Coming home for Christmas

Merry Christmas to you all!...well a Little late :D I admit, I was a Little lazy the last days^^

Half a year is almost over and its already Christmas. And I have a big suprise for you but I dont want to spoil you ;)

So were did I stopped?

Oh ja we were in lake Louise for two days after we left the lodge really spontaniously. We had nothing planned after that so we actually had no idea what we should do then......Also I got some bad News from home and the Situation at the lodge didn`t helped my already sad Feelings! So there we were, in the middle of nowhere, sitting in a Tim Hortons with no plan, it was cold and Christmas was coming! Of course you think of home and that it would be nice to spend Christmas with your family....So the idea was Born and we called Lufthansa:D

So we ended up going back to Vancouver to our friends, who were Kind enough to offer us a bed again. We were super relieved and we could finally relax in a warm place after  the last weeks ^^

And we could organisate our plan more! After 1 day we had a fully thought- out plan, which we could tell our parents :

 

-  the first stop would be Vancouver

- then the days before Christmas ( 18-22 december) on Vancouver Island

- Christmas we would spend in Vancouver again before we would head to the USA again

- backflight on the 6th of january

 

But actually we rebooked our flights so that we´re in Frankfurt on the 23rd.

We actually stayed in Vancouver till the 18th. Our last days in Canada, I had mixed Feelings. Our dog has cancer and I was so afraid that he`s going to die before I come back. The thought hunted me all the time but I tried to enjoy the last days as good as I can! Also our trip ended so apruptly that we didn`t really realized that These were our last days.

We met Jan and Timo again, had a funny day with them in Vancouver and went Souvenir Shopping ( I never, really never bought so many Souvenirs :D), visited the Museum of anthropology and we finally made it into China town and it wasn`t worth it at all ^^

And then there was the Christmas Spirit! I know that in America everything is bigger and actually I shoudn´t have been so suprised when I saw with how much wastefullness the canadians decorated their houses. The street we lived in looked like Santas Runway xD

Never ever go into a Lush cosmetics store with boys^^ they look like THIS after it :D

rainy day in Deep Cove

Museum of anthropology

Christmas garden.......you`ll never see such things in Germany^^

Santas Runway ;)

 Then the day came when we had to start to tell lies. Early in the morning of the 18th we took the bus to Seattle. We had the funniest bus Driver ever^^ I was so tired cause we had to get up at half past three in the morning, that I woke up when we were already at the boarder.

The entry into the USA was really easy this time, cause we aleady had our stamps in our passports and....we were in the USA! Bye Canada :(

But before I got sentimental we arrived at the Seattle Airport and flew to.....Phoenix!! Tadaaa Suprise :D No we had just a short stop there before we flew into San Francisco.( More airmiles!!!!!) Our last stop!

I was already in San Francisco 4 years ago and I really liked it there, so I had nothing against it to discover this beautiful City again. Also we saw some places I `haven´t seen at my first visit there.

But first of all we had a Little schock^^ We knew that our Hostel isn`t in the best area of SF but when we arrived at Union Square, there were so many homeless People, we were tired and exhausted and we just wanted to have a nice, cozy bed. But bad luck....

Fortunately a taxi was Standing around the Corner. We really wanted to walk to the Hostel, which wasn´t that far away but if you ever were in SF you know that it´s really hilly^^

Arrived at the Hostel and in our room, we wanted to Change our accomondation. Well, in the end we stayed and it wasn´t that bad but tiredness and Exhaustion made us feel really uncomfortable...the beds were like armybeds, the toilet didn´t flush well and we didn`t know our roommates! We just knew that we`re in a mixed doorm bedroom. So in our distress we called another Hostel and reserved beds. (Note: before we actually spoke with an emplyee of our Hostel and before knowing the cancelling policies) Jep, we were desperate^^ The end of the Story was that, after a discussion with an employee ( and after we found out we had to cancel 48 hours before, which ment that even we would Change Hostels , we still had to pay 3 of the 4 booked nights----> which ment, we would spent waaaay more money), we decided to try one night. In the middle of the night our roommates finally came. Two German students and they were really nice....not too bad :D

Next morning after the very delicicous variety of the homemade breakfast ( only pancakes^^ everyday...the last two days we didn´t eat breakfast in the Hostel xD) we walked out of the building and the sun and pleasent 17°C welcomed us :)

Damn...this post is already waaaay too Long so here is our touristic SF Exploration tour^^:

Day 1:

A walk through Chinatown then to the Coit Tower, from which you have an awesome view over the City.( again SF is very hilly^^ didn´t thought we would walk that much). Walking around Fishermen`s wharf + Pier 39...bought a MUNI pass and Tickets for Alcatraz. We were so lucky. We got one of the last tickets available cause it was Christmas time and lots of People bought their tickets in advance. So the next days all tours were sold out :)

 

And actually now you should have the privilege to look at some amazing pics cause I thought I have the pics. But.. I don`t have them :D

 

Day 2:

made the said Alcatraz tour. One of the Hilights. it was so interessting and weird at the same time. Just imagined that in this building, were you`re Standing in, hundreds of murderers were kept. I think we stayed almost 4 hours on the Island. After that seafood at Pier 39. Drove with the cable car. The evening we spent with our roommates, Linus and Lasse, in our room. They were kind enough to buy us alcohol. USA... 21 etc. ;D

 

Day 3:

We took the bus to the famous Hippie area to walk to the Goldengate Park, which took a Little while. There were many nice, Little Shops and boutiques ;) The Park per se wasn´t that worth seeing.  We smelled the,, now familiar scent of weed :D

After that we drove to the Golden Gate Bridge! And the famous Lombat Street was on our Tour too.

 

  found some pics :D

 

Day 4:

Our flight was around 9 PM so we had some time to do....Shopping!!! :D We stored our luggage in the Hostel and came back with "a few" things :D *cough* But I had some space left in my backpack! *proud* :DD Lets just say Victoria`s secret got a lot of Money from me^^

 

Then our last trip began. ( Imagine now sad Music in the background^^). Luckily we flew with Lufthansa :D Best Service so far.

But yeah. At the time I had so many different thoughts in my head. I was excited, worrried, sad, tired, happy...all at the same time! The last days, I don`t wanna say I was homesick but I did miss home a lot. Mainly because of our dog. So I really looked Forward to see him and my Family. Also I was so excited about the faces of my Family, when they would see me Standing in the door :) Nobody really noboday had a clue and I`m so proud that the whole plan worked out so well!

I think this suprise made the farewell of These 5 month easier. I think when I sat at the Airport, I didn´t realize our time here was now over and that in a few hours I would have native land under my feet^^

After a 10,5 hours flight we landed in Munich and after another 40  min flight in Frankfurt. It was weird that everybody could understand us^^ Now we had to be careful what we say :D

The husband of Valeries Sister picked us up and we spent our first night in Germany at their place.

 

 

Christmas Eve:

Christmas day we spent at their place aswell. Wraping gifts and killing time. I knew that my Family would celebrate at my grandparents and around half past five Valerie and me began our last way with our backpacks^^

Now it was over. We won`t see each other 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.lol. Kind of weird...I didn´t thought that I would get so used to a Person other than my mom and brother. And we didn´t have a single fight in the past 5 month! I think not everybody can say that :)

At 18.30 I stood in front of my grandparents house. I still had some doubts that my mom may knew I`m coming. But as soon as I rang, the door opened and my brother saw me...all of the thoughts went away. My brother jumped over the gate and huged me. He said nobody was expecting me :)

I came in and first I saw my uncle and Cousin. All the man came to the door cause my grandma thought it was a thief who rang :D And than chaos broke out. My mom looked like a car when she saw me and everybody was so suprised!! One of the best moments this year!!

I wasn`t even 5 minutes there and my grandma had already phoned my aunt^^

 

Jep, that was almost a week ago. I still fight with my Jetlag and the waether here is s***.

But its nice to sleep in your own bad, having my pets around and a working shower :P

Now I realized I`m not in Canada anymore and... I miss it! Time flew by so fast ( as always) and I still can`t believe that I`ve travelled all over the Northmerican continent in the last 5 month. Experienced nice and bad situations, met beautiful People, saw places I`ve only dreamed of, learned alot about things I know and new things in fields, I thought I would never experience and somewhere in the Canadian wilderness I found what I want to do.

 

 

 

P.S. Our heater just broke down...thankfully I know now how to make a big fire :D