More Photos and Prizewinning

Yep, as you can probably gather from the title, I have managed to put up more photos from my collection.

Now you can see photos of Haarlem, Rome (at night), Birmingham exam celebrations, and Sofia's birthday party.

By monday I should have the rest of the Rome photos for viewing.

Got a piece of post today, saying that the photo I entered into a competition has reached the finals. If selected it will be put into an expensive book ($60) and I could also win up to $10,000. Now which photo do you think it was?

Apart from that, we have the big one tonight. "Asta Sommerfest" is hitting the streets (well, the campus) and fun should be had by all.

On the news front today, it has been found out that the people helping to clear up the foot-and-mouth mess have themselves been infected by Q-fever.

Well, that's it for now, have a good weekend, and let's hear some of your thoughts.

Unfortunately, as you may have noticed, going to the wedding in Grenoble didn't happen in the end, as I would miss too much time off Uni and all the organising I have to do before I go back home. However, this does mean that I can use some of the time to sort out some website things as well.

So, the photos of the last big party and the various city visits are now available, I just need to get the load from Rome up (maybe tomorrow).

Biology party tonight.

Oh, any ideas for things to put on my website, or features to include, just send me an email from the supplied page, or send it directly to marcus.lloyd@gmx.net.

Photos are up !!!

Just a very quick log to say that the photos of Heidelberg in the snow, Koeln, Trier, Wiesbaden, the Hechtsheimer Sommerfest and my work are all now up for you to view.

More when I finish my class of Dutch.

Parties

OK, now you might have thought that the Johannisnacht party was the last for the moment. Well, it isn't. We now have the Forum/Inter-I+II halls of residence parties tonight on campus. Thursday is the biology departments campus party, and friday is the big Asta (student union) party. Sometime in between I presume people will be studying :)

L8r

Working Hard

As much as it's hard to believe, I have actually been working quite hard today. Apart from having lectures start at 8.30am (ok, got there at 9.30) I have managed to do some of the computing homework for one of my classes, half done excercises for another class for next monday, and am hoping to get somewhere with my website project with Geir.

Aren't you proud !?!

Update

Just found some of Geir's faithful coutrymen. Check out their page here.

Other interesting log of Caterina, a prawn porn site (yes, really !), and a bug-recipe site. All courtesy of this page.

Bye for now

Well, as you can all see, the photos are still not up. I didn't have much time over the weekend to do anything, and seeing that we have a Mainz festival going on at the moment, not much is getting done in the evenings either.

Never mind. I am hoping to get a new system set up by wednesday which should allow me to put up the photos easier (I know I've said this before, but this time I mean it), before I go off to a wedding on wednesday night (no, not mine - haven't found that special someone, you see). This should be fun in itself, as we are having to travel to Grenoble in France, and I probably won't get back until monday afternoon.

The only other thing is that there are fireworks tonight on the Rhine at 10.30pm which , although never going to be as spectacular as those in Valencia, should be fun anyway.

Well, that's it from me, off to my triathlon training before getting a swifty (drink, that is !) at the Taverna.

Quickie

Just a brief note before I leave to go to Haarlem to visit Olaf and Valentina Schippers for her birthday.

I had prepared a nice long entry (ok, not THAT long), but whilst I was at work the computer system crashed (bringing down all the equipment that is useful) and so everything was lost (as well as the MAMI not being able to work any more).

Anyway, more when I get back from this little excursion, and hopefully I'll have time to put the photos up that I've got developed from the Hechtsheim party and from Rome.

bye for now

Website Update and News

Unusual for me to be writing at this time of the day, I know, but I got called in on an emergency to cover a shift at work for someone who is ill, so I'll be here til 11pm tonight.

Firstly, my website is now in the lovely language of italian as well (as you can see by the links on the left hand side of this page). So, there is no excuse now for Giulia, Daniela, or Chiara not to visit this site :)

On the News front, scientists have discovered that if they play with the genes of mice, they can get their fur to change colour depending on what they eat. This must be great as a birthday present for your cat, although I dread to think what will happen to its fur once it has eaten the mouse !!!

On another side, apparently in london yesterday a 6-year old girl was held at gunpoint by 2 youths who demanded she hand over her ice-cream. Anyone get the feeling that the youth of today have just taken a little too far???

OK, that's it for now, I'm going to have to start doing something at work soon :)

Oh, and in case anyone was wondering (Mavi, Marilo...) I have now got all the photos from Rome, Berlin, and the Hechtsheim party from last week. Payments not to display certain pictures will be accepted in cash only :)

Geir and the S-Bahn

Finally Geir has managed to update his website again with his usual hilarious style, although I don't know if many of you will be able to understand his bit in icelandic (I'm still looking for a translator, by the way).

He does bring up a serious point to attention, though. That is that the public transport system here in Mainz has turned (at least semi-) private !
You can now hear little adverts when you stop at particular stations (which should be interesting for the stop outside 'Das Crazy' - "for all your physical needs").

So I thought it was my job to investigate further.

Apparently, the Stadtwerke Mainz has recently teamed up with Entega (a water/gas/electricity company) to form a semi-privatised company.

Delving deeper into the layers of sketchy information and reasons for conglomorating (basically - money), I discovered a few interesting facts.

Firstly, there is nothing stopping us from putting up an advert for Kurmainz Kaserne (although I think Geir's proposal might not be permitted). So I have emailed the person in charge and should hopefully be hearing soon how much it will cost for our little 'announcement'.

Secondly, amongst all these money-making ideas comes a little gem which is - hiring out a party tram for a few hours. It can take up to 35 people and would cost about 15 DM each for 2 hours, but we can choose the route - and therefore go straight through the Hauptbahnhof drinking bottles of beer with our music on loud. Anyone interested give me a bell, I think it would be agreat way of finishing the year off !!!

Getting back to the subject of privatisation of the trams, do we know where it will stop?? Will we get on a tram one day to find that instead of seeing the cars go by we actually see whole walls of video screens full of adverts with music playing in the background. It might get so bad that you just have to get off at the next stop to avoid a headache (and that's where you'll find yourself inside the newly built shop-in-path-of-tram).

What if they started spraying a buying-gas into the carriages whilst you were travelling? You would get off and buy the first thing that you saw (which happens to be really expensive and you don't need it).

Thinking more into the future, what if people started hacking into these advert systems, you could end up seeing a porn-film on every wall and have sex-gas sprayed around (although that sounds like a quite good idea :)

Enough of thinking - my head has done too much for today. Update as soon as I get a reply.

Nothing has happened?? What do you mean nothing has happened ?!?!?!

This is what happened:

Roma won their scudetto yesterday !!!

That means they are good !

Just thought I'd let it be known :)

Back from the city

So, I got back from my trip to Berlin eventually. Unfortunately, lke most places I visit, they seem to put all monuments that I want to take a photo of under repair, so for instance the Brandenburger Tor has a big Deutsche Telekom advert covering it so that you can't actually see the monument. Well, at least the government should be getting a load of money for it.

Am presently trying to change the format of photos, seeing as I have another 7 films to put up on the web, I need to find a quicker way. This should be resolved soon. Anyway, that's it for now, as nothing too interesting seems to be happening at the moment.

Goodbye.

Sommerparty and Music Tips

As mentioned before, last night was the big Hechtsheimer Sommerfest, and it weren't half big !

A stage was erected, lots of pub benches set up around the buildings on the grass, and a disco was organised in the bike-cellar. The music then started at 6pm, and if you were in your room at that time, you couldn't help but notice the cups and books on your desk starting to fall off. Yes it really was that loud. I pity anyone who needed to work during this time (i.e. Luca), as you could hear the noise from over a mile off !!

Well, the spanish group met up in Mavi and Marilo's place where we (I'm adopted, ok!) had some Borrett (cafe-liquor with coke) and sangria. Listening to the music through the opened window we chatted and generally enjoyed ourselves until everyone had arrived so that we could go downstairs and meet up with everyone else. So much for that. I have no correct statistics for the night, but suffice it to say that 2000 people were expected. It was therfore extremely difficult to find anyone amongst the crowd. The best way was to stay up on the bridges and send text messages to each other to say where we were.

The music wasn't bad, the food was definitely welcome, and the atmosphere was buzzing. At around midnight we ventured down into the disco, beating back the heatwave that was the non-air-conditioned underground room, and started to dance.

Up until about 3am everything seemed normal. Then we managed to get near some benches, and Mavi and Elizabeth (italian) took it upon themselves to introduce their shoes to the aforementioned furniture. Dancing on top of the benches, we were definiteley in the party spirit, and therefore were surprised if not disappointed when at 4am the music was switched off.

Needing no further help, we then continued the party by singing the famous spanish songs (Bomba, para no ver te mas, maricones...) as loud as possible. It wasn't long before the rest of the room were around us clapping as we went from one song to the next (still dancing, of course). Eventually, when the room had almost been cleaned out, we fell back to some oldies before finishing our performance. Some of us then thought, seeing as it was 5am, it would be a good time to get to bed, which we duly undertook. Or rather, we would have, were it not for the others deciding instead to continue the singing outside our windows.

So, all in all, this must have been one of the best parties that's happened in Mainz, and was very much helped by the fact that the following day (thursday) was a national holiday here :)

The photos will be put up as soon as they are all developed and I get any spare time (not much of the semester left now !).

Music News

Now on a not so dissimilar topic, there have been some tunes that I have listened to recently that I would like to recommend. Firstly a song that I first saw being performed on spanish TV in Valencia, and have subsequently heard it quite often on the german radio. It is called "Goodnight Moon", and is by a band called "Shivaree". It really is something different, and just lifts me up whenever I hear it.

The second song I would like introduce you to is one that I heard every night of my holiday in Rome when I was returning home with Giulia's in her car. It is by a man called "Vasco Rossi" and the song is called "Siamo Soli" from his album "Stupido Hotel". This piece of music really has to be a memory of my trip, and I am presently listening to it at least once a night. I recommend you go and listen to it right away (even buy it if you feel like it :)

Bits and Bobs

Well, I'm off to Berlin this weekend with Martin Kortüm (a friend from Stuttgart) and so will have even more photos for you to goggle at when I get back.

Crossing fingers for the people who have exams later today (friday), including Luca, Pili, Gloria and Ethel. Hopefully everything goes well.

Signing out for now,

Sophia's Birthday

Last night it was a certain english girl's birthday party. Her birthday is actually today, but she celebrated it last night in Gonsenheim (where she lives).

The alcohol was well catered for, and most people were taking advantage of this, and we had an all-in-all great time.

So if you happen to bump into Sophia today, wish her a happy 21st !!

The Wohnheim Hechtsheim big party is tonight, so there is no chance of me getting any sleep, but never mind. Report will be up tomorrow.

Caio

The last week

As you might have gathered by now, I went off back to the UK to see all my friends from my home uni finishing their degrees (and partying), before going off on a short holiday to visit some friends (and the city) in Rome.

Getting to Rome

Well lets start at the beginning. I had to catch a flight from London-Stansted airport at 7.25 in the morning, This meant that I would have to be there by 6.25, and there was no transport from where I lived at that time in the morning. I therefore relied on my good old contacts list, and organised to stay at William Garroods flat in Kentish Town (not far from Liverpool Street tube station, and therefore easy to get to Stansted airport early in the morning). Went out for a drink with Will and his flatmates (who are currently trying to organise a place to stay for the coming year).
Got to bed at about 1.30am but couldn't sleep very well because of all the police cars with sirens blazing going past the window. I did, however, manage to rest for a bit so all was not lost.

I caught the plane without any hitches (actually, the very nice-looking girl sitting next to me fell asleep on my shoulder for the 2-hour flight) to Pescara (directly east of Rome on the other coast), and landed around 10am. I then came across my first problem; to get to the train station. To achieve this one needs to catch a bus from outside the airport. Unfortunately, the airport being smaller than that of Frankfurt Hahn, there was only one cash machine. And it had run out of cash. So, needing to get money to buy a bus ticket, I went into the bank that was there as well. They were offering a 'special' rate of 2400 lira to the pound. Seeing as the actual rate was 3150 for that day, I politely declined. Eventually a member of the customer service personnel came round, and I managed to ask where I could get any money out. I was pointed in the direction of the hypermarché about 300m away from the entrance. After precariously crossing a main roundabout, I went into the Auchan and got my money, only to arrive back at the airport to find the bus had just left.

After waiting about 30 minutes for the following bus, I boarded and awaited to be taken to the main train station (which I was told would be the last stop). My suspicions were first arisen when the signs started showing the town Pescara crossed out, ie leaving the place. I managed to pluck up my courage and uttered my first quasi-italian phrase, asking a local kid where the station was. He looked a bit bemused, but eventually I got it out of him that we had passed it about 30 minutes ago. So I got off the bus, crossed the road, and waited for the next bus back (not bothering to buy another ticket, seeing as it would obviously be too much hassle in this desert-like area I was now in).

Not making the same mistake again, as soon as I saw we were arriving in Pescara I asked a man sitting behind me if he could tell me when I needed to get off for the train station. He said something along the lines of he's getting off there as well, so I sat back and enjoyed the rest of the journey. After arriving he took me towards the entrance, and on the way asked me where I was from and where I was going. He understood the "England" bit ok, but would not get that I was trying to say "Rome". I then tried explaining in spanish that I couldn't roll my 'R's, but he got even more confused. So I asked him if he spoke any english. "No" was the answer. Spanish? "No" again. He suggested french, which I gladly nodded my head to (even though I was desperately trying to bring back the words into my head). I then told him where I wanted to go, asked him why he could speak french, and whether there is anything in Pescara worth seeing. The answer to all of these were a face of bemusement. He didn't even utter a word of french. So much for that then. He did, however, take me to the counter and I managed to write down the word 'Rome' so he ordered my ticket. The only word he uttered after that was the platform number ("uno" is not that difficult to understand from the cashier, but never mind).

I then had a good 2 hours to wait before the train arrived to take me off to Rome. The journey should have lasted 4 hours, going through the mountains and across fields showing off the beautiful countryside that is Italy. However, I forgot the transport system was italian, and having never been in this coutry before, did not expect the 30mins delay we had before Rome. Giulia and Daniella were waiting for me on the platform when I arrived, and so obviously knew that it would be late.

Rome

From the moment I was taken by car back to Giulia's place, I was instantly in love with this city. The monuments that we passed were astounding, and I really felt there was definiteley a future for me here. I met Giulia's parents (the father being able to speak both english and spanish, and the mother just italian), had some lovely home-made spaghetti, before being taken off in the car by Giulia to meet Daniella and Chiarra and other friends of theirs.

We also met up with 4 germans that had driven all the way from Mainz to visit Rome, and we went together into the centre of the city for the night. Traffic is not a word that can be used to describe Rome (like fish don't say water). This is because there is so much of it, and it is so chaotic that you can't help but notice it everywhere you go. It took us about 10 minutes to get within the city limits, but about another hour to find a place to park. It really was busy.

Anyway, we went to a square called "Campo di Flori" where apparently there used to be a flower market. Here we bought some bottles of wine and celebrated one of the germans birthdays that was on this day. Lots of people in the square, all sitting around talking and drinking, and the atmosphere was really alive.

The following days I went off through the city visiting as many monuments as I could in the little time that I had in Rome. For the nights we met up with Daniella, some friends, and also with Chiarra, and visited some of the local night spots like the "Isola Tiverni" (very romantic).

There will always be certain things that summarise a place for you, and Rome is no different. The things that for me were the most typical of this city were the traffic, food, drink, ice-cream, stylish sunglasses, and the women. It really does have a lot of good things within the city walls.

Getting back home

Well, my plane back to the UK was at 11.30 on the sunday morning, and so on the saturday I decided to go into the train station in Rome and ask for the times of the train that I needed to catch to get there on time. The first one on the sunday morning was at 7am obviously arriving too late for me to check in, so it would have to be the night train then. Another problem. The last train on a saturday night going to Pescara was at 6.30pm arriving there at 10.30pm. Oh. It was now 3.30pm and I needed to get back to Giulias place, pack my bags, and get off to the station, buying presents to bring back on the way. Not very relaxing. We did, however manage it, even having a fish soup that Giulia's mum had prepared for me, before leaving, and buying a 1kg sack of italian coffee to take back home with me.

The train ride back was pretty uneventful, except that there was a guy sitting further back in the compartment playing his guitar and singing some traditional italian songs, which made the journey very pleasant indeed. I was able to stay awake throughout the trip by the fact that the coffee that I had bought manages to permeate the bags it was in and gave off a lovely smell for me to take in.

Arriving in Pescara, I was to find out that I was just in time for the last bus of the night going to the airport, and that all the youths were going into town (it being a saturday night). This information was given to me by a guy at the bustop from South Tirol who was now working in Pescara. He also told me that there was a restaurant at the airport, so I would be ok for getting some dinner.

Going straight up the stairs to the dining area, I ordered my fish-pizza (being a coastal town and all) a half bottle of local red wine, and sat down writing my postcards that I hadn't had time to finish in Rome. As I was finishing the meal I noticed that lights were being switched off (hinting to it closing), so I ordered my coffee, and after paying the bill I went back downstairs to organise where to place myself for the night

A security guard managed to catch me as I left the stairs pointing me towards the exit. He said that the airport closes for the night. So I asked if it was possible to stay over as my plane was the next morning, and being the kind man that he was, he pointed me to where two girls also seemed to be waiting for the night.

It turns out that these two girls were from Ireland (lovely accents), and had been working in a youth hostel-type place adjoined to the vatican. Well, we had a great time chatting about all things under the sun until they were feeling tired so got out their sleeping bags and went to sleep on the floor (the seats having annoying armrests making it impossible to lie down on them). Having been put up in beds throughout my stay, I did not have a sleeping bag, and so just sat down and wrote more cards and a read a little of my book. When the wine and coffee had finally worn off, I thought I'd try lying down on the ground and getting a few hours sleep. No sooner had I settled down when the local mosquito patrol had located me. They then proceeded to bite my legs, neck, and any other exposed parts of my body whilst making an annoying buzzing sound. So I got back up again and just read my book for the rest of the night.

The flight went okay, and I got back to london to drop my bags off at Will's place before going out into the city to meet my parents, brother and cousin. After awalk along the river, a chinese meal in chinatown, I went back to Will's (or the pub) and eventually got to bed at midnight. Only to wake up at 3.30 to get to stansted in time again.

Got back to Mainz via Wiesbaden (falling asleep on the train and missing my stop), and met up with a few of the friends that I hadn't seen for a while.


So, now that you have a headache after reading all of this, and you think you know all about Rome, why not have a rest whilst I get the photos up onto this site :)

Back in town

This is just a very brief update to let everyone know that I'm back from my glorious holiday in Italy, and the partying in the UK as well.

Tomorrow I will start telling you all about it, but lets just say that at the moment I am in euphoria about Rome, and really dissappointed to be away from it now.

Keep your eyes peeled for my story...

Exams, weather, and old friends

Now residing in Birmingham, England, I am on the first stage of my holiday, and enjoying it already.

Exams
Unfortunately, despite being told that everyone finishes their exams on the first of June, I arrived on that day to find out that a lot of people had already finished a week ago, and some more won't finish until the 5th. So much for celebrating with them all. Never mind, I always manage to find people to come out for a quick drink, which is what we did last night (the night before being taken up by watching a movie with one of my future housemates (Sarah, to be exact)).

Weather
The weather here, as always in birmingham, is changeable. We have some excellent sun during parts of the day, a bit of brease to dry out the washing, and then a shower of rain to make sure you get wet whilst returning from a night out at the pub. Never mind, apparently the weather isn't too much better in the rest of europe.

Old Friends
Just a short note for any people from birmingham uni who are leaving this year into the wide world of jobs, to send me their contact details (which can also be sent by visiting the 'Email me' page).

Well, better get back to the fun that is uni, next update probably from Rome :)