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Friday, August 28, 2009

how'd we get so lucky?

I had heard the stories about crummy German neighbors... horrible landlords... moldy bathrooms and caved in ceilings but that didn't deter us once we decided our "home" would be away from the safety and "security" of the military installation. We listened to those stories but remained unfazed, summing them up to hearsay or fear of living among unfamiliar Germans in their country versus living among familiar Americans in their isolated, barb wired, ponds guarded fences. I remember one night when we were spending time with friends at their apartment near downtown Stuttgart, they told me they preferred living off post just to "get away" from the military ins and outs. It's easier to bring work home with you when you live across the street from your place of employment. Not to mention you can't really experience Germany the same way when you're surrounded by Americans... English.... and even Burger King. Where's the "foreign" in that, I ask you?


When Chad and I decided to go to Germany we knew it was for a few simple reasons. To live in a country other than our own, travel, and experience Europe like so many people only dream of experiencing. As we've learned, the only way to REALLY do that is to live away from the safe bosom of the installation and instead find home among people who do things differently, don't always speak English, but who are kind and generous all the same.


I know that sort of kindness and generosity exists among Americans and in America, no doubt. However, I also know that the eleven months I spent in Louisiana (in two different homes) I only spoke with my neighbors a hand full of times. In the four short and fleeting months that we've been on Wiesentalstrasse, I have been rescued from starvation and dehydration from my neighbor, Helga. I have been blessed with daily 'good wishes' from my neighbor, Eurica, who also allowed us to use her ax and pick during Chad's must.get.this.stump.out.even.if.it.kills.me four weekend rampage. Last weekend, she handed me a bucket full of gooseberries and last night, minutes before Chad and I were going to escape to bed, our doorbell rang and she brought us a jar of gooseberry jam (homemade of course). Not to mention, the dogs have benefited ten fold since she routinely passes over chicken scraps and frost burnt pork chops for them to enjoy.



The list of niceties could go on and on I'm sure and from the looks of it, it will only lengthen in time. I am forever grateful to my neighbors, even the ones who just smile and wave, for accepting us into their neighborhood. Also, for our landlord who liked us so much they cut us a deal when we weren't comfortable with the first contract and who remodeled this whole house to make it the most energy efficient on the block, costing us only 60 Euro a month in electricity.


Everyday I'm glad I didn't listen to the fears or stories of others. And if anyone were to ask me about moving off post, I would just refer them to this blog and probably tell them that maybe some of us just get lucky.


Tuesday, August 25, 2009

A day in Munich...

left us a little burned... a little blistered... but looking forward to more exploring in the city. Since we went with no plans other than eating at the Hofbrauhaus (and also because we got a late start since we had to drop off my car to get repaired from the accident) we were free to wander aimlessly. Which is exactly what we did (hence the blisters).

Chad chose the HB Original... I chose the Radler (1/2 beer,1/2 lemonade).
What was left of Chad's lunch...


Marienplatz.

The clock tower
Konditorei (candy & pastry shop)
The English Garden (oldest public park in the World)
Note: You can jump in this stream and float down it for quite some time. We didn't bring our suits so we didn't do so but we WILL. I got in to soak my sore feet... the water was freezing but refreshing in the heat.

The Chinese Tower



We are going to attempt Oktoberfest this year.
Wanna come?

Friday, August 21, 2009

heck

It was 100 degrees here yesterday.

My nose started bleeding.

We went to spin class anyways.


It's raining cats & dogs right now.

There is thunder... there is lightening.

I'm sweating profusely.

Gnocchi's hairy self is panting.

Both dogs are sprawled out on the cold floor.

Germans don't have a.c.

It's not even noon.

It's going to be a long (humid) day.



It's days like this when I miss California [weather].



Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Vacation: Day 4 & 5

Day 4: Shopping in downtown Garmisch-Partinkirchen




I wish I had a picture of the adorable flats Chad bought me downtown. Maybe that's for another blog... but armed with my new shoes I feel very European (flip flops are no nos in Germany... unless your at a beach or bathhouse).
Day 5: Eagle's Nest & Berchtesgaden (Austria)
Obersalzberg, where the Eagle's Nest is located, was a resting place for Hitler. He enjoyed visiting Obersalzberg so much that in 1933 he made the area his private residence and later a government headquarters. The road and the Eagle's Nest were built in a short 12 months and given to Hitler for a 50th birthday present. Unfortunately, Hitler rarely visited the Eagle's Nest, which was built at 1834 m above sea level, because he had a fear of heights and he worried the air was too thin. The Eagle's Nest consists of a large reception room, a kitchen (which was never used) and a waiting room. The Nest was never meant to be a permanent residence, but only a meeting place/tea house for the Nazi party, high ranking officials, and dignitaries.
In 1945 the Eagle's Nest barely survived the British air raid that destroyed Berchtesgaden when a large cloud covered the house and prevented the pilots from seeing their target. It was turned over to Bavaria from American occupation troops in 1952 and is now one of the most popular tourist destinations in Bavaria.
The drive to the top (buses with special brakes and engines are needed to climb the steep hill)...


Inside the tea house...


View of the Lake from the Eagle's Nest.

The Eagle's Nest
Chad & I at the top.

City of Salzburg down below...
The tunnel (which Hitler walked through) to get to the brass elevator which takes us to the Eagle's Nest...
Outside of Tunnel (plague dated 1938)
Lunch in the town of Berchtesgaden (totally destroyed during the war)
Chad's "leg of pork & dumplings" and my "Schnitzel & potatoes"
Golden Bear Restaurant
Fruit Stand

And back home.. (view from room).
auf wiedersehen!

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Vacation: Day 3

Forgive me... I had to skip Day 2 since it was spent getting a massage and watching movies.
Anyways, moving on to my trip to Italy.

"In the foothills of the Italian Dolomites there is a charming multicultural city which is the southern gateway to South Tirol. The compact city center features many charming shops and cafes. Sightseers are well rewarded with beautiful mountain vistas and the sight of postcard castles which evoke images of a time gone by. We also stop in the small medieval town known as Vipiteno, known for its Italian wine and leather goods in South Tirol." -Alpine Adventures
Europa Bridge (190 m)


Typical Bavarian home design...
Crossing over from Austria into Italy... hence the vineyards...
and Castles...
Bolzano, Italy (street market)
City Square

On our way to Vipiteno..

Glaciers.... which offer summer skiing.
Vipiteno , Italy...



And back "home" again.... Edelweiss.

Tomorrow... Berchtesgaden & the Eagle's Nest
Until then...
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