The beginning

Well, I must say it has been an interesting road to Germany. My flight got re-routed because of the volcano issues, so I ended up in Dusseldorf instead of Amsterdam and then Cologne. As a result I had a crash course in German forms of public transportation as soon as I landed. I figured out how to take a train, how to ride in a cab, and how to bum a cell phone off a guy when you are desperate and can't get a single pay phone to work. I also figured out how to get back into the secure area of the airport after you've left... just tell them you've lost your luggage and need to speak to the people in lost and found. Because apparently that is IN the secure area in Dusseldorf. Sweet.

We've done so much in the day and a half since I've arrived. We rode a boat, which we ran across half of Bonn to get to in time. We rode a cog railroad up to the Drachenfels, and hiked for a few minutes in the hail to get to the top. The view was well worth it! Probably my favorite thing we've done, though, is see the new elephant house at the Cologne zoo. It is a huge indoor/outdoor complex with automated gates, large side rooms for when the animals need to be isolated, and an elephant sized squeeze chute for vet procedures! They took us downstairs into the side cages where we could stand with just a fence between us and the elephants and touch their trunks. Sooo cool. There were two young ones that were adorable. We also got to go up into the control room. They have a TON of cameras that can be moved and rotated and zoomed in and out to look at every single part of the entire enclosure, inside and out. They also have a control system for the gates with a map. All the gates are represented by little lights, and the color of the light indicates open, closed, or moving. I felt like an air traffic controller. Plus you know you're in Europe when topless pictures are allowed in a staff room.

I've also tried German beer, which I'm still on the fence about as far as taste. I have yet to try gelato, but they keep promising it to me. I wonder if it will be as good as in Italy... I'm also pretty sure I've figured out why I have been feeling so miserably congested at night. I think the pillow and comforter here are down, which I am allergic to. Oh well.

All in all I've had a great time so far, and I'm looking forward to even more fun times to come! Now that my luggage is here I can really relax and enjoy the trip.