tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78958640687256156562024-03-06T11:16:01.655+01:00Rajesh in a blogFrom Zero to Sub-ZeroRajesh Krishna Sadanandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01597415079110064849noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895864068725615656.post-26128425910529972142009-01-11T18:20:00.008+01:002009-01-12T17:57:32.707+01:00Slumdog Millionaire-A refreshingly different movieLast night at the Sandeep's, for the first time this year, I finally got to sit down and gulp a few pegs of Scotch. The Rajesh's and Mickey's had all come too. Rika came with her cute one-week old daughter. They were yet to figure out whether to name her Rania or Laila.<br /><br />A sumptuous meal followed. Courtesy our host: Parul. There was a serious discussion on whether Parul should start Indian cooking classes in Stockholm. While the discussion went nowhere, all the food and drinks went to the right place at the right time. Sandeep had bought some <em>expensive</em> Fenny from his New year Goa and Rest of India trip. The <em>others</em> felt it was too much to gulp even with Schweppes diluting it and therefore reverted to the trusted Scotch soonafter.<br /><br />The stage was set to watch a movie and it was decided that <em>Slumdog Millionaire</em> it will be.<br /><br />Commotion prevailed even before the movie started. I went quiet after the movie began playing. There was even more commotion after that. The commotion created by the junta returning home to put the kids to bed was welcomed by me(though, I did not express it). Sandeep and I decided that we will watch the movie from the beginning, once again.<br /><br />I was finally at peace to watch a rather violent start to the movie.<br /><br />The screenplay was simply brilliant. It was nice to see the Mumbai chaws and streets shown so well on the silverscreen. We dont get to see them in <em>"see them as they are"</em> states even in many of the Bollywood movies these days.<br /><br />Danny Boyle's bold take on the nuaces of Mumbai slums and the emotions surrounding it has to be applauded. While many are already talking about the next set of Oscars going to him and his team, I am still contemplating what took the moviemakers to come out with a masterpiece like this one? If a 400-odd rupees Vikas Swarup's book can inspire a movie like this, India is definitely in to bag every alternate Academy and Globe awards and any other Critics award world over. <em>We just need more writers I guess!</em><br /><br />The story revolves around Jamal, a slumdog from the Mumbai streets. The storyline is splendid. The movie is a breathtaking take on reality of the TV-world, ego of TV-personalities, small wishes of people from the <em>smaller world, </em>the call-center world and most importantly the torture of homeless kids and their stuggle to survive in a harsh-environment.<br /><br />For some reason, this movie reminded me of another masterpiece called City of Angels. Though it is completely set in a different world of Rio's terror streets.<br />The central theme in the movie is that <em>Love ke liye apun(Jamal) kuch bhi karega. </em><br />The creative idea of using a TV-show like <em>Who wants to be a Millionaire</em> in order to reach out to other(true) facets of life in Mumbai needs to be lauded over and over again. The movie lives up the pace of a Mumbaikar's everyday life. Pauses only to get up and start running all over again. Exceptional screenplay.<br />I've never been a ARR fan, but his background play in this movie adds the necessary tension and blends well with the emotions in the movie. A low in this movie though is a Bollywood-like number at the completion of the movie. It was unnecessary.<br />My only recommendation is Watch it, digest it and come back to watch it all over again.<br /><br />On a scale of 10, I award a 7 to this Millionaire movie.Rajesh Krishna Sadanandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01597415079110064849noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895864068725615656.post-88708676787553144442008-11-09T07:19:00.005+01:002008-11-09T10:17:16.310+01:00Not even a Quantum of SolaceI have not been blogging for a while now. But then, these are terrible times and I don't write when good things happen.<br />It looks like I have picked up an uncanny knack of picking up means of ruining my days in the Stockholm autumn. This time it was by watching a movie, unofficially <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">codenamed</span> Bond 22.<br /><br />It was turning out to be a perfect evening: Seeing <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Prashanth</span>. Jr. yawning 3 times and then smiling once at me(Oh, by the way, he made his long-awaited debut on Earth 5 days ago), Delicious <em><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Upma</span></em> and Indian tea at the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Nayaks</span> and our share of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">heartful</span> laughs with all of'em. Finally, at around 1830 hrs, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Rajesh</span>(<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Durg</span>) gave me a dump over the phone on the plans for the evening. Tickets for the night show of Q0S(read Quantum Zero Solace) have been booked: 2130 hrs. Reporting time 2045 hrs <em>(India Standard Time)</em> at the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Vastra</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Skogen</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">tunnelbana</span>. More and Mickey were to join in.<br /><br />The movie begins where it was left in the earlier version of Daniel Craig's Casino <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Royale</span>.<br />A terrible car-chase but an excellent opening line from Bond.. <em>Its time to get out!</em><br />I should have realised that he was not only referring it to Mr. White in the Aston Martin boot but to the audience as well. Humour apart, the expectations from the movie c<em>handrayaans</em> post this powerful one-liner. A lot was said and written about how Bond in Casino <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Royale</span> (in his then latest <em>avatar) </em>learns from the scratch the hard way, gets beaten to the core and makes mistakes showcasing everybody is human after all. I would have expected to see a more stylish, delicate yet powerful, sophisticated (in line with the series) and less-bleeding character after the opening one-liner. But then, only fools repeat their mistakes. And this one is. What I got to see in the next 100 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">mins</span> was a man in pain, who bleeds at the same places where he once did in Casino <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Royale</span>, seems to cover up the wounds in a jiffy, sports dirty tux, gets punched by a girl on multiple <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">occasions</span>, behaves like a grade-2 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">moviestar</span> from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Kollywood</span> (or <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Tollywoord</span> or Sandalwood or whatever). Its not a bad idea to get punched. But not again and again. All that you can do to get away from the pitiful position is to somehow get framed for murdering the suspects. How very thoughtful? <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">C'mon</span> Marc and team, you can do better than that.<br />It looks like this team of movie makers have a liking to rooftop chases. The <em><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">parkour</span></em> chase in Casino <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Royale</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">definitely</span> ranks amongst the best action sequences in the Bond series. You won't be disappointed this time...on the rooftops of Italian province of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">Seina</span>. The action scenes are tough and look real. Excellent camera work.<br />The high-end <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">gadgetary</span> was noticeably missing in this movie. Exception was the franchisee Sony <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">Ericsson</span> phone, which seems to promise a high-end facial-recognition AI and a powerful zoom(more powerful than one can ever make :-), that works in pitch-dark surrounding without a Flash and seems to transfer volumes of data faster than one could ever imagine in a primitive Bolivian network(By-the-way, they just got a 3G network couple of months ago). Taste for cars and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">aircrafts</span> have taken a serious beating in this movie; exactly like Bond's Aston Martin in the opening car chase.<br />The unique chemistry between the characters - M and Bond is personified in this movie. Powerful statements. Unfortunately, poorly carried over the screen. The face-to-face verbal exchange and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">thereafter</span> Bond's escape from the Grand Hotel, Bolivia was terribly executed and reminds one of the movies of the bygone era, when <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">Stevan</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">Seagal</span> would easily ward off any knife or pistol attack on him by simply using his culinary skills. Sigh.<br />I always look forward to see what the new Bond girl brings with her to the table (or to the bed as some would like to say). The character-Vesper was a sea-change to what we'<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">ve</span> got <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">accustomed</span> to; marking a new beginning. She was awesome. Well, in this case, Camille (played by gorgeous Olga)has done a fantastic job too. Apart from the fact that she can kick some butt and play a very down-to-earth and <em>untouchable</em> <em>by Bond-</em>sort of a character, she also comes as a feminine equivalent of Bond. I only wonder how she manages to pick-up Bond in her petite car each time he is looking out for a ride(I meant a car-ride).<br />The movie is fast-paced but does nothing to ensure the interest of the viewer is bracketed onto a particular agenda. It goes all over the place and continues to fall down deep into the desert pits of Bolivia every ten minutes. Bond is witty as ever, which was the only other solace (apart from some action). A sexual harassment scene involving the Bolivian General was a big mistake in this movie. For instance, the cameraman forgot that he was shooting a Bond movie and not a <em>Vajramuni-starrer</em>. The focus on the primary sexual organ and nearby areas of the waitress was unnecessary and it meant that this movie should definitely be rated as poorly-made.<br />Where have all the villains gone? This Greene character can't even talk let alone act.<br />Some solace: The lingering <em>Bond in Haiti</em> theme in the background, the bloody painful action scenes, short-dose of Bond's one-liners and Camille's accent add upto a score of 3 out of a possible 10. I have been generous, considering that I am a hardcore Bond fan. Bond will have to be recreated all over again in a completely different form from the ashes of this one.<br /><br />PS: If you have a choice in your region, I recommend watching Max Payne over the weekend instead of this version of Bond. But ensure you take your dose of <em>Valkyr</em> before watching it. <em>Its bad but not terrible.</em>Rajesh Krishna Sadanandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01597415079110064849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895864068725615656.post-208991694224632932008-09-24T20:53:00.003+02:002008-09-24T21:01:24.396+02:00My phone finally commethI've been closely following the movements at the Open Handset Alliance for nearly a year now.<br />The D-day finally arrived yesterday with the launch of G1.<br />World behold, this is only the tip of the iceberg, a preview of an epic-movie preview... The Android has landed on Earth.<br />Its F5 for the Wireless Communication era...Rajesh Krishna Sadanandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01597415079110064849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895864068725615656.post-28821037066762565182008-06-14T20:56:00.014+02:002008-06-16T22:50:40.542+02:00No scandal in Bohemia<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRElZPGFwuSKNZjQd4R1erwlSrFH-Wkn1_IHAKJbgSmePzFgC0WdQ4i8pfGtPwAFTm7vT2hOdP__O8TmFnp9d-kjZTD3o1qNIeQzN_ZEuvzaeTrFYNmEjnu0QStANgAG83yBNA1iFVgrs/s1600-h/Prague_Berlin+067.jpg"><em><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211845030995885154" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRElZPGFwuSKNZjQd4R1erwlSrFH-Wkn1_IHAKJbgSmePzFgC0WdQ4i8pfGtPwAFTm7vT2hOdP__O8TmFnp9d-kjZTD3o1qNIeQzN_ZEuvzaeTrFYNmEjnu0QStANgAG83yBNA1iFVgrs/s400/Prague_Berlin+067.jpg" border="0" /></em></a><em><br /><br /><br /></em><em></em><br /><em><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Sherlock</span> Holmes <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">found</span> Irene <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Adler</span>’s <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">photograph</span> as <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">his</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">award</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">admirably</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">remembers</span> Irene <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Adler</span> as <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">the</span> “<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">The</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">woman</span>” <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">who</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">him</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">epitome</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">of</span> all <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">womanhood.</span></em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><em>I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">found</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">Bohemia</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">epitome</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">Royals</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">meeting</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">commoner</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">on</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31">dance</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_32">floor.</span></em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><em></em><br /><p></p><p><br /><strong><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_33">Day</span>1, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_34">Act</span>1-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_35">Asking</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_36">Out</span>:</strong><br /><br /></p><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_37">Weather</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_38">forecast</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_39">had</span> all <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_40">gone</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_41">wrong.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_42">But</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_43">then</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_44">Omair</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_45">had</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_46">rented</span> a black <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_47">Volkswagen</span> from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_48">Sixt</span> for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_49">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_50">weekend</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_51">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_52">ensured</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_53">keep</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_54">myself</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_55">dry</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_56">on</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_57">rainy</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_58">afternoon</span> in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_59">Prague.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_60">He</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_61">came</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_62">to</span> pick <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_63">me</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_64">up</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_65">at</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_66">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_67">Prague</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_68">Ruzyně</span> Airport. I last met <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_69">him</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_70">about</span> 3 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_71">years</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_72">ago.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_73">He</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_74">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_75">the</span> same <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_76">except</span> for a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_77">receded</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_78">hairline.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_79">Shalini</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_80">his</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_81">flatmate</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_82">had</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_83">accompanied</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_84">him.</span><br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_85">The</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_86">drive</span> from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_87">the</span> airport <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_88">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_89">Budějovická</span> area <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_90">wasn't</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_91">scenic</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_92">but</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_93">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_94">cloudy</span> setting, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_95">some</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_96">fun</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_97">talk</span> in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_98">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_99">car</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_100">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_101">bollywood</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_102">music</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_103">kept</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_104">me</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_105">alive.</span><br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_106">Omair</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_107">his</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_108">friends</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_109">stay</span> in an apartment <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_110">on</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_111">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_112">seventh</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_113">floor.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_114">The</span> lift <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_115">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_116">antique.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_117">It</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_118">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_119">one</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_120">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_121">those</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_122">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_123">Otis</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_124">would</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_125">say</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_126">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_127">his.</span><br /><br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_128">We</span> all <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_129">had</span> a late lunch and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_130">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_131">spicy</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_132">sambar</span> by <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_133">Rajesh</span>, (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_134">yet</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_135">another</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_136">flatmate</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_137">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_138">Omair</span>) <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_139">had</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_140">lasting</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_141">effect</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_142">on</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_143">me.</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_144">think</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_145">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_146">throat</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_147">infection</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_148">cold</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_149">that</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_150">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_151">suffering</span> from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_152">cushioned</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_153">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_154">after</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_155">effects</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_156">on</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_157">my</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_158">taste</span> buds and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_159">my</span> system.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_160">Without</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_161">wasting</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_162">much</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_163">time</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_164">Omair</span> and I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_165">decided</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_166">to</span> hit <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_167">off</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_168">the</span> road and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_169">explore</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_170">the</span> Bohemian region. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_171">It</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_172">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_173">decided</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_174">that</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_175">should</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_176">first</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_177">book</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_178">my</span> bus <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_179">tickets</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_180">to</span> Berlin <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_181">before</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_182">embarking</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_183">on</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_184">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_185">routine</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_186">exploration</span> mission. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_187">booked</span> a 1450 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_188">CZ</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_189">Koruna</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_190">worth</span> Student <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_191">Agency</span> Express <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_192">round-trip</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_193">ticket</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_194">headed</span> back <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_195">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_196">our</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_197">car</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_198">to</span> hit <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_199">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_200">Old</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_201">Town.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_202">We</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_203">drove</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_204">around</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_205">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_206">narrow</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_207">streets</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_208">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_209">Prague.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_210">The</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_211">first</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_212">impression</span> I got <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_213">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_214">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_215">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_216">roads</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_217">here</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_218">are</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_219">meant</span> for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_220">the</span> Trams <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_221">only</span> and not for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_222">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_223">cars.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_224">Cobbled</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_225">streets</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_226">galore.</span> Trams <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_227">here</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_228">are</span> for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_229">sure.</span><br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_230">My</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_231">Prague</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_232">experience</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_233">begins.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_234">Act</span>2-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_235">Foreplay</span>:</strong><br /><br /><br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_236">Prague's</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_237">beauty</span> is best <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_238">enjoyed</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_239">while</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_240">on</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_241">foot.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_242">The</span> city <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_243">has</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_244">one</span> 21st <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_245">century</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_246">building</span> for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_247">every</span> 10 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_248">blocks</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_249">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_250">concrete</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_251">decorated</span> by <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_252">the</span> Bohemian <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_253">architecture.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_254">It's</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_255">astonishing.</span><br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_256">Fantastic</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_257">craftsmanship</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_258">brilliant</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_259">combination</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_260">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_261">colours</span> and a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_262">touch</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_263">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_264">history</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_265">associated</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_266">with</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_267">every</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_268">structure</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_269">here.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_270">The</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_271">gunpowder</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_272">towers</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_273">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_274">astronomical</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_275">clock</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_276">which</span> must be <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_277">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_278">only</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_279">one</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_280">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_281">its</span> kind, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_282">are</span> all <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_283">nearly</span> 600 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_284">years</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_285">old.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_286">The</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_287">narrow</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_288">cobbled</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_289">streets</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_290">have</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_291">remained</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_292">untouched</span> by <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_293">the</span> modern <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_294">uprisings.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_295">Many</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_296">buildings</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_297">here</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_298">have</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_299">mushroomed</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_300">over</span> a period <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_301">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_302">time</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_303">leaving</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_304">no</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_305">breathing</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_306">space</span> in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_307">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_308">Old</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_309">Town.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_310">But</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_311">there</span> is just <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_312">enough</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_313">space</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_314">everywhere</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_315">to</span> just <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_316">sit</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_317">down</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_318">admire</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_319">the</span> Bohemian <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_320">beauty.</span> Just <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_321">feel</span> '<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_322">em</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_323">caress</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_324">them</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_325">with</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_326">your</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_327">eye</span> for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_328">appreciation.</span><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_329">World-famous</span> Bohemian Glass and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_330">artworks</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_331">are</span> sold almost in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_332">every</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_333">second</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_334">shop</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_335">here.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_336">The</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_337">Swarovski</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_338">shop</span> is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_339">overshadowed</span> by <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_340">numerous</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_341">other</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_342">little</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_343">glassware</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_344">shops</span> in and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_345">around</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_346">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_347">Old</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_348">Town.</span><br /><br /><br /><strong><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_349">Act</span>3-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_350">The</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_351">bed</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_352">rocks</span>:</strong><br /><br /><br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_353">We</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_354">headed</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_355">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_356">the</span> landmark Charles Bridge. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_357">It</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_358">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_359">crowded.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_360">Tourists.</span><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_361">They</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_362">say</span> egg <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_363">whites</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_364">were</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_365">used</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_366">while</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_367">making</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_368">the</span> cement for Charles Bridge. <em>For <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_369">strength</span></em>.<br />I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_370">dont</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_371">think</span> Egg <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_372">whites</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_373">are</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_374">helping</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_375">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_376">cause</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_377">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_378">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_379">balding</span> men <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_380">these</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_381">days.</span><br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_382">Petty</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_383">street</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_384">plays</span>, artists and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_385">hawkers</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_386">dot</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_387">this</span> bridge <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_388">on</span> river <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_389">Vltava</span> all <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_390">along.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_391">The</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_392">huge</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_393">statues</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_394">stationed</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_395">at</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_396">regular</span> intervals <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_397">alongside</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_398">the</span> bridge <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_399">railings</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_400">each</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_401">have</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_402">history</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_403">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_404">tell.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_405">It</span> is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_406">customary</span> for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_407">visitors</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_408">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_409">touch</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_410">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_411">bronze</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_412">plates</span> just <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_413">below</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_414">the</span> St. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_415">Crucifix</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_416">statue.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_417">Apparently</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_418">this</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_419">act</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_420">would</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_421">bring</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_422">you</span> back <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_423">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_424">Prague</span> in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_425">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_426">future</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_427">no</span> matter <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_428">where</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_429">you</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_430">are.</span><br /><br />I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_431">thought</span> for a moment, and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_432">then</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_433">decided</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_434">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_435">touch</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_436">it.</span><br /><br /><em>(<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_437">There</span> is a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_438">nice</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_439">little</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_440">trivia</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_441">associated</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_442">with</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_443">this</span> and I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_444">recommend</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_445">readers</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_446">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_447">use</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_448">technology</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_449">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_450">explore</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_451">more</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_452">about</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_453">it</span>).</em><br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_454">This</span> bridge <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_455">has</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_456">something</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_457">about</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_458">it.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_459">It</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_460">does</span> not <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_461">speak</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_462">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_463">itself.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_464">One</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_465">needs</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_466">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_467">extract</span> all <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_468">the</span> information by <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_469">spending</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_470">more</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_471">more</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_472">time</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_473">on</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_474">it.</span><br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_475">Walking</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_476">further</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_477">up</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_478">Omair</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_479">showed</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_480">me</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_481">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_482">spots</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_483">where</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_484">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_485">MI</span>1 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_486">stabbing</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_487">scene</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_488">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_489">high-speed</span> motor <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_490">boat</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_491">chase</span> by Vin Diesel in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_492">XXX</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_493">movies</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_494">were</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_495">shot.</span><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_496">Nice.</span><br /><br /><br />As I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_497">waded</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_498">through</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_499">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_500">burgeoning</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_501">crowd</span> from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_502">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_503">Old</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_504">Town</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_505">end</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_506">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_507">the</span> bridge <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_508">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_509">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_510">other</span>, I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_511">could</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_512">see</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_513">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_514">Prague</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_515">Castle</span> in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_516">the</span> distant <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_517">background.</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_518">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_519">trying</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_520">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_521">figure</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_522">out</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_523">its</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_524">ends.</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_525">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_526">unsuccessful.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_527">It</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_528">seemed</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_529">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_530">blend</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_531">with</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_532">other</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_533">nearby</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_534">buildings.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_535">It</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_536">went</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_537">on</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_538">on.</span>.. like <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_539">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_540">Great</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_541">Wall</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_542">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_543">China.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_544">That</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_545">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_546">when</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_547">Omair</span> got a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_548">call.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_549">He</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_550">had</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_551">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_552">go</span> back <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_553">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_554">office</span> for a dinner <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_555">meeting</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_556">with</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_557">Mr.</span> Kris <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_558">Gopalakrishnan</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_559">who</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_560">had</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_561">come</span> from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_562">Brussels</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_563">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_564">meet</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_565">some</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_566">people</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_567">here.</span><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_568">We</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_569">decided</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_570">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_571">quickly</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_572">head</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_573">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_574">the</span> National Museum. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_575">He</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_576">dropped</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_577">me</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_578">there</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_579">promised</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_580">to</span> be back.<br /><br />I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_581">am</span> not <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_582">exactly</span> a museum <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_583">guy.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_584">Never</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_585">was.</span> So <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_586">instead</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_587">decided</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_588">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_589">explore</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_590">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_591">streets</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_592">on</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_593">my</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_594">own.</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_595">liked</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_596">the</span> National Museum from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_597">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_598">outside.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_599">Yet</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_600">another</span> Bohemian <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_601">structure.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_602">It</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_603">was</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_604">pitch</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_605">dark</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_606">building.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_607">No</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_608">sign</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_609">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_610">whites.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_611">Brass</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_612">here</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_613">there.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_614">Distinctly</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_615">captivating</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_616">fountains</span> in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_617">the</span> front....Bohemian again.<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_618">It</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_619">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_620">twilight</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_621">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_622">artificial</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_623">lights</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_624">had</span> just taken <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_625">over.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_626">Mostly</span> neon and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_627">sodium.</span><br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_628">The</span> boulevard in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_629">between</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_630">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_631">Old</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_632">Town</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_633">the</span> museum is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_634">about</span> 1500 meters <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_635">long</span> and 70 metres <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_636">wide</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_637">has</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_638">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_639">usual</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_640">McDs</span> (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_641">atleast</span> 2 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_642">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_643">them</span>), <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_644">KFC</span>, a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_645">multi-floor</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_646">Bata</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_647">showroom</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_648">restaurants</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_649">Skoda</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_650">Showroom</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_651">also</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_652">housed</span> all <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_653">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_654">big</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_655">retailers</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_656">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_657">one</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_658">could</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_659">name.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_660">Ofcourse</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_661">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_662">stretch</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_663">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_664">Rose</span> garden all <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_665">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_666">way</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_667">through.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_668">Subtract</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_669">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_670">beautiful</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_671">rose</span> gardens and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_672">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_673">Cabarets</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_674">we</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_675">have</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_676">the</span> M G Road <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_677">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_678">Bangalore</span> (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_679">Yes</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_680">there</span> is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_681">some</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_682">construction</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_683">going</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_684">on</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_685">here</span> as <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_686">well</span>)<br /><br /><br />I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_687">decided</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_688">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_689">walk</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_690">towards</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_691">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_692">Old</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_693">Town.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_694">Once</span> again.<br /><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_695">Act</span>4-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_696">Change</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_697">of</span> position:</strong><br /><br /><br /><br />A <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_698">large</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_699">screen</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_700">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_701">put</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_702">up</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_703">at</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_704">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_705">Old</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_706">Town</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_707">square.</span> Just <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_708">below</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_709">the</span> lit <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_710">Tyn</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_711">Cathedral.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_712">The</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_713">featured</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_714">photograph</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_715">captures</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_716">only</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_717">one</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_718">aspect</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_719">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_720">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_721">Old</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_722">Town</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_723">Square</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_724">or</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_725">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_726">Staroměstské</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_727">náměstí</span> , as <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_728">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_729">locals</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_730">call</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_731">it.</span> A <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_732">DSLR</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_733">ain't</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_734">enough</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_735">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_736">capture</span> '<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_737">em</span> all.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_738">Largely</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_739">considered</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_740">to</span> be <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_741">amongst</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_742">the</span> must <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_743">watch</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_744">places</span> in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_745">Europe</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_746">it</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_747">surely</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_748">was</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_749">magnificant</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_750">sight.</span><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_751">It</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_752">was</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_753">Germany</span> match <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_754">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_755">night</span> and a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_756">fairly</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_757">large</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_758">voracious</span> German <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_759">contingent</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_760">had</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_761">gathered</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_762">around</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_763">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_764">big</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_765">screen.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_766">The</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_767">night</span> setting <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_768">threw</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_769">some</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_770">spectacular</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_771">sights.</span> I got <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_772">busy.</span><br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_773">The</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_774">favourites</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_775">won</span>, so <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_776">there</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_777">were</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_778">celebrations</span> all <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_779">around.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_780">It</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_781">continued</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_782">throughout</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_783">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_784">night.</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_785">spent</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_786">couple</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_787">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_788">hours</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_789">there</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_790">before</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_791">Omair</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_792">came</span> from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_793">nowhere</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_794">said</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_795">it</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_796">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_797">time</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_798">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_799">go.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_800">Before</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_801">we</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_802">headed</span> back <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_803">home</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_804">we</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_805">took</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_806">some</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_807">night</span> snaps <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_808">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_809">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_810">Castle</span> from a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_811">distance</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_812">the</span> Charles Bridge. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_813">think</span> I got <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_814">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_815">shoot</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_816">couple</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_817">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_818">my</span> best <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_819">shots</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_820">ever.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_821">Day</span>2-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_822">No</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_823">acts</span>, just <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_824">bones</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_825">intact</span>:</strong><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />In <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_826">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_827">morning</span>, I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_828">bought</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_829">day's</span> pass for 100 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_830">CZ</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_831">Koruna</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_832">took</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_833">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_834">metro</span>+<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_835">tram</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_836">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_837">reach</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_838">Malá</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_839">Strana</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_840">The</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_841">foothills</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_842">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_843">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_844">Prague</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_845">Castle.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_846">Narrower</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_847">streets</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_848">high</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_849">concentration</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_850">of</span> souvenir <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_851">shops.</span><br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_852">Mozart</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_853">had</span> a special <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_854">liking</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_855">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_856">Prague</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_857">therefore</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_858">Prague</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_859">always</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_860">has</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_861">had</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_862">unique</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_863">place</span> for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_864">him</span> in all <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_865">its</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_866">musical</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_867">events</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_868">throughout</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_869">history.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_870">It</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_871">continues</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_872">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_873">do</span> so <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_874">even</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_875">now.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_876">Prague</span> must be a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_877">strong</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_878">contender</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_879">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_880">become</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_881">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_882">Cultural</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_883">Capital</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_884">of</span> Central <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_885">Europe.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_886">Tickets</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_887">were</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_888">being</span> sold <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_889">at</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_890">the</span> Opera <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_891">house</span> for a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_892">Mozart</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_893">composition</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_894">recreation.</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_895">had</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_896">to</span> make a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_897">choice.</span><br />I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_898">decided</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_899">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_900">walk</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_901">uphill</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_902">towards</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_903">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_904">Castle.</span><br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_905">The</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_906">Castle</span> is a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_907">town</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_908">within</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_909">itself.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_910">No</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_911">wonder</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_912">it</span> is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_913">considered</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_914">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_915">largest</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_916">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_917">its</span> kind in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_918">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_919">world.</span> St. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_920">Vitus</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_921">Cathedral</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_922">more</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_923">gunpowder</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_924">towers</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_925">green</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_926">lawns</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_927">uniformed</span> men, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_928">excavation</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_929">works</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_930">dull</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_931">colours</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_932">big</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_933">doors</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_934">at</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_935">entrances</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_936">more</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_937">museums</span> all <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_938">adorn</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_939">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_940">Castle.</span><br /><br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_941">After</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_942">Czechoslovakia</span> split <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_943">into</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_944">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_945">Czech</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_946">Republic</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_947">Slovakia</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_948">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_949">castle</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_950">became</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_951">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_952">seat</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_953">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_954">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_955">Head</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_956">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_957">State</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_958">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_959">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_960">new</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_961">Czech</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_962">Republic.</span> I got <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_963">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_964">witness</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_965">routine</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_966">guard</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_967">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_968">honour</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_969">at</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_970">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_971">courtyard.</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_972">could</span> not <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_973">figure</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_974">out</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_975">who</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_976">deserved</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_977">this</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_978">honour.</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_979">felt</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_980">it</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_981">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_982">more</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_983">of</span> a show <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_984">off</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_985">to</span> all <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_986">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_987">tourists.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_988">It</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_989">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_990">ordinary.</span><br /><br />I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_991">spent</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_992">first</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_993">half</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_994">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_995">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_996">day</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_997">walking</span> in and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_998">around</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_999">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1000">castle.</span> Post <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1001">that</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1002">decided</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1003">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1004">climb</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1005">towards</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1006">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1007">Petřínská</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1008">rozhledna.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1009">This</span> is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1010">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1011">highest</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1012">point</span> in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1013">Prague</span> and a 40 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1014">minutes</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1015">uphill</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1016">climb</span> from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1017">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1018">Castle</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1019">will</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1020">take</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1021">you</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1022">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1023">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1024">summit.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1025">This</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1026">tower</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1027">closely</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1028">resembles</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1029">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1030">Eiffel</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1031">Tower</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1032">atop</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1033">this</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1034">could</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1035">see</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1036">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1037">Prague</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1038">skyline.</span><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1039">It</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1040">resembled</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1041">cleaner</span> and a modern <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1042">Mangalore</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1043">district</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1044">with</span> all <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1045">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1046">Mangalore</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1047">tiles</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1048">intact.</span><br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1049">It</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1050">was</span> 5 pm and I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1051">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1052">tired</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1053">having</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1054">done</span> all <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1055">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1056">climb</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1057">ups</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1058">climb</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1059">downs.</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1060">decided</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1061">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1062">retire</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1063">home</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1064">early.</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1065">had</span> a bus <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1066">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1067">catch</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1068">midnight.</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1069">consider</span> bus <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1070">rides</span> as <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1071">torturous</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1072">second</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1073">only</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1074">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1075">looking</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1076">at</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1077">one's</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1078">face</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1079">on</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1080">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1081">mirror.</span> So, I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1082">had</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1083">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1084">brace</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1085">myself</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1086">physically</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1087">mentally</span> for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1088">it.</span> In <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1089">short</span>, I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1090">wanted</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1091">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1092">catch</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1093">some</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1094">sleep</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1095">while</span> I still <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1096">could.</span><br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1097">Once</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1098">home</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1099">Omair</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1100">mooted</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1101">going</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1102">out</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1103">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1104">watch</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1105">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1106">Euro</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1107">at</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1108">one</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1109">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1110">his</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1111">friend's</span> pub. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1112">Game</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1113">on.</span><br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1114">We</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1115">took</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1116">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1117">wrong</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1118">tram.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1119">We</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1120">walked.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1121">We</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1122">walked</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1123">some</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1124">more.</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1125">hate</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1126">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1127">walk</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1128">without</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1129">any</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1130">purpose.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1131">But</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1132">walked.</span> I must <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1133">have</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1134">clocked</span> 20 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1135">kms</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1136">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1137">day</span> (and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1138">night</span>).<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1139">The</span> pub <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1140">had</span> an <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1141">Irish</span> setting. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1142">particularly</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1143">liked</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1144">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1145">ol'</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1146">sewing</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1147">machine</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1148">kept</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1149">at</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1150">one</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1151">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1152">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1153">corners.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1154">It</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1155">was</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1156">Dutch</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1157">game.</span> A <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1158">Cakewalk</span> for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1159">them.</span><br /><p>Post <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1160">the</span> match and dinner, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1161">we</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1162">decided</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1163">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1164">walk</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1165">towards</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1166">Florence.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1167">The</span> bus <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1168">to</span> Berlin <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1169">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1170">at</span> 23:55 and I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1171">had</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1172">little</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1173">more</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1174">than</span> an <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1175">hour</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1176">to</span> kill <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1177">after</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1178">he</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1179">left.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1180">It</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1181">was</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1182">shady</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1183">place.</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1184">tried</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1185">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1186">sleep.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1187">But</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1188">couldn't.</span> </p><p>A series <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1189">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1190">yellow</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1191">couloured</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1192">buses</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1193">came</span> by and stopped. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1194">People</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1195">alighted.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1196">People</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1197">boarded.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1198">Buses</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1199">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1200">Salzburg</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1201">Wein</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1202">Frankfurt</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1203">Rotterdam</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1204">Moscow.</span>..... <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1205">except</span> Berlin.<br /><br />And <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1206">finally</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1207">at</span> 23:50, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1208">my</span> bus <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1209">stopped</span> by. A <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1210">girl</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1211">sporting</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1212">thongs</span> (and jeans <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1213">on</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1214">top</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1215">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1216">it</span>) <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1217">came</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1218">out</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1219">announcing</span> in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1220">Czech</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1221">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1222">the</span> bus is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1223">going</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1224">to</span> Berlin. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1225">Realising</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1226">that</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1227">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1228">unable</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1229">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1230">understand</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1231">her</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1232">Slavik</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1233">language</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1234">she</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1235">announced</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1236">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1237">entire</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1238">stuff</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1239">once</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1240">again</span> in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1241">English</span>(<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1242">or</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1243">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1244">it</span>?). I got a front <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1245">seat</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1246">beside</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1247">her.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1248">Only</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1249">her</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1250">English</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1251">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1252">terrible.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1253">She</span> served <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1254">some</span> hot <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1255">tea</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1256">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1257">gave</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1258">some</span> relief <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1259">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1260">my</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1261">soar</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1262">throat.</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1263">watched</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1264">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1265">Murder</span> by <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1266">Numbers</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1267">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1268">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1269">on</span> in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1270">Czech.</span> Sandra Bullock <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1271">at</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1272">her</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1273">worst</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1274">ever.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1275">To</span> make <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1276">things</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1277">worse</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1278">my</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1279">Gandhi</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1280">class</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1281">ticket</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1282">hurt</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1283">my</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1284">neck.</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1285">asked</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1286">her</span> for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1287">another</span> cup <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1288">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1289">tea.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1290">She</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1291">said</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1292">no.</span> </p><p>I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1293">can</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1294">never</span> get <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1295">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1296">sleep</span> in a bus. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1297">Its</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1298">curse</span>, I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1299">guess.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1300">The</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1301">wash</span> in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1302">the</span> rest <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1303">room</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1304">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1305">non-functional.</span> </p><p><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1306">About</span> 2 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1307">hours</span> later, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1308">the</span> bus <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1309">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1310">stopped</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1311">at</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1312">place</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1313">which</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1314">suspect</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1315">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1316">the</span> German border. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1317">Cops</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1318">took</span> all <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1319">our</span> passports <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1320">to</span> run a check. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1321">It</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1322">took</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1323">long</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1324">time.</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1325">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1326">frustrated.</span></p><p><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1327">The</span> bus <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1328">stopped</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1329">at</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1330">Messe</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1331">Zob</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1332">at</span> 5:20 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1333">am.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1334">The</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1335">entire</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1336">drive</span> is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1337">only</span> 4.5 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1338">hours</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1339">long</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1340">but</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1341">thanks</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1342">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1343">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1344">extraordinary</span> German <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1345">border</span> stop, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1346">our</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1347">journey</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1348">lasted</span> longer <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1349">than</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1350">usual.</span><br />I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1351">bought</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1352">day's</span> pass <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1353">at</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1354">shop</span> in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1355">the</span> bus station for 6.10 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1356">Euros</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1357">headed</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1358">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1359">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1360">Kaiserdamm</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1361">U-Bahn</span> station. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1362">My</span> destination <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1363">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1364">Unter</span> den Linden. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1365">To</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1366">reach</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1367">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1368">place</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1369">had</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1370">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1371">first</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1372">reach</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1373">Potsdamer</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1374">Platz</span> station and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1375">then</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1376">take</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1377">S-Bahn.</span><br />I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1378">reached</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1379">Unter</span> den Linden in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1380">about</span> 35 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1381">minutes.</span> As I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1382">headed</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1383">out</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1384">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1385">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1386">near-empty</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1387">S-Bahn</span> station <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1388">at</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1389">UdL</span>, I got <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1390">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1391">see</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1392">peice</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1393">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1394">history-</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1395">The</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1396">Brandenburg</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1397">Gate.</span><br />And <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1398">then</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1399">began</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1400">picturing</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1401">my</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1402">own</span> version <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1403">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1404">history.</span>.. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1405">Napolean</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1406">had</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1407">walked</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1408">through</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1409">this</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1410">gate</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1411">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1412">Greeks</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1413">before</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1414">him</span>, Hitler, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1415">Russians</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1416">now</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1417">MEEEEEEEEE</span>!!!!!!.<br /></p><p>I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1418">had</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1419">about</span> 90 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1420">minutes</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1421">to</span> kill <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1422">before</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1423">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1424">Starbucks</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1425">would</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1426">open.</span> So I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1427">decided</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1428">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1429">take</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1430">my</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1431">own</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1432">tour</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1433">around</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1434">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1435">Gate</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1436">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1437">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1438">famous</span> boulevard <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1439">of</span> linden <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1440">trees</span> in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1441">UdL.</span></p><p><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1442">The</span> New <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1443">American</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1444">Embassy</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1445">building</span> (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1446">which</span> is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1447">scheduled</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1448">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1449">open</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1450">on</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1451">the</span> 4<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1452">th</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1453">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1454">July</span>) <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1455">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1456">right</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1457">next</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1458">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1459">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1460">Gate.</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1461">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1462">told</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1463">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1464">it</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1465">has</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1466">Bomb-proof</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1467">window</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1468">panes</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1469">amongst</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1470">other</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1471">elaborate</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1472">security</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1473">measures.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1474">The</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1475">US</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1476">govt.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1477">had</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1478">asked</span> for a 70 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1479">meter-radius</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1480">cordoned</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1481">security</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1482">around</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1483">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1484">building.</span> Germans must <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1485">have</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1486">said</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1487">go-ahead.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1488">It</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1489">would</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1490">have</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1491">meant</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1492">neutralising</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1493">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1494">Gate.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1495">Sure</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1496">we</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1497">can</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1498">have</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1499">World</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1500">War</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1501">III.</span> </p><p><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1502">Hotel</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1503">Adlon</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1504">more</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1505">famous</span> for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1506">the</span> Michael <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1507">Jackson's</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1508">shaking</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1509">the</span> kid <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1510">at</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1511">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1512">balcony</span> incident <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1513">than</span> for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1514">the</span> 12500 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1515">Euro</span> per <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1516">night</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1517">it</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1518">charges</span> is just <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1519">round</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1520">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1521">corner.</span> Madame <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1522">Tussads</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1523">was</span> under <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1524">construction</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1525">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1526">right</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1527">next</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1528">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1529">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1530">Starbucks.</span><br />Just a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1531">few</span> meters <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1532">away</span> from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1533">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1534">Gate</span>, I got <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1535">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1536">see</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1537">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1538">Reichstag.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1539">At</span> 6.30 in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1540">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1541">morning</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1542">it</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1543">should</span> be <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1544">the</span> best <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1545">time</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1546">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1547">view</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1548">this</span> landmark. Reason? <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1549">Hardly</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1550">any</span> humans <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1551">around.</span> A <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1552">distinct</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1553">demarcation</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1554">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1555">seen</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1556">running</span> all <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1557">along</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1558">the</span> road <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1559">between</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1560">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1561">Reichstag</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1562">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1563">Gate.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1564">On</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1565">closer</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1566">exploration</span>, I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1567">realised</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1568">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1569">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1570">Great</span> Berlin <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1571">Wall</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1572">once</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1573">stood</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1574">here.</span></p><p>I must <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1575">have</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1576">crossed</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1577">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1578">gate</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1579">dozen</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1580">times</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1581">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1582">morning.</span>.. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1583">something</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1584">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1585">many</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1586">French</span> & <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1587">Russians</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1588">were</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1589">dying</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1590">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1591">do</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1592">many</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1593">years</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1594">ago.</span></p><p>I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1595">wandered</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1596">along</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1597">the</span> river <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1598">Spree</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1599">saw</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1600">more</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1601">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1602">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1603">East</span> Berlin. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1604">It</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1605">has</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1606">lot</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1607">to</span> offer and as I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1608">spent</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1609">time</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1610">walking</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1611">along</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1612">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1613">streets</span>, I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1614">realised</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1615">that</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1616">day</span> in Berlin is just not <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1617">enough.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1618">Maybe</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1619">week</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1620">would</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1621">have</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1622">been</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1623">appropriate.</span></p><p>I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1624">visited</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1625">the</span> Museum Island (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1626">never</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1627">went</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1628">inside</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1629">any</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1630">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1631">the</span> 4 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1632">museums</span>) and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1633">then</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1634">walked</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1635">towards</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1636">the</span> Television <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1637">Tower</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1638">another</span> symbol <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1639">of</span> Berlin. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1640">One</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1641">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1642">the</span> tallest <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1643">structures</span> in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1644">Europe.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1645">The</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1646">restaurant</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1647">located</span> in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1648">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1649">spherical</span> part <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1650">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1651">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1652">tower</span>, rotates <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1653">every</span> 20 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1654">minutes.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1655">This</span> is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1656">owned</span> by <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1657">Deutsche</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1658">Telecom</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1659">was</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1660">promotional</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1661">piece</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1662">during</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1663">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1664">World</span> Cup Final in 2006.</p><p><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1665">One</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1666">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1667">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1668">footpaths</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1669">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1670">dug</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1671">up</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1672">it</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1673">looked</span> like <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1674">some</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1675">cable</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1676">laying</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1677">work</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1678">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1679">on.</span> A <em><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1680">machine</span></em> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1681">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1682">being</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1683">used</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1684">to</span> dig a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1685">narrow</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1686">deep</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1687">opening</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1688">with</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1689">the</span> <em><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1690">machine</span></em>(<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1691">or</span> a mini <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1692">Patton</span> Tank, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1693">if</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1694">can</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1695">call</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1696">it</span>) <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1697">precariously</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1698">standing</span> just <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1699">above</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1700">it.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1701">One</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1702">wrong</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1703">move</span> by <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1704">the</span> <em>driver </em>and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1705">he</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1706">would</span> land <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1707">with</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1708">his</span> <em><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1709">machine</span></em> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1710">into</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1711">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1712">pit.</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1713">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1714">impressed</span> by <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1715">the</span> <em>German <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1716">Engineering</span></em>. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1717">took</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1718">shot.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1719">The</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1720">guys</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1721">asked</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1722">me</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1723">whether</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1724">was</span> from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1725">the</span> Press. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1726">declined.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1727">They</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1728">laughed.</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1729">left.</span> </p><p>I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1730">walked</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1731">towards</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1732">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1733">Alexanderplatz</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1734">before</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1735">realising</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1736">that</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1737">have</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1738">burnt</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1739">more</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1740">calories</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1741">than</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1742">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1743">usual</span> for a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1744">Tuesday</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1745">morning.</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1746">had</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1747">already</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1748">done</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1749">about</span> 6 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1750">kms</span> in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1751">about</span> an <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1752">hour.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1753">Decided</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1754">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1755">head</span> back <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1756">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1757">Starbucks.</span></p><p><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1758">My</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1759">mom</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1760">says</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1761">brush</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1762">your</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1763">teeth</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1764">before</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1765">having</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1766">your</span> cup <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1767">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1768">coffee</span> in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1769">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1770">morn.</span> So I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1771">did</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1772">this</span> for a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1773">change</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1774">at</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1775">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1776">Starbucks.</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1777">ordered</span> a Tall <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1778">Cappuccino</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1779">with</span> 2 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1780">Chocolate</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1781">muffins.</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1782">took</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1783">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1784">street-side</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1785">seat</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1786">directly</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1787">facing</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1788">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1789">Gate.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1790">It</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1791">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1792">only</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1793">about</span> 70 metres <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1794">away.</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1795">also</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1796">picked</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1797">up</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1798">the</span> New Berlin <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1799">Free</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1800">Tour</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1801">brochure</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1802">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1803">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1804">kept</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1805">near</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1806">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1807">door.</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1808">realised</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1809">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1810">the</span> expedition <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1811">begins</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1812">only</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1813">at</span> 11 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1814">am</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1815">at</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1816">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1817">entrance</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1818">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1819">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1820">coffee</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1821">shop.</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1822">had</span> 2 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1823">hours</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1824">to</span> finish <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1825">my</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1826">coffee.</span></p><p><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1827">The</span> New Berlin <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1828">Free</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1829">Tour</span> is an <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1830">interesting</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1831">concept.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1832">No</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1833">fees.</span> Run by a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1834">bunch</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1835">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1836">youngsters</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1837">who</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1838">have</span> fallen in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1839">love</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1840">with</span> Berlin. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1841">Students</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1842">dancers</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1843">cultural</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1844">ambassadors</span> all <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1845">included.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1846">If</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1847">we</span> like '<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1848">em</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1849">we</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1850">can</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1851">tip</span> '<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1852">em.</span></p><p><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1853">Rachel</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1854">was</span> a a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1855">dancer-Modern</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1856">style</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1857">was</span> from Boston. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1858">She</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1859">came</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1860">here</span> 4 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1861">years</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1862">ago</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1863">fell</span> in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1864">love</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1865">with</span> Berlin. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1866">She</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1867">decided</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1868">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1869">stay</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1870">here.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1871">She</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1872">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1873">the</span> guide.<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1874">What</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1875">happenend</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1876">after</span> 11 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1877">was</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1878">crash</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1879">course</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1880">on</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1881">history</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1882">of</span> Berlin and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1883">life</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1884">around</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1885">after</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1886">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1887">WWII.</span> Starting from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1888">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1889">Brandenburg</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1890">Gate</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1891">The</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1892">Reichstag</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1893">Hitler's</span> Bunker, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1894">Holocaust</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1895">Memorial</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1896">Book</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1897">Burning</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1898">Memorial</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1899">Checkpoint</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1900">Charlie</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1901">Potsdamer</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1902">Platz</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1903">SS</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1904">Headquarters</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1905">The</span> Berlin <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1906">Wall</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1907">Gendarmenmarkt</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1908">Pariser</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1909">Platz</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1910">Luftwaffe</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1911">HQ</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1912">Bebelplatz.</span>...<br />I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1913">missed</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1914">out</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1915">on</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1916">visiting</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1917">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1918">restaurant</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1919">where</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1920">Iam</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1921">Fleming</span> got <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1922">his</span> inspiration for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1923">James</span> Bond. </p><p>I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1924">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1925">overwhelmed</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1926">with</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1927">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1928">tour.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1929">She</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1930">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1931">impressive.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1932">We</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1933">walked</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1934">nearly</span> 10<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1935">kms.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1936">The</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1937">tour</span> got <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1938">over</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1939">at</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1940">around</span> 3.30 pm. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1941">tipped</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1942">her</span> 20 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1943">Euros.</span> </p><p>I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1944">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1945">running</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1946">out</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1947">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1948">steam</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1949">had</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1950">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1951">recharge</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1952">myself.</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1953">had</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1954">choice.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1955">Go</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1956">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1957">Zoologischer</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1958">Garten</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1959">see</span> Knut <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1960">or</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1961">climb</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1962">the</span> Cupola <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1963">at</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1964">Reichstag.</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1965">took</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1966">the</span> latter.</p><p><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1967">To</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1968">enter</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1969">this</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1970">place</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1971">one</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1972">has</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1973">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1974">undergo</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1975">serious</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1976">security</span> check. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1977">After</span> all, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1978">you</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1979">are</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1980">entering</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1981">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1982">house</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1983">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1984">governs</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1985">one</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1986">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1987">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1988">strongest</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1989">economies</span> in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1990">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1991">world.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1992">One</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1993">can</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1994">enjoy</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1995">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1996">panaromic</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1997">view</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1998">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1999">the</span> German <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2000">capital</span> city from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2001">this</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2002">platfrom.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2003">It</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2004">also</span> provides <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2005">exciting</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2006">insights</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2007">into</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2008">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2009">work</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2010">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2011">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2012">Bundestag</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2013">where</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2014">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2015">heart</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2016">of</span> German <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2017">democracy</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2018">beats.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2019">The</span> list <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2020">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2021">places</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2022">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2023">one</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2024">can</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2025">see</span> from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2026">here</span> is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2027">incredible.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2028">my</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2029">poor</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2030">memory</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2031">doesn't</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2032">allow</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2033">me</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2034">name</span> '<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2035">em</span> all <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2036">but</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2037">remember</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2038">seeing</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2039">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2040">architectural</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2041">marvel</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2042">called</span> Marie-Elisabeth <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2043">Luders</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2044">Building</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2045">the</span> New <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2046">Synagogue</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2047">the</span> Museum Island, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2048">The</span> International <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2049">Trade</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2050">Centre</span>, Berlin <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2051">Cathedral</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2052">the</span> Television <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2053">Tower</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2054">Hotel</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2055">Adlon</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2056">Memorial</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2057">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2058">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2059">Murdered</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2060">Jews</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2061">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2062">Europe</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2063">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2064">Gate</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2065">ofcourse</span>, Postdamer <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2066">Platz</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2067">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2068">Congress</span> Hall, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2069">Friedrichstrabe</span> Station and a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2070">building</span> far <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2071">away</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2072">that</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2073">suspect</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2074">had</span> an <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2075">artwork</span> by <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2076">Canon</span> all <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2077">over</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2078">it.</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2079">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2080">done</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2081">with</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2082">this</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2083">place</span>, for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2084">now.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2085">But</span> not <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2086">really.</span></p><p>I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2087">headed</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2088">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2089">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2090">S-bahn</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2091">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2092">take</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2093">train</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2094">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2095">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2096">Zoologischer</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2097">Garten</span> . I just <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2098">realised</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2099">did</span> not <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2100">have</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2101">enough</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2102">time</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2103">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2104">explore</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2105">this</span> zoo, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2106">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2107">reportedly</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2108">housed</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2109">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2110">largest</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2111">collection</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2112">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2113">animal</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2114">species</span> in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2115">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2116">world.</span></p><p>I got <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2117">out</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2118">did</span> not <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2119">know</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2120">where</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2121">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2122">go.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2123">Had</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2124">look</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2125">at</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2126">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2127">U-bahn</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2128">map.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2129">There</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2130">was</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2131">mention</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2132">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2133">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2134">Olympiastadion</span> in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2135">one</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2136">corner</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2137">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2138">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2139">map.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2140">Let's</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2141">go.</span></p><p>I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2142">did</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2143">lot</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2144">more</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2145">walking</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2146">than</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2147">initially</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2148">anticipated</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2149">at</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2150">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2151">Olympic</span> Stadium. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2152">It</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2153">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2154">worth</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2155">it.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2156">Some</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2157">girls</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2158">were</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2159">playing</span> hockey. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2160">Some</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2161">swimming.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2162">But</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2163">none</span> in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2164">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2165">main</span> stadium. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2166">was</span> almost <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2167">alone</span> in a 73000 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2168">seater</span> stadium <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2169">built</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2170">with</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2171">limestone.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2172">The</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2173">Greeks</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2174">have</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2175">had</span> a major <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2176">influence</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2177">on</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2178">the</span> design <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2179">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2180">this</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2181">entire</span> stadium. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2182">It</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2183">was</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2184">spectacular</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2185">sight.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2186">Wonder</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2187">how</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2188">it</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2189">would</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2190">have</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2191">been</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2192">when</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2193">Jesse</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2194">Owens</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2195">walked</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2196">past</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2197">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2198">Swastika</span> 72 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2199">years</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2200">ago</span>, not <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2201">giving</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2202">damn</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2203">to</span> Hitler in a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2204">jam-packed</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2205">atmosphere.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2206">Or</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2207">more</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2208">recently</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2209">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2210">Finals</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2211">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2212">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2213">Wold</span> Cup final in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2214">July</span> 2006 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2215">between</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2216">France</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2217">Italy.</span> Must <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2218">have</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2219">been</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2220">electrifying.</span></p><p>And <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2221">then</span>, I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2222">entered</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2223">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2224">Wall-of-fame</span> area <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2225">located</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2226">at</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2227">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2228">far-end</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2229">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2230">the</span> stadium. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2231">One</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2232">mention</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2233">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2234">will</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2235">remain</span> etched in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2236">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2237">memory</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2238">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2239">every</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2240">sports-loving</span> Indian... <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2241">HOCKEY-GOLD-INDIEN.</span></p><p><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2242">Euro</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2243">matches</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2244">were</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2245">being</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2246">screened</span> for a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2247">private</span> party <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2248">on</span> all <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2249">the</span> 3 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2250">large</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2251">screens</span> in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2252">the</span> stadium. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2253">decided</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2254">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2255">watch</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2256">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2257">Sweden</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2258">versus</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2259">Greece</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2260">game.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2261">The</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2262">security</span> officer <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2263">came</span> by and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2264">politely</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2265">told</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2266">me</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2267">its</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2268">time</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2269">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2270">leave.</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2271">left</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2272">with</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2273">sigh.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2274">Disappointed</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2275">too.</span> I still <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2276">had</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2277">long</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2278">way</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2279">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2280">go</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2281">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2282">U-bahn</span> and I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2283">realised</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2284">had</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2285">nearly</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2286">done</span> 30 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2287">kms</span> for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2288">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2289">day.</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2290">wished</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2291">had</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2292">fresh</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2293">pair</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2294">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2295">legs</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2296">at</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2297">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2298">time</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2299">another</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2300">day</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2301">or</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2302">two</span> in Berlin. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2303">really</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2304">wanted</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2305">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2306">do</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2307">the</span> Pub Crawl and Red Berlin visits. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2308">Maybe</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2309">should</span> save <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2310">it</span> for a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2311">next</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2312">time.</span></p><p>I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2313">went</span> back <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2314">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2315">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2316">Messe</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2317">Zob</span> for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2318">my</span> bus <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2319">at</span> 23:55.</p><p>I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2320">had</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2321">over</span> 3 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2322">hours</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2323">with</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2324">me</span>, so I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2325">tried</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2326">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2327">sleep</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2328">at</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2329">the</span> reception. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2330">failed.</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2331">tried</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2332">again</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2333">but</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2334">failed</span> again. So I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2335">gave</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2336">up.</span> Same bus <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2337">crew.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2338">This</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2339">time</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2340">Cappucino</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2341">no</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2342">thongs</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2343">no</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2344">border</span> stop and New York Minute <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2345">featuring</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2346">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2347">Olsen</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2348">twins.</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2349">reached</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2350">Florence</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2351">Prague</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2352">at</span> 4.15 in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2353">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2354">morn</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2355">headed</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2356">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2357">the</span> Metro. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2358">The</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2359">first</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2360">metro</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2361">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2362">only</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2363">at</span> 4.45. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2364">waited</span> like all <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2365">others.</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2366">hadn't</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2367">slept</span> for 36 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2368">hours.</span></p><p><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2369">Woke</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2370">Omair</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2371">with</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2372">call</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2373">at</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2374">around</span> 5.25 and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2375">asked</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2376">him</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2377">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2378">throw</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2379">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2380">keys</span> from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2381">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2382">balcony.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2383">He</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2384">prompty</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2385">did.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2386">He</span> must <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2387">have</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2388">done</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2389">it</span> in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2390">his</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2391">sleep.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2392">If</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2393">he</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2394">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2395">awake</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2396">he</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2397">would</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2398">have</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2399">probably</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2400">thrown</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2401">flower-pot</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2402">on</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2403">my</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2404">head</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2405">instead.</span> I hit <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2406">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2407">bed.</span> </p><p><strong><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2408">Day</span>3-Get <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2409">dirty</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2410">at</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2411">Prague</span>:</strong></p><p>I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2412">woke</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2413">up</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2414">half-past</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2415">noon.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2416">Checked</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2417">my</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2418">weight.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2419">Had</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2420">lost</span> 4 kilograms. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2421">wonder</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2422">how</span>?</p><p><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2423">My</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2424">throat</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2425">had</span> just <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2426">gone</span> from bad <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2427">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2428">terribly</span> bad. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2429">laid</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2430">low</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2431">throughout</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2432">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2433">day.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2434">Come</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2435">evening</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2436">Omair</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2437">Rajesh</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2438">pulled</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2439">me</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2440">out</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2441">to</span> show <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2442">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2443">night</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2444">life</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2445">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2446">Prague.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2447">Well</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2448">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2449">was</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2450">Wednesday</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2451">what</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2452">can</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2453">one</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2454">expect</span>?</p><p><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2455">Omair</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2456">recommended</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2457">Austrian</span> special <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2458">herbal</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2459">shot</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2460">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2461">name</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2462">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2463">which</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2464">cannot</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2465">recollect</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2466">specially</span> for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2467">my</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2468">throat</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2469">releif.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2470">He</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2471">assured</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2472">me</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2473">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2474">there</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2475">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2476">no</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2477">alcohol</span> in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2478">it.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2479">It</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2480">worked.</span></p><p><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2481">We</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2482">went</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2483">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2484">many</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2485">places</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2486">including</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2487">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2488">largest</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2489">disc</span> in Central <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2490">Europe</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2491">that</span> <em><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2492">only</span></em> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2493">had</span> 6 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2494">floors.</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2495">We</span> returned <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2496">disappointed</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2497">everytime.</span></p><p><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2498">Finally</span> as a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2499">consolation</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2500">Omair</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2501">took</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2502">us</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2503">to</span> <em><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2504">Paradise</span></em> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2505">which</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2506">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2507">neither</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2508">disc</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2509">nor</span> a pub. We just sat there.</p><p><strong>Day4-Adios:</strong></p><p>I realised that I did not have much time to get ready. I rushed through the morning chores and it was time to say bye to Jo, Jyothi, Shalini, Rajesh and Omair. A fantastic bunch of people, whom, the Berlin Zoo declined to accomodate. We took some snaps.</p><p>I look forward to meet them in Stockholm in the future.</p><p>I had a 3 hour flight delay and a lady from ISKCON to deal with. I made the biggest mistake of the day when I told her that my dad is a donor member in ISKCON Bangalore and my middle name is <em>Krishna</em>. </p><p>I reached home at around 6.30 pm. </p><p>Some of the pictures from Prague and Berlin can be found on the Picasa weblink.</p><p>Tossing between Slovenia and Moscow in July.</p>Rajesh Krishna Sadanandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01597415079110064849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895864068725615656.post-48823317283001480052008-05-20T12:37:00.023+02:002008-05-21T17:50:20.957+02:00Touristy Barcelona!!!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ypQL7Rt0qmh9w-24pHdqrZz3nK_zY_UDaiTZCQlKC7O9NUyCJYbbYpnvcE7s1gE6xhzy_oN5ItSh336sZ2Z33A_mAUB9X2qoGjQU9XKhuh0-fA7h5EbQaSwGZdnmyGnesRq8xlNSiEo/s1600-h/IMG_0906.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202850814878722530" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ypQL7Rt0qmh9w-24pHdqrZz3nK_zY_UDaiTZCQlKC7O9NUyCJYbbYpnvcE7s1gE6xhzy_oN5ItSh336sZ2Z33A_mAUB9X2qoGjQU9XKhuh0-fA7h5EbQaSwGZdnmyGnesRq8xlNSiEo/s400/IMG_0906.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhvc7tpZuQwfciVmYwdHnFjKeZyiRlm8WA56TkIDA1Dq27o4GXqRVWi64U9-IhvQITNVESsfTlvRuaT2th1YYfuLv61dVDmdUsVV-Ms2ynWNPfkqimmgg6xLtDHp3Rp4-n_jLfWE4Uq4A/s1600-h/IMG_0906.jpg"></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qs37BMWdYmo/SDP6URAyqcI/AAAAAAAAArI/3LCnwYVCCKI/s1600-h/IMG_1007.jpg"></a>4.05 Euros is all that it took for a bus ride from the Barcelona International Airport to the city centre (Plaça de Catalunya). Unfortunately, the wait for this 35 minute bus ride is nearly 45 mintues. Reason? Well people, welcome to Barcelona, the <em>Touristy</em> place of Europe.<br /><br />I got this word from my friend Gautam and was quite amused by the sound of it. I have caught on to this word eversince. Having known him for nearly 10 years now (Jeezz!!), he hasn't changed a bit. He still studies in a school(MBA at the IESE) and never fails to get inventive and slam dunk all my ideas. he is 8 inches taller than me, so height is not on my side too.<br /><br />My first impression of Barca, as soon as I stepped out of the <em>Aeropuerto</em> was that this place is meant for tourists. I hate to be called a tourist. Unfortunately, my attire for the day had all the necessary ingrediants for the making of a tourist to Barca. A floral patterned summer shirt, Reebok sneakers, a half-jacket from Peter England, and a pair of Levis. Not to forget my cap and my backpack. Oops, and yes, the EOS 400D, that was hanging around my neck throughout this trip.<br /><br /><br />I got to stand in the Blue bus. The blonde tourist who was standing ahead of me at the bus stop queue also got to stand. The journey in the jampacked bus was throwing both of us all over the place. I was feeling uncomfortable. It was because of that large device around my neck.<br /><br />Immediately on alighting from the bus, I began to feast on the Granny Smith which I carried from Arlanda. I was hungry.<br /><br /><br />The city centre is a crowded place. I saw only tourists. Everywhere.<br /><br /><br /><br />Oh Oh!! Where have I come??<br /><br /><br />Without wasting much time, I headed to the Las Ramblas (or les Rambles as the Catalans call it).<br /><br />I was only curious to know why this 1 km-odd stretch has gained such an conic status (err iconic status) amongst the travellers around the globe. I decided to unravel the mystery.<br /><br />Its a <em>touristy</em> place.<br /><br /><br />There are street performers, florists, petty shops, streets-side bars, shops selling souvenir, short eats (tapas), bird shops, jewellery shops, etc, etc. Beggary was prominent in Barca, but , this was noticeably missing at the Ramblas.<br /><br />Having lived in India for most parts his life, I was not too excited to see the crowd around this place. Somewhere half-way down the Ramblas, I turned right to enter the Merkat Boqueria (St. Josep). It claims to be the only marketplace to have a website of its own for buyers. I wasn't sure of that, but wanted to go in for the experience.<br /><br /><br /><br />My verdict: Its good. Nobody here asks you to buy anything from them. From Strawberries to Octopuses, you will find 'em all here.<br /><br /><br />On the Ramblas, one can find many Student hostels lined up one after the other. I was told that anything on sale or for rent at Ramblas is very very expensive. Its like finding an apartment at the Wall Street. Crazy.<br /><br /><br />Heading further down, I reached the end of the Ramblas and hit the Port Vell, the Barcelona harbour. Before the Barcelona Olympics in 1992, the Port Vell, the city's old obsolete harbor was only a run down area with empty warehouses, industrial buildings, refuse dumps and railroad yards. In one of the most drastic urban renewal projects, the area was transformed into a yacht basin and entertainment center, opening the city up to the sea. A coastal road was moved underground and a pedestrian street now stretches from the Columbus monument to the Barceloneta neighborhood. A wooden pedestrian bridge takes one from the Rambla to the Maremàgnum, a complex with restaurants, cinemas, shopping centre and a large Aquarium.<br /><br /><br /><br />This is a huge complex. I had my lunch here.<br /><br /><br /><br />It was around 4 in the afternoon and it was time to meet Gautam. He had informed me earlier that he finishes his classes for the day around the said time. He wanted me to come to the Zurich Cafe, a well-known meeting place for the Catalunyan amigos. But I asked him to meet up in front of Hard Rock Cafe, a well-known meeting place for Earthlings and hard-rockers alike. It basically meant that I had another 30 minutes to walk back through the Rambla and hit the city centre. Its not easy walking against the ever increasing tide of crowd on that street.<br /><br /><br />I met Gautam after nearly 9 months.<br />Gautam never ceased to pull my leg on how <em>touristy</em> I looked that day. I was feeling embarrassed. I wanted to strip.<br /><br /><br />After the usual exchange of pleasantaries which largely comprised of enquiring about our mothers and sisters from imaginary world in the least derogatory manner(or was it?), we decided to head to Barri Gothic, which was not far away.<br /><br />An Impressive Cathedral. Looked like a couple of hundred years old. A large renovation activity seemed to be under progress. All tightly protected by large sheets of polymer with <em>Telefonica</em> written all over it.<br /><br /><br />A party seemed to be on in front of the Cathedral. Old couples dancing.<br /><br /><br /><br />Enterprising Gautam gladly took my backpack. But he continued to pull my leg.<br /><br /><br />I was sweating for the first time this year due to the prevailing humidity. We then got to see a large crowd awaiting for the bride and bridegroom to come out of the main entrance of the City Hall, next to the Cathedral. The lady in red impressed Gautam very much. He was disappointed with my camera's zoom capability though.<br /><br />We then headed to the narrow streets in and around the Barri Gothic area. Very captivating. Some musicians were playing gothic music in front of the old town entrance. They will sing for money. I still looked <em>touristy</em>.<br /><br /><br />We decided to take a break. Gautam ordered some beer (<em>Made in</em> <em>Egypt)</em> served by an Indian. I learnt that Gautam's Spanish was as good as his Kannada.<br /><br /><br />We then decided to head towards <em>Monjuic</em>. In the process, I bought a T10 ticket at the Metro station. It costs 7.20 Euros and gives you ten rides.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />At Montjuic, we were greeted by two towers. Gautam calls it Twin Towers. The <em>Palau Nacional</em> was about 600 metres behind and it looked majestic. We reached this place at around 6.30 pm and were overwhelmed by the mammoth structure. Directly below and opposite the Palau Nacional was the <em>Font Magica</em> fountains. I was told that the fountain display begins at 9 pm.<br /><br /><br />We reached the top of Montjuic and Gautam began complaining about the excessive walking that he had to do. I was complaining about the escalators made available at every 30 metres or so. Gautam was more than happy to make use of them.<br /><br /><br />The view from the top was not disappointing. I would have loved to see lesser habitation in Barcelona.<br /><br /><br />We then decided to walk towards the Olympic Stadium, which was closeby. I've never been to Athens, and have seen Mt.Olympia only over the television, four years ago. But viewing the modern structure of Olympic stadium in Barcelona is no different from the one in Athens. Superb!!<br /><br /><br />The majestic <em>Telefonica</em> Olympic Telecommunication tower greets you at the entrance.<br /><br /><br />We went around this place. The natural lights were beginning to fade. Artificial lights began to take over. Gautam continued to crib about the excessive walking. Now, his bladder was exerting tremendous pressure too.<br /><br /><br />So we walked some more. At one of the gates (where we were not allowed to enter), Gautam made friends with the Pakistani Security guard. On enquiring about the whereabouts of the nearest rest room, we were sent on a wild goose chase. We gave up.<br /><br /><br />We then headed back to the Magic Fountain region below. It was crowded. Like crazy. While I was trying to figure out which would be the best spot to sit and watch, Gautam continued his quest for the elusive rest room. Finally, we both found our spaces, not very far away from each other.<br /><br /><br />We both had vertigo, but somehow managed to overcome it and sit on top of a 20 feet wall, directly overseeing the spectacle that was about to <em>flow</em>. Balcony seats.<br /><br /><br />At the strike of 9 pm, the water begins to flow. After a while, the lights begin to glow. And finally the music. Mesmerising. Captivating. Stunning. I stopped clicking after my arms began to ache.<br /><br /><br /><br />We were on top of the wall for about 90 minutes and then decided to head down close to the fountains and take some <em>touristy </em>snaps. Souvenirs from Barca.<br /><br /><br />We decided to go have some dinner. A place on the streets of Rambla, well-known for the <em>Falafels</em>. I was having this Middle-east delicacy for the first time. The funda at this place was very simple. Some 4.20 Euros for a Falafel (included 30 cents for extra <em>chutney</em>) and you have infinite servings of toppings. The choice for toppings included, some salad, olives, carrots in olives, mushrooms, chilli sauce, cauliflowers(reminded me of gobi manchurian), Gautam's favourite Channa and half a dozen more varieties. I feasted on it like a <em>barbarian</em>. Mayo was all over my face and my bag and my jacket. At some point of time, I realised I was supposed to have the Falafel too, which was yet to be annexed and was looking distant away with every topping I did. After about 35 minutes of struggle, I gave up and had to give up my throne. This should be the best Vegeterian dish I've ever had ever since I moved to Europe.<br /><br />I owe Gautam big time for this.<br /><br /><br />We then decided to head back home with nothing much to do. Destination: <em>Les Tres Torres. </em><br /><br /><br /><em></em><br /><br />Day2 was a Saturday, a day normally best spent by Gautam in the bed. I had some other plans for him. Unfortunately, he was successful in wasting half a day of mine. We got out around noon with an intent to go to the <em>Sagrada Familia</em>.<br /><br /><br />It began to rain. We headed back home from the bus stop and took umbrellas along. We were not sure how to get there. After a combination of a bus and a taxi ride, we reached this place called Sagrada Familia, a church considered to have sown seeds for the Modernist architecture of Europe. Say hello to Gaudi.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p>I took a 8 Euro entry while my <em>school</em> friend flashed his ID and saved 3 Euros on it. Another marriage gathering in the church. Well, how many more will I have to see?</p><br /><br /><br /><p>The jaw drops in awe looking at this phenomenon. It was massive. Gautam is 6 feet 6 inches tall and even he was overshadowed by this towering structure. The towers, the sculptures, façade , the symmetrical patterns, the complexity and the associated history. Well, I was never an architecture guy, but this structure sure can incite some thoughts in you. The geometry is simply superb.</p><br /><br /><br /><p>The interior of the church looked like a large construction site. Similar to the ones we used to see during the HAL Airport-flyover construction in Bangalore. I do not think they will ever complete this church. The construction is on for well over 120 years now and going by the pictures in the museum below, I do no think it will ever be completed atleast not in my lifetime. </p><br /><br /><br /><p>The overall experience at Sagrada Familia was below my expectations.</p><br /><br /><br /><p>We then headed to a nearby coffee shop, where Gautam had his snack and tagged it as lunch. I was hungry and I wanted to see much more than that <em>Spanish dosa </em>he had. </p><br /><br /><br /><p>We then headed to <em>Parc Guell</em>, another of Gaudi's work. Initially, I couldn't understand why Gaudi built a house all the way up on top of a hill? To worsen, he had this nearly 18 hectare park built all around it and expected people to climb up there to do what? I went on top to find out. I got my answer and it was satisfactory.</p><br /><br /><br /><p>I think I was able to see the entire Barcelona city from there, shored at the Mediterranean. Nice view. I once again wished Barcelona was not inhabited by so many people.</p><br /><br /><br /><p>This was a very <em>touristy</em> place. I was still on a look out for the real experience.</p><br /><br /><br /><p>We were done and out of this place in no time. I had my share of <em>Churros</em> on the way back to the metro station. Gautam confirmed the Beach party at the <em>Barceloneta</em>, and I was invited. </p><br /><br /><br /><p>We hit the Ramblas again and enquired for the 10 pm <em>Camp Nou</em> game between Barcelona FC and a grade 4 team. We did not get the tickets. It was <strong>disappointing</strong>. </p><br /><br /><br /><p>We walked couple of kilometers and reached the campsite-the rusted iron sculpture at Barceloneta. Our host for the evening was Felix and he was celebrating his birthday. </p><br /><br /><br /><p>Now the commercial break begins and ends next day morning.<br /><br /></p><p>Day3 in Catalunya was meant for annexing <em>Montserrat</em>.<br /><br /></p><p>It was interesting to note that our trip to reach the summit included a metro journey, a cable car journey and a fernacular ride before embarking on the the medium difficulty-level trek. Its about 7 kms in all starting from the monastery, the base camp.<br /><br /></p><p>Gautam and his roomies (well the girl is not really "his" roomie and she would return to her home in Lithuania soon) encountered atleast 2 other groups of <em>familiar</em> people. One was a group of seniors from IESE. One of them was relocating to Stockholm and he enquired why is it so difficult to find a place to stay there?<br /><br /></p><p>Yeah right!! tell me about it.<br /><br /></p><p>The other group consisted of a manager (and his wife) who had interviewed Gautam and had offered him a position for summer intern. Gautam had rejected that offer.<br /><br /></p><p>Throughout the journey, we get to see some breathtaking views. Rocky mountains everywhere. We were greeted by <em>Holas</em> everywhere. I burnt every calorie that I had gained the previous night.<br /><br /></p><p>We finished the climb in about an hour. We took a break at the summit. I had an apple that was offered to me.<br /><br /></p><p>We took a different route on our way back to the Montserrat. This time it was through the thick forest. Slippery rocks are not easy to handle. Its even more challenging when you have a device around your neck.</p><br /><p>In the process of this trekking expedition, I discovered a new mathematical equation: Trek to summit <em>Sant Jeroni</em> = hangover recovery from 9 cans of beer+2 glasses of Cava+4 large Whiskeys(not Chivas or JWB but some Spanish $%@&)</p><br /><p>This trek was the highlight of my Spanish expedition. Attending one of the IESE lectures on Entrepreneurship with Gautam would have been a perfect icing on this cake, but he told me that the class is on a Tuesday morning unlike the earlier assumption of Monday morning.<br /></p><p>The biggest disappointment was my inability to attend the Barca game at Camp Nou. It only means I have another reason to come back to Barca.<br /></p><p>Looking forward to Prague in June. Behold Ethan Hunt and XXX!! Here I come.</p><p>PS: Some of the picture postcards from Barca can be found on my Picasa website.</p></div></div>Rajesh Krishna Sadanandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01597415079110064849noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895864068725615656.post-77138587889207054452008-05-08T15:02:00.005+02:002008-05-08T16:00:58.836+02:00Visit to the City Hall<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgztZdlmEd8oNTGMmehixmGYw6rNaVpWZAPBNA-9fsY0uhb9ujrYpsGwBwBEocMYW2Bw3SkRq7zllefz8KkaK1TZHym02j1ciQxl-JlFQX98mkIxRqmETD1ZwvXtSHRBttUgqPAcaloqms/s1600-h/may_stm_first_week08+101.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5198004134210412802" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgztZdlmEd8oNTGMmehixmGYw6rNaVpWZAPBNA-9fsY0uhb9ujrYpsGwBwBEocMYW2Bw3SkRq7zllefz8KkaK1TZHym02j1ciQxl-JlFQX98mkIxRqmETD1ZwvXtSHRBttUgqPAcaloqms/s320/may_stm_first_week08+101.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><div>Its been over 4 months since I arrived at the Capital of Scandinavia but have never got a chance to see the World famous City Hall at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Stadshuset</span> until yesterday. I got an invite from the Stockholm Business Region Development team for a Networking session. I was not going to miss this. This was probably the best place to shake hands.</div><br /><div>Overseeing the lake <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Mälaren</span>, the view from the courtyard of the City Hall was breathtaking.</div><br /><div>I was awestruck by the green lawns, the grill work emanating from the Renaissance period and the magnificent fountains.</div><br /><div>All in all, 8 million red bricks, all hand made were used to build this giant structure and it took about 10 years for completion (largely due to budget constraints). The description outside the structure says building completion happened in 1923.</div><br /><div></div><div>My natural instincts were telling me to go back home load my Canon 400D and get on with the work that I do best. Unfortunately, I had to behave myself. I was a business delegate here in my Gucci suit.</div><br /><div>The spiralling tower, all in all 76 meters tall with the 3 Golden Crowns symbolise Sweden. I could not climb up there as there was some restriction on account of a dinner party to be held later that day.</div>The flames out in the courtyard were not lit. They say its lit only on the 10<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">th</span> of December. for a moment, I thought I was entering a Roman castle.<br /><div>I entered the much-talked about Blue Hall, better known for the Nobel Prize Banquet that is held every year on the 10<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">th</span> of December. My first impression of the Hall was that it was rather small.</div><br /><div>On the D-day, 1100 dignitaries including the King and his family, the Prime Minister and his Council of Minsters and the Nobel laureates all gather in this hall. I was told that on an average each delegate has only 60 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">cms</span> between 2 people to squeeze himself. All the more important for him to have good table manners. </div>I got to see the Menu card of the much-talked about Nobel Prize <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Banquent</span> Dinner. Well, I got tired of going through it. A restaurant attached to the City Hall serves that dinner for about 2000 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">SEK</span>. My monthly ration costs me slightly less than that.<br /><div>As I entered the hall, an elaborate arrangement was being made for a banquet to be held later in the evening. I also got to climb the stairs where the King calls upon the Nobel Laureate and awards the Medallion and the Million bucks. There is a Star sign etched on one of the walls directly overseeing the entrance of the steps. The legend says the Queen is supposed to look up to the Star as she climbs down the stairs. To ensure that she does not fall down or trip on her own elaborate gown, the steps were spaced sufficiently wide to accommodate her entire toe. That was crazy.</div><br /><div>The trivia associated with this Blue Hall is that there is nothing 'Blue' about it. It was supposed to be a open-air hall, with the blue sky top. It never happened. then somebody mooted we will paint the walls blue. That never happened. Finally they said lets name it Blue Hall in remembrance of the original theme.</div><br /><div>From here, I climbed up to the Golden Hall. The name was not deceiving. It was gold everywhere. Must be the "richest" hall in the world.</div><br /><div>Some 18 million mosaic pieces, imported from Italy each one having a 23.14 carat gold layer was used to create this masterpiece. I was wondering how did they manage to fund the construction of such a lavish hall? I later got to know that the budget sanctioned was for 6 Million Kroner before the start of the project. They completed the project for 13 Million Kroner. The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Stockholmers</span> were generous in the early 1920s and contributed individually for the completion of the masterpiece. Now they have some of the highest taxes in the world.</div><br /><div>I can go on and on about this hall, but better facts are available in the websites out there, do I suggest readers to fetch them. Only noteworthy mention was a representation of India in this hall represented by an Elephant and a howdah.</div><br /><div>Also located here is the Stockholm's City Hall Council Chamber, with 101 seats. There is an even representation of both the sexes. The extra seat(100+1) is to ensure avoiding the 50-50 voting scenario. The ceiling here was spectacular.</div><br /><div>The city hall is more famous these days with the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Stockholmers</span> due to number of Civil Marriages that take place in the French hall here. The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">wannabies</span> come here on the Saturdays between 2 pm and 4 pm and get married in 5 minutes. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div>Rajesh Krishna Sadanandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01597415079110064849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895864068725615656.post-34023931691632803512008-04-06T08:34:00.002+02:002008-04-06T08:57:08.161+02:00Movie Review: The CottageWell, well. I was completely deceived by the false promotion of the film. I was expecting blood, blood and some more blood. I wasn't disappointed though. An interesting plot line.<br />After quite sometime, I got to see some good blend of British comedy and full-blooded horror.<br />Though the plot kicks in with the kidnapping of a 42-inch breasted girl and her locking up in a cottage, little else happens in the cottage. Admittedly, the movie could have been better-off with another title.<br />50 minutes into the movie and there is a massive turnaround in the storyline. What was looking like a classic Brit comedy, begins to turn out to be one of those classic <span style="font-style: italic;">Number 13</span> series of movies. There is no element of comedy after that.<br />Blood oozes out from everywhere and some never before seen footages of tissue chops and spine wreckages surface.<br />The "mad-man" sure does use his blades at will and chops men (and the girl) like "cottage cheese."<br />Couple of scenes at the end of the movie are brilliant.<br />This one is a watch.<br />My rating on a scale of 10 is 5.5.Rajesh Krishna Sadanandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01597415079110064849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895864068725615656.post-31863673810822210732008-03-22T23:32:00.002+01:002008-03-22T23:36:57.730+01:00Easter Weekend Special<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsYqVfuKo7tDgmvF5r5sRCeOX0gUDl1gyv0cKz_A1Av2WvmROPhrck-RK1pYPBInKPq34FqoJ3hW3uRIrt4yYr3VrNfGFABWKWRR_mWnvhybevP62OF11W3gBxF_hoFvIdl-gJJnIvL3A/s1600-h/IMG_0368.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180698577485200434" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsYqVfuKo7tDgmvF5r5sRCeOX0gUDl1gyv0cKz_A1Av2WvmROPhrck-RK1pYPBInKPq34FqoJ3hW3uRIrt4yYr3VrNfGFABWKWRR_mWnvhybevP62OF11W3gBxF_hoFvIdl-gJJnIvL3A/s320/IMG_0368.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>When the cats are not in the cradle and stainless spoons are the order of the day... </div><br /><div></div>Rajesh Krishna Sadanandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01597415079110064849noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895864068725615656.post-88570160646636813732008-02-16T21:15:00.010+01:002008-02-29T12:55:55.479+01:00Living expenses in Sweden<p align="justify"><span style="color:#ff6600;">SAFE HARBOR (Date: 2008-02-16): The estimates given here are based on personal past experiences and with some inputs from locals. Use it for estimation purposes only.</span></p><span style="color:#ff6600;"></span><p align="justify"><br />Details pertaining to Taxation and Living Expenses in Sweden<br /><br />Taxation:<br />The Tax % varies depending upon where you stay in Sweden. Higher the population in the Kommune(area/city), lower the tax % and vice versa.<br /><br />To illustrate, the average income tax in Northern Sweden is the highest, since the human population here is the lowest. Therefore, the Government has to invest more per head to provide the uniform conveniences, translating into higher taxes.<br /><br />In southernmost part of Sweden, (Like Malmo, Lund) where the population density is higher, the tax percentage is moderate<br />In Stockholm (Central part of Sweden) its higher<br />In Lulea (northern Sweden) it’s the highest.<br />The % varies from 28%-55%<br />But the biggest factor determining the tax % is the person's Gross Salary figure itself.<br />Like in many countries, higher your salary, higher is your tax liability.<br />Tax % in Lund for a person getting 325000SEK/annum = 31% (approx)<br />Tax % in Stockholm for a person getting 296000SEK/annum = 30% (approx)<br />Tax % in Lund for a person getting 400000SEK/annum = 33% (approx)<br />So, for all practical purposes, it is ideal to consider 32% as the Tax Liability<br /><br />(Note: This Tax % again has components within called State Tax and Municipality Tax. I suggest all newcomers not to break their head on this. In order to arrive at their TAKE-HOME 32% is the number they should summarily deduct from their gross)<br /><br />Summary: If people are deputed to Sweden, then they get to take home 67%-70% of the gross salary offered by most companies having their R&D HQ in Bangalore.<br /><br />Living Expenses<br /><br />Housing:<br />It’s not the money that’s an issue but getting a house itself for stay is the biggest challenge.<br />Sweden is an immigrant-friendly nation and there is a sizeable number of people coming here from all parts of the globe. Unfortunately, there are not enough houses/apartments available to sustain the demand.<br />Having said that, getting a place to stay in Lund is easier than getting one in Stockholm (voices from the locals here)<br /><br />Average Furnished: An average apartment will be equipped with Bedding, Ordinary Sofa, sufficient lighting, heating/electricity, Microwave, potable water (water in Sweden is the sweetest; only Canadians can complain), heating pans/Gas connection ready, basic kitchen utensils/cutlery, other amenities like Cable television, Iron box/table, furnished bathrooms, WC, wardrobe, broadband internet, etc.<br /><br />Good Furnished: Basic Furnished + More elaborate Wood work/Sofa, expensive glassware, Bar-counter, etc<br /><br />Excellent Furnished: Good Furnished + Sky is the limit<br /><br />All apartments will have common Washing area + dryer in the basement. One needs to book their slots to use the machines. Nobody charges extra for these basic services.<br /><br />What decides the rent?<br />The area one lives in (whether in the heart of the city, excellent view or away from the city with maximum commute time)<br />The level of furnishing in an apartment (Average/Good/Excellent) will decide the pricing<br />The Size of the apartment </p><p align="justify"></p><p align="justify">For a bachelor or a spinster, it is recommended that he/she takes up an apartment with one bedroom, one living room, kitchen & bathroom. The size of the apartment can be 35 sq.m. If they are unable to get one, then they should look for a Studio apartment, the average size is 25sq.m<br /><br />For a person coming with his/her spouse and/or a kid, a larger apartment with one bedroom, one living room, kitchen & bathroom is recommended. Though it sounds like the same config as above, one can looks at apartments with carpet area greater than 50sqm. Note that, maintenance can be an overhead in Sweden and therefore people here like to live in such spaces which they can easily maintain. A very large house(in excess of 70sqm) is only recommended for a family comprising of family members in excess of 4.<br /><br />Rents in Lund:<br /><br />Range for Studio Apartment:<br />· 3500 SEK/month (average) – 5000 SEK/ month (good)<br />Range for 1 Bedroom+1living room+kitchen:<br />· 4500 SEK (average) – 7500 SEK/month (good)<br />Range for bigger Apartment:<br />· 7000 SEK(average) – 15000 SEK/month (super-luxurious)<br /><br />For all calculation/estimation purposes, it is recommended that as expense towards house rent<br />· A bachelor/spinster considers 5000 SEK/month<br />· A married person moving with family(1+1+1/2) considers 8000 SEK/month<br /><br />Rents in Stockholm:<br /><br />I think one should be least worried about the rent and more concerned about getting an apartment to stay by itself. Latch on to every opportunity of getting an apartment. The pricing of rents are irrational here and you can get it for all sorts of prices. Once again, I recommend people to use the following estimation<br />· A bachelor/spinster considers 5000 SEK/month<br />· A married person moving with family(1+1+1/2) considers 8000 SEK/month<br /><br /><br />Food Expenses:<br /><br />The assumption I make is that a techie is also a decent cook apart from the wonderful code he/she makes or breaks. Also, they may not be going out to eat more than 6-8 times a month, which will definitely cost him/her more.<br /><br />The money spent on groceries is higher in the first couple of months as one is trying to settle in. Once a person reaches <em>"steady-state",</em> it will be lighter on the pocket.<br /><br />The average expenses (Lund and Stockholm) on food for<br />· A bachelor/spinster can be 1500 SEK/month<br />· A married Person moving with family(1+1+1/2) can be 2500 SEK/month<br /><br />The average meal for a person going out to a restaurant in Lund can cost 85SEK while the same in Stockholm can cost 110 SEK (based on personal experience). A dinner for 2 in Stockholm can cost around 400 SEK-500 SEK (Excluding alcohol).<br /><br />Alcohol: They are expensive in this part of the world. Always buy them from Systembolaget (fair price shops) or go out with your friends and treat yourself.<br />Couple of glasses of beer in a Bar may cast you 104 SEK. </p><p align="justify">At systembolaget: A bottle of Famous Grouse can cost you 299 SEK.</p><p align="justify"><br />Misc (mandatory) expenses:<br /><br />Costs incurred due to purchase of items, that are more like one-time investments (decorative, non-electronic devices) can cost you anywhere between 200 SEK/month-500 SEK/month.<br /><br />Getting a pre-paid mobile connection is easy and cost-effective. I recommend using calling cards, which are cheaper.<br /><br />Commute Expenses:<br /><br />Average expenses in Lund: 350 SEK/month<br />Average expenses in Stockholm: 680 SEK/month<br /><br /><br />One can always consider an additional 500 SEK/month for all calculation purposes going towards some unplanned/unexpected expenses.<br /><br /><br /><br />Summary: After considering all this, I feel<br />A bachelor/Spinster in Lund should take 7500SEK/month as his monthly outgo<br />A bachelor/Spinster in Stockholm should take 8000SEK/month as his monthly outgo<br />A person moving with family to Lund should take 10000SEK/month as his monthly outgo<br />A person moving with family to Stockholm should take 11500SEK/month as his monthly outgo<br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#ff9966;"><strong>FINAL NOTE: All expense considerations are on the higher side. There is a good probability that the expat can actually incur costs less than what is quoted here.<br /></strong></span>Traditionally, most companies have discouraged sharing of rooms amongst friends (which is healthy) and the above mentioned configurations were explained keeping that in mind. Sharing apartments would definitely bring down the expenses by 40%-50%.<br /><br />PS: Under the social security in Sweden, education (crèche, schooling, etc) is free.</p>Rajesh Krishna Sadanandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01597415079110064849noreply@blogger.com37tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895864068725615656.post-14478848732983157502008-02-13T12:06:00.005+01:002008-02-13T13:17:16.794+01:00Swedish Breakfast-Nothing Swedish about it!After a hiatus, I am back.<br />It started off this morning; with me in my usual mood..thinking what's beyond the sun at my dining table.<br />That's when I realised I have an interesting piece of information to share with all.<br />The Breakfast I was having had the following components:<br />Muesli imported from Norway<br />Milk from Norway<br />Salt from Denmark<br />IKEA cutlery (Imported from Thailand)<br />Stainless Steel spoon...did not get the details (I guess it must be from Israel)<br />Oranges from Egypt<br /><br />and then I wondered, what is Swedish in Sweden? I am from Bangalore, India.Rajesh Krishna Sadanandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01597415079110064849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895864068725615656.post-26129011928060437042008-02-04T17:40:00.000+01:002008-02-04T18:04:33.259+01:00Life in a MetroThe Metro network is the Lifeline of Stockholm. Ever imagined what happens to Mumbai if the trains come to a halt? Well, it is somewhat similar here.<br />Better known by the name Tunnelbana or T-bana, the rail lines are connecting the entire Stockholm city (and smaller towns) making it look like a place to live. It is considered the most cost-effective and fastest means to commute in Stockholm. I bought the 30-days pass for 620 SEK from Pressbyran.<br />I made best use of their service when I had to check-out of the company sponsored hotel at Kista to a friend-sponsored apartment in Farsta. It takes 1 changeover, 20 stopovers and approx. an hour to commute one way.<br />I did 3 up and down trips to move my luggage. This experience started on the 1st evening and culminated at 3 pm on the 2nd.<br />The weather was better than expected as it was only drizzling during the early afternoon.<br />One of my friend was very enterprising; he offered me help but also explained that it may jeopardize his office work on Saturday.<br /><em>Yeah right! people work on weekends in Scandinavia..give me a break.</em><br /><em>But he was from a place called Bangalore(aka Bengaluru), where people work on weekends and weeknights and spend their weekdays at the company's coffee bar.</em><br /><br />This is<strong> Life in a Metro.</strong> 'We' spread the disease to all the Metros of the world.<br />I am the cure. Consult me for more details. You can reach me except on weekdays and weekend-nights.Rajesh Krishna Sadanandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01597415079110064849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895864068725615656.post-71860600868368264102008-01-27T10:28:00.000+01:002008-01-27T10:33:25.061+01:00Movie Review: Aliens Vs Predators 2<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Terrible</span>! <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Terrible</span>! <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Terrible</span>!<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">I've</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">watched</span> all <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">movies</span> in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Alien</span> series and in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Predator</span> series.<br />Being a big fan of this cult series, I decided to experience my first theatre experience in Stockholm, as the SF (Filmstaden), Kista. It was the 21.30 hrs show.<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">After</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">having</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">watched</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">AVP</span>1, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">expectations</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">were</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">very</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">high</span> from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">AVP</span>2.<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">But</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">it</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">comes</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">down</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">with</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">big</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">thud.</span><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">Dont</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">watch</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">it</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">even</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31">if</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_32">you</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_33">want</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_34">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_35">blow</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_36">your</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_37">monies</span>!<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_38">Ratings</span> (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_39">on</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_40">scale</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_41">of</span> 10): Minus3Rajesh Krishna Sadanandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01597415079110064849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895864068725615656.post-22763254309908578092008-01-19T16:35:00.000+01:002008-01-19T17:30:24.929+01:00My longest Window shopping session at Ingvar Kamprad Elmtaryd AgunnarydI have been off-colour since the last few days.<br />Lost 226,229.70 Japanese Yen to a guy who was smarter than me and was figuring out how to earn it back. I will save that story for some other day.<br />I woke unusually early at 5.20 am and switched on IBM T43. Reason: to follow what was cooking at the WACA. It looked good. jumbo has just trapped Symonds plumb in the front. IT was dubious but who cares..we had enough in Sydney.<br />I finished my breakfast at the Lewinsky's and headed straight back to my room. To check the scores again. I checked the scores once again. Wickets were tumbling but runs were coming too.<br />Jumbo's daring move to bring Sehwag on was the turning point of the match. Once again Gilly proved is vulnerable against spin bowling getting bowled around the leg stump.<br /><br />I had a Red bus to catch at 9.42 am. Destination IKEA, Barkaby. I was all excited.<br />I stepped out of the hotel and was greeted by the irritating Stockholm drizzle. To add to my woes, it was aided by gusty winds. Later in the day I read that forecast for the day was 100 km/hr winds. I thought it was a Cyclone. Or was it a typhoon. I don't know what they call it hear.<br />The bus bearing number 567 came 40 seconds earlier than the scheduled time. I was supposed to reach the destination Flottiljområdet at 10.05 am. On the way, the bus stopped at about 10 places. The Lady-Bus driver (who also happens to be in one of the highest-paid profession in Sweden) does not bother stopping at all the stops. Reason: Nobody to get-in and nobody presses the stop button to get down.<br />All roads lead to IKEA here.<br />I got off the bus and landed straight on a puddle of water. My Levis got dirty. My next step was on another puddle. There were hundreds of them. And then I looked up. There were flags all around. Colourful. High-flying aided by the gusty weather. IKEA embossed on all flags.<br />It took me 5 minutes to cross the IKEA parking lot. I could have been faster, had it not rained.<br />I got in at around 10.13 am.<br />I always believed that Stockholm though the most populous city in Sweden had hardly any people. I was wrong.<br />All Stockholmers on a Saturday can either be seen at their respective homes or at an IKEA.<br />The sight was a reminiscence of the typical Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike office at 1100 hrs Monday morning.<br />Walking in an IKEA store without a parental supervision can be an arduous task for kids. It was a Nygma's maze. Easy for kids to get lost. Maybe they should learn from the Danish LEGO WORLD guys- to put a RFID tag on every visitors wrist. Only after couple of hours I realised that there was a large playhouse within the IKEA campus, where the parents can drop their kids off and peacefully move around to shop.<br />I took a IKEA pencil and a piece of paper. Reason?: To note the prices of the essentials so that I can come back later well-prepared. I gave up after an hour. It was tiring. It was like getting into Kids Kemp at Du Parc Trinity and coming out of Bombay Store.. with some 50 shops in between them. Easily said that they are all on M G Road.<br />IKEA had it all and at prices everybody could afford.<br /><br />I came out at around 2 pm and headed to a Pizza Hut. Ordered a buffet for 109 bucks.<br />In came Salads, Pizzas and Coke. I emptied 1(one only) Heinz Ketchup bottle onto my pizza(s).<br />I wanted to crash, so headed back to the bus stop. I was too tired to visit other giant shops around like the INTER SPORT, NIKE FACTORY OUTLET, STADIUM, ECCO, LEVIS, etc, etc, etc.<br />I reached my room 1155 at 3.30 pm.<br />Venky had called me in the meantime to give me the happiest news in the last 8 days: India bead Australia at the WACA.Rajesh Krishna Sadanandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01597415079110064849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895864068725615656.post-88526689306190481682008-01-04T15:10:00.000+01:002008-01-04T15:19:53.373+01:00When it snows it showsLanding in Europe on a day when it snowed moderately for the first time in the season was a good experiece. On the 3rd morning, when I met Johanna at the Skatterverket, she told me that many people were caught unawares by the snow pounding.<br />It took me less than an hour to apply for the PIN at the Tax office. I was told it will take 3 weeks for the PIN to be issued.<br /><br />She accompanied me till Slussen in the Metro and she left me to play with my own thereafter.<br />Went to the SEB Bank at the kista Galleria to figure out how to open a savings account.<br />KPN and Sanath dropped by to my room at 5.30 in the evening. Gave Sanath his pack of desi items and KPN the MTR pickle.<br />Both of them wanted to go to the Balcony and feed their lungs with the Classic Milds. I lost some hours of my life expectancy.<br /><br />Next day(today), I had my breakfast at the Lewinsky's. Slightly heavy.<br />Opened a bank account at SEB and planned to visit the Grossen.<br />I spent the rest of my day largely watching Russell Peters show videos. Thanks to Praveen.Rajesh Krishna Sadanandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01597415079110064849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895864068725615656.post-65206792219855908962008-01-03T12:39:00.000+01:002008-01-03T21:31:27.619+01:00From Zero to Sub-Zero in less than 24 hours<p>Act1: Near and Dear-ones</p><p>Having spent the New-Year's Eve in my bed(pillow and bedsheet included), I was all set to welcome the dawn of the New Year. </p><p>7.30 am: Got ready and headed to Sudheer's house before he could leave to office. He works all the time. His mom was unwell. Fever. She gave me a box of halwa and Kerala Banana chips(meant to be carried to Stockholm). I wouldn't be meeting them for a long time to come.</p><p>I returned home for my usual quota of Rava idlis and a New Year special Movie on Kairali channel. The usual <em>Nayeende mone, </em><em>Shit </em>and <em>Just Remember that</em> dialogues by Suresh Gopi.</p><p>Day passed through and I finally finished packing my luggage(or so I felt). This feeling in my organ close to my wind-pipe that I am going to pass the bucks rather than earn on Day1 of the New Year haunted me daylong. I turned 27 last May and am still not used to spending money.</p><p>Act2: Unpacked packed</p><p>5 pm: I struck upon a wonderful idea. With a Latitude:Longitude of 59Deg 17Min N : 18Deg 3Min E, the city called Stockholm is not a place to show off my rippling muscles or my well-chiselled body or show off that I am a Gandhian (by dressing style). So I decided to pull out 2 of my Jockey muscle shirts, Provogue party-wear and a Kurta out of my luggage. I pulled out about 350 gms of material from an estimated 32.5 kgs of luggage. Mom intervened. She was frustrated with my last minute changes. She asked <em>why</em>? I said <em>because the place is so high.</em></p><p>Took a bath and finished my <em>SandhyaVandanam. </em>Had applied the Gopi (the vermillion) and came down to watch TV with parents. It was boring. </p><p>Had BisiBhele Bath for dinner. It never tasted better.</p><p>11.30 pm: The Qualis supposed to pick me up promptly came. Praveen dropped by too. My father was still trying to figure out how to guarantee the "Name/Mobile No/Destination" Poster on my luggages from not falling-off. I asked him to give-up.</p><p>Byes all around. Asked mom to stay back, while Bro, dad and Praveen accompanied me to the airport.</p><p>Missed Sree Krishna Nilaya.</p><p>Act 3: Big Bang(Bag) Theory</p><p>At the Bang airport, it was crowded and there was a long queue at the international departure terminal. Put the luggages in the trolley. Praveen's nephew called him on his cellphone. Praveen did what I hate in him the most. Passes the <em>active</em> phone to me without checking with me whether I am comfortable talking to that person or not. I have reprimanded himin the past for doing this. This time around he was lucky. It was his sweet nephew who is studying in Class I but questions like my dad. He was not sleeping and was asking me menacingly tough questions. Where am I going? What time am I going? Why am I going? Why going this early?..... and that's when Anirban put his hand around my shoulder. </p><p>That was a surprise. </p><p>I guess Anirban had accompanied Venky and Pavithra from the Leela's. apparently, he had a Finance outing at the Amoeba's (Leela Kempinski). I was still having Praveen's handset in my ear. Questions continued. I could see my Dad visibly upset. I was simultaneously making conversation with 4 people. I finally had to ask Praveen to handle PremSwaroop's onslaught.</p><p>I was sorry.</p><p>I guess they dont call it Runway tickets but Dad bought some tickets for all. This was for the show inside.</p><p>I went inside. There was a lady (must be in her 26's), who had the same type of Americal Tourister Luggage that possess. She was unable to lift it and place it on the X-Ray conveyor belt. Her's was big. But mine was bigger. I helped her. She thanked me. I knew I will have to meet her on the other side to unload. I was more than happy to do so. She was going to Amsterdam and was working for a company called NXP Semiconductors.</p><p>I went to the Lufthansa Check-in Counter. I had 2 pieces of Luggage. One weighed 32 kgs and the other approx 17kgs. Total weight =49kgs. </p><p>I estimated 45kgs before leaving to the airport. This is after spending all those years (months) in the Gym, I was happy to know that my weight-estimating capability was still intact. </p><p>The lady at the counter said 20 kgs is the limit. I said OK. But I am relocating to Europe. Weather is harsh. Need supplies. She said I understand. </p><p>I do not know what she understood. What next? </p><p>She said, pay for the extra luggage. Iasked to ignore the smaller bag and just consider the bigger bag for excess baggage. She giggled; but I was serious.</p><p>I asked her how much? </p><p>She started calculating. I waited. She told excell weight is 29 kgs and I need to pay for that at the rate of 30 Euros/kg. Negotiations began. 4 kgs waived.</p><p>Card was swiped. At the end of confrontation, she wished me a Happy Journey. I wanted go to her side of the counter, turn her around and do waht I do the best->kick her @#$. But then, Revenues were going to a company belonging to a nation from where my company also makes a substantial topline. I left disappointed and headed to the first floor of the Terminal for Emmigration and Security Check.</p><p>Act 4: The Crevices of life</p><p>Venkys and Anirban also came to the top. We saw each other for the last time that day(night). Praveen took some last minute photographs. Dad used his Samsung X620 Slim too.</p><p>I said bye to Bro and Dad; through the glass crevices in between us. I hoped Praveen makes it to Brisbane or any place in Australia. I need a place to stay if I go there.</p><p>Headed towards the counters. Missed my Dad.</p><p>I wanted to declare by SLR. Customs guy was not at his desk; but had left his mobile number at the desk. I called him up. He came. He was a Mang. I spoke in Tulu. Job got done. I keep finding these gaps; put them to best use. But never see the large dark pits ahead and thus fall into them. All done. Got into the flight Aisle seat. </p><p>Act 5: Lufthansa-There's better way to fly</p><p>Yes, I know the meaning is opposite to the actual Luft punchline. But I had reasons. No space in cabin baggage space. Cramped leg space. Desis next to me(OK dont count that). Not enough Indina Cabin Crew. 2 hour wait inside the plane due to Foggy weather conditions(OK dont count that too) . AC Water seeping through the crevice above and ruining my neigbour's crouch area.. ... .... (this will be continued in another act)</p><p>My neighbour was offered an alternative seat. So I got to use his seat to keep my cabin bag. I moved it to the seat next to me from the space below my seat. I put the seat belt around it. Safety first. I got no sleep; but got some next pain and back spasm. Announcement from teh Pilot: One of the passengers has lost his passport in the plane. Please inform the flight attendant in case you find it. Then the German with her Pencil torch under my @#$ and every other guy's @#$. Finally it was found. By then, I pretended to fall asleep.</p><p>2 hours of delay in Bangalore meant, I have already missed my connecting flight in Frankfurt.</p><p>Act 6: Germany: We speak</p><p>At 10 am Frankfurt time (GMG+1.00) I landed. Rather, I was dropped. It was the worst landing I've ever experienced. BANG-THUD. Was it a Bridgestone tyre test?</p><p>I headed to the Lufthansa terminal straight away. I waited for an hour for my turn. Next connecting Flight to Stockholm was at 12.55 pm and it was fully booked. I had already paid Lufthansa enough from my pocket, so was unconfortable paying them anymore for an upgrade to Biz class. My only other option was to take the 4 pm flight. I took it. She gave me 15 Euros voucher for lunch valid at any restaurant within the FRA Airport.</p><p>What followed after that was a terribly long wait at the FRA Airport. I had 5 hours to kill(or use to help creat something). I took a leak at the Naziland. <em>Barsoon ka tamanna types.</em></p><p>I was already short of sleep. Headed to a familiar place - McD. Stood in the Q for 1 hour. She was Asiatic. The supply of food can last for a day if you have 15 Euros. I just wanted to have a burger. But that cost only 2 Euros, so she said take more. I said it is OK, just keep it. I have been in one of those Philanthropic moods for a few weeks now. I cannot eat like a German; I cannot eat so much. I am Rajesh. She said she cannot do a cash reimbursement for the rest. She insisted. I liked it. I then ordered the following: 1 burger, 6 nuggets, French Fries, 1 Strawberry Milkshake<em> (ardha litru=500 ml), a large box of </em>Salad; another large burger and a Cappucino(300 ml).</p><p>I took my tray and took my seat facing the FRA runway. Good panaromic view. The announcement by the flight attendant at the tarmac was that the outside temperature is -3 degC. So, it was my first sub-Zero experience. Though not upclose. Saw all sort of flights taking off and landing. All makes. I did not see a A380. It would have been a perfect icing. I saw a Condor, Luft, Iberia, UA, Indian, Iranian, Luft, Singapore Airlines, Some Western China, Luft, Luft, Luft, more Lufts, </p><p>Did not count, but if I say I saw about 75 flights in all (taking off and landing) then I would not have deviated much from the actual figure.</p><p>It was one of the longest lunch sessions I've had on my own. 150 mins. I hope that record stands for life.</p><p>Checked into the other Luft flight. On time. flew over the German borders. Was getting dark outside every minute. At 5.40 pm the Captain announced: We are flying on top of the Stockholm City and have been instructed by Ground Staff not to land immediately. Reason cited: Shortage of support crew for handling landing. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.</p><p>We were going around and around. There was something brightly shining in the otherwise dark sky. I thought I was circling around some North Star, only to realise that it was another of those planes also on a Scandinavian tour, waiting for his fuel tank to get empty; I saw 2 other flights going around due to Christmas and Happy New Year. </p><p>Act 7: Marathon Completed</p><p>As we approached the Tarmac, I saw the colour white all around. We landed. Temperature outside was -1deg C. I waited for 45 minutes to get my luggage. I was like a spectator in a stadium waiting for my favourite Marathon runner to enter the stadium for his last leg of run. Luggage came. Minor damages only. The wheels of my smaller luggage were broken. So I carried the bag around. No pushing. </p><p>Got out. Was snowing <em>moderately</em>. Touched it. My first encounter with Snow.</p><p>From here on, the journey begins.</p><p> </p>Rajesh Krishna Sadanandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01597415079110064849noreply@blogger.com0