The Journey Begins

So I find myself sitting in Jeannine’s American Bakery—I know, not exactly the right place to bring one’s computer—but with the journey a mere 4 days away and the knowledge that I will not be returning here for a month, I couldn’t help myself. Thus with my warmed lemon scone and non-fat vanilla latte in close proximity, let me tell you of the events to come.

This Monday evening, Jason and I will be leaving Los Angeles and flying Swiss Air to Zurich. Yes, nonstop. (Read this next part as fast as you can): We will then quickly catch a connecting flight to Dusseldorf, Germany, where upon landing we will immediately find the S-bahn station, take it to the Dusseldorf Hauptbahnhof to catch a late train to Cologne, where we will miraculously find our hostel, go to sleep, wake up at the crack of dawn the next morning to briefly see the sights of this historical and charming city, and then be on the 10am train to Koblenz to catch a Rhine River Cruise to Bingen, only to have 30 minutes to find the train station there, to catch the train to Heidelberg, and to arrive at our hostel in Heidelberg at 10pm. End of Day 1. Whew. (Proceed to read at normal pace): If Jason and I are still getting along at the end of the 14 hour plane ride, the chaos of public transportation, finding the hostels, and being on time for all the departures I have ideally (and perhaps idiotically) scheduled into our first day, then we are off to a grand start.

What is next in this crazed journey you ask? Below I have included a copy of our itinerary:

Germany, Austria, and Czech Republic Itinerary

October 19-November 13, 2009

October 19- Leave LAX 7:20pm, Swiss Air, Flight 41

October 20- Transfer in Zurich, leave 5:45pm, arrive in Dusseldorf 7:05pm.

Train from Dusseldorf to Cologne.

October 21- Cologne to Koblenz, Rhine River Cruise from Koblenz to Bingen.

Train from Bingen to Heidelberg.

October 22- Heidelberg

October 23- Travel to Wurzburg (begin Romantic Road journey)

October 24- detour to Nuremberg, spend night in Rothenburg ob der Tauber

October 25 (Sunday)- Rothenburg to Dinklesbuhl to Augsburg

October 26- Augsburg to Munich

October 27- Train from Munich to Oberammergau OR full day in Munich

October 28- Train from Munich to Fussen (then back to Munich)

October 29- Munich (Dachau)

October 30- Munich to Berchtesgaden (Hitler’s Eagle Nest) to Salzburg

October 31- Salzburg

November 1 (Sunday)- Salzburg

November 2- Salzburg to Vienna

November 3- Vienna

November 4- Vienna

November 5- Vienna to Prague

November 6- Prague

November 7- Prague to Berlin

November 8 (Sunday)- Berlin

November 9- Berlin

November 10- Berlin

November 11- Berlin to Dresden

November 12- Dresden

November 13- Leave Dresden 11am, Swiss Air, Flight 4285, leave Zurich

1:20pm. Arrive at LAX 4:45pm.

By now you might be wondering the precise purpose of this trip since most of us know the best time to go to Germany is not late October/early November. Brrrrrrr. I will thus explain in as few words as possible how this trip came to be. First, my favorite area of study as a-now-History-graduate is 20^th century German history. About a year ago, I wrote in my journal a simple question: “Can I be in Berlin on November 9^th?” (That fateful date this year will mark the 20^th anniversary of the fall of the wall and its symbolic end of an era of communist controlled Germany). I laughed when I wrote that down, knowing the unlikelihood that I would be able to go. However, I received plane tickets to Germany from my parents for graduating from Westmont this past May, and the chance of my presence at the Brandenburg Gate on the 9^th gained quite a few percentage points. Next, by working two jobs for the past five months, I have been able to save enough money to spend the above-mentioned 26 days in Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic (all three of which I visited during October and November two years ago on Westmont’s Europe Semester program). The history major in me (and the slight ability to speak German, ie “Ich spreche ein bisschen Deutsch”) has prompted my return. Lastly (and quite importantly), I have found an incredible friend willing to embark on this journey with me. Jason and I have devoted our summer to researching, planning, working, saving, and practicing German. And here we are; eagerly and nervously awaiting Monday’s departure, finishing packing, and saying our good byes.

I hope you too will follow our journey.

And now that the last of my latte is cold, and all that remains on the porcelain plate is a few scattered yellow crumbs, I must take my leave.

Vielen Dank für Ihr Interesse (much thanks for your interest).

Liebe Gruesse,

Holly