World capitals: get ready for a whole lot of Andy!

Apparently Thursday is my new "blog writing day." I don't know why, that just seems to be the only day of the week I have the time to sit down at a computer. Last week I began my "world capitals" part of the tour. I leave Berlin today for Vienna, then on Monday to Paris until back to London!

But let's jump back to Switzerland, as I believe that's where I left you. Have you ever heard a Swiss youth band play Stars and Stripes Forever? I have. In fact, I have several times, including two times with baton twirlers between the ages of 4 and 16. The band was very good, but the performance was definitely not American. They were simply too musical with it. They actually enjoyed it. They did not realize that in the United States everyone plays Sousa as fast and as flat as possible, because nobody really likes and wants it to get over. But the concert was very good overall, except for the 1 long award ceremony, all in Swiss-German.

Earlier that day we had gone hiking, except I don't believe that hiking is a strong enough word. Apparently in Switzerland their are two types of trails, hiking trails and Mountain trails. Hiking trails would be one of the more extreme paths in Rainier or Glacier. Mountain trails are vertical, along cliffs, and the paths are uneven boulders. And that's what we did. We road up a cable car, met some awesome nuns, (who at 73 and 83 have decided to back down to the Hiking trails rather than the Mountain trails) then we stopped by a restaurant on a cliff, then we went down the cliff. I enjoyed the mountain scaling, but my legs apparently did not, or so they told me the next two days.

Sunday also consisted of a cable car ride, this time to the Santis where you can see the entire country of Switzerland and all the surrounding countries. Another billion photos later, complete with the most extreme farmer's tan I have ever had, (and I'd rather than not talk about the tourist tanline I got from my camera strap on the back of my next) I found myself on a boat ride over Lake Constance at sunset. The ride ended in Germany, where we had ice cream and then took the boat back to Switzerland. It was nice, listening to Lady Gaga play from the inside as we stood on the deck watching the full moon and counting the hundreds of large spiders that had taken up residence on the boat.

By Monday it was time to leave; a short trip up a hill offered a last breath-taking view of beautiful St. Gallen, then we went to Zurich to catch my flight. At the airport I supplemented my latest hobby, which is pretending I can read German magazines. This is accomplished by buying magazines about classical music with a lot of pictures, and then understanding about 2% of what is being said. When I arrived in Berlin, there were Josi and Robert! They had looked up the wrong flight time and had arrived an hour too early, but it was all good.

Tuesday Robert and I explored the city in the morning. I had my first Doner (it's good) and hit three museums. Then Robert went to soccer, but Josi got of work so I met up with her. The three of us ended the night with ice cream. (I know what you're thinking: Andy, that's a lot of ice cream. Aren't you lactose intolerant? My reply: Have you tasted Gelato????)

Wednesday I went solo around the city, much to the worry of Robert and Josi. They, like many of my friends and family, were concerned about my well-being in a new city where I don't speak the language. They reminded me to buy a train ticket, not to forget their address, etc. I got on the train, (then remembered to get a train ticket, but luckily police officers weren't involved, so it was okay) and hit the city. Three museums later and a long walk through the Tiergarten, I made it back to the apartment relatively unscathed. But I did do something unbelievably American. I went to starbucks. But I had to; it was there, I need the tea and atmosphere, so I did it. It's my confession to the world. Pleas eon't judge me.

But I need to go. I think I have to see some more Berlin before I head to Vienna!!!