Amsterdam, St Goar and Munich

SEX, DRUGS, BEER AND WINE

Well I'm actually back in London now and finally got access to an internet cafe. Now I'm doing a series of extended entries to catch up and also so friends and family can see that Yes I am indeed still alive! I'm OK!

Amsterdam, Netherlands
-It was awesome man! We started the tour with a bang on a cruise along the Canal Cruise which included an unlimited supply of free beer and wine to break the ice between the 37 people on the European Magic tour. Honestly, I never used to drink beer, especially not heineken, but since Europe I have developed a taste for it!


We also went to one of the city's famous Sex Shows which was an experience in itself. I mean, with my limited - actually NONE - knowledge of porn. Their were a couple of performers who didn't really look like they were into it but as a whole it was a laugh. Some of them were actually full frontal going at it on stage! There was also audience participation with three people from our Contiki group heading up to the stage (not me tho ok!). Even got a sourvenor from the show in the form of a lollipop shaped like a penis, haven't sucked it yet though (I delibrately made that sound dirty OK) LOL


Sorry, I couldn't take photos there or in the red light district. I didn't want to have my camera thrown in the canal by one of the girls pimps but serious those girls are like model gorgeous! Standing there in their lingeries enticing clients!


Then a few of us went on the trawl to find a little Coffee Shop where we could sample the local herb. Didn't have any cookies or brownies but did smoke a joint - it had me giggling all the way to the taxi and my hands were suddenly the most interesting thing in the world - apparently.
The taxiride back to the hotel was another experience, for a start none of us could remember the name of the hotel (it was Lake Lands) and I was like its Lake something? Lake house? No that doesn't sound right then I remembered Lake House was actually a pub in Rotorua. Anyway, luckily J from America had it written down and so became the saga to find a taxi driver who wasn't trying to rip us off or sell us anything. The first one kept saying something about 75 euro for the fare then said it wasn't for the fare, for something else, never found out what exactly as we quickly asked him to stop so we could find another cab. Then the second guy according to J was asking way too many personal questions. He also didn't seem to know where he was going, at one point he actually stopped in the middle of the highway and backed up after he missed a turn off which turned out to be the wrong turnoff anyway! But we did get back to the hotel safely and he only charged us 30euro - half the price of what the other guy was trying to charge us.



St Goar, Germany
- The first of only three days where it didn't rain. We stayed in a small hotel on the outskirts of the town. I think we might have even been the only guests that night. Got my first taste of German beer and Rhine Valley wine (which grows on vines planted on the near vertical slopes of the Rhine River!). Bought a bottle of Eis(ice) Wine, very expensive at 28euro so will be saving that one for a special occasion.


While in St Goar we also went to a beer stein shop and learnt about how they were made and individually and handpainted. St Goar by the way is also home to the world's biggest free standing cuckoo clock. I have loads of photos from the whole tour but probably won't download them until I get home.


Oh yes and for swearwords, Schollom! (don't know if it's spelt right) means slut!


Munich, Germany
"Bitte eins bier maast?"
"One litre (stein) of beer please?"


I absolutely luuuuuurrrrve German beer now. Drank two whole steins at Haubrouhous, the famous beer hall and home of Oktoberfest which I am SOOOO going to this year or next.
Also saw the Glokenspiel go off. Interesting but very strenuous on the neck, having to look up for so long to watch it play out the scene.


Next post will right about Venezia, Italia. By far my favourite destination despite the rain coming in in the afternoon and cancelling our Gondola ride.


-M