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The (Not) 5 AM Club

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!

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Repeat

I stayed at Maria’s for my weekend in Berlin, her door is easily recognized by a cat door haha, it is very practical, her cat can easily in and out the building. Mister Cat is a very active one, he woken me up either by playing around the room or jumping to me whenever I am relaxing, he can’t take anyone is resting. Once I’m ready to roll, it was his sleeping time. I had a habbit of needing to know where he at, Mister Cat must be safe and sound. I looked everywhere for his sign, behind the blanket or so only until I see him whereabout I’ll leave Maria’s place. You woke me up, now it is my turn #Karma.

On Friday evening I had dinner at Maria’s family. Her step-childrens are all very smart, they got into an international school, could speak English fluently at the age of only 6 and 8.

Look at this, very sweet hey!

During dinner, they planned to go to “The Art of the Bricks” on Saturday. The kids asked if I can join, awwwwww… klar! My plan was only meeting Nicolas for lunch + Dinner with Sunny, other than that I would love to join you guys. They picked me up around 10:30 ish, thought we need to be super careful as the Art was made of Legos, nope it’s all glued with more glue than super glue hahaha. The whole place took about one hour to visit. See those little hands haha very cute hey! Oh who took the picture? Gaby did it but he didn’t take picture of our face #Oh well…

We separated for lunch as I will have it with Nick & co. For dinner, I requested Sunny ~ a Koreanish lady we met during our flight to Iceland, to eat at Korean restaurant. I sooooo miss Korean BBQ + their sauce. We had a problematic stove, we waited, hmmm why it’s not getting hotter? Lifted the BBQ plate, oh the fire is off again, happened at least 4 times. Showed Sunny my crazy Russian Tsar hat for tonight’s party, she said “now you also have a costume for Halloween next year” #zwei Fliegen mit einer Klappe schlagen.

That goes my Saturday, very packed! On Sunday, I was begging “Mister Cat, please go somewhere else, I’m dead tired. RIP me” My agenda was visiting Jüdisches Museum, it is for free! Yeay!

It is indeed a very well-kept Museum, interactive, modern and very big too. You could spend at least 3 hours there or you could also sit a lot like me haha I only fast forward when I want to go to see Nick again 😉

On Monday I joined a free walking tour with our guide Alex, it’s kind of a private one, only Jayleen + his father and me 🙂 Alex mentioned the red traffic lights at Postdamer Platz were the oldest traffic lights in Germany. Aha! Already knew it back then from Sebastian.

We walked passed a 5,5 km Tiergarten which is bigger than Central Park ~ 3,5 km. Thanks to Friedrich Wilhelm II who tore down the wall in Tiergarten so it wasn’t a royal hunting garden only. He is homosexual, at that time his father couldn’t accept it, since he can’t kill his own son, he let Friedrich watch he killed his lover 🙁 In the end he married a Princess, sad for both. We also saw the Monument of the Homosexual people that got killed.

We talked about Facism comes whenever capitalism is threatened, a connection between burning book in 1933 targeting works by Jewis, Marxist, socialist, pacifist and other “un-German”; Kristallnacht in 1938 as a violent pogrom against Jewish people in German and Austria.

Alex explained the Victor Column (Siegessäule) was built to commemorate Prussia’s military victories against Danish, Austria and France. As a matter of facts, it is partially decorated with captured cannons from them. The famous “Dem Deutschen Volke” (To the German People) on the Recihstag building is made from melted French cannons #Interesting.

Moving on to the iconic Brandenburger Tor, where Alex gave some Petty war between Germany and France. Victoria’s Statue on top of the gate seems to gaze indirectly toward the French Embassy; Berlin Fernsehturm was added the third tear so its slightly taller than Eiffel Tower or when during parades and military processions, the German army circle back to create an illusion of a larger force to impress onlookers.

When you’re already in Brandenburger Tor, you can’t miss the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe. It has paint with anti-graffiti coating from Degussa, a German chemical company. Although later they found out, it was quiet problematic, as Degussa is a subsidiary of Evonik Industries who supplied a chemical used in gas chambers during the Holocaust.

We were on top of Parking place, what’s so special about it is what lies beneath which was believed as Hitler’s bunker! Honestly, I would like to see where he spent his last hours though, at the same time I could also understand that none normal Germans wants to have a place where people could “pay a tribute” for him.

I have to ended the tour earlier as I have last dinner with Nick, thank you Alex for the guide. I thought this “Rude Bastards Tour of Berlin” will take or tell me somewhere something I haven’t heard before. Nope, it’s a similar route like classical Berlin only he doesn’t need to be careful with his language. I’m not complaining, I could be more relaxed in terms of absorbing all the stories. Jayleen was “what are you doing here? you seems to know it already” haha Btw congratulations on finishing your studies, hope the best for your App-Airport development, can’t wait to use it. We will see us again when I visit UK 🙂

FYI, there are many providers like Get Your Guide or Booking who charge a small booking fee for Free Walking Tour like 2,5 or 3,5 Euro or so but it didn’t go to the tourguide. Alex informed me, for future better to book direclty from the website.

After dinner, I went back, get myself ready while Maria still at work. Can’t say thank you enough to you for opening your home for me. Will I repeatedly coming to Berlin again? #Easy answer

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Fill in The Gaps – Part 2

On my first anniversary in Germany I’ve done mostly all beginners tourist in Berlin, except for one: visiting Reichstag. Since I’m meeting Nicolas for the weekend, I used this chance to close the circle. Booked myself an appointment on Friday 08.11 when they have real meeting in the Plenarsitzung. My colleague Hainka said “it is the correct time for you to be on the Sitzung, there are many hot topics” Maria also agreed with the timing “wow, it’s very cool, bring a popcorn”.

Passed their security checked, before they let us in to the visitors’ level, we need to gave up our coat & bag. The security lady was very strict “No clapping, no waving, you must only sit in silence; Handy komplett aus, kein Flugmodus, aus aus” I forget how to turn off my iPhone, I don’t think I ever turn it off, no time to spare, flight mode is the best offer + never took it out.

It was definitely an experience, seeing some party speaking while others shout back. The meeting ended sooner than scheduled. Well, I don’t understand anyway therefore it doesn’t matter haha I’m here for the vibe, it was fun to watch.

Then we have a guide for question session, she gave explanations about who sits where. Of course in the middle is our Bundestag President. On the left side, the first seat with higher backrest, that’s our Chancellor’s seat. The Adler is 58 sqm like my apartment! it’s weigh approximately 2,5 tons. The color of the seats are called Reichstags-Blue, a deep blue color with a violet touch. When they are all gone, we were allowed to take pictures.

Besides the Plenary Chamber, we could also visit the Glass Dome. My first impression was it gives me a Chainsmokers “Takeaway” vibes haha well can’t afford to go to USA that’s why I have the economic version first 🙂

We got Audioguide which explains Berlin Panorama to your ears. Had I got a better clothing, I would enjoy more. I was close to freezing, saw everything quickly as I so want to be inside again!

In conclusion, this is a very recommended activity in Berlin! Plus, for free! What are you waiting for? Secure your appointment at Deutscher Bundestag – Aktuelle Informationen zum Besuch beim Deutschen Bundestag

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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

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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 😉