Money’s Worth

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.

No Revolution

Sightseeing in Florence day 3.

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

Yes, I’ll Be There

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 😉

Slim Not Fit

Baggage delayed-checked, baggage broken-checked ~ Delsey oh Delsey, your journey has come to an end 🙁 Thank you for being with me, being lent to Andreas while he had a business trip to India, I have never been there but at least you had. I can proudly said you have lived your life 🙂

This is how my luggage looks like when it landed Düsseldorf. After being here for more than 3,5 years, I’ve learnt what the Germans are good about ~ complaining. As a believer of ‘masuk kandang kambing mengembek, masuk kandang kerbau menguak’ I became one of them, report the damage to Airport Claim Staff.

Done with registering, I was given a paper to submit my complaint within one week, don’t worry, I did it right away. Team Dolfi1920 took over my luggage swiftly, although I only get compensation of 72 Euro due to they count % of yearly depreciation #Mathematic, it is still better than nothing right?

I found a foldable luggage with the same size (length x width x height) as my Delsey one, hmmm interesting, I always wants to try this type of luggage, let’s have it! Little did I knew, the size written in the Dolfi1920 is already counted the wheel which means when it arrives ~ 2 weeks later ~ it is smaller than mine. I was so happy to get such a slim luggage only to know it’s not fit.

As I need to remind myself I’m not in China, delivery from Germany won’t be happening within 24 hours + we have national holidays in May + they don’t deliver after 18:00, I had to think about another alternative. How about if I bought a luggage-cover? with the hope it will last until it reach Bali where my mom will give me a new one #That’s the plan.

Hold on Delsey, I believe you, let’s do one more flight! 🙂

#We are ready!

The 2024 Secret Sessions

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 😉

Marlie Jenner

Ongky recommended me to have an additional Zahnversicherung for prevention on real money coming out of pocket haha after giving it some thought…. why not? It’s necessary to do professional teeth cleaning once a year anyway, when you inserted the word “professional” meaning the cost is above 100 Euro. This cost won’t be all cover by my normal health insurance. I’ve done my research, chose the one Astra offered, starting from July.

Went to have a professional teeth cleaning right away, being reminded again that the costs is different from a normal teeth cleaning and not be covered by a normal insurance. Yep I know that is the only reason why I have additional insurance, proceeedddd!

I thought all this time I have a healthy teeth….until it wasn’t haha I have a condition called Periodontitis or gum disease, it’s not super tragic yet need to be treated. When my next appointment? in September! Oh… is it that long? there is no availability within…. next week? The receptionist said because they will write a letter to insurance to ask them to cover for the fee, it could take around 1 month #German efficiency, I need to practice my patience.

In the meantime I received a letter from my insurance saying they need to have a second opinion. Therefore I need to go to a Gutachten to check if I really need the treatment. Rrrghhh they gonna do the same check to my mouth. The Gutachten who also a dentist said “yes, I agree you need the treatment” #Pffff

One day before my appointment, I talked to my colleague Nadine, turns out she had just done it as well. She gave me a very useful insight to which I wouldn’t be able to eat for few days after that. Oh… auch! let me eat everything beforehand! I did eat a lot before my appointment, not regret it at all!

He was injecting numbing medicines things to my gum, after that “Bis gleich” hello?!?! how long? can’t you inform at least? I was confused, this is it? am I done? 15 minutes later they came back in, lucky them I’m still there haha The nurse put the Sauger hang on my mouth whilst Herr Doktor started the treatment.

I visualize all my teeth are being scrapped to the last layer, the nurse kept pulling on other direction. I’m not gonna lie, it seems as if my mouth is going to be ripped, worse case is I can’t say anything. After what I reckon like 20 minutes, they have nailed it, tears coming out from my eyes, the doctor didn’t do something as painful as the nurse. I still don’t have a control over my mouth, bloods were dripping. Had I could talk, it would be “wth yo! you almost ripped my mouth yet you didn’t saug it well” Thanks to you, I can’t wear the clothes anymore! the blood stain stay strong still! pffff

You can see how swallow my lips are plus every gum was bleeding. I can’t even close my lips hahaha! I consider my lips is now similar to Kylie Jenner’s, only mine comes from a natural cause. So, if you want a lip filler, just do the cheap version, go to the dentist, ask about a Periodontitis treatment 😉 #Broke tips.

In the evening it gets better, meaning I can close my lips haha that’s already an achievement I would say. Even for drinking water is uncomfortable, forget about chewing.

Next day in the office I still can’t anything. Krissy gave me a suggestion to perhaps have a Kakao as long as it’s still free (under testing period). What?!?! FREE Kakao?!?!

Say no more I’m getting it! Did I had one? No way man, I’m getting my second Kakao. But when I got the second one, the Kakao Seeds was low haha not as good as the first one.

Teeth insurance is important hey, get one for yourselves! I still have control after another control, it’s painful but since I already paid for it, I’m gonna use it all, we are not a f#3k!ng Charity 😉

Vitamin D – Part 2

I need to start with the fact that I’m not really a Museum type of girl. I only go there when the weather is bad, however exceptions applies #wink there are 2 famous Museums in Stuttgart. Are they a Castle Museum thingy? No! Instead…. Porsche and Mercedes Benz Museum! AAAAA

Let’s gooooo!

Took the SBahn to the Porsche Museum. On the intersection before entering the Museum, I saw one car that was so geheim, it was all covered, could be a brand new car from Porsche! Yo! I “witness” something!

The lady on the ticket counter asked if I’m a student, thank you Lady! Unfortunately no, then she asked if I come with DE Ticket, yes! so I got a Rabatt, who doesn’t like discounts?!?! 5 Euro entrance fee it was 🙂 She gave me an audio guide, let’s explore the world of Porsche!

They started directly by putting a racing cars, yes you can see some tractor style or just an expensive cars on the side but mainly its all about racing. It is really cool to see all of type of cars laying there to please your eyes 🙂 Funny things is I took a picture of a Porsche car who doesn’t have a door handle from the outside, find it?

They also have the let’s call it “ancient” car of Porsche, I have to admit, it has some style!

On the center floor, we could have a bit of Porsche Experience. They put a playing car like you have in Game Master Daytona, I played it for 3 laps to confirm what I already knew, I need to re-learn my driving ability. They displayed 3 Porsche cars, you can sit inside it. In my view, they are quiet low… followed by throwing a complaint to a car that I would never afford to have in this life haha Girl you got a discounted entrance ticket!

Oh what’s that?!?! One Disney Car caught my attention, from all the sports car available, I’m sold to a Disney Car! I thought it was the Susi-Car, a cartoon movie back then when me and my sister still small, we cried watching it. A story about broken car named Susi who looks exactly like this blue Porsche car. Susi was a Taxi Car yet no one wants to be on it as many of her parts were broken, therefore she needs a reparation. In the end, Susi had no other option other than go to the Werkstatt. But once she’s out, she’s new again! me and my sister were happy!

Getting closer to the plate, oh, it wasn’t a Susi-Car, it’s Sally Carrera from the movie Cars pfffff to be honest, I only remembered the color was blue haha!

I spend a good 3 hours inside the Museum.

Moving on to number 1 list to do when visiting Stuttgart, it’s the Mercedes Benz Museum. Oh! I read on the back of my Porsche Ticket that if I show it they will give me a Rabatt to enter Mercedes Benz, yuhuuu!! Money Wins! 9 Euro entrance ticket after the discount.

This is huge! like huge huge huge! the elevator took you to the 7th floor then you just go down in a loop like number 8. Amazing! My colleague, PV told me there are only 3 Mercedes car ever produced and one of them is in the Museum. This was my target, need to find it!

Back to the 7th floor, they showed us the history from only “the grandfather clock” machine

As I said each floor of Mercedes Benz Museum was design like a number 8, main car show in the middle, then pictures about what’s happening in the whole world on the one side of loop number 8, then “exhibitions” of some cars on the other side. This “exhibitions” could be a car for fire fighter, bus, football team, Pope. Ich bin echt überfordert!

I am already tired before I found the expensive car! I expect if one car is really only 3 exist in this world, it should be glass doored or at least with a security. I’m very surprise that wasn’t the case! Ladies and Gentleman, here is the most expensive car, the car that only sick people could afford. The 135 Million Euros’ car!

Imo, this car is geiler! Doesn’t mean it cost less money, nevertheless see the interior, color and design! TOP!

I felt satisfied to find the 135 Millions Euro car but not my stomach, I was hungry! Need to fast forward my walking speed! until I stumbled into….. okay I went there on the King Charles Coronation day. What did I see? a Mercedes that Princess Diana was once on it! ironic ehhh..

Reach 1st floor about the innovation of today with electric car and so on. For some reason it wasn’t so interessting, bring back the race car!

yes they did! Racing history 🙂

I spend a good 4,5 hours there, had I’ve been allowed to have some snacks while walking around inside the museum for sure I could reach 6 hours easily. At some point I was just tired and hungry, need to go out to eat or else I could faint!

Although I’m not a car-junkie I really think both are worth visiting for, only a recommendation, for Mercedes I really do think better go there after enjoying a big meal 😉

Little Rascal

Nordwest has an internal magazine that published maybe only 3 to 4 times a year named TeamGeist, the purpose of it is to let us know what is happening with all employees (at least that’s what I thought), when someone get married, a baby is born they can send the picture to the redaction team, new colleagues or what Nordwest has done during that period of time.

One of the example is this Family Day in May

Somewhere in May I got an email from one of our TeamGeist’s team, asking if I’m willing to have an interview telling my story about how I get to Germany. Yaiiissss was my answer 🙂 whether there will be someone who wants to listen or in this case read my story that’s a different things but for me, I am for sure willing to do it 😉 Not to lie, I was a bit nervous. The interview went for an hour, Sophie was very professional, she pushed the record button with an announcement “the interview starts in 3…2…1”

Life goes on for some time until Sophie finished her draft then asked for my confirmation. One day, Esther came to me said “There is a full page of you with your photo in the next TeamGeist” what? where? how do you know? She’s got an access to proofread the magazine first but didn’t show it to me nor to anyone else.

By middle of September, Sophie said “I think it should be issue in September, it won’t be long”

Few minutes before Mittagspause, the email I’ve been waiting for this whole time arrived!

Being a little rascals, I bloody make sure everyone stop what they are doing to read that specific email! Scroll scroll scroll, find myself there!!!

I am become TeamGeist advertiser for sure that whole week, “have you read TeamGeist page 12-13” with an intonation which has a sounds more like a statement instead of a question 😉

I was too excited to not read the whole sentence from the email so I didn’t know they still print it until I saw it in our Cantine, ofc you know what will I do, definitely took a couple of it!

Need to spread it to my family back home yo! One I’ll put it in my Opa’s shelfs that he considered as an achievement, not his own’s rather his children and grand children. I’ll make sure this magazine stands between thesis’ collections, graduations picture, a picture where my sister shake hands with our President #yes this TeamGeist is at the same level with all of those 😉 I’m your only grandchild that made it to bloody Europe heyyy besides that magazine will be the only one that’s written in German, although it wasn’t me who wrote it…. in my opinion…. that’s something needs to be count…#still!

I mentioned I took a couple exemplar didn’t I? Well, I’ll hang it on my wall too, make sure everyone who comes to my home sees it 🙂 Yes! this is what happened when I’m the topic of it, Werbung ohne Ende haha

This TeamGeist edition is full of the people that I want! Julia and Moritz wedding picture is there plus their Baby Milo!

Thank you Sophie for choosing to write a story about me <3