphone in front of the Honig-Schnapps-Laden, playfully said “hello” to it, she proceeds with “oh do you want to say something to our DJ? you can say let’s come to Kirmes here is all great” during which Lena already on the way to the Laden, grabbed her arm, pull her to me as my morale Unterstützung. OK let me say some few words, after me it went to Lena then Andreas. I mean yo, you can’t just leave me #all by myselffff 😉
Wait, we haven’t even bought the Schnapps haha after our Radio-intermission, we had our Honig-Schnapps. What can I say? it’s sticky….the glass is cute which made from ice cream cone where we can eat, have to be honest, this Schnapps….gefällt mir überhaupt nicht iyeeeeyyyy -_- Anyway, the song! gefällt mir, something with cuk ku cuk ku cuk haha
Once we were out from his Laden, Lena met a famous 1Live DJ aka Daniel Danger, asked for a selfie, of course I also involved!
Besides food, there were some games, we played Frog. It’s 5 Euro for 12 frogs or so, I counted it was only 11 frogs! hey we are missing one! #Good job Marlyn. If we are able to put the frog to the bucket, we will get a gift, what could it be? a frog doll 🙂 did we get it? nope! there were some hits that was closed enough haha.
Even though the frog was not in our favor, we received a pleasant surprise when I found out the hammer we were using was a Promat hammer coming from one of my order!
Enough with the play, moving on to the carousel slash Achterbahn. Lena didn’t want to ride it, I was tempted simply because I don’t have this kind of carousel when I was younger. Before I became too scared or not interested anymore, it’s time to tried it. You can see how we ~ I meant me, still innocent before it starts.
I didn’t fell down except I got “kicked” from the girl next to me as we were all kind of jammed to each other and her legs were kicking my leg etc. We kept sliding over and over.
In comparison when I’m dropped dead afterwards. I felt soooo shitty not sure what could be the reason…. maybe I went after I eat Langos? Should I went before I had anything? hmmmm… not willing to test this theory #definitely.
I always carry an umbrella together with a plastic bag to put back the wet umbrellas into the bag. I told them I felt bad yet still walking until I can’t anymore…. I need to sit somewhere, on an Eingang of the Geschäft, me don’t care! I have my own Geschäft going on on my Belly right now. Andreas said “are you really want to do it?” Yes! we need to go to the dark alley since here is many people hin und her. I managed to do it, very little but it was good for the start! #facepalm
Walked around again, I do feel slightly better but there was still some unfinished business. Told them I think having a tea would helps, went to Kühbar and there is where I did quiet a number on the toilet, I was all out! Came out totally healthy again 😀 We closed our trip with finding a Bobatea-Doll! even as big as me! Life sized Boba!
Next year = no carousel! Not gonna ruin the Kirmes experience. Told QQ about it he replied “Remember your age, we can’t do that anymore” Yes! this conclude the moment I knew pffff not again! I had to stop or else it stopped me!
Oh remember I said few words on the microphone from 1Live? it got aired on Saturday, the Chef from our Kantine recognize my voice he said “I was listening to Radio on Samstag and suddenly Liebe Grüße aus Soest!” he said to his wife “this voice, I knew her” I don’t need to listen you say your name, I knew it immediately hahaha.
Insgesamt, it was a good outcome coming to Soester Allerheiligenkirmes 😀 Vielen lieben Dank Lena & Andreas!
OK some background stories out of it. Remember Lisa? The German Lady from my walking tour in Estocolmo? We had lunch together before visiting Vasa Museum, she said that everything in Germany is not much cheaper than in Stockholm, they are kind of on the same level, Germany is getting “more expensive” (with the inflation). Look at this, I bought a 72 hours public transport ticket, it cost me 30 Euro. Yes it is still more expensive than Germany but not much anymore.
After hearing the price of the public transport, I feel quiet weird because every time I tap my Master Card it’s written 0,09 SEK = 0,10 Euro… Automatically I felt I have the Vorteile of not buying it as it only cost me 10 Cents each time. I am not the type who put fuel on the fire, so just let it be when Lisa said it, I won’t say “btw I only paid 10 Cents” reason: a. it’s not helping; b. this is so not true at all! hahaha
Fast forward to end of the month, Erin need to renew her monthly card, to which I asked “why don’t you just tap like me?” see it’s always 10 Cents. I actually don’t understand why because if I eat in the restaurants, the real value is there directly, for example dinner 1390 kr = 119,94 Euro or 980 kr = 84,43 Euro. All are correct other than public transport one.
Moment of truth ladies and gentleman!!!! I was completely wrong the whole damn time! I have 0 idea why, SL (the public transportation) need 2-3 days until the real value came up to my Master Card. It all depends on the exchange rate sometimes one way fee was 3,33 Euro or 3,44 Euro or 3,67 Euro. Verdammt! She was right! Rrrr should’ve trust the Germans for sure she did her research before! Aaargghh! had I knew it, I would have bought that damn 30 Euro card! I used all public transport like no one ever just to know it hasn’t been charged completely!!!
Fuck fuck fuck! what can I do? Now it’s not lohnt sich anymore to buy the 72 hours as my trips approaching the end. On top of it, I already visited all the necessary sightseeing with always tap tap tap tap #Running out of money! What can this Scandinavian country offer me? Erin sent a link “free museum in Stockholm” aha! that’s what’s I’m gonna do for the rest of my trip with the rest of the money I have. How about public transportation? Nope, I’m gonna walk the whole damn day!
We will reveal it one by one:
First: The Medieval Museum
I chose the locker number that represents my age 😉 then I read a sign there will be an English tour whoaaaa There is a part where I remembered clearly is about a punishment for adultery, the woman need to carry a 30-40kg of weight on her shoulder while the man’s private part will be tied on a string and they have to walked all the city. However! most man will get away by paying the money while girl doesn’t have much money to begin with. What?! I hope I understand that part wrong except I wasn’t…. Oh see the brick wall? that was the real wall from ancient time, they found it when they dug die Erde to make this Medieval Museum.
Second: Moderna Museet with Erin
The free entrance was 2 hours before it’s closing. We did went through all exhibitions, sometimes our reaction were only ‘hmmmm’ didn’t think I understand it 😉 I do however understand one paint with thinking “are we in Asia?” once I got close yep! inspired from Thailand 🙂
Moving on to one part where they provided us a book of a conversation between Rashid Johnson an Kevin Quashie called ” Thinking-In-Action” in Swedish and English at a corner called “please have a book”. We happily taking the book thinking “oh we got ourselves a souvenir!” Only to find out they didn’t put the Q and A on the right page, or maybe this is still a part of the art? where I need to guess on which page the answer will continue?
Third: The Jewish Museum
I came exactly at the hour when it’s free for public. Followed by many people after me, hello not paying customers 😉 #I’m not the only one
What really strucks me was this videos:
The first lady’s family were hosting Jewish girl from Berlin when she was 9-15 years old. She didn’t like her at all, according to her the Jewish girl came out of a sudden to her family and everyone need to feel sorry for her. She gave her a real hard time. Then they met again at age 40ish. She asked her about her experience on living with her family? To her surprise the Jewish girl replied “that’s the best year of my life”. Then she said “you know I was hard on you”. The Jewish girl didn’t felt and never thought of it. She is not religious person but she prayed to God for forgiveness for hating her.
The middle lady remembers a Hitler songs in German: “if a Jews’ blood drip from the knife then life is twice as good” I could still see the fear on the video when she recite it.
The third man said when he got older he understood the reason why every time he visit his classmates’ home there will be coins on the floor and it’s to see if he will take it. That’s when he felt what is the meaning of being offended.
Fourth: The Swedish Holocaust Museum
This Museums tells the story about 7 Jewish survivors who came to Sweden. They have the part where we can ask questions with AI’s help unfortunately by the time I came we can only ask in Swedish.
I bought a book from them, it’s very…. I can’t read it in one go, not because its too think, rather the content is just so wow in a negative way.
Fifth: The Living History Forum
There’s one corner about the story of Per Anger, a diplomat of Swedish Embassy in Budapest who issued a fake Passport for Jewish people. He saved so many Hungarian Jewish, there was a time he went to the train full of Jews asking “who has Swedish Emergency Passport?” only two people has it, then he spoke to the Hungarian if they have any receipt whatsoever anything that looks like legal? The German officer won’t understand it anyway. They did have that and Per Anger talked with the German officer “their Swedish Emergency Passport just got delivered, here is the receipt”
Thank you very much for standing up Sir! That’s why your name and your best friend’s Raoul Wallenberg are still be remembered to this day.
That was it, all the museums I could visit as my last resort against the cold and against the money in Estocolmo 😉
I’m so happy that Stockholm offers this options. Germany! do it please! Take a good example from your neighbor European countries!
P.S: Here is the link https://www.visitstockholm.com/see-do/attractions/museums-with-free-entry/
