Germany

I returned to Ireland nearly three weeks ago. It is nice to be home. Things have been quite busy due to applying for a work visa and going on a holiday to Germany for one week. Let's hear about Germany so. My friend Mark has lived there for three years and because I had not visited since 2001 I thought I would see how Germany (and Mark) are doing. Both are doing pretty good. Germany has massive unemployment and various other problems, but none of this is evident due to the niceness and positivity (or maybe the carefree outlook) of everyone I met. Mark does not like his details to be shared on the internet so all I can say is that he is still alive and is happy. I've probably said too much.

I was in Hamburg for the entire week except for one overnight stay in Berlin, which is not worth talking about because Berlin did nothing for me. Hamburg is great. It has lakes, parks, nice buildings, an amazing transport system, the ocean, stuff is extremely cheap, there are bike paths all over the city, some pubs that stay open till 6am... and the people are really nice. What more could you want?

I arrived on Tuesday and Mark had to work all week so I amused myself around town and by rooting through his stuff when he wasn't there. You learn so much about a person by the things they hide from the world. Of course, I am only joking... or am I? Nice city, nice walks. On Friday we were reunited in booze and a whale of a time was had. Apparently we went to four pubs but, alas, I only remember being in two of these establishments. Did we drink too much? Possibly, but some amount of craic was had. The amount of fun that one has is directly related to the amount of booze taken on board. A simple equation governs that ago old law.

I begin work at my former Irish employer on Monday and am very happy about that. There is plenty of work to be done and I need to exercise my brain after bombarding it with beer molecules for the last few months.