First night in Bielefeld

Christian and Rebecca recently moved into a gigantic flat that made me green with envy. It has an enormous living room that lets in tons of light, and they were kind enough to let me stay there for three nights. Christian is a rare friend - the kind that can pick right back up from where you last left off without missing a beat. He just recently traveled through Nepal, and brought back a few gifts that nearly brought a tear to my eye. My new little Buddha is sitting proudly on my mantle, and I smile when I think how far it has journeyed to get here. 

Ginny, Rebecca's sweet Irish Setter, who tried to crawl into bed with me a few times

On the train...

Years ago my parents took me on a long distance trip through Germany on the ICE train. We spent the hours looking out the window of our sleeper compartment watching villages blaze past at a cruising speed of at least 125 mph. I was truly happy to have booked first class seats through to Bielefeld on the high-speed train - the seats are comfortable, the cabin is quiet, the steward is happy to bring you a cappuccino and the paper, and no unpleasant turbulence to worry about (http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/08/03/plane.turbulence/index.html?eref=rss_topstories). 

One of the best things about the German rail system is the ability to time a departure down to the second. My train was scheduled to leave Duisburg at 15:10. From my seat I could see the platform clock; when the second hand reached 15:10:00 the train started to move forward. I have to shake my head at the Coast Starlight that I took to college my freshman year. The incredible scenery along the Hood Canal was of no consolation when the departure was more than once three hours behind schedule. Of course this punctuality makes for a stressful approach to the station - I made my train out of Bielefeld with about three minutes to spare.

Summer recess

Despite the court currently being in summer recess for three weeks, and despite every attorney on my team except for one senior trial attorney being out of the office, I have loads of work on my desk. I made sure to ask for projects before everyone headed out to Crete and Tuscany and Ireland, but I think I may have overextended myself. 

That being said, I will be taking Thursday and Friday off of work to attend my lovely friend Nicole's wedding in Detmold, Germany. I haven't seen her or her brother, my good friend Christian, in four years, so I am sure we will have long nights of catching up ahead of us. 

My case

This article from last year gives everyone a pretty good overview of the case I am working on and the stature of the defendant. I'm looking to the UK for coverage, as the New York Times only ran a small paragraph when the trial started. 

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article4870350.ece

Older article giving background information:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4327863.stm

Friday evening

House party

Tonight I am throwing an impromptu party at my flat, so be sure to check back for photos!

Lukic judgement

Judgement was rendered today in the Lukic and Lukic case... The sentences handed down were for a natural life term and 30 years respectively. Watching the expressions on the defendants' faces while the charges were being read out, and the gruesome facts were being recapped again, was positively surreal. Any disdain the defendants may have for this court, for the international criminal system in general, is rendered pretty much moot by the prospect of being transferred to a jail in a desolate corner of Norway. 

http://www.icty.org/sid/10188

Beach bar bliss

This bar on Scheveningen beach was dead in the middle of sand volleyball courts and surf shops - complete heaven for people watching. After pedaling for a few hours, we four decided to plop down on the sandy, ocean-damp couches on the patio for some G&Ts and a snack. Our luxurious sunning was spoiled when clouds rolled in and the wind became so ferocious that we all were going blind from the grit in our eyes.

Inside we were treated again to cozy couches, but even better, a small fire pit and a dj. Amy and Erin had mint tea infusions that smelled just delicious. We all started to fall asleep after a while, so moving back into the cool air for the trip back home was met with doleful expressions.

Near the pier

This darling alley was filled with shops, sadly all closed on a Sunday. 

Kijkduin

Of course Holland is known for being windy, but today was just ridiculous. Most of our photos were of hair blown into mouths and sand in the eyes, so here are the ones that turned out nicely.

Bike ride through the dunes

The weather today was completely beautiful early on, so Erin, Amy (her roommate from Ireland), and Amy's friend and I set out on bike through town, nose pointed towards the shoreline.

And because it's funny... here is the last shot I attempted to take of me and the people behind me while riding. Last because I nearly crashed into the dune grass. Note the crazed expression.

'Date night' at Didong

Fellow Bostonian Erin and I met to have a Saturday night dinner at the Indonesian restaurant around the corner from me, which is starting to become a regular haunt. For such an adorable, candlelit space, it's incredibly reasonable. Our filling dinner costed only 10 Euros each. 

More photos to follow tomorrow, as promised - Erin and I will be partners in crime, scouting for the perfect shot. If the weather cooperates we may try to cycle through the Scheveningen dunes, so cross your fingers.

More greenery-adorned doorways

Sexy little Alfa

I've never before seen such a concentration of cute cars as I have in the area I live in. This one is very much a car to be driven with a Grace Kelly white scarf around the head, and my signature huge black sunglasses. To really fit the part, I would have to learn to drive stick while eating an apple, a la my very chic mother.

Note the completely symmetrical black and white front doors in the background - this place is heaven for me, lover of right angles and order.

Weekend part I

My weekend is off to a slow start, thanks in part to dreary weather and a splitting headache that I've had since yesterday afternoon. I will venture further afield tomorrow to take more photos. 

Last night I met up with friends for a short while and went to a little pub for some live jazz music. At about midnight, with everyone shouting over the music to keep up their conversations, I had to laugh at an elderly man that was incredibly annoyed at all the chatting; he wasn't successful in shushing people, despite his valiant efforts and searing glares. 

My errands this morning, however, were successful. I walked a few streets over to a little tobacconist shop that has a post office inside, as my hermetically sealed ballet flats from Arizona arrived. The shop smelled just like the stands in Berlin that my Mama and I would walk to early in the morning to buy schrippen und die Zeitung, and if I was lucky maybe a copy of Wendy, my absolute favorite comic as a little girl (http://www.wendy.de/). The combined aroma of cigars and magazines was so evocative of Tempelhof that I stood still and hid a small smile. 

After snapping the photos below, I ducked into the tiny local market on my street. Even though I pay more for the convenience of the store, I really enjoy buying the Dutch version of (what might be) Zwiebelmett there - the owners are incredibly kind immigrants, who recognize and forgive my pathetic grasp of the language, and nearly every time I go I receive something free. One time it was a fantastic fruit salad with blackberries and papaya, another time Greek salad. Today I received what smells like a nectarine, but looks like a rumply tomato. I can't imagine getting a little gift from the cashier at Albertson's, so of course I give them a huge smile and attempt a 'dank je wel.' 

Some of the sausages are similar to what you can find from German butchers, but there are foods here that aren't that common; one of the regular flavors of yogurt is valencia orange. Amazingly good. Oh, and Dad, you would love being able to buy cassis juice in a can. As if you needed one more reason to come visit!