Gotta run

Hallo!

Quick update, I have a plane to catch!

2 weekends ago I went to Ireland and met up with Derek, we spent some quality time exploring temple bar, chilling at subway, and going to Glendalaugh (monastic ruins from like 800 years ago) in the Wicklow Mountains.

It was a relief to hear English spoke consistently and to be able to stop and actually ask for directions! Dublin is an interesting city, and the guiness there does actually taste better (though they have this DELICOUS apple cider).

The last few weeks have been for the most part pretty low key.

I ran in the Dresden 10k last weekend and finished in under 50 minutes, which considering I went on one 1/2 hour run about 2 months ago to train for it, I was satisfied.

Also of note: They (of course) had beer for the runners at the finish line. Non-alcoholic frothy brew for even the young runners to enjoy. Only in Germany!

I'm off today for my long break. Meeting up with Erica in Istanbul tonight and then from there we are planning (assuming it works out) to take an overnight train to Athens, spend the night there, and then end up on Santorini in the Greek Islands. Who knows what this week holds, but I can tell you I AM SO EXCITED for whatever comes out way.

Ill definetly get some pictures up from Ireland eventually, and of course do my best to update you on Turkey and Greece.

Auf Wiedersehen!

Castles, Beer, and Italian Villages--Just your average 2 weekends

So I unfortunately don't really have that much time to write a full report on Oktoberfest or on my great weekend in Italy, but as an apology I have uploaded a bunch of photo's onto Picassa that you can look through from my last 2 weekends.

http://picasaweb.google.com/joelwackerbarth/

Quick story from Oktoberfest. Andrew and I managed to get into one of the huge beer tents at around 8:45 pm after standing outside the backdoor for awhile and finally being let in by the security guard (somewhat miraculously actually). Inside was insane. So many people, a live band, everyone standing on the tables singing and just having a generally amazing time. It was such a fun atmosphere.

Anyway, we wandered around for a bit with no seat to be had and just stood in the ailes. Eventually a girl invited Andrew and I to stand up on their bench with her. Turns out she is from Austria and speaks pretty good english. Andrew had to leave at like 930 and at this point I had no cellphone and no idea where anyone from my program was so I decided just to stay. Hanna (the austrian girl) started translating what the people were saying, helped me to order a Maß from a beer madien,and of course danced on the benches. and have just overall really really fun time.

After the music stopped at 11 and the tent closed we went outside and the girls paid for me to go on the bumper cars and swing ride, while I paid for the 4 of us to go in the haunted house, afterwards they invited me to go back to their flat until I had to go to the train station. I, of course in the spirit of adventure, accepted and had a very interesting conversation until I had to leave and wander my way back to the train station (with only a little hand drawn map on a postit note) at 115 in the morning. I had to use the phrase "Wo ist der Hauptbahnhoff?" like no ones buisness.

Crazy fun and if I am ever back in Munich I have at least 2 friends!

also very funny joke from Hanna. I told her that I was from Seattle and she says oh does it rain a lot there and I was like...yeah, but not as much as the say and then she says

"I hear people have trouble sleeping there"


get it




Sleepless in Seattle

haha.