Back in familiar Germany, my cousin Anh Liem picked me up and, not wanting to miss any World Cup matches, we drove back to watch some football at Co Chau's place. Then to Anh Thien and Chi Mai's place where I hoped to spend some quality time with the family.
Protoss Zealot in the living room?
The next day, hoping to spend some quality time with my cousin's child, I went to Duren with Viet for a spot of shopping. We then took a spontaneous daytrip to Köln to visit Anh Liem. He took us sightseeing and of course we visited the dominating Dom - the famous cathedral that is the ubiquitous symbol of Köln.
For dinner, Anh Liem took us to the best currywurst place in Köln. It was amazing, tasty, filling. Before we left, Chi Binh also booked in the date of my return for a final family dinner before I left for Australia. She kindly took the order of Com Tam one month in advance!
That night, we went back to Julich. As Viet correctly pointed out: Es war kein Fehler nach Köln (It was no mistake to go to Cologne).
Mai-Anh helping me load the car.
The next day, Thorsten dropped by to pick me up in his sister's car and again, I headed back to Köln, but this time with Thorsten. We headed first for Andrea's very central apartment, right next to the Hauptbahnhof (Central Station) and perhaps under the shadow of the Dom. Andrea was kind enough to let me leave my luggage at her place for a month while I triapsed around Europe.
Thing to do before (or as) you die #64: Drive a car at top speed.
The excitement had been building since I knew of the draw several months previously, and now I was in Germany for THE GAME, yes: Australia v Germany. My hopes were high.
The Serbian Alpha-male.
Coincidentally, we stumbled upon a famous German TV Personality - Elton. I had my Socceroos jersey on and, before Thorsten could adjust his German flag cape, I went to give all of Germany a piece of my mind. On camera and after waiving all my rights away by signing a slip of paper, I first explained that 'Mein Deutsche is nicht das gelber vom ei, aber es geht!' Elton, stunned by this impeccable German, was finished off by my 'piece de resistance': "Deutschland auf dem holzweg!".
Singing the anthem!
0 - 1
0 - 2
0 - 3
0 - 4
After the match, we stumbled along down to a famous party street where everybody in Koln was celebrating. (I later see the Dutch celebrate in Holland, and the Catalonians celebrate in Barcelona; but no where was the celebration so ordered, so planned and so coordinated as here in Germany: yes there was the wild jumping and cheering and yelling, but there was also a specific celebration where everyone crouches down and counts down before jumping up and down, singing and chanting victoriously).
Lu, lu, lu, Lucas Podolski!
Thorsten with his sausage.
As we left Köln, bound for Göttingen and Berlin, a Germany-shaped cloud victoriously rose in the distance.
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