Trip to Bonn

Today we (first-year students studying German and second-year students studying German as an additional language) went on a one-day trip to Bonn, in Germany.

I had to wake up at 5.50 am to have breakfast and then go to Namur on my moped, and meanwhile filling the fuel tank. We all had to be there at 7.20 pm, and we left round 7.35. We were using a coach, for taking the train would have been less useful. Our group sat at the back, just because it's kind of cooler.

We chatted a little, then we listened to music while working on Konnex, our beloved Dutch vocabulary book… (Do you see what it means: we cannot even fully enjoy such a school trip!! Always something to do! I hate it!)

On the way, we drove by our (Anne-Sophie, Marie and me) homeland, le pays de Herve and several kilometres further we entered Germany. We arrived in Bonn at about 10.15.

Then we walked to Der Haus der Geschichte (House of History), a huge museum that brings you back to 1945 and shows you the evolution of the German society from then onwards. There were many historical documents and pictures, but also very collectible items, such as Kennedy's speech in Berlin in which he said "Ich bin ein Berliner", originally written "Ish been ein Bear-lee-ner" on his notes…

After that, the coach took us closer to the city centre, and we had about an hour to get some food and discover the city on ourselves. Some of us went directly to our meeting point (the Münster, a cathedral) and we bought sausages on the Christmas market (Weihnachtsmarkt): that was delicious!

Round 2 pm we started a short sightseeing of the city centre, with a local French teacher as guide. She took this picture of our group in front of the statue of Beethoven.


And precisely we walked to that house where he was born.


We also went to the Town Hall, an impressive building. Unfortunately, we couldn't visit it because a ceremony was taking place.


Then we had another hour to spend on ourselves in Bonn. We went once more on the Christmas market, buying several things. We also went to a T-Mobile shop, for there were actual brand-new iPhones to be seen!!! A girl was appointed to answer all questions from customers, so I started mumbling some words to say that we were from Belgium and that it was the first time that we got to see the iPhone. But apparently my German was terrible and she said we could speak English. So that's what we did. She showed us all the abilities of that brilliant smart phone. It's a shame that it's not yet available in Belgium… (Of course, it doesn't mean I would buy it: I hardly ever use my mobile, and it's rather expensive.)

A bit later we walked back to the couch and we left Bonn round 4.30. We were planning to study the rest of Konnex on the way back, but M. Bertrand (our teacher) came and sat with us and talked with us about the real German saunas, nudity and about many other things…

We arrived in Namur at 7.15 pm. We were all exhausted, but this day had been great fun for all of us!

After A Terrible Night, A Horrific (Penitent's) Walk

After having slept for two hours, we had to get up at 7 o'clock. At last, I was going to warm up… And annihilate that f*****g metalic tap! The others seemed to have slept rather well, actually. I wanted to get out of this crappy place. But before doing anything else, we had to clean that big room up… What a kerfuffle! We first packed our bags and stuffs, then we took a broom and brushed the thick layer of dust on the ground (a wooden one…) while girls were trying to have a wash with the frozen water.
(Now, I wonder how they managed to pee with such frozen toilets… We, boys, don't have this problem. Except for the fact that when we get outside to pee, our privates are frozen, too…)
The point is that the so-called "hotel" was cleaner than at the time we first entered it… The owners should be hanged publicly! It's a shame to let people sleep there—and make them pay for it! We had breakfast and we prepared sandwiches to eat on our way.

That day's goal was to reach the town of Spa, which lies round 20 kilometres further, by walking through the Fagnes, a protected natural area. On the day before, it had snowed. On the day in question, it rained…

We left that alleged "hotel" (without any bit of nostalgy) and we walked towards Stavelot, then penetrated the depths of the Fagnes. It looked as if it was only a big hill… And the snow conjugated with rain made matters worse… We were exhausted. Soaked socks. Hungry, starving… Fortunately, I had brought sugar along. I was thirsty. My bottle of water being soon empty, I had to eat snow to refresh myself… It was a white hell. I wanted to commit suicide.

We walked for five hours in the wet snow, passing through dark woods and climbing steep pathways. We were completely exhausted. I only had a bit of a chocolate to get some energy… we climbed, we climbed, we climbed…

At 2 o'clock, we finally arrived at M. Delrée's sister's house. We devoured our sandwiches rapidly (this was the best chocolate sandwich I've ever had), while M. Delrée and Schyns were trying to light a fire to heat us up. Stinky, we got back on the roads to continue that hellish walk.

After another 10 kilometres, we walked in the snow-covered Fagnes, where the wind blew terribly. M. Delrée told us there was a coffie shop two kilometres away, so I decided to go as a scout. I was completely annihilated when I found out that this coffie shop was not open—even if a ironic board stated that it was opened! No Cécémel. I would have to wait a little bit more.

We continued and finally arrived to our destination (of the day): a kind of hotel held by sisters in Nivezée, on the highs of Spa. There, we were absolutely thrilled that we had rooms (!) for 3 (!) with three radiators (!) with hot water (!) and a bath (!) and plenty of food was waiting for us. In the evening, our two teachers prepared a barbecue for us, as you can see on the picture. I think I ate 2 kilos of meat—no kidding. And I was still starved.

Later, a man came and talked to us about fairtrade and we took part in a role play, where I had to play a soldier being corrupted by banks and honey producers, while being faithful to a Big Boss, whose role was played by M. Delrée, who was really suitable in this role of dictator…

We went to bed and we slept tight. At last.

Koekoek, Belgium's Best Restaurant

Who's feeling like eating chicken? If so, why don't you go to Oostende, at the Koekoek restaurant, the only one that never closes (there's no lock on the door!) and only serves "kip aan 't spit" (roasted chicken). If you don't believe me, go to www.koekoek.biz. A half chicken costs a little bit more than 5 €, but it's worth it! Whenever I go to the seaside, I have to go there and eat a half roasted chicken with a "pintje" (a pint), preferably a glass of Maes. But you've got to go there at 11 AM, otherwise there are too many people, and it's especially annoying if they're smoking—at least, it was allowed until 31 December 2006, and I haven't come back there since late December. Wait and see.
On the other picture, you see my mum and dad's hands, eager to eat their succulent meal. I wish I could go there just by squeezing my nose (reference to "Bewitched"). Oh yeah, one more thing: the bread is free and you don't get any knives of forks; use your fingers!!!!