RickSteves

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Tuesday, November 27, 2012

A stitch in time...saves 40 euros

Posted on 1:33 PM by Unknown
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So I bought a funky velvet jacket to replace my stolen tuxedo suit. I found it at a second-hand shop and it fits perfectly - but hangs a tad long - but otherwise was too good to pass on.
had the entire bottom hemmed to my satisfaction and all it cost me were a few expletives 
I stopped by a tailor's in Kreuzberg to see about getting it altered shorter. Tsk, tsk, tsk, the old Italian tailor shook his head. "The pockets are too large," he explained in German, "and this material is velvet...this is a problem. It'll be a difficult job." By this he meant it would cost a pretty penny. How much? 
"Oh about 40 euros," he hazarded.

"Oh. Ja das ist ein Problem," I agreed and he laughed.

I most certainly was not about to drop that kind of money on a second-hand jacket; not because it wasn't worth it but because I'd already bought it so dirt cheap! So...I got hold of some needles and black thread and sat at the kitchen table mending it by hand. After an hour and half I had the entire bottom hemmed to my satisfaction - and pride - and all it cost me were a few expletives whilst trying to thread the damn needle! You see, stitching the suit was the easy part; it was first getting the thread through the eye of the needle that tried my patience. A stitch in time saves money mine. Hello!
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Posted in germany, single male | No comments

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Six car smash up on the autobahn

Posted on 3:21 PM by Unknown

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Travelled down on the autobahn to Frankfurt Am Main - not to be confused with Frankfurt Oder - this morning. All was going fine and according to schedule until we hit gridlock -- caused by a six auto fender bender! As you can imagine, some of the vehicles were nicely smashed up and one of them even had its back wheel clean ripped off.

This set us our trip back by one hour, which, I guess, wasn't really so bad. Nor was there any chaos or irrational jerks honking their horns and swearing to the skies. Honestly, what can you do about it? I've never seen a people compose themselves so calmly and matter-of-fact. Conveniently enough the accident happened at a rest stop (so maybe that helped too); If you have to be stuck on the road what better spot is there than a rest stop, right? 

And, owing to the absence of an ambulance on the scene, no, there were no serious injuries or fatalities.
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Posted in germany, travel | No comments

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Bücherhalle (Berlin)

Posted on 11:22 PM by Unknown
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Bücherhalle
On my way to the gym Monday morning  I stopped by Bücherhalle, an antique bookstore, intending to purchase the book on Charles Atlas I'd seen in the window display over the weekend - I hoped it was still there - plus two American paperbacks (Our Town and The Jungle). The beaming yellow cover of The Life and Times of Charles Atlas was still there. Whew! All in all, I was looking at 10 euros. 

But since I was there, I figured, I might as well do a little quick browsing...for future reference. No harm in just looking....

By the time I left Bucherhalle I had a 'complimentary' totebag full of books and a pocket 40 euros lighter!






www.Buecherhalle-berlin.de
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Posted in athletics, book, germany | No comments

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Doesn't sound Greek to me

Posted on 5:42 AM by Unknown
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Why are white people always 'surprised' by accounts of racism? To read the news articles, you'd think these reporters lived under a rock. Or just try telling folks first-hand experiences: White peoples' eyes start out of their hands like it's the most incredible, fantastic Marco Polo story they ever heard in their lilly white lives. (Click pic to read more)



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Posted in europe crap, Greece, racism | No comments

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Dirty, lazy roommates - Berlin

Posted on 5:19 PM by Unknown
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Finally had enough of these dirty, lazy ass flatmates and moved out. I'm not someone who needs his own place. Just a bit of clean space and consideration. I can share living space -- so long as I'm not the only one doing the sharing.

stress-free living is worth more than cheap rent
For two months I made the most of an irritating - albeit extremely cheap and convenient - living situation by spending lots of time in the gym; buying air freshener and dish washing soap; fresh flowers for the apartment (and bedroom); washing dishes; separating refuse and taking out the recyclables; emptying the overfilled ashtrays; buying a bedside lamp so I could read in bed; an infrared lamp (to relax and recuperate from the work-outs); a radio/alarm clock; It even got to the point where I bought my own cookware and cutlery because all the dishes in the house were dirty -- despite having an operable dish washing machine!
Some able-bodied men are just downright lazy and filthy. These are the people who largely live by hand-outs 
But, frugal or not, one has his breaking point. Peace of mind and stress-free living is worth more than cheap rent. I was fed up with it all: the piles of dirty dishes that filled the kitchen sink for weeks on end...the perpetually wet throw-rug in the bathroom...the stench of cigarette smoke...stolen foods from the refrigerator...piles of overflowing garbage in the kitchen which, consequently, attracted swarms of fruit flies. One side of the wall was covered with them and they were, naturally, beginning to invade other areas of the apartment. With winter fast approaching I foresaw rodents and possibly roaches joining the lot. Plus, my tuxedo jacket was stolen!

Some able-bodied men are just downright lazy and filthy. These are the people who can stand living in filth -- and largely live by hand-outs anyway.
When I abruptly decided to get the hell out of there last Thursday I was more than open to paying twice as much rent for new digs; But, as it so happens, I just might move in with a friend -- and for less. 

Free at last! 
Free at last! 
Thank God I know
Freedom is mobilitay!
    
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Posted in apartment/house hunting, europe crap, germany | No comments

Friday, November 2, 2012

Indiana in Berlin

Posted on 3:14 AM by Unknown
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I was riding the subway to the gym when I noticed two Purdue co-eds. What caught my eye was the Benny Baby one was showing her friend. It had the university's emblem on it. Odd, I thought, until I looked over and realized the girl, herself, was wearing a big ass Purdue University sweater under her jacket. I have a red bottle-opener key-chain with Wabash printed on it so I thought it would be a pleasant shock to walk over and interrupt, "Entshuldigen Sie," I began in German, "but do you go to Purdue?" Yes, they nodded. Then holding up my key-chain, "Do you know this place?"

They smiled with surprise and giggled. 

Small world....


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Posted in germany, misc/humor, single male, travel | No comments

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Coolest Jack O' Lantern ever!

Posted on 5:41 AM by Unknown
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Posted in misc/humor | No comments
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      • A stitch in time...saves 40 euros
      • Six car smash up on the autobahn
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      • Doesn't sound Greek to me
      • Dirty, lazy roommates - Berlin
      • Indiana in Berlin
      • Coolest Jack O' Lantern ever!
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