AWOL

[Achim]

I wonder if there is a computer in Berlin or if we can make a mess

[Touti]

I wonder if there is a computer in Berlin or if we can make a mess

I'd go for the mess.......................as was once done to me when I went away.

[DJ Doena]

Hem, hem, .... this is Berlin speaking 

[DJ Doena]

Sorry for being here so sparsely, but I have guests this week and we have been exploring the towns and cities in this area. Everything will return to normal tomorrow (Monday) afternoon...

[Tom]

I will not be here from Friday (tomorrow) through Monday. I am attending a friend's wedding in France. I don't know if I will have access to / time for checking in here. So don't wonder when I do not post the new deadlines for the marathons in time.

[Kathy]

Have a wonderful time Tom.

[Tom]

Thanks!

[Tom]

I am back
The wedding I went to was very beautiful. And we had perfect weather all four days I was in France
I even managed to do a few hours of sightseeing today in Paris

I think I have a few reviews of stuff I watched the last evening before my travel to write up now.

[Tom]

And it's true what they say about French people: They do not speak English (or very little).
That made it impossible for me to talk to most of the bride's family/friends, as I do not speak a word of French.

[Najemikon]

And it's true what they say about French people: They do not speak English (or very little).
That made it impossible for me to talk to most of the bride's family/friends, as I do not speak a word of French.

I always thought that French people in general were very good English speakers... they just don't see why they should lower themselves! 

[Tom]

I always thought that French people in general were very good English speakers... they just don't see why they should lower themselves! 

This was also what I heard before. But now I know differently. They actually do not speak and understand English. The younger French people can speak it a little, but even they have a lot of trouble to even understand the (IMO) most basic vocabulary.

[Kathy]

What you need are subtitles! It sounds as though you had a great time. Post some pictures of the wedding and/or sightseeing if you get a chance. I'd love to see them.

[Tom]

The brother of the bride was the only one I met, who actively sought out to improve his English by talking to us. He says he is disappointed that the French school system does not put enough weight on teaching English. This is why he went to Canada on an internship recently, to improve his English. But sadly he went to the French-Canadian area, and again nobody could help him improving his English

[Jimmy]

We are able to use it in a discussion since we start to learned it at our third year of primary school (now it's right at the first school year, something that I don't really agree with but it's another story), but most of us don't feel confortable since outside of Montreal we don't really had a chance to practice it.

[Tom]

What you need are subtitles! It sounds as though you had a great time. Post some pictures of the wedding and/or sightseeing if you get a chance. I'd love to see them.

Here is a small selection of my Paris pictures. We also visited Notre Dame, but my batteries went dead at the Louvre.

I only took a few pictures at the wedding (though I took some video clips of the actual ceremony), so I am awaiting the pictures the other German guests have taken. But I won't post them here, because I do not like to post private pictures on the internet (and I feel it is not my call to make as it is a private affair of others). But if some of our regulars here are interested, I will host a nice selection on my webspace for you to look at (after I got the other pictures). Just contact me.