2013-07 Part III Berlin, Germany

I feel so free and privileged soaring at 41,000 feet. This airbus of humans hurtling over the earth and soon the Atlantic ocean. It becomes too much to consider, how this steel machine maintains it's altitude...the sun is hot on my head...this cabin of human lives....all going this way and that. Everyone with their earplugs. No one speaking around me except the two german women directly behind me...so comforting it lulls me, this accent like waves coming to and fro on a beach. Out the window, a sea of blue of all shades hides in the shadows and to the edge of the planet, where is gets fuzzy and curves. I look northward and imagine you there...calling sound speed but...wait, we've got a plane incoming..."hold the roll, Krista's flying by..." I wave and blow a kiss; lover I see you. 

The sun never really left...it hung there penetrating the cabin through cracks in the window shades...a constant reminder of the extraordinary northern path of this airbus city. People starting their day... at 319am. I am upside down and loving every moment. Breakfast and coffee is served with a yogourt, orange juice, and cinnamon bun. I ponder my prayer to Deutchland with a warm coffee: May you open yourself to me, reveal your secrets and let me see you shine. Talk to me and tell me stories. Look into my eyes and let me love you. I want you and I want you to want me. For 11 days, I am yours. Amen.   

Such synchronicity already...running into mark and his family at the airport was a such a sweet moment. We chatted and smiled and enjoyed the time together; anxious and waiting for the adventure to begin and to discover that we are on the same flight was pure bliss.

Hey sweetie enters my mind, this dawn with no birds. It's all so strange...an artificial morning inside this stale cabin. I feel restless and delirious, ready to crawl my way out. Approaching the 9th hour, I go inside my mind, listening to country music lyrics. It lifts my soul, and I realize I'm somewhere I've never been, in the future, I'll meet Krista of Germany...

This is now the furthest east I've ever travelled. Passing over Amsterdam, into German airspace, we begin our descent. My anticipation grows and I look forward to my train ride and seeing Frankfurt for the first time. 

I'm on a train now hurtling across the earth. There's a sense of humour among the Germans. They look with their eyes and I long to connect. My first german transactions is a cup of coffee..I've got gut rot...so much coffee...buildings made of stone, fields of corn and wheat. graffiti, churches on hills. the boys next to me play an airplane drinking game. i hear english words like "ready" and "come on, let's go" in between the german. it makes me laugh. they're living it...and so, after 3 hours of napping and playing coy, I join them. they give me swiss beer and i become "Don". i replace their fourth member who is too drunk to play. I say, "no, no, thank you" and then i relent. it was a great time. we played looping louie and we drank apple vodka when we lose. their english is good and their french is better than mine. I'm embarrassed because french is supposed to be my "official" 2nd language. my school system has failed me.  i don't speak enough french. but we get along fine with english and we enjoy our time together. already the circles are forming. Frankfurt to Lepzig. the boys and looping Louie...the passengers around them see me interact with them and me and smile. they know. it's life. Being and communicating and living - it's so beautiful. I'm filled with the synchronicity of human existence. i'm aware of the flow that happens and i embrace it. hurtling NE on the ICE1008 to Berlin. I'm drunk. (heart shape) life.

My third morning in Berlin. I'm sober this time...ha. I've been staying at the family home of Tony and Ina Hitzel. He has been so kind and generous of his time with me and shown me parts of his East Berlin. He is a rebellious biker, loyal friend and I see his dedication to his family and hard work with strong traditional values.  In his village live many family members. His family home is 90 years old. Such history. I feel like a child among the adults. Forming simple sentences. Where I am?...which way is north? Eyes wide open I watch the sun rise and I think, Ok, that way is China and my home is the other way...such a beautiful world with so many colours...Goodbye Berlin, goodbye Tony and Ina. They were so good to me. Giving of their time and insights. I'm a very lucky person.