European Adventure: "Cocktail Palms"

I will start with most recent occurrences of the last few days and move backwards. And I will preface this with, I am giving you the fun highlights that I remember...

Last night was Kate and my first night out with young Germans our age. We went into about 10 bars before we found one with a table. So apparently it's hard to get into places on the weekend. Late nights to Germans are 5 in the morning. Late nights for Amie is midnight. So it is OK and normal for men in Germany to drink what we Americans call, "girlie drinks." Most of the guys I saw had these pink fluffy drinks with what we dubbed, "cocktail palms."

exhibit A: 'Cocktail Palms'

And these weren't girlie drinks to them, it seemed very normal. I like it. McDonald's is apparently the place you go and hang out late at night! I cannot believe how crowded McDonald's was at midnight last night! Tips of the night: 1) Stay away from Russians. Yes, I will institute some stereotyping, but that was the lesson of the night. 2) Do not wear new heels when you don't know where you are going. Because unless you want to be in miserable pain and your feet covered in blood, it is no fun.

I had a weekend seminar class with our professor/host Peter Friday and Saturday. This seminar had about 50 students and it was in German. Peter asked if any of his students wanted to translate for us. No one really wanted to, but we ended up having 3 ladies who switched back and forth. It was very tiring trying to get any valuable information from the translators. By the end of Saturday's class, the three ladies were all so tired, that the last hour was not translated for us, so I just sat there. I most say though, that the language is starting to sound more familiar and I can pick out 1 or 2 recognizable words in listening to people speak. A small step forward I would say.

So today is the first day there has been sun here in Munich. We've been told the rainy weather is not normal, so hopefully I'll be able to get a little vitamin D.

I am learning my way around a bit better, but still do not know how to find places I've been to and get really frustrating when I can't find them.

Kate and I went ice skating Friday night and accidentally found ourselves at, "HoliGay on Ice!" I ice skated for the first time in my life and I have to say, I did not fall down! They have these bears you can skate with to help your balance and I used that one time around, but then went solo. We got pictures with some drag queens and had a pretty good time.

Me and Bayern Munich Bear to help me skate.

Me and Kate and the drag queens!

On our way home, we passed this band playing on the side of the street. It was pretty awesome! They had an actual piano and violin and I forget what else, but it was one of the most lively and animated things I've seen in awhile. And the singer guy spoke English at times! When this group of people that were watching went to leave, he said to them "and where are you going?" It was very entertaining.

I do have to start doing some actual work soon, but there's no harm in having some fun first! I hope you all are well back home and staying safe and warm!! Miss everyone lots!

Some pictures from my Saturday night out on the town (I do not know how most of the pictures got on my camera!!!)