{"id":1607,"date":"2011-05-15T13:14:00","date_gmt":"2011-05-15T20:14:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/rayivey.com\/wordpress\/?p=1607"},"modified":"2011-05-15T13:14:01","modified_gmt":"2011-05-15T20:14:01","slug":"spring-forward-day-57","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.rayivey.com\/wordpress\/spring-forward-day-57\/","title":{"rendered":""},"content":{"rendered":"\"Facebook\"<\/a>\"twitter\"<\/a>\"rss\"<\/a>\"instagram\"<\/a>

Berlin\/Munich
\nMay 8, 2011\u00a0<\/h2>\n

Distance Traveled today:\u00a0 362<\/h3>\n

Distance So Far:\u00a0 9964\u00a0\u00a0 10, 326<\/h3>\n

Red letter day:\u00a0 Passed the 10, 000 mile mark\u203c<\/h3>\n

\"steeple_3\"<\/a>Speaking of my ease with the public transportation system in Berlin, I do have to say that I am good at this.\u00a0 This traveling thing.\u00a0 You can plop me down in a strange city and I figure out what I need to figure out with a minimum of hand-wringing or fretting.\u00a0 I\u2019m not intimidated by figuring out the subway maps, or using my non-existent prowess in the local language to find out what I need to find out, or anything.<\/p>\n

When I got here Monday night, I was tired, and I stumbled about the gigantic and intimidating Alexanderplatz train station trying to figure out how to buy my week transport pass.\u00a0 A few days go by, and you should have seen me this morning:\u00a0 Hopped off my train, gathered my breakfast from three different vendors all on the way to the tour meeting place, nary a misstep, and I got there early.\u00a0 I am good at this, if I do say so myself.\u00a0 And I do.<\/p>\n

\/\/\/<\/p>\n

The train ride was pleasant, but could have been nicer.\u00a0 I had splurged for a (not very expensive) first class ticket, and had even reserved a seat in the \u201cQuiet Car.\u201d\u00a0 Nice.\"steeple_1\"<\/a><\/p>\n

I hauled my luggage into a cab and headed to the train station, had breakfast at McDonalds (real American breakfast, Egg McMuffin, just like God intended), and then made my way to the gleaming ICE Train.\u00a0 Found my seat, got settled in . .\u00a0 and then in came Mommy and her Loudmouthed German Daughter.\u00a0 In the Quiet Car?!?<\/em>\u00a0 A young child and a Quiet Zone simply don\u2019t go together.\u00a0 What was she thinking?<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The Sony Center at Postdamer Platz<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Anyway, the kid wasn\u2019t too bad and I thoroughly enjoyed the six hour ride.<\/p>\n

\/\/\/<\/p>\n

The Munich Palace Hotel is, despite its name, a small boutique \u201cluxury\u201d hotel just a short walk (yay!) from the Client\u2019s office.\u00a0 The only problem?\u00a0 NO FREE INTERNET.\u00a0 I am afraid I threw a bit of a fit.\u00a0 \u201cReally?\u00a0\u00a0 In 2011? Making me pay for internet is like charging me for towels and soap!\u201d\u00a0 It\u2019s expensive, too, and not even that good a connection.<\/p>\n

I considered doing without the internet in my room in the evenings.\u00a0 I considered this plan for about as long as it would take you to list all the good Adam Sandler movies.\u00a0 I realized that, particularly without a phone, it would just be too depressing.\u00a0 This is a very long trip, and I\u2019ve really grown to need the connection I feel through my laptop.\u00a0 The manager of the hotel is working on getting me something of a deal for my 12 days here.\u00a0 Fingers crossed.<\/p>\n

\/\/\/<\/p>\n

\"steeple_2\"<\/a>By the way, what is it with Germany and its gay kings?<\/p>\n

Notable German Rules Who Were Or Who Probably Were Friends of Dorothy<\/h4>\n