Week 38 Germany Pisa

Week 38 Germany  Pisa, Italy

Dear All:

Once again I am sitting in the airport writing this as I wait for our flight to be called.  Well this will be  the last Ryan Air trip and it was like all the rest a long way to get to the airport but great once it happened. We ended up flying right to Pisa which was really nice- the airport was right in the town. The hotel was great--walking distance to the leaning tower and I loved it.  I of course had to get all of the hokey pictures see below—believe me we took all kinds but some we were a bit off but I put a few in there.

The hotel had breakfast and we ate dinner there also since they had great meals and we got a discount since we were staying at the hotel.  We loved the Maitre de at the hotel- He was so entertaining .  As a matter of fact the first night we were too late for dinner but we walked in and sat down unknowing.  One of the waiters told us we would have to go since they were closed.  But the Maître de took a liking to us and said he would make us up something special.  For the next hour he brought us course after course of meals.  Every time we thought we were finished he would bring more food.  It was delicious.  At the end thinking we would owe him a monstrous bill he brought about a 35 Euros bill which was unbelievable to us.  We ate there the rest of the time.  LOL.  The hotel room had a balcony with a view of the city which was so nice. Of course we tried the pizza, spaghetti and Gregg even had the sea bass.  The area where the leaning tower is has a bunch of building and museums.  See pictures.  We got a tickets to them all and then walked Pisa first thing Saturday morning  It is 293 steps up.  I have height sickness so it was a difficult task for me to traverse those stairs.  The steps had settled also and  had dipped  parts in the middle of most steps.  Just about the time you  thought you were at the top there was another set of stairs.  We went all the way to the top but when I got there I could not stand up.  Just too much for me.  One of the places I could not walk across one side because of the way it was leaning.  After that we went to a crypt type church.  In there was crypts of people dated a long way back.  One of the things I noticed was the attempt to restore some of the old paintings that were damaged during World War II.

Then we  went to a singing cathedral called Baptisma.  A man went in the middle of the cathedral and sang a note and the building sang back.  It was awesome.  I had never heard anything like it.  Then we went to a few museums that had old dresses and costumes from the Romeo and Juliet era.  There were many stone carving and lots of art in most of the buildings. 

After that we went on the hop on hop off and leaned about the history of Pisa and the town.  It is a small town.  I really enjoyed it.   On our way to find the bus to the beach we ran into a protest and took  pictures along the way.  Since it was just too much trouble to figure out how to get there we decided to stay in Pisa. We had plans to go to a few other places but were  so enthralled with Pisa that we just ended up staying there

Flying out was bittersweet as we realize that this is our last Ryan Air flight.  For our time left we plan on concentrating on day trips to Germany.

I am looking forward to coming home.

Adds from this morning--

So on the plane I learned that the two places I wanted to visit form Pisa were Cinque Terre –well we ran out of time and didn’t make it but it seems there was a strike there and we would have had to take a taxi to Pisa- very pricey—whew dodged that bullet-- and that the beach cost around 100 dollars a day to rent a beach spot—C’mon people the beach belongs to everyone!!! Anyway once again we Forest Gumped it!! LOL   Great time and none of these issues!!!

Second thing got calls from both my kids and they ingeniously sent me a mother’s day present through the email-  Thanks Thomas and Amanda—I am so proud to be your Mom!!!

Happy Mother’s day to all of the mothers.

With that I will close.

Hugs from Germany,

Susan

week 38 part 1 Germany Canola fields and castle ruins

Hello all
Just a quickie before the weekend.  Big joke at school is that I don't ever know where some places are because "It's in Germany."  I've been accused of only visiting other places so wanted to show how I do visit Germany and as a matter of fact all of these pictures are from the German town I am living in.
The fields are full of yellow canola.  With all of the green the yellow contrast is just gorgeous.  Loving my view as I drive anywhere.  On count down till the end of school and we will be taking our last Ryan air trip this weekend to Pisa.
We went to the castle ruins in our town today so I thought I woulds send a few pictures.  The trail did not serpentine but was straight up. So it was slow going --very tortoise and Hare but I was definitely the tortoise. Whew but it was a good workout.  See the town we live in from the top of the castle ruins.  Pictures below, enjoy!!! Also the last picture was a couple getting wedding pictures taken at the castle.  I wonder how she traversed that walk in that dress but we didn't stick around to find out. LOL

Hugs from Germany
Susan

Week 37 Germany Volksfest and Poland

Week 37 Germany Volksfest and Poland
Dear all:
This week started off with a bang. Let's be real the German people won't let too much time go past without a celebration or reason to party.It seems that every year on post they have a German American Volksfest  which is basically a Fair. Since we missed the North Florida Fair and I have fond memories of growing up with the State Fair in Tampa and the Strawberry Festival in Plant City which I still go to on occasion, I was thrilled.  The biggest difference between our fair and this one was the presence of military tanks, etc.  They brought the World War II tanks and things to show to people.  It was fun  and although they did not have the corn dogs or the blooming onion they had their own delicacy which was a Donner made of pita bread and meat and a mayonnaise like sauce.  Gregg enjoyed it a lot.
Because it was Cinco De Mayo  the Outdoor Recreation decided to go to Poland.  Hey, it wasn't on my list, but  I thoroughly enjoyed it.  Besides, I've already been to Barcelona. We went with the military trip to Poland and specifically in Boleslawiec, Poland which is located just across the border after going up and through Dresden, Germany.  We met the bus at 2am in the morning and traveled to Boleslawiec, Poland.  The only glitch was the 2 hour delay at the border.  It seems that the border patrol couldn't handle 4 buses at the same time so the line was long. Strange thing was when the bus driver got to the front of the line it took about 5 minutes and they never even looked a the bus.  Maybe some of those other buses looked suspect who knows.  It is Poland after all.  LOL
We arrived in the city and proceeded to go to three areas with about 5 or six stores at each.  Yes, I got caught up in the buying.  I bought a set of polish dishes and many other things.  They were great and accepted Euros.  I had a great time, came home with many treasures and got my shopping fix.
Gregg and I walked through the town, afterall there is just so much shopping you can do.  Poland is a poorer country but the people were out and about.  Needless to say there was no hop on hop off.  LOL Some of the buildings were in major disrepair.  Before we left we went to a restaurant and ordered Polish sausage, a large salad that was huge with yellow tomatoes and Hungarian goulash and a coke light and beer for Gregg.  It was one of the best meals we had ever had and only cost 10 bucks for it all.  So there is definitely something to be said about this city.
On a side note, my sister Judi went to the Kentucky Derby and I sent my pick of I'll have Another like I had sent my pick with my son, Thomas, when he went  to Las Vegas of Bubba Watson to win the Master's  I am doing pretty good on picking the winners. Gregg said to add that I wasn't doing that good since I picked him as a husband, but I repectfully disagree.  LOL
We are taking it easy today.  A rare thing for us.  Take care all.

Till next week. Hugs from Germany.

Susan

  Poland

 Volksfest

 A drive from our German home Canola yellow fields

 Donner sandwich at Fest

 Volksfest

 Volksfest

 Volksfest

 Our Yard in Germany

 Pottery in Poland

 Gregg in front of Poland store

 Poland

 Poland

 Inside the Polish church

 Poland here and below