Communism is easy: unlabelled food is free food

I don’t know much about communism. However, having just been in Berlin, and now in Prague, it is clear that both of these cities(indeed countries) have been so wholly affected by it.

Our hostel in Berlin had the sign up saying “communism is easy: unlabeled food is free food” which I found quite amusing. However, this is perhaps a completely different view of communism to that which was depicted in the museum of communism which we visited in Prague today. In it I found a postcard that said: “sometimes there was no toilet paper in the shops. Luckily there was not much food either.” It’s quite dark and very confronting.

Lenin and Stalin who where self confessed Marx protoges apparently killed around 200 000 people (?) trying to implement communism. Sort of ironic I guess. There was a giant statue of Stalin in Prague that lasted about 5 years before it was knocked down. Now all that remains is a giant staircase that used to lead to it. The statue wasn’t finished until after Stalin has died, and was knocked down when all his crimes were revealed.

There seemed to be a lot of protests (especially in the late 1980s). We saw a video showing police completely bashing people on the street, and then the news reporting that there was non violent restraint used. This cover up in the media is a little bit 1984 really. It’s a bit frightening.

The other postcard I got says “it was a time of happy shiney people. The shiniest were in the uranium mines”. This reminds me of the stories I heard about poisons people were ingesting through agricultural pesticides – especially lead and quicksilver.

Overall I’m glad to not have lived in chekoslovakia before 1989. It doesn’t seem like it would gave been a pleasant life! Hope this makes you thankful not to be living under communist rule.

Ich bin ein Berliner

So we ended up finding heaps to do in Berlin! Favourite thing was legoland. I know. It’s not all “history” and stuff but it was great anyway! There was an Einstein made of Lego. And a Harry potter. Amazing. And we went on a ride through the Lego!

We also went to the top of the tv tower which had awesome views. Other highlights include the memorial for the murdered Jews, which was over 2000 rectangular slates at different heights. Apparently it’s bot symbolic. There was also a museum there. I liked the remnant of the Berlin wall we saw too. It had paintings all over it about peace and tolerance.

Near the Brandenburg gate we saw a women walking her goats. Enough said.

We caught the train to chilly (4.c) Prague this morning. Prague is q bit of culture shock for us. No one speaks English and it is hard to know what to do. Our accomodation here is wonderful though. Tomorrow we see Prague castle. Also no dinner at our hostel so we went to a pub tonight. Bron drank half a litre of beer. It was an experience cos there was still not much English. A couple sitting next to us translated the menu.

Will try to update again soon!

Berlin finally

Today we’re finally in Berlin. Slept very well last night. It’s like I chucked a 30 hour all nighter before that by not really sleeping on the plane.

Anyway bron is in the shower and after that we are going in search of breakfast. Not completely sure what we’re doing today. Will update later I guess.

The plane is boarding!!

So Bron and I found this free internet access by which we can blog just before our plane boards (gates are currently open). We are very excited.

My toothpaste got confiscated!!! It was 175g but it was 3/4 empty so I figured that it would be okay. Apparently you have to have a smallewr size tube. This incensed me, however I guess it’s only toothpaste.

auf weidersehen for nor. will blog from berlin.

And now a note from Bron herself:
hello!! finally at the airport. leaving family and phil made me realise that this is a longer trip than it sounds.. 2 months!! wow! very exciting though
we need to go and check in, but we’ll be sure to fill you in soon.
@family and phil – i love you all dearly and thanks for coming out tonight, i really really appreciate it i hope you get this!
love love love bron and merran

The countdown begins

I didn’t sleep well last night. Maybe this is good, so I don’t remember too fondly the feeling of sleeping in my own bed. Tonight I will (may?) be sleeping on a plane. The plane leaves at 10.20pm so we have maybe 12 hours before we’re getting to the airport. It’s pretty exciting.

According to my scales my suitcase weighs around 19kg. I was planning to take 15. oh well. I’ll have to make do… there’s nothing i feel that comfortable leaving behind. So I can add maybe 4kg for the way home. Anways there’s heaps of room in my carry on bag for extra stuff to get jammed in to save weight on the way home.

Okay well this will probably be my last post before we leave tonight. Next blog will be from Berlin!

Presents from grandma :D

My grandma has given me some awesome stuff for overseas. A kathmandu polar fleece (!!) and rain jacket…

but there were some random things too. Firstly a magnifying glass. Apparently the maps are small in Paris. I’m not sure whether this will be the case for me too (ie generally she has poorer vision than me) or whether I should take it. haha. a bit strange. anyways, I’m taking it because it only weighs 3 grams.

Also she gave me a hotwater bottle. This is probably worthwhile. I suppose. weighs 435g. Probably should take it anyway.

The thing I am mostly unsure about is she gave me a water boiler and metal jug to boil it in. In case we require a cuppa. or some soup. or just generally hot water (for the water bottle!?!?!!??). I don’t know about this. So, poll – comment whether you think it’s worthwhile or not me taking it. You may very well assist me in the packing process.

Nude Art

I drew naked people last night.

I know this has nothing to do with going overseas (my life is consumed with travel and weddings – note plural – at the moment)… But it was for a hens night. And… I quite enjoyed it. (i know!! i know!!)

Okay, so it was not seedy at all, and there were like 100 people in the room (at the Arthouse near Galleries Victoria), and we were all drawing these women. I have limited experience drawing – and not to talk myself up, but i impressed myself!! One i particularly like because she actually looks like a person. with too short legs haha.

Anyways, I’m considering going again. I maybe could scan one and post it for your viewing pleasure (?!!?). we’ll see.

An overseas adventure… as seen on your computer screen

This summer I am travelling in Europe for two months with Bronwyn. So I decided to start a blog – to (hopefully) keep everyone posted about the crazy and quirky things that we experience while we are over there. And maybe photos. but er… that might be more than I can fully work out how to do. we’ll see.

So… since we haven’t left yet (one week!)… maybe I’ll have to make a story up… about how I unexpectedly ate liver. Disguised under the name “paté”… actually that’s not made up. It happened for realz the only other time I’ve been overseas. Okay, well, hopefully I have more interesting stories than that to write while I’m there

The blog is called “a room with a view” after one of my favourite books/ films about travelling. I certainly hope our stay is more like that than the movie “taken” – also about some holidaying youth. Two girls are in Paris and allow a boy to accompany them home in the taxi from Charles de Gaulle airport – who then arranges for their abduction and they are made addicted to drugs and sold as sex workers. But one of the girls’ dads is an ex-CIA agent…. enter rescue plan.

Since my dad is not an ex-CIA agent, I am taking super precautionary measures in Paris. BY NO MEANS will ANY BOY be riding in the taxi with us AT ANY POINT in Paris. Honestly, what a dangerous situation.

hmmm… so this post has gotten sufficiently side tracked. Reminds me of my old live journalling days. I’ll keep you updated about our progress

but for now auf weidersehen (practising for monday…)