Germany week 21 Luxembourg, Patton’s grave, Ramstein, and different kinds of snow

Germany week 21 Luxembourg, Patton’s grave, Ramstein, and different kinds of snow

Dear all:

This week we had some more snow.  I’ve noticed something about snow.  There are different kinds.  There is the mini snow which I have seen a few times in Florida.  There is the small to medium kind of snow-I’ve seen this in Reno and Vermont.  There is the snow whip- that is the snow that beats you up as it comes down.  More commonly known as the snow storm.  I’ve seen it a couple of times too—not in Florida but other places.  But here in Germany is the first time I have seen fat snow.  This snow looks like it needs some time with Jenny Craig.  It is lovely and floaty and what all of the paper snowflakes that I made as a child have been patterned after.  I have to admit out of all of the snow—fat snow is my favorite.  One more picture below.(#1)

The latter part of the week we were disappointed as the military trip to Luxembourg was cancelled.  Not to be discouraged we decided to try to get a last minute reservation at Ramstein (#2 Gregg at golf course) and yea!!! we were successful.  We thought it was about time that baby car got to go on the autobahn for an extended period of time.  Baby car did great and by the way got 45 miles to the gallon.  Gotta love me some baby car!

On the way we found the rest stops. They are labeled as P for just parking and P WC for Parking and water closet which is Europe's fancy way of labeling a bathroom.  Anyway at one of the water closets Gregg went in and found two bullet holes shot through the door from the inside.  Guess that guy really had to go.  lol

We shopped the mall in Ramstein and I found the cuckoo clocks I’ve been looking for and also the German part of my Christmas town.  We went to the Macaroni Grill because we could get the free refills on the sweet tea something I really miss.

Then on to Luxembourg. I thought there would be a border check. We had our passports ready and everything but alas there was just a sign much like the signs announcing your entrance into the next state in the U.S.

 Of course the Garmin took us once again on an obsolete road that was under construction with a large ravine to one side.  It was so steep the some of the barricades had been hit and were in the road but the road was so narrow that I had to get out and move them before we could continue.  We decided that we would just keep going until we ran out of road but the Garmin got us there.  We asked the caretaker at the Cemetery for an easier way out which he kindly told us.  The American Cemetery in Luxembourg is an ominous site and Patton’s grave although not elaborate was a highlight of the venture.  Very moving with a wonderful chapel area. My Dad served under Patton so this was one of the places he wanted us to visit.  I will let the pictures tell the story below. #3-#8

Next we took a sightseeing tour of Luxembourg.  It is a very small country but had lots of public parking and one way streets and yes our trip would not have been complete without one trek the wrong way on the one way street, but we survived and went on to see the buildings and the tour said that there were 480K people in Luxembourg and that they took the best of Europe.  They had a lot of French cuisine and a large financial district which also included their version of the twin towers.  If you get on a bus tour in Luxembourg don’t worry about being late since the bus driver will just run red lights to keep his schedule.  Lol  See pictures below. #9-#13 The last two pictures are of the Rhine and a nuclear power plant on our trip home.  #14-15

An example of one drawback of living so far from home happened this weekend as we were traveling.  Dad fell and hurt his hip.  Fortunately nothing was broken and we are hoping for a speedy recovery.  But it does make you feel a little helpless to help.  Get well soon, Dad!!! And with that, I will close until next week.

For now, hugs from Germany.

Susan

Germany Week 20—Snow!!! Snow!!! And More Snow!!! Regensburg and Neumarkt

Germany Week 20—Snow!!! Regensburg and Neumarkt

Dear all:

Week 20-- wow that seems like a long time. Got back into school on Tuesday, I was happy we had Monday off so I could catch up with my jetlag.  Enjoyed going back to school and brought my students T-shirts compliments of Sue Semrau’s FSU basketball team.  Thanks, Sue!! See below the picture (#1) of some of the students.  I edited it to protect their identities. 

The next part of my news is snow.  We had to leave school early--no afterschool buses-- Thursday because of the snow.  See pictures below.(#2 at school--#4 across the street from our house)   Gregg drove to me very slowly and he always moves over to let other cars go ahead of him to pave the way.  We are still travelling the autobahn most of the time as it is the better driven and clearer path. We have seen quite a few cars smashed up or on the side in a ditch from losing control of their car.

Friday was a big holiday here as it was Three Kings’ Day.  Most places were closed.  We had half a day at school and spent the rest of the time doing in-service.

We decided to go to areas around here this weekend.  We took the train to Regensburg (#8) Saturday it is only a 20 minute ride away to the mall and had a blast.  I was looking for after Christmas decorations on sale trying to find a German building for my Christmas town with German writing on it but it seems that they put up all of their Christmas stuff or it was already sold.  It was very crowded but we had a good time looking and yes -of course- I found something to buy. lol

After that we decided to venture to Neumarkt (Pic # 5 & 6 of the town) —it is only about 10 miles from our house.  We were very surprised with that town.  It was huge with lots of stores that are floors and floors up like it was in Taiwan.  Had a good time exploring.

Our weather has been erratic- in a 20 minutes span we went from sunshine to 30 miles an hour wind gusts with rain to lightning, rain, sleet and snow all at the same time.  I have put some pictures of the snow and Gregg’s picture (#3)with only shorts on – he wanted me to caption it--  “We’re not in Florida anymore!!”  Of course, I know that it has been very cold in Florida this week.  But you guys warm up to 60 or so-- we don’t-- what we start out as, we stay.  But I have enjoyed seeing the snow fall and even went outside to catch some flakes on my tongue.  (#2)  See Gregg at his golf course covered in snow. (#7)

That’s all for this week.  Hope you have a great week!

Hugs from Germany,

Susan

Germany week 19: Back in Germany--Happy New Year 2012

Germany week 19: Back in Germany--Happy New Year 2012!!!!

Dear all:

It was so great being home.  See Dad and sister Judi pic below. I got to do some of my traditions after like Christmas sales where I didn’t buy a whole lot since I did not get a chance to get out any of my Christmas stuff from the year before, but of course I did manage to get a few things. Lol  My family went to see Sherlock on Christmas day and Amanda and I went to Mission Impossible so I got to catch up with some movies, too.  It was fun.

I got my dog a haircut (See pic below) so she could be a little more groomed then bought her some sweaters to keep her warm during the winter months.  We watched the Florida State Seminole game against Notre Dame and was thrilled that we came out a winner.

We ended up flying out Friday which put us in Munich on Saturday December 31. Our flight was a bear but I caught up some more with movies watching 3 on the flight- it makes the time go faster.  A small world moment in the Amsterdam airport as we saw and talked with  a girl from Wakulla.  She said, “Go Noles!” after noticing Gregg’s FSU jacket.  Pretty cool, huh?

We took a train to our car from Munich and got on a train car with about 20 or so college students who were going to party all night on the train they were heading to Prague.  (See pic below) They expected to get there around 3am and they were going to stay up all night and leave the next day at 9am.  Oh to be young. But their excitement was contagious and we felt after the hour with them on the train that we had had our New Year’s Eve party.  They loved that we were real Americans.  Lol

We got home last night and the ground was covered with snow and stayed up till midnight then the real fun started.  Outside on our porch we watched a fireworks show that rivaled Tom Brown Park. (See pic below) A lot of houses shot off massive fireworks for about 30 minutes.  We cheered our neighbors and thoroughly enjoyed it.  It is weird with so many rules here.  They seem to turn their head about fireworks rules. Lol  We got up this morning and  of course we brought back the warmth it was green grass all of the snow melted and it was downright warm about 53 degrees today. But let me tell you all of the trash was cleaned up today. These Germans are serious about getting rid of their trash. 

We went to the post today to get my mail and to get some milk from the little PX.  I couldn’t hold that for two weeks.  We ate at the dining hall but obviously they did not know about the black eyed peas and greens tradition since they had none of that.  But no worries since Gregg made us black eyed peas, greens, rice and hoecake for New Year’s so we wish you all a great new year.  We are continuing on our European adventure through 2012.

Happy 2012 to all and hope it will bring you great happiness, good health, positive luck and may all of your wishes come true.  I feel very blessed.  With that, I will close.

Hugs from Germany,

Susan

German via Tallahassee week 18 Merry Christmas!!

Germany via Tallahassee week 18 Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas 2011 to all of you

This week has been fabulous.  I forgot how wonderful the weather was here is Florida.  It has been “shorts” weather every day and I have taken advantage of soaking up the sun every chance I get.  I started out the week with a get together at the house. I usually throw a Christmas party every year so I was glad that I did not have to stop that tradition.  I have had to forgo so many other traditions.  I am thankful for the friends who were able to drop by, it was great to see all of you.

The next day I had to pick up some Christmas presents and start the wrapping.  I finally got all of the presents wrapped and bought and that was a big load off of me.  I went out with my sister and daughter and a friend to a movie and that was nice.  It was nice to just get into the car and go.  Something that I don’t seem to be able to do in Germany. It is always an ordeal to do anything.

Yesterday was a busy day seeing relatives and exchanging presents and taking my dad to see the Christmas lights and watching Christmas Vacation another tradition.

Today was a glorious: up at 6am and opening presents, cooking and eating and then to a movie with the family.  Loved it all and the family loved the European themed presents this year.  J

I am so blessed to have so many wonderful people in my life.  I am thankful for the family I was born into and the friends that are like family.

Merry Christmas to all and have a wonderful day after Christmas too.  I plan on hitting up some after Christmas sales. I have not defiled my credit card enough. lol

Anyway next time I write it will be from Germany. We go back at the end of the week to experience the New year Germany style, but while we are still here I will be soaking up the sun.

With that I will close. Once again, Merry Christmas!!

Hugs to all,

Susan

Germany Week 17- Christmas Traditions and trip back to Tallytown

Germany Week 17- Christmas Traditions and trip back to Tallytown

Merry Christmas:

Week 17 was my last week in school for 2011.  Usually when I sit in the teacher’s lounge and ask what are you doing for break.  I get things like: “Visiting relatives.  Relatives coming.  Family around.” And things of that sort.  When I sat in the lounge this week and asked what are you doing for winter break.  The answers varied from: “We are going to Turkey, Istanbul, Rome, Camp Verde, London, etc.”  It is a different world.

There are other differences too.  Since I am home I thought I would write about a few I noticed about Christmas.  In Germany it is all about the Christmas markets and about craftsmanship.  The things they sell are things that have been made. The markets are open until December 23^rd and then from what I have been told, everything shuts down including restaurants as they kind of hibernate until New Year’s Eve.  No big after Christmas sales.  I won’t be there to see it firsthand so I have to trust my source. Germany is big on the Christmas tree but they decorate the tree on Christmas Eve.  Below is a picture of the Christmas tree at school and the Christmas tree at home that Thomas and Amanda put up for me in my absence.  It’s the first real tree we have had in a while.  I like it.

The German people do not go crazy with outside lights although I did see a few.  They bake a lot. The stocking tradition also came from them.  They put boots out to be filled with goodies or coal.  Below is a picture of a cup made into a boot.

It snowed on the last day but baby car and me just trucked behind a truck that carved our way on the autobahn.  They actually had a few accidents that last morning. Below are a couple of pictures of the snow outside my classroom window.

My flight was long but when the prize at the end is landing at home it did not seem too bad.  My dog is still loving on me and seemed really happy I’m home.

I have lots of plans for my two weeks here and will be spending lots of time with family and friends.

Hope you all have a Merry Christmas.  I will write a short bog next week just to keep up my weekly notes. And with that I will close.

Take care.

Hugs for now from Tallahassee.

Susan

Germany Week 16 Dresden, Snow, sleet, hail Yeah it was that kind of week plus of course another Christmas Market

Germany Week 16  Dresden, Snow, sleet, hail  ---Yeah, Yeah, Yeah  it was that kind of week plus of course another Christmas Market ( hey it is the season)

Hello from Germany:

First of the week started out with a talk at school about weather and black ice snow conditions. True to form the very next morning I awoke to a snow covered ground.  Now mind you it was pretty to look at and I looked at it, but it was scary to drive on.  I took the autobahn and drove about 40 mph behind a truck who was carving the way for me.  The worse place was from my garage to the first road after that it was all plowed.  At school it snowed all day until mid day then it all melted.  It has not snowed to stick on the ground since.  I am crossing my fingers it will hold off till after I leave for Christmas.

Wednesday they had a weather watch for 45 mph winds.  It was supposed to last until 4pm or 1600 hours over here.  I decide to do a bunch of errands and fool around on base so it would be over with by the time I left.  But alas that is not what happened.  I ended up coming out of the commissary about 4:30pm or 1630 hours and the clouds were billowing in.  Just about the time I got on the curviest road here-- the hail fell.  Strong hail—baby car kept right on plugging though it.   About the time we got on the straight road we came out from behind the hills and the wind hit us.  So me and baby car had a hairy ride home. Needless to say I took my time getting home that day.  Then Friday I drove home is sleet and snow again.  Guess it’s winter here. Lol

Friday I cooked in our Christmas dinner in my room—part of my class is learning how to cook.  We had manly (it was an on line recipe of an easy dressing) dressing and cool whip cookies and ham slices and I made sweet potato soufflé and it was delicious.  For any of you who know me that is a miracle- I always botch the sweet potato soufflé but I might have to do this recipe for Christmas. Finally, I made it edible.  lol

Sunday I went on the military bus to Dresden one of the biggest Christmas markets in Germany.  I went to the museum about transportation very interesting and went up to the top of the Dresden Frauenkirche,  (see the pcitures below that is from the top of the Frauenkirche) and saw the River Elbe.  A beautiful city that was demolished in the war but they have rebuilt a lot of it.  The Christmas market was out of this world. I guess this will be the last one before I head home.  I had a great time and still came back with a bit of money in my pocket.  See pictures below.
This will be my last entry before traveling to Tallytown for Christmas.  I am looking forward to daylight for more than 7-8 hours and some warmth.  And of course getting to see my family and friends.

I will write next Sunday and let you know how my week went.

Once again--  Hugs from Germany.

Susan

Germany Week 15- Military Police and German movie theater and yes another Christkindlmarkt ( street markets)

Germany Week 15- Military Police and German movie theater and yes another Christkindlmarkt ( street markets)

Dear all:

Monday, since I was by myself, I decided to go the autobahn to work-that was a  good choice for all days, but I decided to go through another gate to the post, bad choice.  I had my first ( and hopefully my last) fender bender, I was impatient about one line and thought I was the last car and the other line had cleared out.  So I proceeded to back up and hit the car behind me.  In my defense, I think he was looking for his ID because he was to my right an odd place to be since the road curved from the left so I did not see him at all.  Anyway, I got out he got out. The MP’s were called and before all was said and done he left before they came ( don't ask  I couldn't figure that one out either) and left me to give all information and go to the MP station to do the police report. An ominous place with a real jail- don’t want to get thrown in there-makes me shudder to think.  Baby car suffered a little scrape that is so minuscule that I probably won’t get it fixed. Since then no mishaps, keeping my fingers crossed.

This past Friday, I went to the tree lighting ceremony at the post.  Arriving by a fire truck with much grandeur were Santa, Mrs. Claus, the reindeer, elves and a little girl who lit the tree whose father was deployed.  With all of the soldiers the true meaning of Christmas shone though. 

Then I went with a friend to a real German theater to see Breaking Dawn in English.  They listed it as the OV  which means Original Version.  It was great and not too crowded.  It was a huge complex and when you buy your ticket you have to select seats so it’s like a football game, assigned seats, no first come first serve.  I kind of liked that but it did slow the lines so I can see why America doesn’t do it.

Yesterday I went to the school’s basketball games, they were lots of fun.  They ran four games in a row, but with that many games, it was a long day.  Afterwards, I went with a couple of ladies from work to another Christkindlmarkt ( street market).  This one had a medieval theme.  Everyone was dressed in medieval costume.  There were camels and ponies and the wares were mostly of the handmade variety.  I have to admit I spent a little money. J  The prices were reasonable and the items were authentic, a combination I find too hard to resist. There was also a reenactment of the nativity story, very interesting and with the costumes and camels it seemed very real. Lots of woodwork and wreaths and things made from natural sources.  There is also the Christmas wine at all of these street markets that you pay for the cup and then get refills over and over again.  The Germans love to drink beer and wine.

I went to the Post's movie theater today.  Lots different, only a couple of previews because they only show 2-3 new movies at a time.  Also you stand up for the National Anthem at the beginning- course I like that part.

I am looking forward to coming home in a couple of weeks. And with that I will close.  Hope you all have a great week.

Hugs from Germany,

Susan