Augsburg, Munich and Salzburg

Am sitting here in Salzburg at our hostel. The sound of Music has just started playing here in the room. So here is a bit of a catch up. Didn't have any internet lately so Ive been writing my blogs for a later date.

AUSBURG; Ich liebe Dich
So the time came to say goodbye to the wonderful town of Augsburg, which has been my home for almost a month. I would recommend to anyone to come here. The middle/main part of town is soo gorgeous with its cobbled streets and all the shops. I've loved been able to just cruise my bike into town.
I also love training at the course. Its a lot of fun and best of all was free and there were three canals where you could train. Each very different. So I reallly never was bored. Back hoem in Australia I get bored quite quickly of the flat water.

So we had Tommy and Fritsi and their daughter Helene over for dinner on my last night in Augsburg. It was really good to catch up with them again and to hear all their exciting news about new family members, new jobs and new houses. Helene has grown so much since I last saw her in Australia. She is still so cute though.

On my last day in Augsburg, after paddling, I took my bike for one last spin around town. It was a really warm beautiful day so it was just soo great around town. Almost made me not want to leave.

Then that afternoon I said goodbye to the girls and headed out on the train to meet Erin

MUNICH
After eventually finding Erin at the very large Munich HBF, we took the short stroll with our bags to our accomodation, a hostel '4 U Munich' just one street away from the station. The place was pretty cool, and the room was just what we needed, full of Australians apparently- or so all the British people we met kept telling us- yet I only think we managed to meet one.

Once we settled in we went for an evening stroll down to the Marienplatz which is lined with streets, cafes and full of people.

The next day we got up early and took advantage of the hostels free breakfast (which unbeknown to them also provided lunch for us). We then decided to stroll down to the Marienplatz, as that is where alot of the monuments and the main Rathaus and glokenspiel are, so we could look around there before the Glockenspiel went off at 11am. The Glockenspiel is pretty much a very elaborate and large cookoo clock. Which enacts a huge big scene. Yet our one day in Munich happened to correspond with a large military demonstration/parade, with lots of VIP in attendance (apparently their PM was their).

So large areas of the city was cornered off and I swear every policeman, policewoman and officer in Germany was there in Munich. There were buses and buses full. It was pretty crazy. Luckily though we were early that morning and caught the Glockenspiel before it became really crazy. We went then off to the Royal Residenz where it wasn't quite so crazy.
This palace was absolutely huge. I was exhausted walking from room to room and very easily lost. I can't imagine what it would have been like living there back in the day. Would have spent most of my life lost! SOme of the coolest things we saw where some of the large ballrooms, a room with religious relics which was also slightly disturbing ( they had in these elaborate carvings bones and peoples skulls and even in the middle of the room there was likea baby mummy that was massacred by the order of herrod- look education trip, i learnt things!) and there were rooms full of crockery. I'm pretty sure mum would definitely been jealous of the plates they had there. The treasury room was pretty amazing too! After looking in there I've decided that I really would like an ornate gold sword encrusted with rubies, so if you're ever looking for a good present to get me :P)

We were pretty damn spent and hungry so we sat down for the lunch that we packed (thanks for the bread again 4 U Munich!) in the palace gardens. We went then went up fro a stroll to the Englischer gartens where we same some guys surfing in a small wave which made me wish for my boat and then we proceeded to get very lost.

Once we made our way out of there and got back to the accomodation we were so tired that we decided to go up the road to the cinema we heard about at the hostel and saw HArry Potter in English. I'd been really looking forward to seeing it for a long time so I was pretty excited to get to see it. Not very cultural i know but it was a relaxing way to rewind.

We ended the day having some pizza back at the accomodation and had a fun evening meeting fellow travellers from around the world and then ended up playing some Wii on the bar big screen.

This morning we headed to the train station to head here to Salzburg. I had a good giiggle because one of the trains had accidently failed to stop in time and had collided into the end of the platform. The platform came out the worst in this fight.

SALZBURG
Erin adn I are now chilling out here at Strawberry Youth Hostel. Tonight is movie night. Movie night is every second night and they always start off with the SOund of Music. Maria right now is having confidence. Anyway must be off. Till next time

Another week gone by

Wow this week has literally flown by!!
Most days have been spent training in the morning. If it is nice enough not to rain this we bike it to the course. Then middle of the day is usually spent in relaxing. I've enjoyed still biking around and exploring parts of Augsburg or biking it up to the internet cafe. I've read quite a few books this week as its so nice to sit out in the sun!
On Monday the girls had their rest day so we went out on the town... shopping! As I had already been walking around town for my first week I knew where all the good stores were. We also checked out the Rathaus (Town Hall) and the Goldener Saals (The golden Hall) which is pretty cool. The town hall is in the middle of the town. Its pretty much all been rebuilt as the original was pretty heavily bombed during World War 2. The Hall is amazing. The ceiling is made entirely of gold and frescoes. Its a pretty impressive scene. Later that night too we finished off our day by biking back into the middle of town for some yummy ice-cream!
Tuesday it was back into training and I definitely enjoyed that rest! It was also my turn to make dinner. So when the girls went of to do another gym session. I decided to go for a stroll around to see what I could find for dinner. I ended up getting quite inventing and decided to make homemade kebabs. Turned out alright. I think I could open up a kebab store back home!
My amazing dinner was topped off with some ice-cream in town again with some of the other paddlers here. They are part of team Amadonsa which is a pretty cool concept. They paddle for all different nations but work together in training and with getting coaching. So we had a really nice chat to them, although sometimes one half of the table was speaking in English and the other French. I love how everything over here is so multi-lingual. Guess I am such a language student still!
Wednesday saw Heather arrive in Augsburg and join our girly apartment. Heather is just recently engaged (Big Congrats to Heather) and so we decided that a celebratory drinks and dinner was in order. We went out to a place quite near where we are staying called "Joe Penas' Mexican". We though seeing it was a Wednesday it wouldnt be quite busy but the place was packed. We only just managed to scrape a table thanks to Heather's brilliant German skills. Was a really great night. Again we went into town for some ice-cream. I don't think I've ever been sooo full in my life after that night! Was great fun and I really love the fact that you can just hop on your bicycle to get anywhere.
So the last two days have been busy paddling and then resting in between. Roz,Kate and Leanne are of to Oetz for the weekend to get some river runs in so the apartment will be quite quiet for the next couple of days. Then only a few more days here in beautiful Augsburg until I meet Erin in Munich to start our touring of Europe. First stop Munich! Erin arrived here yesterday and I can't wait to see here and be really touristy. People here keep thinking i'm a local which is kinda cool but I really want to be a tourist now. I'll head up to the net cafe tomorrow and add some pictures. Especially of my sweet wheels :)

After speaking to Mum and Dad on skype I have only a few minutes left.
Last couple of days has been good.
Bought myself a bike which I think I mentioned. It is a kids siyed bike apparently.- thats what I was told by the man I bought if off for 50 Euros at the bike store. He said 'This bike is too small for u'. When I got on it and it was the perfect size I didn't know whether to be proud or incredibly embarrassed. The bike goes pretty well though. The girl and I all have a bike now so we have been biking it to the course everyday twice a day to go training.
The apartment is pretty good too. We have plugged my ipod into the video projector of the AUstralian team and have been enjoying some movies in our down time! Not too shabby eh?
Have finally got on the course too. Bloody brilliant! I love it! I was very kindly given soem gear to use by Ciaran and by Tommy. Champions. The gear is too big for me but I couldn't care less its great on the water. The big gear means I get tired a lot quicker but I don't mind!!
Anyway must be off. As I think I have probablay a minute left on my net time!
Ciao! Till next time

Augsburgers with fries

Have now moved from Tiinas fantastic apartment to the north of town. I am staying with a few Aussie paddlers and now I have finally managed to get some gear am so very very happy. The sun is shining here at the course this afternoon where we are taking advantage of the free wireless. Our accommodation is pretty basic but I have my own room and last night I slept in a bed for the first time since I've been over here ( I think maybe Tiinas couch was just as comfy but a bed's a bed)
Bought myself a bike today. Firstly before you get too worried its a safe childs bike. I went to the bike store with Leanne today who had to repair her bike and found this small secondhand bike for 40 Euro. I thought it looked to be a perfect size for me so I decided since we'll be getting around on bikes its pretty damn perfect. I went and asked the guy at the counter to buy it and his reply was "Thats a kids bike, it is too small". Yeah I dunno whether I should have been smug or embarrassed when I got on and its my perfect size. So now I have a much safer way to get to the course each day. Well safer than my previous biking experience.
So I am here now for two weeks before Erin arrives in Munich and we start our travels. I can't wait for her to get here! In the meantime I am making myself very tired training hard. I bypassed the second paddle today as my muscle are kind of hating me right now and I think I want to take an evening jog (ok more likely stroll). Hopefully we'll get some travels in while we are here too. There may be a few days in Oetz coming up. Its a possibility.
Anyway must be off. Little Internet time soo much to do! I'll try hard tomorrow to get some photos up. Cause whats the fun in blogging with just words??

World Cup

This weekend gone by was the third Canoe Slalom World Cup race here in Augsburg. Was definitely a great weekend. Racing was exciting, especially yesterday in the womens where if you didn't 50 (miss) a gate you were pretty much in the finales.Sarah Grant an Aussie managed to get into the finals which was really exciting and Roz managed to win the ladies C1 event so there was plenty to cheer about. Has been great seeing some familiar faces from back home and the world paddling community.I am enjoying it much more now that i have people to hang out with. Also finally managed to get me a boat to borrow from Thomas. Now just the rest of the equipment! I guess i could try no deck and paddle but i dont think i would go so well! Have been out to dinner a few times now aswell.. mainly to an Italian Trattoria where I actually tried speaking to the waiters last night. I think i did alright until I forgot the very simple word for 'have', luckily i remember it a few seconds later. I found my Italian was much better the night before when I talked to a few of the Italian paddlers. Apparently a drink makes it easier!
So today I move onto an appartment somewhere in town with a few Aussie girls, Kate and Roz Lawrence and Leanne Guinea. I am very grateful that they have let me stay with them. Staying here in Tiinas apartment has been amazing. She has such a beautiful place and she has been so lovely so a BIG THANKS TIINA!!
Anyway I have to make sure I've packed everything now. Until next time

The one where my parade gets rained on

So today is Tuesday. Three more days have gone by in Augsburg.
On Sunday we decided to catch a bus to the course instead of cycling. Too much excitement taking the bike last time! The course had a rafting race going on so there were alot of people around and it was nice and sunny. Met Tiina's sister and her husband who were very nice, luckily they spoke very good english so they didn't have to suffer from my german.
THe next day I decided my mission would be to get a phone. So I set off to find the shopping complex I went to with Tiina on Saturday. I ended up getting to what I now know was one street away.. about 50 metres away, before getting lost and walking the other way. I thought then i'd walk to the course and turn around to get to the mall. So a 10 minute walk took me about 40min. Once I found the stores and made a total embarrassment of myself trying to speak a hybrid english-german language at the phone shop, I returned to the apartment before i would go out and do some grocery shopping. Unfortunately I got hit with some major jet lag. I started having high temperatures and just passed out on the couch. There went the rest of that day!

Luckily I woke up in the morning today feeling pretty much back to normal. Today i went for a trek to the course. On the way I got stung by a bee on the bottom of my feet. Yeah, I have no idea how that was possible but I had a sudden pain in my foot, took my shoe off and there was this massive bee on it. So it took me quite a bit longer to walk to the course. When I finally got there I stayed for about an hour watching some people train and then because it looked like rain thought i should start walking back. It ended up pouring rain as I was halfway. Stopped at a supermarket and got some food finally! Was getting a bit hungry! Now am back trying to dry off. Tomorrow I should actually catch up with some Aussies which Im really looking forward to! Anyway Tchüss! Bis bald! Till later.
(Oh will try and get some photos up soon. Tried today but the computer keeps putting up warnings in German!)

Arrival at Last

I thought id never get here.
That 15 hour flight was a doozy. Especially when the seat belt sign stayed on for the majority of it. I think in all, it was off for about half an hour. Luckily though i didn't get a weirdo as my sister suggested I would. Nice guy my age who was not a arm rest hogger. (Always a must have for a plane seat neighbour) but he lost serious points about halfway through the flight when I ended up with water all down my front. Had a skirt on over leggings and a shirt long enough to be a dress so wasn't too fussed when i quickly ran to the plane loo to change out of it. See those things are not only in movies. I HAVE that kinda ridiculous bad luck sometimes. Lucked out on the no weirdo to ssit next to who talks to himself instead the normal neighbour causes drink spillage (gotta say alot of it was my fault but I have no idea what this kids name was so he ain't going to defend himself to strongly)
So arrived at Abu Dhabi screaming to get off the plane. not literally ofcourse, the attendants didnt have to restrain me or anything. I could just no longer feel my butt. Never a good feeling.
Abu Dhabi, even though I only saw it in its 'midnight to 2am' form, around the airport, was pretty interesting. Firstly, I didn't have time to change back into the skirt which was pretty much dry now. So here I was around people with BURKAs (so you can only see their eyes) embarrassingly hiding my legs with my bags. Luckily there was door just outside the screening room, (Just incase I was hiding any swine flu on me) so I changed back into slightly less inappropriate attire. Also manage to brush my teeth and give my face a wash which was sooooooo worth it despite the looks the ladies in the bathroom gave me.
The rest of my trip through the airport was quite eventful considering that it was about half past twelve in the morning. I continued to get funny looks which I now realise was because a young girl my age doesn't travel without a shaperone. "who is this weirdo". My dark hair doesn't help. the blonde girl infront of me just got the "meh westerner" lookover whereas mine was a bit longer. I walked the entire 20 minute long trek from the middle of the airport to my terminal. It is one looooong airport. Pretty sweet though. I decided to screw the looks cause this place was way too interesting. They get my vote for the prettiest tarmac lights.
So my second half of the flight was much shorter thankfully and also I managed to score an empty seat next to me. Was divine! Truelly great! I actually spread out slightly and slept! I was awake though to see some areas I never thought id go near pass by. We flew over beruit and the gaza strip was visible in the distance. YOu could tell even at night from way high up that its a totally different place. Usually when you see a city high up aerial view its a squarish maze of whitish colours maybe a yellowish tint. Here it looked like burning coals scattered across the desert. (i KNOW very descriptive but i honestly thought that. It was the only way to describe it) Might not have sounded that exciting but it was pretty interesting when you've been travelling for over 20 hours.
Landing in Munich it was now time to find my way to Augsburg! And I got there no problems. Hah! This is jet-lagged Elena we are talking about. This ofcourse would be a comedy show. Firstly I thought I had lost my luggage. I'll save you the pain and tell you they brought all out but five which came out about ten minutes later. Mine was one of the five ofcourse. HEARTATTACK!
Then I had lots of fun with the german language. I managed to find where the "zug" was, make the customs man laugh and make the declaration dude give me a sympathetic smile. I was early by the time I had gotten to the 'zug' platform, having located atm card, having to remember the numbers of my pin cause they dont do letters, bying ticket to augsburg and the finding the platform, all with the help of friendly standers-by. Nice man told me to get on a train which I did, only to find the one he stopped me on would have been way faster. Oh well. I got to see some sights of Munich. I eventually made my way to the Augsburg Hauptbahnhoft only to find that my number for Tiina who would be meeting me there wasn't working. Oh well, I was early I'll just wait out the front. AS time went on I started a bit of 'Oh no' thinking, foreign country, alone, no idea where the hell i am or where Im staying.... when i realised I had dialed a 9 instead of a 6. Contacted Tiina and then met her in 4 minutes and went through a stoll of Augsburg to Tiinas apartment.
May I just say Augsburg rocks. Seriously love it. Everything has such a nice feel. Its such a big place yet everthing feels small town. Its so European and beautiful. Tiina has nonchalantly lead me down alleys,streets and parks I want to stop and take pictures at. So, I had a shower as soon as I got the apartment. Anyone who has spent over a day travelling will get why i found that so important. Then Tiina and I headed of to get a bite to eat. Sat in the middle of town by this fountain which I think is of Posiedon or Neptune, Triton whatever...one of those... anyway it was sooo beautiful. Then we headed of to see the course. Here's the bit that will make you laugh. Tiina suggested we bike it. No worries right? Its germany. Its the done thing. Firstly my feet couldn't fit the pedals when I sat on the seat. IM THAT SHORT.I kept trying to jump up onto the seat but couldn't get my feet on the peddals quick enough and would just jump down again. Tiina had to go to the shop next store to get the seat put down. Then once that was sorted.... I could still not get on the damn thing! Im sure half the town of Augsburg, in the main street, who saw me falling over time and again, trying to get started, had a laugh. Eventually took off and I can safely say i've never been more scared in my life. And not just for my safety either. All in all I got to the course having only run into two poles and one wall. I now have a big lump appearing on my leg too. Haha. I am walking tomorrow. Course was great. WAlked up to the river´and lake which was beautiful too. Tiina has been soo lovely already. Took me to the shopping place on the way back. (H&M Katie). Didn't buy anything but i cannot wait to take a tour of this place. Its amazing. Cannot wait to explore! As I finish this the 5pm bells are going off which go for like 10 minutes! Tiinas place is right in town so its great! Perfect for exploring the place. Anyway I'll post some pictures later. Right now the jet lag has caught up with me and seeing as it is now a reasonable time. Close enough to 6pm I getting ready for bed! (Any bad mistakes this keyboard is crazy. Y and Z are switch around. ALso im way too tired to check it right now)

Just a quick little entry cause im already slightly bored at the gate waiting for boarding. Only an hour til I go. woo hoo. Got through customs fine and now this is starting to feel real. Exciting!