What have we been up to???

It's been nearly two months since my last post and where does the time go?!  Business and personal trips to the USA, day trips, German lessons, festivals, fireworks, food and fun and fußball - it's been pretty packed!  The day after we arrived home from Rome, Dave had to head back to the States for work therefore I needed to keep busy and fill my days with fun little outings around this beautiful country that we live in. 

My friend Rinat and I drove to the quaint town of Zwingenberg, that lies along the Odenwald, to meet our friend Madalina for lunch and visit the city of Darmstadt for the afternoon where we did some shopping and sightseeing. It's quite a nice city with a lot to see and do, beautiful parks and notable for me as my Dad used to live there when he was stationed in Germany in the 80's! Madalina came back to Enkenbach to the Hostel Hoffmanhof for a few days while both of our men were on business trips.

Prinz George Garten - Darmstadt

 

Statue in Darmstadt

 

Me, Madalina and Rinat in Prinz Georg Garten

Later in July, Rinat and I took to train to Heidelberg for one of it's castle lighting events that happens only 3 times a year when Heidelberg Castle is lit up so as to appear it is on flames. There is also an amazing firework display above the river and the town is packed with people from near and far to see the beautiful event!  Before grabbing our train home it started to rain so we went into a Beer and Pretzel Bar called Bierbrezel where we had...a beer and pretzel ;) I love Heidelberg, it's an adorable town that is so close to us and even though it didn't make Rick's list as a "must-see" I think it is!


Heidelberg Fireworks

 

Heidelberg Castle "in flames"

 

Beer and Pretzel Sandwich

Not too far from our house and near Dave's office is a 62 acre game park that is home to bison, horses, wild boar, deer, rabbits, cows, chickens, peacocks and even ferrel cats!  It is like a "free" zoo in a peaceful nature setting and really fun to walk around.  It's a wonderful place to wander around on trails and even bring a picnic, but don't eat in front of the animals because I think they are used to people feeding them :)  Next time I go I have to remember to take bread, apples or carrots for them. There are signs posted telling you to not feed the animals any foods with white sugar or white flour - what a great diet by the way!

Buffalo at the Wildpark

 


Wild Boar in the Wildpark

 


Bunnies in the Wildpark


The tail end of July and 1st half of August had Dave doing even more traveling for work - the poor guy traveled for work 21 out of 31 days in July!  While he was off to the Ukraine I went back to the States for a family and fun filled visit.  It was quite a busy few weeks but I was able to spend a lot of time with family, enjoy the beauty of the Finger Lakes including the refreshing water of Keuka, take a quick trip to Ohio for my Godson's birthday and spend a weekend in NYC with my brother and Mom.  It was a GREAT trip and I hate to say that the ONLY thing getting me back on a plane across the ocean was the fact that I hadn't seen Dave in a few weeks!   I really haven't been homesick over the past year but it sure is easy to feel that way when spending too much time in the land where everything is easier!

Back in Germany it took a few days for me to get over the jet lag and to get back into the swing of things.  Tending to my overgrown garden with monster zucchini, walking everywhere, travel planning and speaking German were all back to being a top priority again!  We had stopped our weekly German lesson at Dave's office due to his demanding work schedule, the Wednesday Deutsch speaking group was on pause for the summer and the 2 hour class I had recently picked up on Friday mornings was no longer being held.  I felt like I was starting all over again!  I was flooded with the overwhelming feeling of helplessness again! 

It didn't last though - nothing can get one back in the Deutsch spirit more than attending the country's most famous sport - Fußball!  We had a great time, in great seats with our friends from Zweibrücken for our first Fußball match - FC Kaiserslautern vs. TSV 1860 München - where there was no score but still some good action!

Fritz Walter Stadium in Kaiserslautern

 

This time of year also kicks off the festival season...wait...isn't it always festival season in Germany?  Well yes and no - it is the start of some of the largest wine and beer festivals in the area as well as the smaller town's festivals called Kerwe.  We were venturing out for a lovely Sunday stroll when we came upon a parade right around the corner from our house. 


One of the many bands during the parade



Enjoying the beers that were being handed out!



Adorable mini horses!

The parade wasn't too long and circled around to the the main street in Alsenborn where they hoisted the new Kerwestrauß (Kerwe bouquet). Each year a large pole, heavily decorated with multicolored papered is placed a prominent position in the town. (I know I've mentioned this pole in other blogs) It’s represents a fresh, new beginning for the town. By the time next year’s Kerwe comes around the paper on the old Kerwestrauß will be completely white, bleached by the sun and the rain.  My camera battery exhausted right in time for me to get a picture of the Kerwestrauß!  We didn't partake in the festival but did visit one in Kaiserslautern a few nights before!

Enjoying jazz at The Paulaner Bar in Kaiserslautern during the Swinging Lautern Fest

We have some fun times coming up - our friends from Nebraska will be here in a few short weeks - and we'll be visiting Venice, München's Oktoberfest, as well as seeing a few castles along the way I'm sure. Then I'll be starting another intensive German course this fall, continuing with my Deutsch speaking group on Wednesdays, and we're still in the planning stages for a few long weekend trips around some of the German holidays to Normandy and where ever else I may find us a good deal! We have visited our local Artz (doctor) as well as the Gesundheit Office in preparation for our trip to Africa and are all up to date with booster shots and the Yellow Fever Vaccination. We're super duper pumped for that trip!

It is absolutely amazing to think that over a year has gone by in Germany.  It has been a wonderful, adventure filled experience to say the least and we're so excited to see what the next year has in store for us.   Everyday IS a new adventure, and definitely a new learning experience!  If you haven't started your planning for a trip to Europe you better do so - time is ticking!

Pictures from the past few months.

Bis zum nächsten Mal meine Freunde!