Yodeling...sort of.

(The bridge mentioned in the National park portion...still can't believe I was there!)

Yesterday was a slow day (or at least during the daytime)! We had class, were late to a concert and ended up skipping it, shopped, then ate the worst bratwurst (60 eurocents could buy) ever, and headed to the Elbe River to watch the game! It was amazing! In the states, no one would be allowed to pack in so tightly to a grandstand (some of us were sitting on the stairs/aisles…a big no-no in the US). I highly enjoyed our aisle view until this rude 20-something guy stood (when everyone else was seated) right in front of our group. It was obvious he understood our English and polite pleas to sit or move, but he chose to just turn his head and text. Finally, Kathleen, a 5’0 tiny (and at the moment irritated) girl from our group went to stand in front of him to show him how it felt to have a hindered view. Unfortunately, this jerk was well over 6’0 and just kind of smirked at her and shrugged his shoulders. He wasn’t a Germany fan apparently, and texted during a goal without a flinch (and during that same goal, a few of us may or may not have thrown a couple of eurocents *tiny, tiny pennies* in his general direction). I think he became embarrassed at the crowd’s overwhelming disapproval of his decision to stand when everyone else was seated (and the fact that people may or may not have been intentionally throwing change at him), so he left. After that victory, we got to experience another: Germany beat Uruguay 3 to 2 to place third overall in the World Cup! It was a really exciting game, and during every goal it was exciting to hear a common, “Yeah/Ja!” Since the Germans use ‘Ja’ (sounds like ‘Ya’) for ‘Yes,’ it almost sounded like an English speaking celebration for goals! One of my favorite moments was when the little German guy beside me gave me a high five as the time ran out and we yelled, “DEUTSCHLAND!” in unison! It was a lot of fun. The tram ride back was…well, ridiculous, but we got home safely.

Today, we woke up a bit earlier than usual for a trip to Sachsische Schweiz Nationalpark (it means Saxon Switzerland National Park, but it’s not in Switzerland…it’s in Germany and borders the Czech Republic. It was named that because the mountains appeared similar to the Swiss Alps to the first pioneers). To be perfectly honest: this daytrip, which I knew involved hiking, was the only event I dreaded from day one since being in Germany. I have never professed to be the most in-shape person, but this Summer before leaving I had done my share of working out at the OBC gym, so I’m not out of shape by any means, I just hate the thought of hiking through nature! The word hiking implies incline; the word incline implies increased heart rate. The phrase increased heart rate just makes me think of my atrial fibrillation and coupled with nature made me think of an exhausted Lorilyn trapped on a mountain. In any event, we headed out on a local train from Dresden for a short 30 minute ride to the site of the National Park and upon arriving, I noticed a restaurant on top of the mountain (or at least the yellow umbrellas), and how beautiful the Elbe looked. We took a short cable-operated ferry across the river, and set out on our quest. I never intended to make the entire hike. In fact, up until we reached the challenging part of the hike, I’d been scoping out shady places to sit and listen to my iPod or get some lunch at the base of the mountain. We walked about three quarters of a mile or so to get to the intense part of the hike: almost 900 steep, and occasionally narrow, stairs. Just to give you a reference, the average one flight of stairs contains 24 eight-inch steps. IF the stairs were all only eight inches a piece, which they most definitely were larger for the majority of the time, that would be climbing about 38 stories (but stories through caves and narrow passages). Most of our group headed up and quickly left sight of the less-enthusiastic, but equally as determined folks left behind: Me, the girl with the heart problem; Haley, the girl with back problems; and Clay, the boy with asthma. I would say we stopped about every fifty steps or so for me to let my heart rate catch up, Haley to stretch, and Clay to breathe. It was an extremely long, tiring process, and at one point I’m pretty sure my legs weren’t moving and Jesus was toting me up that mountain (I’m halfway kidding and halfway serious. I had indeed prayed a good bit about this hike)! A couple of times, I wanted to turn back just in case something bad was to happen…but I figured I couldn’t stop because something bad could happen. Bad things could happen anytime, and I could have a heart attack standing outside a hospital instead of on a mountain for all I know! Finally, we saw Iris, our super-fit tour guide approaching. She looked down at us and said, “It’s not so much further,” to which I replied, “How much?” I guess it might have been that it translates to something different in German, but she just said, “Not so much,” again which made me kind of chuckle. Little did we know, we were three turns away from the top! When I saw sunlight, I think I might have seen a little glimpse of Heaven…until I saw Michael standing there with a camera waiting to document the slow-pokes ascent (haha). I really had no intent of making it, but as I kept saying, “Jesus loves us, and He’s going to get us up this mountain somehow.” It happened! Anyway, we then took scenic pictures and sang echoes of “Lonely Goatherd” from the Sound of Music (that sounds really tacky and lame, but we were delirious AND Germans do not know much about the Sound of Music…apparently it’s pretty uncommon in Europe other than Austria). Later on, we walked a little ways to the (surprise!) café I’d seen upon arrival and we had a much better bratwurst and pommes (fries). We got to take pictures on a bridge built between the mountains, and from birds’ nests high above. The descent was actually much more tiring (well, leg wise at least…not heart wise), but went a lot faster! We stopped and rested at the base before catching our train back to Dresden. Pretty sure 90% of us took a nap immediately upon arrival (I totally did), and we woke up just in time for supper!

Tonight, we ate at an indoor/outdoor café near Neustader Market. We sat on the indoor side, and because of the lack of air conditioning anywhere (not a joke) it was warmer inside than outside (which the high today was 93). I had Huhnchen mit mushroom sauce (Chicken) served in an edible pastry with a lemon slice. It was pretty good, but was a little too mushroomy for my taste. After supper, we decided to head to the river one last time to see the World Cup Final (even though Germany wouldn’t be contending). It was almost equally as crowded, and instead of rude-standing-man we encountered chain-smoker-extraordinaire. This dude, sitting inconveniently up-wind of us, only spend a period of five minutes without a cigarette. Then moments later, a buddy of his arrived with a new lighter. Apparently, he had only stopped because of a lack of lighter fluid. Anyway, the game was a bust. After about 110 minutes of play, Spain finally scored. Both teams played terribly, but it was interesting to see who the Germans were rooting for and why. Most of them were rooting for the Netherlands since Spain eliminated Germany from the final, but the Spain supporters were loud and proud as well. We had fun talking about different subjects than soccer, and occasionally laughing at how pitifully these (supposedly) professional players were playing. Anyway, here I am: completely exhausted, and partially embarrassed I have typed this much. It’s about time for this (not) lonely goatherd to hit the hay! ‘Nacht!