i have been back for about a week.

it has been really hard adjusting. i thought i had my sleeping schedule in order, but i have been proven wrong numerous times. the weather is a bit overwhelming. but i will get used to it, i guess.

the best thing about being back is being able to see my family and friends. speaking of family, here is my nephew Collin:

well. the time has come. i leave in less than 2 days.

these past few months have been more than i had ever expected.

i mean, i suppose i can be a positive testimony for a study abroad program because this has been the most unforgettable experience of my life (so far). i know i will be bombarded with the ultimate question: "How was PARIS?" how do you think it was. that is my answer. everyone's image of Paris, or Europe in general, is completely different and often times, incorrect. i am not qualified to give a biased summary of my semester here. Paris was great, for me. great includes various aspects which i am not able to thoroughly explain.

so this is the end of many things.

family, friends. SEE YOU SOON.

ONE WEEK

yesterday Adam, Alix, Brian, and i attempted to take a picnic to Versailles.

it rained. we had picnic supplies. so we had a picnic in my room.

i had ping pong balls in my room. so we set them on fire.

i bought a slingshot in Prague, so we took it out to the park and shot things. we found chalk at the park, so we drew with it (not very well, but oh well).

then we went into the Bois and ended up riding bikes. one being a tandem bike. then Adam and i climbed a tree.

it was the BEST DAY EVER.

2 weeks. i have two weeks exactly until i return to Texas.

DER BERG BEER FESTIVAL 2008 Erlangen

Adam arrived Wednesday, 7 May. we spent the night in Munich, took a train to Erlangen, followed a group of French tourists, and found the beer festival.

i will not lie. i believed this beer festival to be imaginary for quite some time. we made no prior effort to really do our research, or even take note of where it would be when we arrived in Erlangen.

thank goodness for the man who had a hat covered with miniature flags that led us to our destination.

so we attended a German beer festival, on the first day, and it was crazy. good day that was.

then we had to venture to Nuremburg that night to find a hostel. i did not see any other guests until the next morning when we left. we stayed in a 12 bed dorm, by ourselves.

Munich, Germany MUNCHEN

from Vienna, Brian and i took an overnight bus to Munich. we had no intention to go to Munich. only to find an easier way home to Paris.

we arrived in Munich on Monday, 5 May. he left that day, and i stayed.

Monday, we went to the park, i slept.

Tuesday, i took a trip to Salzburg, Austria. the Bayern ticket allows unlimited travel through Bavaria. and Salzburg. this was the point when my body started to shut down on me, and i was not able to eat for a few days. but i took a banana and went to Austria. for those that are not well informed, Salzburg is the birthplace of Mozart, and the setting for The Sound of Music. they do not let you forget that when you arrive. i saw some things, then i took a train back to Munich. i ate an apple, spoke to my American hostel mates, and slept.















































































Wednesday, i decided to go on LENNY'S FREE BIKE TOUR OF MUNICH 2008. the tour stopped at major sights. our group of 30 something stopped at the Englischer Garten, a VERY large park. we met a very proud man with a boomerang in the nude beach.

Munich is very unique. BEER ALL OF THE TIME. good beer. beer by the liters.

Vienna, Austria

i owe my fantastic visit to Hannah and Flo, my hosts. that is the reason McErl Urquel lives with them.

i stayed with them for one night, on their couch, in their wonderfully decorated flat.

it is an interesting city, with a lot of character. the beer is good, the coffee is better. there just so happened to be an ongoing festival with FOOD, and other things. but mainly, FOOD.

Vienna is so very nice. got tired of taking pictures. very few pictures.