Chapter 5: Day 6 in Berlin and First Night in Paris

Day 6: Sitting in Shodenfeld airport, almost time to fly to Paris, the second leg of this epic journey. I hope I meet some more interesting people in this youth hostel so that way it won't make the days drag. As much fun as I'm having, I want to go home - I want to see Anna really. Being along with nothing to do is bad for me - I start thinking too much. It hasn't been a week. Tomorrow it has.

Note: Germany has a special hatred for the Neo-Nazis as they represent the thing that brought they country down so far in reality and in the eyes of the world. Eddie told us a story about how, at a Berlin United football match, pockets of people began leaving, so he's like, "It's not going that badly - we're still up 2-1!" Then the people began reappearing as if nothing happened - turns out they had all heard of a Neo-Nazi rally in town and they went there, beat them all to a pulp, and came back to enjoy the end of the match!
We even had our own right-winger experience. Some guy came up to us, walking his bike, and said "What are YOU doing in Deutschland?" in a very disgusted way. So Eddie says, "What? What?" and the right-winger says, "Fuck you." So Eddie replies, "What was that, mate? Come back? Go fuck yourself." And the guy keeps walking, laughing creepily.

After waiting an extra 40 mins to an hour to get to the boarding lounge for the flight; we are herded like cattle into little holding pens for boarding groups A, B and C.
Finally on the plane at 17hr. A full 40 mins after we were supposed to TAKE OFF! But, I'm headed to Paris, and waiting for me there is a nearby steakhouse with a scrumptious tartare that I will thoroughly enjoy. FInally a country whose language I can speak, and that I love.
We're ON the damn plane but we can't LEAVE this fucking place for another HOUR! WHY?! Delays or some such nonsense! We're ON the damn PLANE, what's the delay?! Fucking control tower!
15 mins later, we are leaving in 2 mins. I'm sick of planes and airports.
The flight only seems to have taken about an hour or so, because by the time we're fully in the air he's already telling us we're beginning our descent soon - I'm thankful I won't have to deal with planes for another 2 weeks.
In Paris and got to the hostel - which looks great from the outside, but which is really quite dingy on the inside. The paint is peeling, the rooms are small and there aren't any lockers to secure your things. A little more nervous living here, but at least there are no roommates - yet.
I enquired at the front desk and yes, it IS safe to leave stuff in the room, but you know..."things happen". I do have roommates apparently, they just aren't in right now. I look forward to THAT meeting.
My first meal is at an Italian place across the road; soup a l'ognion; half a bottle of Chateau Gartonet Bordeaux rouge and a steak. I deserve to treat myself I think.

I think my roommate is an assassin: I get to bed at 22h30. At midnight; he walks in in a suit and coat and briefcase. He undressed, gets into bed. Fiddles with his phone. From the light, I can see he is a tall, white guy, bald with chiseled features. I awaken again at 3am to find him coming BACK into the room, fully dressed WITH HIS BRIEFCASE. He gets into bed, IN HIS SUIT QND BRIEFCASE, and goes to sleep. At around 6h30 he gets a phonecall, looks at the number, hangs up on it, lies there for a moment, gets up with his coat and briefcase, and leaves, having MATICULOUSLY made his bed. I get back that night around 20hr and he never comes back. Someone - or some PEOPLE - have died today.

- from the Journal 15th Dec.