Sunday, October 9, 2011

Week 7 Germany Dachau, Munich, European dryers


Week 7 Germany Dachau, Munich, European dryers
Hi from Germany,
This week we had a bit of a change in weather.  It had been mild but this week we had to break out the jackets. It even hailed. Notice the pictures.
Gregg and I had moved into our house before our stuff, furniture, pots and pans, etc made it here.  So basically we are living like a couple of college kids.  We have 4 forks, 4 plates, 4 cups and a couple of pots.  Our bed is made up with two dollar pillows from the PX and a blanket from the PX with an afghan thrown on it.  I told Gregg to bring a blanket and he found a Godby High School afghan.  Go figure. 
Fortunately, we have furniture on loan from the government, but it leaves a little to be desired. We just need a piece of wood sitting on two blocks, a lava lamp and maybe a crate full of vinyl albums and our college life would be complete..  LOL To be honest we are kind of enjoying the minimalistic living arrangement. We heard that our household furniture is supposed to come in a couple of weeks but no word yet on the “quick” Baggage ( clothes, linens, kitchen stuff).  That means our long term stuff is making it here before the short term.  Weird huh?  And the car is supposed to be here this week but we’ve heard nothing about it.
We tried to use our washer and dryer for the first time this week and it was a total disaster. This washer and dryer do not have the American specs; they are the European and they have some really strange appliances.  The dryer didn’t work and the washer took forever.  We tried putting the models in Google search and came up with an eleven minute video that someone had done to show us how to use the washer.  It was step by step so we found out that its cycle does take 90 minutes. Success on the washer!  We had to call a repairman for the dryer. They dryer does not use a vent; it sucks the water out of the clothes and deposits the water in a jug located in the dryer.  The dryer had shorted out because the last person to use it had not known that and let the water fill up and it had shorted out the dryer.  The dryer also had four filters.  Anyway we did get all of that straightened out.
I was happy this week because I got my nails done and my hair cut. I know I’m so prissy.
We finally drove the autobahn.  Gregg drove through hail and rain.  But during my turn to drive it was perfect weather.  Some people go about 120-150 mph.  There are some crazy drivers out there.  But I was glad we finally drove on it.  We had kind of talked ourselves into thinking we couldn’t do it.  Now that is not the case.  Autobahn here we come!
We went to Dachau on Saturday and it was sobering to say the least.  It was horrific what happened there and being there was eerie.  The fence with the barbed wire and a moat-like ditch still stood.  One of the barracks and the area in which they were tortured was still there.  They had torn down the rest of the buildings and rocks just covered the ground where the other buildings were. You could tell just how big that place was. The train tracks and platform were in ruins with just remnants of where they had stood.  The pictures and video that they showed us were taken by the Germans SS during Hitler’s regime.  It was disturbing to say the least.  I think it was important to go.  It was a part of history and something that must be kept alive so that nothing like that can ever happen again. I attached a picture of the gate and a sculpture that stood outside the compound.
We rushed back to see the FSU game which we were able to see of the Internet live.  UGH!! Nuff said. Hope we have a better rest of the season for sure.
Gregg and I went to Munich on Sunday and had a good time.  See picture below of us in front of the fountain. We walked around and did the sightseeing bus.  It was different than before because Oktoberfest is over.  It was nice to see the town without all the people.  There was a big runner's marathon going on so a lot of the streets were detoured.  That was kind of cool to see.  We went by train with one connection.  We are trying to baby step our traveling here so we can understand how to do it.;  We did get lost coming back, but I had brought the Garmin from the car and it switched to walking directions and told us how to get back.  Then we missed on connection because they changed the tracks.  I’m sure they announced it but we didn’t understand it.
We are home safe and sound now.  I have off Monday for Columbus Day.  We plan to take it easy.  I thing Gregg might play golf and I might walk around with him.
That’s all for this week.
Take care and until next time.
Hugs from Germany.
Susan





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