New flat!

Here are a couple of pics of the new flat in Hamburg. It is in Altona Nord, near a cool neighborhood called Schanzen and not far from the Reeperbahn which is supposed to be the hot spot for going out and getting prostitutes in the Red light district.

Train and bus are just around the corner and the commute to work is not long. The flat is the top floor of a newer building with an elevator. Fairly large but sort of a studio layout. Big bathroom and some hallway space. Floor heating and all the modern amenities. Pretty nice all and all.



The main room.







Another shot of the main room. The place is sublet so all the necessary furniture and household items are already here.









Living room with the kitchen at one end.






Sweet bathroom!









The nicest part is that it is already decorated. Which includes my favorite part, this giant poster of a half-naked man seducing what I can only assume is another man. I mean I really don't actually like it at all.

Opening day Rugby Union…

with MLove and the IB crew. This was before I moved.


The crowd heading into Twickenham, also known as "HQ" to those English rugby fans, for the first day of the season. The event, the annual London Double-Header. 4 London based teams.










HQ from the outside. Entering to watch the London Wasps v the London Irish for part 1. I chose to support the Wasps.












Inside the Wasps get beat all over the pitch like a couple of school children. Oh well we still have next match.








MLove bringing back the first round.







Me and the IB girl rugby go'ers, Georgina and Amy.







On the way out after the Harlequins destroyed the other team I chose. I house a Boerewors, South African sausage! Scrumptious!

There was a lot more after that fortunately that is all I documented.

UPDATE!

Many of you know but some of you may not. My European tour is crossing the channel to the mainland for the rest of 2008! Tomorrow morning I board a flight to Hamburg where I will work at the office there.





Common questions:
Q: Do you speak German?
A: No, and I am terrible at picking up languages. Should be interesting.

Q: Why Germany?
A: The opportunity arose and I said why not!

Q: Where is Hamburg?
A: North and central Germany. It is a large port town with many lakes and rivers that snake through the city connecting it to the North Sea.


More posts and ridiculous adventures of Hamburg and its famous district the Reeperbahn to come!!

Dan & Grady do London

We meet the first of many of Dan's new British friends outside the Crown pub. He really liked those guys.







Don't worry it's okay, it's London you can urinate wherever you want.






Does anyone know which stop you get off for Stonehenge.









Grady and I at his first Chicken House experience. The always open Tennessee Fried Chicken, not to be mistaken with the Colonel.







The beginning of a beautiful friendship. Dan meets Michael Love the Interbrand HR guru. Note do not sit next to Grady at dinner, he may assault you with condiments.







Grady with George the other Interbrand HR guru and another one of Dan's best friends.











Two clowns gettin down in Camden Town.







Sorry Grady had to do it. This picture of Diamond White is to priceless.






Dan and Grady join the Interbrand crew for a night out at La Tosca.








Couple of handsome dudes.











A group of people Grady used to work with joined us. Randomly a girl named Lindsey, who is a frequent Bridgetown FIner Meats customer, and her husband were in town visiting. Small world. What's up BFM!!







Dan really likes Michael. He is going to Facebook stalk him.







Dan and his other BFF Georgina.







Dan takes more pics of Michael and George. Did I mention he really liked those 2.






The Ohio connection!







Dan this is starting to get a little weird.







Grady teaches these Brits how to dance with members of the opposite sex.







Dan meets random Irish guy after an embarrassing trip to Infernos on the High Street. This results in beers at his house and domination of the Irish by myself in ping pong. Really didn't need to stay out that late. Oh well.






Southwark Cathedral by Borough Market.









Best lunch in London. 3 pound roast pork and stuffing baguette from Hobb's Roast at the market. I will definitely miss that!






Stomachs full on roast we are ready to join the crowds as they begin to file into Upton Park for the West Ham v Blackburn game.








The pitch glistens on this beautiful match day.








Live action in this high scoring affair.











Another shot of the park and its now defunct sponsor XL airline which just folded last week.










West Ham celebrates one of 4 goals.











Zoom in on the home supporters an interesting bunch of people. Real salt of the earth guys. Including a guy named Les but we suggested he spell it Lez when he is in the states.










The 3 Americanos post curry pre-party in Shoreditch. The beginning of Dan's photo happy night. I will heavily edit his overhead shots and shaky hands images.










Dan makes another new friend. I am just glad he may have moved on from Michael.










One of Dan's ridiculous pictures.











Grady uses the line "do you have that word here?"










Dan makes another new friend. Really like that guy.






I think the birthday girl may have finally reached her limit on photos.





Time to get some roadies for the bus!










Wow that is embarrassing!

Notting Hill Carnival

The packed streets of Notting Hill. One of Europe's largest festival. People everywhere.








One of the speaker systems or soundsystems as the Brits like to say set up on the corner pumping reggae and hip-hop.









The boys find a break in the crowd to do some sittin'. And tasting a couple of festive Red Stripes.








Some of the floats pass by another crazy busy street.








Another bumping parade semi rolls by.










Drew and Jody cruisin' the parade route.









Carnival and the adventure of the 3 amigos has come to an end. One more stop at the Chip shop and I can give myself 24 hrs rest. I need it. Good news is…

Grady and Dan arrive the following day. Right back on the horse!!!! Stay tuned for those ridiculous pics!!!