Germany , McDonalds and more

 "GERMANY, JETLAG AND GIANT PRETZELS🥨"

PRE NOTE:

I recently travelled to Germany😀 -- land of castles, sausages I couldn't eat💀 and  trains that are more punctual than my life decisions 

HERE'S A CHAOTIC BREAKDOWN OF MY 10 DAY TRIP :

DAY 1 :

Took a connecting flight from Mumbai to Doha and then landed in Frankfurt. Got lost at the airport . considered setting a camp next to gate D2 . Jetlag made me think I could speak German. I could not. took a train from the airport to Ludwigshafen . Walked half a mile from the train station to our hotel , got hungry , placed my first order  in a café . got called "Sehr cool" by the owner for saying " Danke "( thank you) 😌 

DAY 2 :                                                                  

Attended our  class , didn't understand anything, still kept going . After 3 long hours , explored the city took a train back to the hotel . Ate McDonald. Slept.

DAY 3 :

Took a train sat in the wrong seat .Got stared at by a German grandma with laser eyes . Moved. Learned the use of the phrase "Entschuldigung"( aka Excuse me or sorry). Ate pizza at Salman's Pizzeria . Visited the city festival , ate a lot , ordered everything in German . 

DAY 4 :

Took a bus to Belgium . Drivers are strict ,some  rules were frowned upon by our Indian Genes. Ate petrol pump snacks .  Regardless it was freezing cold , rained a lot . Visited EuroSpace Center . Did zero gravity games. Got tired. Sat down and did some coloring. It's a must visit if you are in Belgium 😄 . Explored Belgian architecture ( it's very mesmerizing ) took photos . Called it a day .

DAY 5 :

Went shopping , ate Belgium waffles and chocolate strawberries , fries .Visited the chocolate factory , saw chocolates being made , tasted chocolate ( whoever likes the 99% dark chocolates , please have your tastebuds checked) . Bought chocolates for all the sweet  tooths in my family , shopped for keychains, socks, Mini bags , met Indian people . Felt happy . Saw the "Manneken Pis". Expressed out wishes in front of a statue . Visited the European Parliament ( nothing much to say about that). Ate McDonald.

DAY 6 :

Visited Baden- Wurttemberg . Met a guy from Whales. Made a 'JUST MARRIED ' car removed because of all the photos. Saw a Rathaus . 4 churches , a chateau . Also saw the actual legal size of a bagel engraved on the church wall . Visited Heidelberg university. Learned that there was a graduation Ceremony just last week . 

DAY 7 :

 Paris time!!!. Visited Paris church . Went shopping down the same lane. Learned that all shopkeepers are Asian . Tried to order vegetarian food . Accidently said something that translated  to " I eat goats"  . The waiter blinked . I blinked . We moved on . 

DAY 8 :

Visited Chantilly Chateau . Humongous and beautiful palace of the Duke . Visited the mall , bought a watch , necklace , wallet . Ate some more McDonald's ( swore of McDonald forever). Visited louvre museum, pretended to understand art , took intellectual photos , realized how small the Mona Lisa painting is . Realized I was standing backwards in front of a modern art installation . Ran away . Went to Eiffel Tower ,took photos , could not stand the cold , caught fever .  

DAY 9 : 

Visited "  Arc De Triomphe " . Went shopping for cosmetics , understood the Sephora craze , saw kids shopping for makeup and skincare. Bought 2 lipsticks , got hundreds of perfume tester samples, tried to find a teachers perfume (unsuccessful ) .Ate at McDonalds for the millionth time( no other options left). Loved the Self billing and checkout machines at Sephora and Mc. 

DAY 10:

Officially home time !! Took connecting flights , travelled through various time zones, Jetlag, Ear pain . Met a crazy lady at the airport who screamed and scared us away . Shopped for chocolates at Duty Free Doha Airport , finished of all the bakarwadi and ladoos we had . Wanted water , saw the airport bottled water prices , thirst went away . Reached Mumbai at 4 am , instant sweat , had breakfast  halfway. Finally Home !!!! Slept for 8 hrs straight on my bed . 

POST NOTE :

FINAL IMPRESSIONS:

Germany is stunning . The people are polite, cities clean , every building looks like its designed by someone with some serious aesthetic skills . ALSO : why is sparkling water everywhere ?? Just give me boring , flat water 😭

WOULD I GO BACK ?...….Absolutely 

Next time, I will pack :

Better German Phrases 

 A map 

Still water bottles 

Salt, spices 

And shoes that don't give up after 8,000 steps .