Festive exuberance
Montag, 01.01.07
My parents arrived on Boxing Day, visiting for a few days. We braved the cold, and walked around the city, going up the Dom where I saw my first snow in Germany although it was just on the borderline and only lasted for 10 minutes. I have never had so much pork, potatoes and beer in such a concentrated time period.
So, out of the exchange students, it was only Anita and me who were in Cologne to see in the New Year. After making sushi for dinner, and lazying around watching Family Guy, we went to a friends’ friends’ flat to celebrate and watch the fireworks. It was on the 3rd or 4th floor and had a great view of the fireworks which were going off everywhere as it got close to midnight. Almost 45 minutes of constant fireworks across the horizon, it was totally amazing! But people were lighting these from the roads so when we got a taxi into town, the driver had to weave his way around all the debris. The party animals that are the Germans!
Time at xmas just dissolves and before you know it, it’s the new year. It was so good to see my sister and friends, bringing a little bit of London with them. We had a very active 2 days touring the city; seeing the xmas markets, going up the Dom, ice skating for only €5,50, eating sausages and pork knuckles but the highlight has got to be the Bier Bike! Everyone’s reaction to the surprise was priceless. During the 2 hour hire, we cycled around the city, seeing all the sights and the bemused Germans whilst drinking from the 20 litre keg of Kölsch. It was hard work especially after a big Brewery lunch but we got a chance to revive our energy as a brake wire snapped puncturing one of the back tyres whilst we were crossing a major junction. We continued with the beer during the half hour where we waited for the boss to come a new tyre. It is definitely miles better than celebrating birthdays drinking champagne in the back of a limo in London. Check out www.youtube.com/profile?user=elainennium for some videos!
Before everyone went home for xmas, Lisa hosted and cooked a full xmas dinner with all the trimmings including the stuffing, pigs in blankets, roast potatoes and a nut roast from Holly and Eeva. We even celebrated an early new year with sparklers on the balcony, even playing a few rounds of consequences. Fantastic evening, shame I had to work on my presentation for the morning once everyone had left.
On one of the last days of college, some people organised a screening of ‘Some Like it Hot’ complete with nachos and comfy chairs. Although it was dubbed in German, it was a pretty good film. Later on, with all the students that were still in Cologne, we went out enjoying yet more Glühwein.
Christmas Eve was spent with a Chinese Christian group, accompanying a friend who also isn’t religious. It was a great insight, listening to Chinese Christmas carols for the first time and enjoying great food from the steam boat. It was another Chinese gathering on Christmas Day, as the 4 of us who live here cooked dinner together improvising from our combined ingredients. It was a chance to get to know people I have barely spoken to. There was a real mix of food and drink, from Scottish shortbead to Polish vodka and Chinese tofu!
On one of the last days of college, some people organised a screening of ‘Some Like it Hot’ complete with nachos and comfy chairs. Although it was dubbed in German, it was a pretty good film. Later on, with all the students that were still in Cologne, we went out enjoying yet more Glühwein.
Christmas Eve was spent with a Chinese Christian group, accompanying a friend who also isn’t religious. It was a great insight, listening to Chinese Christmas carols for the first time and enjoying great food from the steam boat. It was another Chinese gathering on Christmas Day, as the 4 of us who live here cooked dinner together improvising from our combined ingredients. It was a chance to get to know people I have barely spoken to. There was a real mix of food and drink, from Scottish shortbead to Polish vodka and Chinese tofu!
My parents arrived on Boxing Day, visiting for a few days. We braved the cold, and walked around the city, going up the Dom where I saw my first snow in Germany although it was just on the borderline and only lasted for 10 minutes. I have never had so much pork, potatoes and beer in such a concentrated time period.
So, out of the exchange students, it was only Anita and me who were in Cologne to see in the New Year. After making sushi for dinner, and lazying around watching Family Guy, we went to a friends’ friends’ flat to celebrate and watch the fireworks. It was on the 3rd or 4th floor and had a great view of the fireworks which were going off everywhere as it got close to midnight. Almost 45 minutes of constant fireworks across the horizon, it was totally amazing! But people were lighting these from the roads so when we got a taxi into town, the driver had to weave his way around all the debris. The party animals that are the Germans!
So, it is 2007 already. Only 6 more weeks of college left and 2 months til I return to England.
posted by elaine at 16:02
1 Comments:
Lovely to hear from you.
Have fun!
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