Arbeiten Schwer Für das Geld

I'm writing a small piece for Newsweek International based on a lecture I attended. Excluding extra airfare, I'm hoping to make the BucheMesse pay for itself. Tickets were free on a press pass, but lodging and transportation add up. This morning I overslept - that gorgeous fire I built last night wouldn't go out, and I was too nervous to go to bed until it was down to a few embers. That plus the jet lag found me asleep until almost noon. It was raining and I was already late, so I hopped in a cab after waiting fifteen minutes for a bus.

The cab ride from the airport and to the book fair cost $64 euros -- almost $90. But we got a little lost, and the cabbie waited for me outside (though he turned the fair off, I figured that added a little extra) - I figured a ride to the fair would cost about $25 - still steep, but worth it. By the time we arrived, the meter was at $48 euros!

I originally planned to take a bus from my street to the Bahnhof (train station) then the S-Bahn to the convention hall. That costs about $5 euro combined, or $10 a day. Today, the bus was right there when I got off the train (and I only took it in the wrong direction once!), so it worked out perfectly. Last night, not so much, so I took a cab home. That only cost about 5 euros, so that's an acceptable option once I get off the train. On a side note, both the bus and train are warm, well-lit, and comfortable.



You may notice that I've changed some post titles. I've decided to give each post a German name, so you'll be forced to learn some German along with me.