zippee.info

I'm now in Koln Germany. Last night I was in Dusseldorf and at nice little hostel near the train station. I flew into the Weeze airport, which I thought was the Dusseldorf airport but wasn't, around 2:30pm yesterday. I then had to take a bus from Weeze to Dusseldorf and then a bus from there to the hostel. I found out after getting off the bus that it wasn't really required. The first bus though was definitely required. That was about 45 minutes long but it was worth it. So far all of the Lower Rhine I've seen reminds me the most of home. Everything is pretty new since it was all bombed in WW2 and the roads are wide and the cars are big. More than any of that though actually seeing grass and trees all over the cities and roads is wonderful!
Actually Dusseldorf really reminds me of Portland. It's right on the river is pretty laid back and yet has a lot of business going on. Along with that there are bikes everywhere! I'm really sad I had to leave behind my bike in Italy but......it does have a new home! When I left little Triumph in Italy he was last sitting in the Central Station Inn Hostel. See I had put an add on Craigslist a day or two before leaving Rome to see if anyone wanted to buy him but no luck... that was until the night before I left. Basically what happened was that I was going to meet this guy at 8:30am for him to pick it up before I got on my flight, but he got confused. This meant he was in the wrong place. So I skyped him and after talking a bit, and then having him talk to the hostel staff (getting all the Italian pleasantries out of the way he said) we decided to leave it in their possession for him to come pick up later. Well I heard from him this afternoon and he has it! He's trying to figure out the folding mechanism but otherwise seems happy. I wish we could have met before I left cause he seemed really nice and actually is an artist who has works all over the place and he lives in both New York and Italy! Anyway, we will see if I hear any more about Triumph (the bike) or not. Whether we do or not I know he's in good hands.
So back to what I was saying! So Dusseldorf was very nice but sadly I didn't get to see much of it. Well that's I lie. I "saw" a lot but I didn't do much. This is because I got in fairly late (by the time I arrived and checked into the hostel etc.) so everything was closed. Then I had big plans to see and do a lot today but... sadly.... May 1st is a National Holiday in Germany. So everything was closed! I did see a lot though. I planned on heading to this outdoor store to pick up a map this morning and then to one of Germany's largest flea markets before hitting the Modern art museum... but all 3 were closed. The funny thing was I didn't realize this at first so I just figured the outdoor store (called Sack and Pack) would open late so I walked past it and headed back later. Well not only was it closed when I returned an hour later... it was in fact.... on FIRE! Serious.. Check out the photos. I know it's sad and all but I seriously had to laugh because the one store I wanted to visit in all of Dusseldorf was the one that caught fire and had it's windows smashed in to get the fire hoses and firemen inside. It was a pretty big ordeal and I watched for awhile (along with a bunch of other gawkers) before heading back to my hostel. Once at my hostel I grabbed my bag and headed out. I wandered to the train station where I did find a map along with live bands, land gondola's, men on stilts and more. All in celebration of the holiday I guess. Once I'd had my fill of these pleasantries I walked south...
Now let me forewarn you of what is to come.
**WARNING BELOW THIS LINE IS SOMETHING THAT MIGHT FRIGHTEN MOTHERS AND GRANDMOTHERS AND EASILY FRIGHTENED PERSONS**
___________________________________________
So the reason for me getting the map, and the reason for wanting to visit the outdoor store where both to get prepared for one thing.... hitchiking. Yes... I hitchhiked... (Mothers, Easily Exiteables...breathe, I'm fine) So ya I headed south to hit the main roads leading to Koln (or Cologne) just to see if I could do it. Basically I have decided I don't have time to make it to Berlin, but it's to early to get to Amsterdam... so I want to see the little towns in the Lower Rine. The easiest way to do this I decided was to hitchhike. Cheap, fast, no tickets, no lines, nothing complicated...just a ride or not a ride. Well luckily it worked beautifully. It actually only took about 10 minutes with my big sign while walking along the side of the highway before I was picked up. It was a big BMW SUV. Not the big fit 16 people SUVs, more like a Luxury SUV. GPS unit and probably heated seats (though I didn't check). The funny thing was that though I was in Germany the driver was from Belgium. He asked if I spoke English and I said yes and he was like "Good I don't speak your language" and then he asked if I was from Germany. To which I of course said no. He was very nice and even dropped me off directly in front of the hostel I'm staying at tonight. Hitchhiking trip number 1-SUCCESS!
So now I'm in Koln and very hungry. I think I'm gonna try and explore this city a bit tomorrow before heading north again to reach Duisburg if possible. There is a really cool park there apparently. (Check out http://www.arch.hku.hk/teaching/cases/duisburg/Duisburg_photo.htm
for a photo gallery) Anyway I really need some food so I think I'm gonna head out.

THANKS FOR ALL THE COMMENTS EVERYONE! I LOVED READING THEM!

So I have to add something about the hitchhiking.
When I started this trip open to hitchhiking, and yet I hadn't done it till now. I don't really know why. I do know that today I felt I was kinda being pushed to do it; for whatever reason. First I found a black marking pen perfect for drawing on cardboard. Then when I was thinking about it and after getting a map I was sitting looking at routes and the live band started playing take me Home Country Roads..... then they started playing Hit the Road Jack... I took them as a sign. I mean after all this is Germany... most of the songs I didn't even understand cause they were in German! So I left. We will see if I do it again in the future, whether I do or not it was an experience.
http://picasaweb.google.com/spencercarson/Dusseldorf?feat=directlink