...really enjoyed Nürnberg.

At noon on Saturday, our train stopped again. It had taken off about a half hour late, and wasn't making up lost time very well. This was one of those moments that, back home, would be at least boring and probably very annoying. Here, it was an opportunity for me to reflect on where I was. Briefly, I was on the train to Nürnberg. Thanks to the 28EUR Bayern-Ticket, which is a ticket that covers up to five people anywhere in Bavaria (and a little further), I was loosely affiliated with four others on the train: one girl studying in Munich who was up for the weekend; a second girl, studying in Regensburg, going to play handball near Nürnberg; the fellow who had found us all; and a fourth fellow who was in the nearby section, along with the other healthily-imbibed fans, off to watch the fußball match. (The match ended up being a notable one -- the underdogs, FC Nürnberg, ended a 13 game wining streak of Bayern München.)

I didn't know what to expect but Nürnberg ended up to be a great spot for a day-trip. What struck me most about this city was that it was so unexpectedly pretty -- I mean, mention Nürnberg to anyone outside Germany and the first thing they think of are the trials. I learned that it's also infamous as a favourite city of Hiter, and was the location of some major Nazi parties (or whatever the correct historial term is, propaganda fests?). Most of the city was flattened by Allied bombing, but the old city centre was thankfully spared.

The pedestrian area starts at the train station and leads around up to the river. It's not far to the castle on the north of the river, which itself was conveniently close to a little brewery -- Hausbrauerei Altstadthof. This place makes not only their own beer, but their own beer-liquor as well. The rouge and the wheat beer were my favourites -- the helles was fine, and the dark beer was a dark beer, but nothing to write home about. (A note to beer-drinkers visiting: there is another brewery near the Hauptbahnhof that is much larger and looks more touristy. Beer is worse there.) Needless to say, I have fond memories of olde Euro architecture and beer, so I think I'll end up seeing Nürnberg again.

...finally had one of THOSE nights

You know what I mean. The kind where you go to some shitty ass bar (maybe Grad Club) and see some crazy local band (in Canada, Sleepless Nights or that band from Burlington which I love but can't remember), talk with friends and meet some girl and get her number. When I initially went out tonight, I thought it was to a party. Then I met up with my friend in front of a cinema (what the hell do we call them in Canada... movie theatres?) and she told me that she'd rather go to this bar that's attached to the cinema where her boss is playing a concert. I can't tell you how funny it was -- for one of the songs, I was personally serenaded (that means he sat on my lap and sang to me).

So nice night. And here's the kicker -- we get the morning off tomorrow. How sweet is that? Actually, tomorrow's a half day -- I'll take the morning off, thanks :)

p.s. While the thought has crossed my mind to edit this drunken post, I don't think I'm going to bother. Instead I just want to add this link to it. I do read QC but this one seemed so appropriate for last night.