I've been meaning to write some observations about my trip to Germany, but there's so much I'm a bit overwhelmed. Also, I'm trying to use a German keyboard since we don't have the wireless router set up yet, so I'm going to make this short. Basically, in an effort to make everyone thoroughly jealous I am going to point out one huge difference between America and Germany.
I went with Axel to the Czech republic the other day for a beer\grocery run. And while we were there, I picked up a case of 20 of the finest German and Czech lagers, and these are 16 ounce beers mind you, for about, oh, 30 cents a piece. Yeah, that's right, a case of beer for 6 bucks. Water was considerably more expensive. Oh sure, we're sepnding nearly $5 a gallon for gas but only spending about $2.40 a gallon for German beer. Seems like a fair trade off.
Ok, that's it for now, I hate this keyboard, so time to enjoy that beer and train for my big beer race this Saturday.
Thursday, May 31
Tuesday, May 29
Pfingsten - Pentacost
Last weekend was pentacost and that means a long three day weekend. On Friday we went to Leipzig, about 150 miles west. Pe and Axel were at a concert and Ted and I roamed the town. At the same time there was the biggest Goth-Wave-Festival in Europe (if not in the world) in town - therefor there were like black dressed people everywhere. I know Leipzig a bit, so I could tell Ted some things. First we visited the train station - one of the biggest in Europe that is quite impressive. The town itself is very nice, lots of old buildings and little passage ways with fancy shops, a very very nice old town hall on the market place and two famous churches. We wandered around for a couple of hours, did some shopping - Ted got an Lokomotive Leipzig Sweater, what is the local 5th league Soccer club but beloved by all Leipzigern. And now my whole family, who is a big fan, too, loves him even more - and we enjoyed the town a lot.
Ted also liked that we took public transportation from the hotel, that was a bit outside, into the city center. On the way back to the hotel we had a group of rather drunk kids, that were very loud and in my opinion enoying - Ted had a lot of fun and couldn't stop grinning.
The next day, Saturday we left early in the morning and did a tour through the "Muldental" (The valley of the river Mulde). We visited two castles and climbed up on one of the oldest castles in Saxony. We had an incredible view over the countryside. We drove through neat little villages and towns and lots of fields with wheat and barley. The last stop was the Rochlitzer Berg. A little hill famous for its red granite.
The next two days we were in the garden with Pe and Axel and didnt do much. On Sunday Ted and I drove into town and had a little walk through the old town. Unfortunatly it started to rain and storm and we couldn't go to the Zoo to say "Hey" to the penguins. On monday, still a holiday, Oma and Opa came out for coffee and cake. We finished every night with games and alcohol.
Monday night Ted and I went back to town, mostly because the bed at the garden is not very comfortable and I was getting a stiff neck.
Today Ted went with Axel to Czech Republic, for gas and beer and other groceries and had a great time. Later on we got out the bikes (about 20 years old and very uncomfortable) and did as the locals do and drove into town to the mall.
Tomorow we will go by train to Dresden - more about that later.
Photos are not updated yet - I still dont know how to do the wireless internet here and the photos are on my computer and on Teds I need to put them on Pe's to upload them from here.
Ted also liked that we took public transportation from the hotel, that was a bit outside, into the city center. On the way back to the hotel we had a group of rather drunk kids, that were very loud and in my opinion enoying - Ted had a lot of fun and couldn't stop grinning.
The next day, Saturday we left early in the morning and did a tour through the "Muldental" (The valley of the river Mulde). We visited two castles and climbed up on one of the oldest castles in Saxony. We had an incredible view over the countryside. We drove through neat little villages and towns and lots of fields with wheat and barley. The last stop was the Rochlitzer Berg. A little hill famous for its red granite.
The next two days we were in the garden with Pe and Axel and didnt do much. On Sunday Ted and I drove into town and had a little walk through the old town. Unfortunatly it started to rain and storm and we couldn't go to the Zoo to say "Hey" to the penguins. On monday, still a holiday, Oma and Opa came out for coffee and cake. We finished every night with games and alcohol.
Monday night Ted and I went back to town, mostly because the bed at the garden is not very comfortable and I was getting a stiff neck.
Today Ted went with Axel to Czech Republic, for gas and beer and other groceries and had a great time. Later on we got out the bikes (about 20 years old and very uncomfortable) and did as the locals do and drove into town to the mall.
Tomorow we will go by train to Dresden - more about that later.
Photos are not updated yet - I still dont know how to do the wireless internet here and the photos are on my computer and on Teds I need to put them on Pe's to upload them from here.
Thursday, May 24
Deutschland
Yeah we are finally here, after 15 hours of flight we landed yesterday save and tired in Berlin where my Grandparents picked us up. The flight was ok so far except the first part to Minniapolis that was very bumpy and I got very very sick. That made me feel not so good the whole time until we arrived in Germany. But once here everything was great. My folks is very very happy to see us as are we of course to see them.
Last night we stayed at my parents little garden house, but tonight we will be in the apartment. The jetlag woke us up last night at like 4 am. But we could do anything, because the House is tiny and we slept in the living room and there is no door to the bedroom, just a curtain. So should we wake up early tonight we at least can watch TV.
Today we went into town, we had my moms car, and run some errands. I am trying to change my name in Germany because I need a new passport (my old one is still on my maiden name), but it is nearly impossible. They need so many documents and forms and we dont have half of them here. I guess I'll just keep the old name her. It is a hassle sometimes especially when flying, but so far I dont see another way - stupid Germany burocracy.
When we walk through town and speak English people look weird at us - I dont care but I feel like an exotic animal or something. In America everybody would ask you immedently were you are from, but here, just stares.
Tonight we had dinner with Oma and Opa and we had a great time - Ted was very happy, he got beer and grilled pork steaks and felt like in heaven. His german is improving rapidly and gets better with every bottle of beer he is drinking.
Tomorow we will go to Leipzig and stay a night there and we probably will be in the Garden until monday or tuesday - there is no internet, ok dial-up, but that doesnt count, so I wont be able to post until next week.
Last night we stayed at my parents little garden house, but tonight we will be in the apartment. The jetlag woke us up last night at like 4 am. But we could do anything, because the House is tiny and we slept in the living room and there is no door to the bedroom, just a curtain. So should we wake up early tonight we at least can watch TV.
Today we went into town, we had my moms car, and run some errands. I am trying to change my name in Germany because I need a new passport (my old one is still on my maiden name), but it is nearly impossible. They need so many documents and forms and we dont have half of them here. I guess I'll just keep the old name her. It is a hassle sometimes especially when flying, but so far I dont see another way - stupid Germany burocracy.
When we walk through town and speak English people look weird at us - I dont care but I feel like an exotic animal or something. In America everybody would ask you immedently were you are from, but here, just stares.
Tonight we had dinner with Oma and Opa and we had a great time - Ted was very happy, he got beer and grilled pork steaks and felt like in heaven. His german is improving rapidly and gets better with every bottle of beer he is drinking.
Tomorow we will go to Leipzig and stay a night there and we probably will be in the Garden until monday or tuesday - there is no internet, ok dial-up, but that doesnt count, so I wont be able to post until next week.
Monday, May 21
15 Hours to go
Ok, everything is packed, all our suitcases weight 49.5 pounds (50 lb are allowed), all presents are bought and packed, the carry-ons are ready, we have all papers and document - we are good to go. We have to leave here at 730 in the morning tp be at the airport on time and at 1030 am we will be of to Germany. We are very nervous and I thinkk I wont be able to sleep tonight - what isn't that bad, becuase than I hopefully will be able to sleep during the flight. We will be in Germany Wednesday morning at 930 local time and I want to try to stay up as long as possible that day to beat the jetlag.
15 hours to go, the next post will be from Germany ...
15 hours to go, the next post will be from Germany ...
Saturday, May 19
Two days to go
After squezzing everything in our car yesterday, including the cats who were not very happy at all, we are on our first stop in St. Louis for the next couple of days. Today we went to buy everything we still needed, including suitcasesn and presents and now we are more or less ready to go. Except for the fact that all our stuff is still in trash bags and has to be packed.
The cats are doing ok so far. That is Katinka is fine here, because she knows Teds parents and she has been here before. Felix on the other side is just petrified from the drive and is hiding under various sidetables, beds etc. Yesterday he actually crawled inside the matress of our bed. The matress is very old and the lining on the bottom has come of. He was sitting between the box springs - poor little fellow. But I think he will do fine eventually. Katinka is not very happy about Felix being here and she is hissing and the little one, what doesn't make it easier.
So for tomorow I just have to pack the rest of the stuff, do some little more laundry and get a manicure and a pedicure and we are good to go.
The cats are doing ok so far. That is Katinka is fine here, because she knows Teds parents and she has been here before. Felix on the other side is just petrified from the drive and is hiding under various sidetables, beds etc. Yesterday he actually crawled inside the matress of our bed. The matress is very old and the lining on the bottom has come of. He was sitting between the box springs - poor little fellow. But I think he will do fine eventually. Katinka is not very happy about Felix being here and she is hissing and the little one, what doesn't make it easier.
So for tomorow I just have to pack the rest of the stuff, do some little more laundry and get a manicure and a pedicure and we are good to go.
Friday, May 11
Excitement
God, I am getting really really excited and nervous about the trip. Only 11 days and we will be sitting well above the clouds and be on our way to Germany. There is so much still to be done. Ok actually not. I did all the planing, what was the hardest and most time consuming part and now I just have to put everything together. I have about half the gifts - for those persons it was easy for. And now I still need a ton of stuff and I have no idea what to get them. At least I am done with school for this semester - just a stupid final on Wednesday - so I have time to get everything done.
But yeah, right now it is more nervousness about the flying. Ja I have my pills and my logic tells me it is totally save blah blah blah - but I still hate to fly. Unfortunately that is the fastest and cheapest way to go to Germany.
But yeah, right now it is more nervousness about the flying. Ja I have my pills and my logic tells me it is totally save blah blah blah - but I still hate to fly. Unfortunately that is the fastest and cheapest way to go to Germany.
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