Happy New Year- The Best of 2011

I spent the new year in Berlin, which managed to live up to all the hype that surrounds the holiday. Fireworks were EVERYWHERE,  people were lighting firecrackers and dancing in the street. Berlin had a very cool, edgy, punk-rock feel. I played a game in which I got ten points every time I spotted someone with an open container of beer walking in the street on a typical day. I lost count at 500 points within a couple hours.

Besides the New Year, I kept true to my routine in Europe: good food, good beer, and lots of old stuff. I got to walk through the Memorial to the Murdered Jews. It consists of a large, open park, full of concrete blocks, each a different height and a different angle. The tour also took us to Hitlers bunker, the former headquarters of the Nazi Air force, and a Museum Island. I loved the feeling of freedom and celebration the city had. After such a long, sad history of the people of Berlin, it was good to find it so vibrant.

Also, I've spent some time working on my "Best of 2011" list. 2011 was a very, very good year for me.

Some highlights include:

Snorkeling with sea turtles in the Galapagos

Receiving the Gilman Scholarship

Training for and completing a triathlon

Moving to Morocco

Skydiving

Climbing Toubkal, the highest mountain in North Africa

Seeing the Arches of Moab- And playing the game of G.N.A.R.

Seeing the Blue City of Chefchouen

Riding horses on the beach in Assliah

Eating Couscous with a Moroccan Family

Trying: Snails, Sheep Brain, Blood Pudding, Sheep’s Head Meat

Crashing a pub crawl in London

Sipping espresso near the Coliseum in Rome

Partying in Sweden on the 25^th  

I'd say it's safe to call 2011 one Hellva Year for me. As 2012 dawns, I can't wait to see what is next!