Central cemetery at night

But well, you can’t really call it nigh but the misty clouds made half 6 feel like 12. Went there after visiting the massif gardens of Schloss Schönbrunn, the humble residence where Franz Josef spend his first and last seconds. Had coffee with Nicole –my lovely last minute Vienna host- in the teahouse overlooking this grand building within he declared his eternal love to die Keizerin! Vividly remember watching Sisi as a little girl and sitting so close to the screen that Romy Schneider's dress had little green, blue and red dots in it. Mouth open wide, and –for this I was notoriously well known- a dribble hanging on my bottom lip that surprisingly enough could keep flowing for hours and hours. Maybe I had more saliva as a child or something, who knows. I still sometimes get like this when a film grabs me, quite embarrassing but please forgive me if you have the pleasure of experiencing it. Just don’t show me good films.
After sharing this childhood memory with Nicole I remembered reading that there are some famous people buried in Vienna. Nicole told me that she knew which cemetery there probably resting and that it’s a beautiful worth visiting one. She was meeting a friend so I decided to go to this Central Cemetery -that supposedly so big that you can see it from an airplane flying into Vienna- myself. Bloody wintertime made the evening fall quicker than expected and when I got there at 5.45 it was basically dark. But no worries, plenty of candles to show me the way. After searching the main gate for opening hours I discovered I only had 15 minutes left before closing time, but as still determinate to have a little wonder.

-Moving to the restaurant part of the train now for coffee. Wish I could stay on this train for hours. Sun is breaking through. Almost at the Hungarian border-
Ok, I am really getting followed…in the restaurant there was one other person, a train lover from Wales that has friends working in the National Museum in town! Really guys, I’m doing well so please stop checking up on me!!

In the mean time I changed trains in Gyor and am now on a local train.
But back to the cemetery… Dark… Great! Walked to the other side that was open till 7 (mister cemetery man tipped me on this one) Definitely saw Mozart and Beethoven because their names were writing obviously clear and big but could not make much out of the others. Hope I walked past Klimt. After leaning over and carefully trying to reads loads of stones I had to make my way back to the gate. Couldn’t see the time on my watch and didn’t want to be late. Too dark. Going to read my granddads story now. Am in Hungary 29-10-08

Bohumil Hrabal´s book:

Too loud and solitude, is an excellent travel companion. Bought it in Prague yesterday with Tine an Tiemo -A Czech lady that studied Dutch and Japanese in Prague and teaches Dutch at the University and a Guy from Bilthoven -close to Utrecht where I´m from. Ended up speaking Dutch the whole afternoon. Besides this witty and very nice encounter my couch surfing host simultaneously hosted 3 Brazilian Au-pair ladies that live in...Holland....till next March. Or the world is too small or I´m being followed. On my way to Vienna now- the first of probably many detours to my initial "Master Plan". Swapped a stop in Gyor for staying with a couple in Szombathely and visit the castle of the blood countess Erzsébet Báthory that lies about an hour away from the city of excellent ruins and thermal baths. The train there goes via Vienna, and after not hearing anything from my host last night I posted an emergency request on there couch surfing group. Got two text within a couple of hours and went to sleep knowing someone could host me today. So Austria today and tomorrow the couple in Szombathely is awaiting me. But first Prague.... What did I do? Besides getting introduced to an amazing Czech writer I´ve been to the church of Baby Jesus -I´m not making this name up, really- and had my photo taken in front of it by one of the two guys id´e traveled with from Dresden to Prague and accidentally bumped into again on that beautiful -but horribely touristic bridge that I forgot the name of. Next to this I also physically suffered from the abundance of minerals and bugs in the National museum that is belonging to one of Europe most significant collection -even curled up in my sleeping bad I could feel my legs ache. The bugs were breathtakingly arranged in this endless labyrinth of solid old fashioned displays -you know, the sloped ones that you can lean on but not supposed to. Nothing was missing, I even saw some new little fellas I´de never seen before. But on the contrary, I couldn't take the minerals serious. Although put in the same sort of displays mounted on top of oval trays that were gracefully inscripted with cold coloured letter stating their name and location of origin, I knew that I was getting tricked. I recon they just came up with some silly names, got some paint and got some tools out of the basement. There where just too many colours, shapes and patterns. I basically spotted a piece of old wallpaper and some mouldy bread... those currators should have been a bit more careful. And not to forget the names! Samsonite, Develin, Zoisit...they could have tried to be more creative and come up with something like: Judithdoneit? Those Czechs -if you ask me- just drink too much. It´s not their fault, its the government. They make the booze cheaper than coffee...yeah, what do you expect?? I think I´m gonna write to them because it got worse. In a dark little corner I spotted the back of a hedgehog covered in a terrible looking skin disease.... descised as a rock! There are limits. Also saw a photo exhibition in remembrance of Palach´s funeral and swear I saw a little boy passing by with a red and blue stripy jumper saying: "No suicide".

…………I’m leaving tomorrow

On my way to Hungary at least....the land of my grandmother so actually I should be a shamed that I waited so long. Bad girl! Am very curious about this part of my roots, wonder if I might turn into a Gypsy princess. Who knows?

My mum send me quite a long story my granddad wrote about his Hungry (haha) experiences -and I think also about the family and my grandmother (want to save it as long as possible so not sure exactly.) Printed it this morning to take with me. They are both gone, in a way it makes it even more special because the coming weeks they will be back alive through my eyes and thought. I have never known my grandmother but maybe we will meet somewhere, somehow.

Started to make a little Photoshop doc to show where the road hopefully takes me, didn’t finish it though. Was a mix of realising that everybody that reads this blog already knows where I’m going and the bloody carpale tunnel syndrome the makes my live a living hell! Will upload it when I'm back.

Most of my time I will try to Couchsurf: The best!… after wine, sushi and brushing my teeth than of course. Discovered this lovely way of travelling a month ago when I wanted to stay in Denmark and Sweden cheaply. It’s been so amazing! I was completely astonished with the hospitality of the people that hosted me. Check out: www.couchsurfing.com

After this very good week I decided to start hosting myself. Got my first request and asked Claudia –lady of the house- if it would be ok to help out this Belgium guy that was also experiencing the expensive living in Copenhagen en wanted to escape to bohemian Berlin. All was good. Quite close to the start of my own trip because his bus to Poland -next stop- would also be tomorrow –I’m writing this on Wednesday, tomorrow is Thursday- Ok, this is confusing!

Anyway, it worked out well. He actually slept all 3 nights, including tonight, at his brand new Italian lady friend. They met 4 days ago and get along very well. But this evening after Sushi with Rene I found him in distress back at my place. He was supposed to leave at 8 to meet her, something went wrong....

The other night he took his washing over to hers and was supposed to get it back tonight, sleep… and get the early bus. She would call…but didn’t . “She still has my trousers, what do I need to do?” he asked me. “Just call her!” I said -and was quite surprised he didn't think of that himself. He found out she was having a late diner at a friends, her voice sounded a bit annoyed. Lovely young Belgium boy was in a bit of a panic seeing his bus leaves at 5 tomorrow morning. He left mine at 12 to get his washing.

But besides this non couchsurfing couchsurfing experience it can also work out the other way around. Gemma, the lovely Australian that cured me of me disliking Australians, we just met for coffee about two weeks ago–you don’t have to surf or host, meeting up for drinks is also part of the hole couchsurfing platform. Had more coffee…..diner….wine…coffee…wine.....and she is going to stay in my room for the month I’m gone. She was actually visiting Berlin for a week or so but can’t stand the thought of leaving.

Leaving tomorrow………

You Tube

http://www.youtube.com/user/OodieFace

Pandatron..

Is a variation on the marathon but than instead running you work non stop for days as a Panda moderator. I can truly say it's hard for me to imagine a world outside Panfu.

Fallen in love with what those kiddos talk about when they walk around in the land of Panfu, decorating their tree house, going for a hair cut, shopping or just decide to have a chill day on the beach. They can also play games and make money with which they can buy stuff –clothes, furniture- but only when they have this special Gold Status…that you need to pay for)

This little capitalistic concept is responsible for loads of anger, jealousy, hatred and inappropriate language. Some pandas marry, have sex, deliver and/or adopt children, cheat, checkout each others new bathroom, have domestics and fall in and out of love several times during one shift -4 hours

Basically I work with this programme that first filters the normal, harmless stuff -that I therefore don't see: how are you, what a nice day, lets go for a walk- so that I end up only seeing lists and lists of all the dodgy, but most of all very creative stuff. I can select, block, lock and delete Pandas WHEN, and there is where the fun starts, I catch them.

Never expected such inventive little minds, the role plays and language they come up with to trick us is endlessly! Pandas, especially Dutch ones, can be very mean and sneaky getting passwords, email addresses and mobile phone numbers. And then there is always the adult that tries, the poor little boy that also gets picked online and hard core kiddos that think they can hack Panfu. But I see everything. My favourite warning is the message from God –it’s really called that. If you get 3 of those you can’t chat for 30 min. The fun thing is that they get a personalized message with at the end my name: Moderator Judith. Usually this message gets ignored but besides giving a warning I can also give Positive feedback: Panfu is a nice place to live thanks to special pandas like you. Would you not absolutely love getting a message like that? Trust me, pandas go mental. They started talking to me, Judith is lief -Judith is nice in Dutch.

Panfu is not only a place of disgrace, also very nice conversations and special friendships develop. There is this one Panda that is called Pope, he is really religious and doesn’t like other pandas fighting. He’s got 4 dogs and has been going out with the some Panda lady as long as I can remember. A decent guy you could say. He’s a bit too old for Panfu, actually for kids up to 12 and he is 16, but he does no harm. Sometimes I catch him talking about God to new pandas, how important it is to have God in your live.

This other panda, Cheesetoasty, doesn’t learn from his mistakes. So many times my housemate heard me say out loud:': “You can’t say that, you know!” than 30 min chat lock and then you could just wait for it…again within a minute.

Of course you can’t exchange personal details, but they try very hard cause Panda swap is the new hype. If you have a gold packet that you paid for though things can get nasty.

What’s your password? WW? But than spelt wrong, cut up and send in different messages and more ways of getting away with it. Some kids are more than willing to give any information whatsoever….my mobilenumeris….LOCK. I'm faster and smarter.

The beauty of this job is that I can set my alarm 10 min before my shift begins, go to the toilet –very important and highly underestimated- get the cereal out, make a coffee and get comfortable in the Kitchen. Don’t have to be home, just need a PC and internet cause can download programme anywhere. Also did some Panda checking in Copenhagen when I was couch surfing last month.

At the beginning it was quite tiring, focusing on this screen that is moving and chancing constantly but at the moment I can easily multitask by Skyping, emailing en couch searching at the same time and still do a good job. Planning a trip to Hungary for the end of the month for a couple of weeks, my gran is from a town in the south close to Szeget. I’ve never been to Hungary in my live so decided to go on a little roots hunt. Am very lucky to have found lots of nice people that want to host me, couchsurfing.com is the best! Romania is happening after all, will be going at the end of January for 8 months…but that is a whole different story that will write about later. Need to pick my bike up now, got taxi back from Wednesday club last night, didn’t want to fall of my bike again.

Panda headquarters is in Berlin. All the different nationalities have there own row of desks –Panfu is in 6 different languages I forgot to tell, I’m working for the Dutch one.
You should come round when you’re in the neighbourhood.