ciao heidelberg.

It's my last night in Heidelberg. Forever? Of course not. So many loved ones here, I'll of course find my way back in the next, let's say, 5 years.
But my year here, my "Jahr in Heidelberg", ends tomorrow morning. Thorsten and I will pack up the dishes in the kitchen, load up the car, and head north to Köln am Rhein.

Today was as close to perfect as the day can get. Thorsten and I slept in and I made him my last cup of coffee. We sat in the kitchen for a while, enjoying the slowly waking day. We then wandered to my seminar building where I handed in my last documents for die Universität Heidelberg. It felt good, sliding those envelopes into the steel mailboxes. It was so anticlimactic that it was nice- I think if it had been climactic I'd have been disappointed.

We then enjoyed a last latte in the Mensa with my last few euro on my ID card. (note- coffee #2, already at 12. Must be with a Heidemann.) We then changed shoes and went for a hike up to the castle, one last time. Though overcast, we could see quite far. We went further into the forest, enjoying the Odenwald and its moist undergrowth and creepy vampire houses.

On arrival back in the Altstadt, sweating and hungry, we went to Falafel. We ate falafel there. Best I've ever had.

After a little relaxation we met with Philipp for a walk along the Philosophenweg. Also beautiful. I sat for a bit in the garden up top, looking at the beauty and taking it in.

We then met Philipp's girlfriend and son on the Neckarwiese. Heidelberg threw its best at me today. The weather report called for rain, rain, rain. And the actual weather was bluest of blue skies and sun in bunches. Perfect.

We then eventually wandered to Schnitzelhaus for a final meal. In Heidelberg. And I went back to the standard, the Rhöner Bauernschnitzel, with eggs, bacon, and onions. Mmm.

And then we grabbed a couple Vetters bottles, 1 liter each, and sat on the Neckar bank. And it rained.

Heidelberg, it's been real, real good. At times I've hated it here-- thousands of tourists, stupid bureaucrats, annoying professors, annoying amis-- but days like today remind me why I loved it here. It's a magical place here. It feels removed from the rest of the world, somehow stuck in a sunny version of the 17th century. I'll miss it.

Alt Heidelberg, du feine, du Stadt am Ehren reich. Am Neckar und am Rheine, kein andre kommt dir gleich.

Thanks, Heidelberg. Auf Wiedersehen.

Love, Al.

credit photo: Thorsten Heidemann

a few photos...

...from the last couple weeks.

letzte woche in HD

Hello- I apologize for the long break. I have been wanting to write, but things really have been busy here in romantic Heidelberg.

Wednesday last week I met with Badi and Phillip for beers after their last exam. This began around 4 pm. By 7, I'd had a few, and was to meet with Hanna for a walk after her last exam. Badi came along.

As we headed out along the Neckar towards the Karlstor Bridge, Hanna turned right towards the square where the Schnitzelhaus is. I remarked to Badi, as he was leaving the next day, how sad it was that we wouldn't be able to eat there. But he should definitely try it out.

And to my surprise, outside the restaurant is Rick, Ben, Kathi, Babsi, Teresa, and Anni. No way. They had organized my birthday dinner. I assume my seat at the head of the table, and delve into a Schnitzel "a la Meyer". That's one huge schnitzel, grilled onions, and two fried eggs on top. Mmm.

After dinner a few of us climbed up to the castle gardens for music, beer, and candle-lit star gazing. Perfect.

Thursday was a mammoth day- I played two hours tennis, three sets of beach volleyball, and rode my bike 30 km. Plus went dancing. It was also our WG-Dinner, where Rosa and Ahron made pizza for Irmela, Liz and I. I had a blast- I wish our apartment had eaten together more this year.

After a loungy Friday came Saturday, my birthday. The weather was weak. Cold, rainy, cloudy, and overall sad. But Liz and I went for a walk, I got all dressed up, and we ended up at Rick's cafe for a free birthday beer around 1. We then had pizza and this fantastic Italian place which I'd meant to visit the whole year. It was wonderful- maybe even worthy of Thorsten this week.

Then after a little power nap, we headed to the Neckarwiese for my Birthday/Goodbye party. I followed the formula of last year's birthday party, my best on record: one needs only loved ones, meat, and beer to be completely satisfied. We had each of the three in plenty, and a good time was had by all. The skies even cleared up by the end- some stars were visible by the time we all left around 1:30.

I've said some tough goodbyes in the last week, and that won't stop soon. But I want to say here: thank you to each of you wonderful people who've been with me this whole year. Vielen, vielen Dank an euch alle, die das ganze Jahre lang so wunderbar zu mir waren. Ihr habt mein Jahr so bedeutend gemacht.

I'm going through the thousands of photos I recieved as a final parting gift. It's been good.

Love from Heidelberg,

Alex.

goodbyes

I just spent the evening with two great people-

three hours walking and cooking dinner with Hanna.

three hours drinking beer and listening to music with Badi.

I'm going to miss these people. It's tough right now.

I'm thankful for meeting such great folks.

Both of them have concrete plans to come visit Chicago. I can't wait.

Bis dann.

U of C

probably the most accurate forum in which the University of Chicago experience is discussed:

here

cover

of ben kweller.

(klausur)stress

it's that time of the semester again... when German university students do their best UChicago impression and study their butts off for exams. No friends are available, everyone's pissy, and the sun shines beautiful and hot anyways.
I'm feeling the stress too. Turns out the Germans use a bookend scheme with their bureaucracy. The first month is hell, the 10 months in between they forget you exist, and the last month is shaping up to be quite annoying. I'm pretty much out of money, offices are only open from 10-12 every day, which isn't too practical for the student schedule, so I can't get much done. I need to officially leave the university, cancel my health insurance, and officially leave the city. And write two papers in two weeks. I am a bit stressed too.

But Thorsten is coming soon!

Bis bald, Chicago-

Alex.

we weresterdam

amsterdam is rivers and smiles and flowers and boats and bikes and bikes and bikes and bridges and blooms and rembrandt and van gogh and prince orange and firefighters from kentucky.

sam and i went local with rented bikes and rural with pitched tents. we wandered canaled boulevards for hours and hours, we sat on canaled ledges for days, we sipped espresso in canaled cafes for weeks. we simmered in the dutch oven until ready for dishing.

i've said it a few times this year: i could live here. bonn, vienna, köln, berlin, and onward. but the dam was different. i want to live there. i'll get me a black bike, a tailored navy blue suit with slick brown shoes, and i'll be on my way.

visit amsterdam. discounting the chi, the coolest city i've ever seen.


love, al!