Happiness and Social Workers

Wales and review of Glasvegas are below.

Wales

Despite reports from some Englishmen, the Welsh are not in fact mutated zombies. They are perhaps disturbingly happy people; the hostel I stayed at in Cardiff being the cleanest and friendliest I have ever had the pleasure at sleeping in. I can think of an analogy to Canada. The Welsh can be happy and clean because they're irrelevent. And only sort of their own people anymore. Perhaps they're happy nihilists? But what do I know. I visited several parts of the National Museum of Wales - which was lovely, really. Part of it is outside Cardiff in the countryside and recreats medieval and later Welsh culture. Interesting stuff I suppose, but no longer alive. Cardiff has a cool castle and a nice park.

Glasvegas - The best album so far this year! Considering the only other one I've heard is Merriweather Post Pavilion, that may not be saying much - but I mean it as quite the complement. Glasvegas have a big reverby sound and they lay it on thick - but its not mawkish, even if it threatens to be so. The cheesy stuff is on purpose and it always fits. My favorite one right now is the second song about how your social worker will help you out of depression. Also the creepy one about how if you stab the lead singer his family will make you regret it. And its all in a Scottish accent.

Germany

I am now out of order and will doubtless remain so. Anyway,

Germany

Germany is amazing. It has been speculated that I only think this because the beer is a) better and b) cheaper than England. But this is totally not! (entirely) the case. Germans also make great (and often hilarious) bars and clubs. They've continued on despite the war (shhh!). Oh also...Steins and Schnitzel.

Cologne

Apparently Cologne isn't romantic. I beg to differ! But only b/c I was with Joe. Actually Cologne is pretty ugly, except for their cathedral which is about the size of America's national debt. Fo' serious. Bruhl, where you can find an 18th century German "castle" (les Franch call them chateaus) or giant house with a spooky German wood, is a short ride away. Just stay in the Black Sheep Hostel and you'll have fun.

Hamburg

Hamburg is bigger than Cologne but still not generally a tourist hotspot. Its red light district is much lamer than Amsterdam's. We still found a hilarious disco club though. There is a tower from which one can see the whole city, including a couple of old Nazi bunkers. There are waterways everywhere, which makes for nice atmosphere. And um...Steins?