OKTOBERFEST 2009

Two roundtrip tickets to Oktoberfest via the USO- 100 Euro

One bathroom break on the way to Munich- 1 Euro

Pretzel and Schnitzel sandwich- 12 Euro

1/2 Meter long hot dog- 3.50 Euro

Beer- 20+ Euro

Seeing, experiencing, eating, laughing, drinking, having one of the best times of your life at Oktoberfest 2009- PRICELESS...

Our new friends...

Don't stop me now...

Even though my throat kinda feels like I've swallowed a brillo pad and walking up one flight of stairs takes all of my energy for the next two hours... Chad and I are bound and determined to go to Oktoberfest Opening Day on Saturday. Actually, unless I wake up paralyzed on Saturday we ARE going because we booked our non-refundable tickets.

It's just one of those things you have to do ONCE if you live in Germany.

A Saturday in Stuttgart...

when given the opportunity to venture outside of this place we call 'home,' we typically take advantage. However, this weekend we were invited by friends to stay put and instead do some exploring in our own backyard. Our friends (who also conveniently live downtown... can you say, free parking?) enticed us with promises of zoo visits, food, and bike riding (shucks, flat tire) and were were sold. So here is our Saturday in Stuttgart...

I normally wouldn't wear this outfit out and about in Europe (hello, American) but we thought we were riding bikes... which would make this ensemble entirely appropriate. It all worked out though because it allowed me to shop at H&M later in an attempt to fit in better (well, that was my excuse anyway).

This photo was Chad's idea... hence the awkward pose and apprehensive smirk on my face.

I don't know about you but I suddenly have the urge to read Secret Garden.

I'm not sure when Redwoods became appropriate zoo exhibits but we hugged this tree for two reasons. We are from California and it felt like home.

We ended the night with this sunset (and tacos, UNO, & Taboo).

The End.

Summer vs. Fall

It rained for two days straight last weekend. It really put a damper on my flea-marketing and festival going that I had planned. Poop. It seemed miraculous when all of a sudden the sun came out at 4 pm on Saturday and graced us with it's Summer-like presence. It was then that I was moved to take advantage of what little Summer we have left by walking through the open flower fields and picking a few pretties to take home....

All over Germany, particularly where we live, there are flower fields. These fields are completely open and at your own discretion you can park you car and pick a few stems to take home. There's always a sign saying how much each stem will cost you and a little bucket you slip your Euro into once your bouquet is complete! I've wanted to stop all summer long especially since I pass one a mile from my home on almost a daily basis. It was this Saturday that I knew it was going to be now or never because with Fall quickly approaching, who knows how long these flowers would last.

So we pulled in, hopped out and picked ten perfect flowers. The best 3 Euro I've spent all Summer.

Our Neighborhood

To clarify, that spray painted sign says "God is the Love"

Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all. ~Stanley Horowitz



Bring it on, Fall....


tschüs!