Sara Hammerzmith

This was the most difficult day of the trip. The day before D-Day, the day before take off. The day I’d have to make up my mind about what hotel I wanted to stay at in Frankfurt, for instance. I have this nasty habit of either booking things way too ahead of time, or doing it last minute. Seriously, even Chiara had to help me and chip in on what she thought, and Curt too in the end I think.

But anyway, that isn’t the first thing that happened. So, basically, we were supposed to be at this Easter thing at Curt’s parents, but seeing me being ill, and then I really mean ill, I decided to stay home. I walked down the excercise path one last time, and this time it actually BEING the very last time as we were leaving the day after.

I got downtown and wandered about in the Roma Street Parklands, something I had postponed a lot. I had seen signs about it literally everywhere, but never really bothered to actually go there until now.

And it was absolutely stunning, as you can see on the photos below.

Got home, and once home, I did another trail down the path, it’s seriously hard to say good bye sometimes, got home, took Curt out for a walk and some last time McDonalds on Australian grounds. Packed up all my stuff, dealt with German hotels, talked to my very excited European girls and went to bed waaay too late considering what hour we were supposed to go up to go to the airport.

But you know… Things that happens, I guess?

// Sara

Spent most of my day outside todays. It’s been a 30 degrees day, and since we’re leaving this country in just two days, I figured I’d take the time to actually enjoy the weather and not think too much, so I went down to Lutwych and Kedron Brook and walked around for a good few hours, went home for like fifteen minutes before I decided to go out again because I get insane of being inside when it’s nice weather outside. So I went back, kept walking around until darkness fell around me, and that’s when I decided it could be good to head home.

I did catch some bats, finally, in the free. It was a little freaky at first, but damn. Precious animals. Once home I got dinner, sat down with my ladies from home and started booking the last pieces of this trip, which is the French and partly the German Powerwolf dates. I think we spent a good three hours trying to put this thing together and despite that, we wound up in three different coaches on the train back to Paris. Oh well, maybe we can solve it, haha.

But really, its going to be great to be back in Europe and see Powerwolf again – despite Babyface McDreamy’s absence. I’ll see my girls and boys again – Madlen, Sophie, Laura, Cyril and Daniel, and I’ll have the privilege to meet Marianne for the first time. It’s going to be soo good. And it’ll be good to be back in France for a change, it’s been six years since I were there the last time, but then I spent three days in Paris. Now it’ll be like what, a couple of hours in Clermont, a couple of hours in Paris haha. Oh well.

// Sara

Started the day out earlier than normal, at least for being back here in Brisbane, and went downtown and caught the bus over to the Botanic Garden. The first thing I really noticed about it, was the huge amount of lizards running around literally everywhere. But, despite this, it was a really nice walk about. More pictures, less talking, aye?

After this, we got on the bus back into the city, grabbed a quick breakfast and then headed over to the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, which is basically a zoo, or animal park, with Australian animals.

We walked around for a while looking at all the animals, but did without a doubt spend most time in the kangaroo centre, or what you call it, where we cuddled and fed the kangaroos. Best. Day. Ever.

After this, we headed right home and I spent most night fixing with Aria. She’s done with her investor career now, I’ve been refurnishing the livingroom and kitchen, and she started a new career in the secret agent line. I hope I don’t get too far up on her, since I do not remember what line Anna did and I figured Aria would do the opposite… oh well!

// Sara

I guess technically, that title were better fitting yesterday, but oh well. Today we decided to head up to the Summit Lookout, which is supposed to give you ana amazing view over all of Brisbane.

We headed out fairly early, for being us, and got downtown well in time for the bus leaving. The place is actually called Mountain Coot-Tha, but it’ll be easier to refer to as the Summit. Killing time waiting for the bus (that only leaves about once every hour) we went through H&M and a couple of souvenir stores, and I’m so surprised to firstly, seeing so many Online-Only items in store, and also, seeing the items that were many seasons ago. Like, my flowery Coachella dress is currently instores in Australia? It’s so odd.

Anyway, the bus eventually came, and we got on, and went on the half an hour long ride up to the Lookout… and we were greeted by a magnificent view. It felt like you could see most of Brisbane from there, if not all of it.

After being there for a while, we spontaneously embarked on the JC Slaughter Falls trail, which is a fairly short one – about 2,5 kilometres only, but considering how hilly and steepy it was, it felt longer and heavier than you’d think. We think we finished it, we weren’t exactly sure but we had to turn around regardless to make sure to make the bus. Maybe some other time!

Once back in town we did some last minute souvenir shopping, got home, once home I played a little The Sims and kept trying to get through “The Fifth Wave” in wait for Chiara, once she was home we went down to Grill’d to have an amazing dinner together. You can really feel that the end of the trip is coming to an end now.

After this, we went home, watched various weird videos on Youtube – everything from losing-it news anchors to Raske Menn’s world history in five minutes.

Wrapped the night up with some progress on Aria – she’s now an investor, just so you know.

// Sara

Slow, but still a bit of an eventful day. Started the day out with doing, an albeit shorter walk with Curt, and after that Michelle and I headed down to the city to visit the Museum of Science where we learned a lot about the animals, the sea, Queensland and Aborigin history. It was interesting to say the least, and what else, well, we found Perry!

After this, we headed over to heaven on Earth – Grill’d. It’s a really fancy and good burgerplace, and since my tummy was screaming for food we had to go. They have the only burger, or food, that has made me shed a few tears over spicyness. I still finish it, but yes, a tear or two do go down with it.

We walked around the South Bank a bit before heading home, Michelle making dinner for Curt and Chiara and I found myself playing The Sims and forcing myself through “The Fifth Wave”. I loved the movie, but I have a hard time getting through the book.

Gladly, we have a bit more interesting things planned for tomorrow, so see you then!

// Sara

We started the day off with: LAUNDRY! You see, being a way for a while kind of makes the need for doing laundry, so today was the day. We’re leaving in sort of a week, so we figured it could be good to get some of our stuff clean for departure. After all, we are not going directly home to Sweden, we are going to Germany and France in between.

But today on the other hand, Ashleigh and Chiara took us to a cat café. Basically, it’s a café but you hang out with cats. And we were lucky, we were the only people who had booked that time, so we had all five – six cats all to ourselves. It was really nice and chill to hang out with the girls and the cats for a while, speaking mostly about cats but really anything.

Once we got home, we caught a quick dinner and then we headed down to the cinemas to catch “Zootopia” on it’s opening day here in Australia. I don’t really wanna say too much of the movie since it’s pretty fresh, but it was a really good and fun movie! I’m usually not a fan of like, animals-pretending-to-be-human kind of films, but this one I really, really liked! Go see it if you can.

We wrapped up the night watching recaps of the championship of Cosplays which was in Chicago today, where Curt and Chiara’s friend won! Congrats to Sam Major Cosplay!

// Sara

I have decided to split this day in two, in order to capture as much as possible really.

So, today was Epica day! Woohoo, right? It is. I’ve been waiting for this for so long. At first I missed out on the Quantuum Enigma tour on the first leg in Europe, then the second leg in Europe, and when they originally came out two months after Soundwave, I cursed so fucking loudly. Soundwave cancelled, which is tragic as it is, but then again. Epica!

But, despite this being concertday, it doesn’t by any means mean rest! But no long travels, so I simply decided to go to Auckland Zoo.

It was a little bit of a hassle getting there seeing New Zealand (nor Australia for that matter) announces bus-stops, so I missed one stop, gladly, it only added about 200 meters of walking, which is nothing.

At first I had a hard time navigating the zoo, which happens easily for me when I get to big place, like an amusementpark, mostly because I don’t know where I should start. But once I worked out a route I could finally make my way around.

Just as with Hobbiton, this will be mainly pictures.

About here, it started to rain superheavily, so I made my way into the Meerkat tunnel.

After finishing the Zoo, I took a walk through Western Springs Park, which had wild rabbits and various birds. Beautiful location!

And then, it was home to prepare for Epica.

TO BE CONTINUED

// Sara