Berlin, and Snowboarding in Austria

I was able to spend four days snowboarding in Austria with friends, and flew into Germany a week early to see other friends in Berlin and Cologne.

We stayed at snobby St. Anton in Austria, where our waiter insulted us for drinking 'rain-water' at the dinner table, despite the mineral water for sale was bottled only 20-odd miles away. Offended by our awful customer service, we showed our colors and moved to a cheaper and nicer guest house. I showed Jordy and Mark how to make sandwiches in the morning and then hide them in the snow at the bottom of the lift, so you can eat throughout the day.

The snow was decent, though began to melt as temperatures soared, and the risks of global warming became tangible in the form of mushy snow. We went to Ischgl for two days, which quickly became my favorite resort with only one vowel in its name. It was so large we skied from Austria into Switzerland, and back. Photos of the trip.

I loved Berlin, especially the privately-owned, rather odd (and occasionally cheesy) Museum of the Berlin Wall., which displayed the zip-wire system used by one family to flee from a tall building, pictures of tunnels dug 20 feet under the ground, and children's artwork you might see displayed on a fridge. We also went to the movies in Berlin, and I laughed upon seeing the two 'courting' seats in every row, where the dividers were removed so the couples could, presumably, snuggle.

I had my picture taken in front of what is left of the Berlin Wall, and also standing before the Reichstag wearing the warmest hat I've ever owned - a Soviet Tank Helmet lined with sheep's wool and padded to prevent injuries. I bought the hat in a market selling old postcards, random housewares, and all manner of surplus Soviet military garments.

Near Munich (Munchen) we ate at a local beer hall prominently displaying its logo everywhere it could--a fat Bavarian whistling for his dog, who he couldn't see because the dog was hidden by his monstrous belly.