Friday, November 27, 2009

Germany: Part 1

I'm finally back in Rome after a long trip throughout Germany. I made it to six cities over the nine days I was there, so by the end I was pretty exhausted.
Because I did so much while I was out there, this will be "Part 1" of my Germany trip and I'll put up part two in a couple days.

Breakin in Dusseldorf

Ok, so the first thing on the agenda when I got to Germany was a breakdancing competition outside of Dusseldorf. A good friend of mine who used to be a gymnast and later a performer in La Reve in Vegas, is now part of a big breakdancing crew in the US called Full Force. They were invited to compete in this battle and he asked me if I wanted to come check it out. I had nothing better to do, so I got on a plane to Germany and went to check out my first breakdancing experience.
The battle was in what looked like an old warehouse that seemed ideal for the event and it was packed. The crowd had a pretty eclectic group with hip hop listening teenagers sitting next to grandparents with their grandchildren.
Being a gymnast, I can really appreciate the difficulty of breakdancing, but watching it firsthand was just awesome. There were teams from all over the world and even though Full Force didn't win (they lost in the semi-final to the eventual winner, Belgium) they had a distinct style that in my opinion was not matched by the other teams. At the end of the battle two 8 year old kids came out and did a little show for the crowd...it was incredible. One of the kids did air flairs! I'm sure most of you don't know what those are so here's a quick video of what they look like...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAnNXYTK6uk&feature=related

...wow.


Gymnastics Stop #1

From there I took the train to Stuttgart where I got the chance to watch the Champions Trophy competition. My old coach from the OTC, Vitaly, and one of my old teammates, Joey, were there competing, and it was great to be able to watch them out on the floor. The prize for winning the Champions Trophy was 15,000 Euro and a brand new convertible Mercedes...where were those prizes when I was competing?!! The gymnastics community is small so at big competitions like this one I not only get to see friends from the USA, but from all over the world. We all went out and had a chance to enjoy the Stuttgart nightlife a little bit.
While I was in Stuttgart I stumbled upon a German holiday tradition, Gluhwein. It's hot red wine that they mix with spices and a little piece of fruit. I can see why Germans like this stuff during the cold winters!

Hangin in Munich

Next stop on the trip around Germany was Munich. I stayed in a hostel for the first time and met a bunch of people from around the world who are doing the same thing as me...just taking some time and traveling the world. It was interesting to see where their travels had taken them and what cities they thought were worth checking out. After spending a few days there seeing the sites, taking the tours, and of course drinking the beer, Munich has now been included in my list of favorite cities (of course it's a long list that includes NYC, SF, Rome, Tokyo, Paris...). One of the coolest things I learned about Munich was that before the war Hitler had the Munich city plans and all the major artwork taken to a secret location in the Alps so that if the city was damaged they could rebuild in the same way. Well, it was just about completely destroyed by air-strikes and instead of rebuilding in a modern way, they found the original city plans and artwork Hitler had hidden and rebuilt the entire city! Looking around the city you can't tell that just about everything is 60-70 years old. Munich is a city rich in tradition and they are people who are very proud of what they have to offer. They also seem to have a pretty big rivalry with Berlin which I wasn't aware of. I still haven't visited Berlin, but I'm sure I'll get there at some point so I can make my own comparisons.
Here are some other things I did in Munich:
-visited the BMW museum and showroom. I've now seen the BMW, Mercedes, and Porsche museums. All very different...and all worth seeing. (Also, saw the stadium from the '72 Olympic Games which is close to the museum).
-went running in the "English Gardens." This park in the city is also twice the size of Central Park in NYC. That's the second city I've been to in the last couple weeks that had a park of that size. (Dublin was the first)
-went to the Deutsches museum. It's one of the biggest science museums in the world. I spent about and two hours there and I saw about a third of it. You could spend a couple days in this place seeing everything.
-had a beer at the famous Hofbrauhaus. I was told it's a tourist trap with pretty high prices, but you have to experience it once, right?? Right.


In Part 2...
-visiting Fabian in Wetzlar
-Cologne and a bad ending to the trip.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Lazio-Milan

I got my first taste of the world of calcio (soccer) this past weekend. My beloved Lazio went up against one of the most decorated teams in history, AC Milan. Lazio lost the game 2-1, and are in the middle very rough patch...ok, they are playing terrible right now and haven't won a league game since August! It's pretty embarrassing, especially in a city like Rome, where most people are fans of the other soccer team in town, Roma. Even my own family are relentless about making sure I'm aware of how bad Lazio is right now (besides myself, only my father and brother are Lazio fans...everyone else sides with Roma).

I was lucky enough to attend the game with a friend who is also Lazio obsessed. We showed up to the stadium about an hour early to make sure we got a good parking spot. Parking around the Stadio Olimpico is just like parking anywhere else in Rome, a mess. When we got out of the car there was a random guy guiding people into available spots. He had no affiliation with the team, stadium, or city. He just shows up on game days and hopes for tips. A tip to this guy also helps to ensure that he will keep an eye on your car during the game to make sure nothing happens to it...without the tip, I was told, he would be more likely to turn a blind eye to a thief or he might try to take something from your car himself!

Walking up to the stadium was a little different than events I've been to in the US. The main difference was the large number of cops in riot gear strategically placed around the stadium. Unfortunately, soccer games in Italy (and in other countries in Europe) can get violent sometimes. Lazio fans in particular are known for being a little extreme with their support. I didn't experience any of this negative behavior from the fans though. Aside from Lazio losing the game and the torrential downpour during the entire game, it was an amazing experience.

In fact the best part were the fans themselves. The seating is set up so the two ends of the stadium, behind the goals, are devoted solely for the diehard faithfuls...known as the "Ultras." In particular, the Lazio "Ultras" are the Irriducibili. They dominate the Curva Nord (North Curve), while the Romaniste (Roma fans) take the Curva Sud (South Curve).

Growing up the Curva Nord had been this special place that I always wanted to experience first hand, but never had the chance. I wanted to cheer alongside my fellow Lazio fans and sing the songs of our team.

First of all, they are an incredibly organized group. Thousands and thousands of fans waving huge flags while singing in unison different songs all throughout the game is an impressive sight. Most of the songs are dedicated to ripping into the owner of the team, who everyone seems to hate with a passion.

They live and die with each pass. One moment they are booing and yelling at a player for a silly mistake. Before they even have a chance to take another breathe they are clapping for the creative play of someone else. It is funny to listen to all the fans, especially because they are right on in their assessments most of the time. Their soccer IQ is unbelievable. That's everybody...the 80 year old grandfather and his 13 year old grandson, to the teenage couple on a date. They all know the beautiful game inside out.

After watching the game and the way the fans interact with the players, I think I know why the fans get so riled up, especially when there team is doing poorly. Of course they want their team to win. Who doesn't. But more than that, they want the players to care as much about the team as they do. We are in an era where it's more about the money than it is about the passion or love of the team/sport. These fans have grown up with only this team and when they see a player lack enthusiasm on the field, they are insulted. To them wearing that jersey is an honor, and every time a player steps on the field wearing that light blue/white (Lazio colors) they should play like it's their last game.

Yes Lazio lost the game, but after the final whistle was blown the whole team came over to the Curva Nord and clapped to the fans thanking them for their constant support. I could tell that this meant more to them than winning or losing. They want to be a part of Lazio...and the team showing their appreciation allows the fans that connection they desperately seek. It was my first time at the stadium and even I appreciated them coming over. I will go back to watch Lazio again soon, and I too will live and die with each pass like the rest of the Curva Nord.

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Halloween in Dublin

Anyone who really knows me will tell you that I watch a lot of movies. Not only do I watch them, but I have a tendency to memorize them as well. I'll admit it can be a little bit ridiculous at times, especially for those who have no idea what I am talking about most of the time. This love of movies sometimes gets incorporated into my travels as I start to see similarities between new people/places and the fictional characters I know from my constant movie watching.
A few weeks ago I went to London for the first time. When I got to the Liverpool Street Train Station I felt like I had landed in the world of Harry Potter (Yes, I am a big Harry Potter fan).
Well, if London was Harry Potter then Dublin, to me, was without a doubt Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (the original movie)! The small cobblestone streets, distinctive Georgian houses, and of course the factory in the middle of the town. The only difference was that in this case, it wasn’t a chocolate factory. It was the Guinness beer factory.

Just as in Wonka’s factory, Guinness has high walls surrounding most of the perimeter giving the impression that whatever is going on inside is not to be seen by the outside public. Of course, you don’t need a golden ticket to get a tour of the Guinness factory. After getting inside, I was hoping find some kind of beer factory worker equivalent to an Oompa Loompa or maybe a beer river, but no luck.

Before I got to Dublin many of my friends who had visited the city before told me that if there was one thing I needed to see while I was there it was this factory...and they were right. The place is very impressive, with seven floors not only devoted to the history of its beer, but also to the city of Dublin. I’m not a big beer drinker, but the free pint of extra cold Guinness at the seventh floor bar with its 360 degree views of the city was the highlight of the tour. Definitely the best glass of beer I’ve ever had.

I was in Dublin over the weekend to celebrate my cousin Gianni’s birthday. I was invited to tag along with a group of his friends and I had a great time. When the bill came at the end of our dinner I was expecting to split Gianni's portion with the other people at the table. Apparently, in Italy when a person celebrates their birthday they take all their friends out for dinner and pay for it. I had never heard of that before and I was surprised when I saw my cousin get up to pay the bill. I guess I'll have to be prepared when my birthday rolls around this year!

His birthday is on Halloween, but in Italy Halloween isn’t really a big deal. Ireland on the other hand, celebrates Halloween the just like the US. When we went out early in the day and my cousin and all his friends saw all the costumes, they got excited and wanted to dress up for the night as well. We didn’t really have time to do anything elaborate, so we ended up going to a costume shop and bought 9 identical wigs and mustaches. The description on the package was “70’s TV personality.” We were basically all dressed as Will Ferrell’s character Ron Burgundy from Anchorman. We definitely turned some heads as we walked down the street that night.

Overall, I had a great time in Dublin despite the cold and rainy weather. I kind of expected that, and so it didn’t bother me that much. I’d love to go back to Ireland if I get the chance while I’m out here.

I’ll be heading to Germany next week to watch some gymnastics, breakdancing, and visit a bunch of different cities.

Some other interesting notes from Dublin:
-There is a park in the middle (Phoenix Park) of Dublin that is twice the size of Central Park in NYC. It’s enormous.
-It was weird to see a Starbucks again while I was in Dublin. Italy is very protective of its coffee and Starbucks is not allowed in the country. I haven’t seen that circular green sign in a while up until this past weekend.
-The Subway (sandwich shop) in Dublin sells a bacon sandwich for 1Euro. Bread and Bacon...that’s it. I don’t remember ever seeing that on the menu in the US.
-There is an impressive list of writers who have direct connections to Dublin . The list includes James Joyce, Jonathan Swift, Oscar Wilde, Samuel Beckett, and Bram Stoker just to name a few.