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In Destinations, Europe, Germany on
October 5, 2012

A Weekend Of Fests

It’s fall in Germany again.
Ordinarily for me, fall has a sad, foreboding feel to it. To my chagrin, the changing of the leaves are a reminder that warm, long summer days are behind me and the icy winter gloom is setting in. Fall is also the time when Central Europe’s stops their clocks for an hour and two weeks before Central USA making the time difference seven hours instead of only six which creates more challenges when I try to calling back home to my family.  It’s football season and I will be thousands of miles from any stadium-side tailgate parties.
But fall in Germany is not met with such dread.   Germany greets the change of each season with  Festivals and my aim this fest season is to immerse myself in all of them. So for Columbus Day weekend, I stayed close to home and tried out all the traditional festivals going on in my area.  The beer is flowing and the cows are coming home. So here my glorious weekend of fests in photos.
Thursday Night: Stuttgart’s Cannstatter Volksfest I kicked the weekend off in by staying in my hometown with friends at Volksfest also called Cannstatter Wasen or just Wasen because that’s the name of the fair grounds which is also where the Spring fest is held each year.  So apparently in 1815 a volcanic eruption in Indonesia led to a climatic catastrophe even in Europe causing the people of Stuttgart to stuffer a famine. Thousands died. In 1817, when they were relieved of the famine through Russian support, Katharina, King Wilhelm’s Russian wife, sponsored a harvest festival. This fest takes place annually on the King’s birthday on September, 28th in the area of the Cannstatter Wasen. Sounds very much like a Thanksgiving fest to me.
Embracing Southern Germany style in a dirndl but keeping it Southern USA by rocking the boots.
Mixture of German and American gal pals hanging out during the band’s break between sets.
There’s no chicken like fest chicken and that evaluation is coming from a Kentucky girl whose first bonafide employment was selling chicken at KFC. Yum!
Idaho Beau and I
 You know they have those stereotyped-filled saying like “I can drink like a German/Irish” but even Germans have hard times holding their alcohol. And they have the argument that letting folks drink at a younger age will teach them responsible drinking habits. Not sure if that’s true. The guy with the vests consoles his puking buddy while the guy behinds them pretends to hump them.
 
Cathy just arrive to Stuttgart but already had her dirndl ready to party.
 
Aw. Idaho Beau won a little bear for me.
The Beau, Stephanie & Me causing trouble.
 
Contrary to popular American belief, Volksfests are more than just drinking. They actually provide a fun family atmosphere with children’s games as well.  It’s comparable to a county fair.
Friday Night: Munich’s Oktoberfest
Oktoberfest began as a celebration of the marriage of Crown Prince Ludwig to Princess Theresa on October 12, 1810.  Folks have been celebrating their anniversary ever since. The fair grounds are called Theresienwiese although locals have shortened it to Wiesen, juts like in Stuttgart.
The ride to Munich was a stau (traffic Jam) nightmare! Everyone is on their way to the big Fest.
Made it!
 I went up to the upper level of the tent to get a photo of the party from above and was basically adopted/kidnapped by these old Bavarian men. They called me a little Schwabish girl from Stuttgart.  They also snorted flavored tobacco up their noses and said all Bavarian men do it.  They left their wives at home in the kitchen to have a boys night they told me.
  During the day I tested my skills.
 Ladies in the Finnish army with their apple strudel. Yum!
 Inside the international tent.
 This is the flirty, young tent.
 My friend Harri from Finland and I getting our grub on before dancing on the tables.
Kartoffeln! AKA Potatos fest style. Simply delish.
 Don’t stop believin’! Country Roads take me home —the Europeans know every word!
  One drink per hour. Slow and steady does it. People will continue to party around you while you almost die. Then the Polizi will make your friends take you home. You will end the night early for everyone. Do not be that guy!
 The next day at the fest poured down rain! It stopped no one.
 Everyone just kept the parties in-doors.
Gotta get a fest gingerbread heart.
 Munich by the way is a beautiful, fun active city. After the fest, go out on the town for a night on the tiles.
Saturday: Almabtriebfest in Mayrhofen, Austria
From Munich I journeyed about a hour and a half south to a charming little mountain town in Austria. Fests like these go on most of September and into early October in one little alpine village or another. It’s a cattle drive bringing the cows down from grazing in the alps back to their pastures before it gets cold. It’s great Bavarian cultural fun and a nice outdoor outing with family or friends. I blog more about this special Alpine adventure in my post, “Partying til the Cows Come Home.”
It’s quite the sight to see, a parade of cows clanging their giant bells.
In a restaurant in Fussen on the way back to Munich from Mayrhofen. The food was glorious!
All of these pieces of flare were removed from the cows so they could rest after their long trek down from the mountains.
Putin Schnitzel…Schnitzel made from turkey.
This was these calves first fest. I think they did quite well for a first parade.
Only females journey down together.
This cow had to be seriously dehydrated. Another cow came along and she mooed her away from the water.  either that or she is just mean and wasn’t really drinking for for 20 minutes straight but was just trying to keep the other cow from having any.
This place was absolutely breath taking. I really just have not other words to describe being in the Alps. I don’t know how Maria had the lungs to sing in the Alps.
Sunday: Ludwigsburg Annual Pumpkin Fest
I never knew so many varieties of pumpkins existed! Over 400! Last year, giant dinosaur sculptures made of pumpkins graced the gardens of Ludwigsburg palace. This year the theme is Switzerland. Like all fests in Germany, it’s not complete without divine food. Pumpkin soup, pumpkin bread, pumpkin seeds… you get the idea.  Ludwigsburg also hosted a Venice fest which happens once every two years. Which I missed this year. boo!
A dress of Queen Elizabeth (Sisi) of Austria who was King Ludwig’s favorite cousin.
 A horn blower and the Swiss flag made of pumpkins
 Rows of different types of Kurbis (the German word for pumpkins).
 They host a pumpkin shell boating race!
 Germans can do some beautiful work with wood so it doesn’t surprise me that the same care is done when sculpting a pumpkin.
Again, the Swiss horn blower made of pumpkins
The palace grounds are breath taking year round put especially early fall.
So there you have it. Volksfest, Oktoberfest, Pumpkin fest and a Cattle drive all in one wonderful weekend.
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In Destinations, Europe on
September 29, 2012

Europe’s Best Cities

How does it get any better than Stuttgart?

I often ask myself that. I know an American girl’s time in Stuttgart is unlikely to last forever, so often I plan and consider my next moves.  Where else could I be content living after living in Stuttgart and making it my standard?  I just spoke with an American friend who recently went back home to The States during the spring to study at Notre Dame University. We did the typical, “how is life” conversation. He confessed he cried like a baby when he left. In addition to having to part from his sweetheart, we both ventured to say Stuttgart is probably the best place to live in Europe.  Mercer, however, published a different list of top 30 places to live and Stuttgart was not on it. I tell you, Stuttgart is an overlooked, hidden gem.

What Makes a City Great (on my scale)  

 

1. Dateability — countless places to go and have unique dates, not the typical dinner and a movie plus plenty of eligible bachelors to choose from.

2.      Plenty to do — No shortage on activities for all sorts of interests
3.
Cultural events — More than just ballet and museums, I’m talking fests, events, etc
4.
Shopping – My home town sales John Deer paraphernalia and hospital scrubs in the mall right next to sears.  That is not what good shopping looks like.
5.
Education – universities, and competitive children’s schools
6.
Housing – “Affordable” downtown homes on American standards
7.
Low crime rates
8.
Green Consciousness
9.
Awesome public transportation
10. Diversity — People representative of the world around us

 

My List

 Here’s how my list would differ. Stuttgart is the number one best city in Europe to live.  Now  granted, I haven’t lived in any other place on the list and I haven’t visited them all either, but you just don’t get better than Stuttgart. No city in Switzerland will ever  top the list of Best Places to Live. If eating casual dining food is a splurge then the fancy boarding schools will certainly be a luxury. Everything Swiss related seems to be accompanied by the idea of luxury (Swiss Skiing, Swiss watches, Swiss vacations) thus it is just too luxurious for this southern girl. Switzerland loses. It’s just too expensive, but undoubtedly beautiful and safe to visit.

Brussels –not a lot of cowbell and it has an eastern European ghetto in which I got quite acquainted with when my GPS took me through it and of course, my car would subsequently break down.  But that’s another story for a northern date. Anyway, Being broke down in the hood is my biggest memory of Brussels and it needs redemption.
All other cities in Germany — Munich, Frankfort, Hamburg, Dusseldorf all made the list. However, with the exception of Munich, non have the travel-ability of Stuttgart.  And I don’t even know what theses Northern Germans are saying when they speak.  It’s like they have a German Yankee accent.
Copenhagen, I read, is a haven for terrorist. Of course, there’s always terrorist amongst us. Besides it’s expensive and way up north away from the rest of Europe.

1. Stuttgart

My dad captured this pic in downtown Stuttgart

It’s the sixth largest city in Germany and the capitol of the federal state of Baden-Württemberg. Stuttgart is home to countless fests year round: Fish fest, children’s fest, summer, spring, winter fest, Christmas markets, Volksfest, African fest, fests where you just sit and eat — not sure of the name but walk out of your home and voila, in the middle of a fest.

It’s location in Southern Germany makes it a springboard for travel.  By plane, train, or car Stuttgart is the hub of European travel. Of course, all of Germany is situated in the heart of Europe, but unlike big cities in Northern Germany, Stuttgart is no more than a four hour train ride or drive to three other fabulous capitol cities (Paris, Prague, and Zurich) in addition to driving to other countries quiet easily (Italy, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Budapest, Slovakia, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, Holland, Poland). You just can’t cover that much ground by car as easily in Berlin, Hamburg, or Dusseldorf.
The most difficult places to get to from Stuttgart are Spain, Portugal, Greece and Turkey because you actually need to fly to save you a full day’s drive.  Munich is a happening town just a quick jaunt down the road from Stuttgart and the Alps nearby are breathtaking.
Porsche and Mercedes-Benz have their headquarters in Stuttgart and both have car museums.  As Will Smith said in his song, Welcome to Miami, “100 thousand dollar cars, everybody got ‘em” —- Let’s try 100 thousand euro cars are seen zipping down the autobahn all day.
Stuttgart’s Soccer team, VfB Stuttgart, has fans comparable to the SEC. Craziness! The city also boasts first-rate art and history collections, heck, the city is a walkable history museum. Plus the shopping on and around Königstraße is fabulous!
Although crime does happen, the common understanding is, “Germans don’t commit crimes because its against the rules and Germans don’t break rules.”  Stuttgart is considered a safe town because even when crimes happen, they get solved. Stuttgart has two major engineering Universities and the secondary education is phenomenal with language learning a
priority.

 2. Vienna

The Opera house hosts 360 productions a year! Here, you can leave your trendy modern loft to stroll the same cobblestone paths the world’s greatest composers traversed. The mixture of history, modernity, cafes, gardens, architecture (a la hundred water house), and things to do just make it as charming as say…Charleston.  Additionally, it’s just a lively, active town with similar standards of living as Germany.

 

 
For just three euros or less you can watch world class performances

3. Amsterdam

What an active life style of boating through the canals, biking, and green living I’d live if only I lived here. Besides, Amsterdam is a very open, accepting, tolerant city. After being so oppressed by Nazi’s this city’s response was not to be oppressive to any group of people. It’s so much more than its infamous red light district. I love this place!
I visited in April. Tulips were in bloom but still not the trees.

4. Paris

It doesn’t matter how many square meters a tiny Parisian loft is…it’s in Paris! Living a minimalist lifestyle is welcoming when Paris is your back yard. Seriously, I think if I could shake the fear of uncertainty, I’d just move to Paris and live off of fromage, wine, and see if I could make a living selling my paintings on the street by day and performing at Moulin Rouge by night.  Now it is dirty, and stinky, and a little grimy at times…definitely not the same standard of public cleanliness as found in Stuttgart, but what a wonderland to live.

The backside of Notre Dame

5. Munich

When I think of German culture, I thought of all things Bavarian —beer, dirdls and liderhosen…scenes out of Grims brother’s fairytale. Well, Munich is the heart (and capitol) of Bavaria.  It’s also Germany’s Hollywood, as it is home to most of Germany’s celebrities. It’s a big city, with small town charm and would just make an exciting, eventful place to live. Besides, you’d gte plenty of visitors when the hotels fill up with Oktoberfest tourists.

6. Bruges

Water ways like Amsterdam but without as many tourist. This city is a gem! I like it more than Brussels.

7. Berlin

Now I have never visited here but My Friends from Bavaria and Baden-Wuttemburg swear its much more happening than Munich and Stuttgart. And since its on every other awesome place to live, and I can vouch for Germany in general being pretty awesome, it made my list.

8. Mallorca

Columbus Day vaycay in Columbus’ birth land

I would so retire here. The living is easy and the beach weather is amazing without all the hurricanes I’d have to deal with in Florida. Plus, they speak Spanish!

9. Strasbourg, France

Photo taken during my Labor Day weekend

Narrow ally ways and cobblestone ooze with European charm. Add to it that, because this region got passed back and forth between France and Germany war after war, folks speak both French and German in addition to many speaking English.

10. London

Photo from: http://www.destination360.com/europe/uk/london/london-eye-millenium-wheel

The British are so much fun to party with. Maybe because they speak english so I understand the jokes. West End Shows, history, the possibility of a Will and Kate or Becks and Vic sighting, shopping, music and just a world of fun. The tube makes traveling the city easy (but nothing beats Germany’s bahn system). Only issue is these folks aren’t known for their food, and the little island is on the edge of Europe making it more challenging to travel than say, anywhere else in Germany.

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In Local Guides, Take Notes on
September 29, 2012

It’s Official: I Have Travel Burn-Out

Guten Tag Ya’ll!
It’s been a while since I’ve written. I just got home from an exciting work venture that required long days and exciting nights with international cohorts.This year, in order to accomplish my main goal of doing more, I pressed through demanding graduate-level courses and traveled all around Europe this summer. My original goal was to visit a new country per month. In essence, that should be 12 countries per year. But I exceeded that. It’s not even October and I’ve visited 13 different countries this year and duplicated a few.  I have traveled somewhere just about every weekend of this year. Now, the idea of traveling somewhere this weekend makes me want to groan. It’s official. I am experiencing the symptoms of travel burn-out. I never anticipated reaching this point.

I AM BURNT OUT!

I am coming down off my high from weekend, after weekend of travel, constantly being around people 24-7 for either work, school, or sleeping in open rows of bunk beds.  Finally, I am in my own bed, in my own flat, with my own schedule. And really, I’m not sure what to do with myself. But it feels outstanding!

Now that the influx of summer tourists has departed the continent, it’s prime time for residents to hit the French Riviera. Except, I don’t want to.  I mean I’d love to see San Tropez and Ibiza. But I just don’t have the will to pack and go.

It’s the start of early Fall in Germany! A gorgeous time of year full of cow fests, pumpkin fests, corn mazes, and of course Volksfest and Okoberfest. But jumping in the car or hopping on a plane to go isn’t moving me out of this bed.

Next week is my Columbus Day weekend. Last year, I visited Columbus’ debated home of Mallorca. This year, Oktoberfest is on the menu. But what shall I do with the rest of the four-day weekend?  My energy is strained. This weekend my preferred weekend-get-away location is my bed.

There’s so much to do and see and I just cannot make myself go out and touch it all. I suppose I have a little bit of guilt for not being motivated to take advantage of my location and limited time in Europe.  I suppose I never believed this could happen to be. I believe I have to take a rest on the short weekend trips all over creation and give myself some longer stays. I need to go back to my original plan of one country a month and maybe instead, just enjoy beautiful Germany in the fall.

Read more about travel-free/travel burn-out weekends here:

Travel-Free Weekend • GloBelle Affairs

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In Destinations, Europe, France on
August 24, 2012

Twelve Hours In Paris For First-Timers

Yes, I took this pic and it turned out quite nicely

You’ll always be short on time in Paris. If you’re visit is particularly short, say as short as a long layover, here’s my guide to crunching all of Paris in a short amount of time. Of course, this guide is for first timers who haven’t already seen the top six sites. Since there are so many ways to personalize your Paris visit your way, you’ll have to tailor objectives to fit your interests.

Depending on your Parisan savoire faire, physical fitness, and walking speed you should be able to squeeze in all six. However, if you’re more leisure, you can at least do the top four.

 

Top Six Sites
Notre Dame
Musee du Louvre
Tour de Eiffel
Arc De Triomphe
Basilica de Sacracure
Moulin Rouge

 

 

Don’t waste time:

· Exchanging money —have your credit card and Euros with you

· Looking for luggage security —- If you must, lock up your luggage in the train station(research ahead of time where the lockers are), but its best just to travel with a day bag!

· Trying to figure out the metro —here I tell you what metros you use, but if you’re going to delineate, already have your metro stops mapped out. My friends and I wasted an hour navigating the underground transit system during our 12 hours in Paris. I made this mistake, so you don’t have to!

· Buying snacks and drinks — have an ample supply of bottle of water and granola, slim jims, crackers, etc stuffed in your day bag beforehand.

· Being lost: come prepared with a have a Paris map& phrase book, If you go to the Louvre, have a map of it before time.

· Buying metro tickets: buy a pack of 10 tickets the first time

· Standing in lines: If you can, get your Louvre and Eiffel tower tickets ahead of time. You’ll spend more money to save more time.

Day Bag check lists:
Paris Maps
Metro Map
Euros in Cash & coins (for the toilettes)
Snacks & bottled water
Camera & tripod
blanket for pic-nicing
ipod
sunglasses (summer)

 

Hour One
Whether you’re coming from the airport or the train station, map it out to start your whirlwind adventure at the Louvre.

 

Arrive at one of these Metro stops: Palis Royal Musee du Louvre, Louvre Rivoli, Tulieries, or
Pont Neuf

 

Hour Two & Three
With over 30,000 things to see, you could easily spend the whole 12 hours exloring the Musee du Louvre. Get your picture with Venus and Lisa and get out. Get a souvenir from the cafe gift shop. You must take pictures of Paris from the windows of the Louvre. They’re delish! Use the (free) toilettes before you leave.

 

Hour Four & Five
Take a leisurely stroll through the Tuileries Garden /Jardin des Tullieries. On my 12 hours in Paris I actually started at the Plaza de la Concord & walked through the gardens before the Louvre, the sculptures here made a delicious appetizer before the Louvre.

 

Cross the massive Plaza de la Concorde and you’ll be on theAve des Champs Elysees. Keep walking here and you can’t miss the Arc de Triomphe & the Unknown Soldier. You can go on top of the Arc if you wish and if the line isn’t too long. It costs €9 for older adults and €5.50 for those 18-24 if you want to go on top. Just don’t try to cross the street here. Drivers have enough to worry about with six lanes of cars merging every which way in a circle than to also swerve away from tourist…which is why they don’t swerve. You will get hit! There’s an underground passage way.

 

The walk alone should take about an hour. Budget your time to spend no more than another hour stop for a light snack & coffee here to people watch alfresco in the typical partisan fashion. Do not get a meal here. It will cost you a pretty euro.

 

Hour Six
Take any of the tree streets to the left of the Ave Champs Elysees (if you’re looking at the Arc from the Ave Champs Elysees ) and you’ll come upon the Eiffel Tower (Ave d’lena, Av Marceau, Av Kleber) Ave Kleber Has the best views. If you were to have a picnic, this would be the place to do it. No three hour wait in line to climb the tower…sorry ya’ll, that’s reserved for those with a week to spend. Take your pictures in front of it and be happy! Better yet, cross the bridge and go up the hill toTrocadero for better photos of the tower and the Seine River.

 

Hours Seven and Eight
Travel by metro to Notre Dame.

 

Leave the Eiffel Tower from any of these Metro stops: Champ de Mars Tour Eiffel, Bar Hakeim, or Trocadero across the river from the tower. End at the Cite metro stop. The majestic architecture of Notre Dame doesn’t just stop on the front side, so be sure to walk all the way around Notre Dame. Get your crepe, escargot, wine and ice cream fix here in this neighborhood. The lines are usually long but move fast enough. Multi-task in the line to get your pictures in.

 

Hours Nine and Ten
Travel via metro to Montmartre district. Here you can get great views of the city like you would the Eiffel Tower only for Free and no lines! The line to Basilica Sacre Coeuris always shorter than Notre Dame’s line. The artists’ corner, lamp-lined cobble stoned streets are just a feast for the camera. If you’re with friends, divide and conquer —one can take pictures of the city while one holds the place in line, while another grabs grub for all to eat in the line! If you have time, take a 15 minute stroll to the Moulin Rouge (put that map to good use— don’t waste time being lost). Do your poses a la Marilyn Monroe on the air vent in front of the cabaret house!

 

Get off the metro at Place de Clichy, La Fourche or Abbesses.

 

Hours Eleven & Twelve
Ninety minutes before your departure
start heading back. Allot more time if you don’t know where you’re going.

 

Cost Distribution

 

For metro tickets (15€ for 10)
The Louvre entry (10€)
An exquisite three course lunch with two glasses of wine (45€)
Paris can be done for 70€ or $91USD in under a day!

 

Other Quick Sightseeing Options
You can visit all these places faster, with less walking using the metro, however, Paris needs to be taken in from above ground. You miss so much when you’re below.

 

You can always do the hop-on-hop off tour or L’open. It maps out the rout for you and you can get your pictures from the top of the double decker bus, wear off some jet lag.

 

Of course, from Frommers to Rick Steve and the travel channel, there are no shortages of tour guides for Paris.
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In Destinations, Europe on
August 23, 2012

Europe’s Must-Have Souvenirs

I’ve gotten to the point that I am souvenired out.  I travel enough that all the trinkets purchased on my travels are starting to clutter my home and empty my bank account.  I’ve come to the realization that most of the typical kitchy stuff (red double decker buses from London,  Eiffel tower key chains, mini Michelangelo statue, magnets, beach photo frames) are made in China anyway and easily accessible on-line! I’ve come to the conclusion that the best souvenirs are the cheapest and most totable.  Postcards, tickets, city maps, and tons of pictures are all you need to recapture memories made by traveling. However, if you haven’t collected enough gadgets and gizmos to fill a treasure trove, maybe a few of these will direct your shopping.
1.
Polish Pottery. Apparently, these made their American debut from American service members stationed in Germany bringing them back to The States where the colorful, functional kitchen art became highly coveted amongst their envious friends.  You can even catch Claudia Joy from Lifetime’s army wives drinking out of a polish pottery mug.  Now it’s sold at Costco.  Amongst my associates, you cannot live in Europe without bringing back plenty of polish pottery.
2.
Cuckhoo clock.  Frau Kramer once told me, when I first moved here, “All Americans who live in Germany leave with one of two things….A cuckhoo clock or a baby.” My clock is on order.

 

3.
Hardwood Furniture (Antique or not). Antiques do not seem to be as valued here, where furniture has survived multiple centuries rather than decades like in The States. Pieces that survived WWII do not have the same crazy expensive price tags as 1950s furniture pieces in The States.  Now, I have had my eye on this beautiful, ornately carved, 16th century, French wardrobe with a 15K euro price tag.  But newer pieces are equally as beautiful  just as durable, and way cheaper. People have century’s worth of antiques. Apparently, when times were hard, Europeans burned their antique chests to stay warm. That’s all furniture amounts to in the end…firewood.  So no need to drop hundred’s of cash on it. Either way, German craftsmanship is awesome — not the cheap, flimsy, press board stuff around here (except at IKEA).
I purchased this soon after my kitchen cabinet crashed.
4.
Nutcracker (Germany). Get a custom, personalized one to look like you.
5.
Smoker (Germany). you put a little tea candle in this toy and it looks like its smoking. It’s a holiday decoration.

 

6.
Any “Czech me out” whatnot from Prague. So clever.

 

7.
Nordic sweaters (Norway aka Norge). This style is prevalent world wide and the traditional ones found in Norway are made of itchy wool. Wait ‘til you get home and go for cotton or cashmere.
Photo credit:/http://www.classygirlswearpearls.com
8.
Swiss watch/swatch (Switzerland)

9.
Delft Blue Ceramics (The Nederlands aka Holland)
10.
Wooden shoe (The Nederlands aka Holland)
11.
Barrett & scarf (France)
12.
Perfume (France)
13.
Art (France)

 

14.   Champagne (France)
15.
Hungarian Embroidery or Lace

So pay no mind to the Belgian hottie next to me, my top is an example of Hungarian embroidery. Now, if you can take home a Belgian souvenir like the one to my left, good on you!
 
16.
BMW/Benz/Porshe (Germany) Think, demo version, tax fee, no American dealership middle man fee, no import costs (provide it you’re not shipping it back to the states)

I never understood car love until I met this car. Sexiest thing on the Autobahn.
17.
Chicken pitcher (Italy). These pitchers have an interesting history. I thought they were tacky until I learned they were linked to Giuliano Medici murder plot. Such drama behind the chicken. Now they are given as luck to ward off trespassers! 

 

18.
Wine (Italy, Spain, Hungary, Germany)
I look like a total lush but trust, these wine bottles are full! One is even personalized with my pic!

19.
Beer stein (Germany)

20.
Nesting dolls (Ukraine, Russia, or Eastern European states).

 

Of course, the most valued trinkets from your travels are going to be the new best friend you make on your adventures, photos of you on snow covered Alps, or being silly by the Eiffel tower, or in front of the coliseum. A postcard stamped at a European post will tickle friends as much as any other what not ot thinger mabob.
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In Europe, Switzerland on
August 22, 2012

Belle Goes To Switzerland Take II

The covered bridge cross the swan-filled lake

 

 

Switzerland beckons travelers to her snow-covered mountains in the winter and refreshing, cool lakes in the summer. It beckoned me back for a second round of Swiss culture in order to redeem the less than impressive impression it left with me about a month ago.

I visited Zurich with my mom niece at the beginning of July. It was rainy, expensive, nondescript, not distinctive, not special, utilitarian, and venders had attitudes. That paired with a lack of activity and being difficult for my GPS to navigate,  I was fine boycotting Switzerland.

City Center. Shops line the lake in a pedestrian only zone.

That was until I arrived at the Lucerne hauptbahnhof (main train station) with the exception of a rude worker in the bahnhof information office who acted as if I was invisible (Entschuldigung!  I’m standing here!), Switzerland is legit. It is devastatingly beautiful… A place right out of a dream where the sea and mountains meet. It’s a paradise for land locked countries. Here’s what I did!

 

Getting There

I bought my Duetsch Bahn train ticket on-line and took a 0730 ride from the station closest to my home and switched trains four times in four hours before finally arriving in paradise.

Lodging
I stayed at Casada Hotel. I chose it because it was walking distance from the train station and, from what I could tell on hotels.com, going rate on American hotel room price standards.  It was also air conditioned….don’t take this amenity for granted in Europe, you don’t always get it. At the time I booked it, I didn’t realize it was considered a 4 star hotel (on whose rating scale I’m not sure…take these ratings with a grain of salt, but it was nice).  It had modern interior decor and a Spanish-themed tapas restaurant.  On top of all the nice things I have to say about the hotel, it also had an iPod player! this is rare in similarly priced hotels in Europe. So I could jam while getting ready to go out! Winning! Only issue is that its away from all the activity. It’s walking distance in the wrong direction from the hauptbahnhof.  It was inconvenient to run back to the hotel to grab something or change clothes. However, being away from the action also ensured it was quiet. Other hotels were attached to bars and pubs or right beside them. As I walked passed the noisy bars and discos on Saturday night (don’t say “night club” in Europe…night clubs are found in Red light districts), I thanked the Lord I wasn’t staying in one of the hotels near them.  Here are some other hotel picks based off proximity to the lake and similar amenities and price:
1. Das Alps
2. Hotel Shiff
3.Hotel Rebstock
4. Hotel Mr. Pickwick & Pub (attached to an Irish bar)
5. The Palace & the Grand Hotel. Two hotels with serious Swiss luxury but prime location

What I did, keep in mind all the sights are walkable from Casada Swiss Hotel:

1. Kapell brücke (Chapel Bridge): A beautiful covered bridge is the focal point of the city center. Apparently, in 1993, someone tossed a cigaret and burned the bridge down to the lake. But it was restored to a similar glory.

2. Crying/Dieing  Lion or Löwendenkmal monument. My favorite author, Samuel Clemons, allegedly called it, “the most mournful and moving piece of stone in the world.” It commemorates Swiss soldiers that died in the French Revolution. I still have a grudge that Switzerland remained neutral during WWII. How can you know millions are being slaughtered right at your boarders but you do nothing? I kinda see it tantamount to living right next door to a pedophile and seeing dozens of children going inside and saying, “I’m not getting involved.”  I think that non act needs memorializing.

 

 

3. Yacht Tour: $25 for one hour. Absolutely stunning sites of the lake and mountains. My best experience while at the Lake. Natural beauty that surrounds the lake is Lucerne’s #1 tourist attraction. The boat ride is the best way to take it all in.

4. Rosengarten Museum (Skip this).  This cost me freakin’ $18.  I’ve seen Monet before for a lot cheaper in Stuttgart and Paris.  The Louvre is now my standard for museums. There is no reason for any art collection in the world to cost more than the Louvre (whihc is 10 euro…Free 1st Sunday of the month). Even so, it was cool, but not $18 cool. Plus, no one comes to Lucurne for art and culture…do they? Jacqueline’s portrait is the best thing inside.  Now you’ve seen it.

4. Shopping – I swore I wouldn’t shop in this expensive country but some deals I couldn’t pass up.  I got 4 brightly colored basic tanks, a basic purple cardigan, a cute evening halter (Eva Longoria would approve)  and a bath5ng suite for $112. That’s the same as I’d spend in The States for the same items right?  Shops close at 4pm on Saturday and stay closed until 1000 on Monday. Did you know Italian sizes are different than the rest of Europe’s?

5. Wedding Crashing– I am always appropriately dressed when I come cross a wedding (first time was at the Sound of Music Church in Salzburg, Austria then again in Slovenia). I think weddings are great cultural lessons.    So much the same, very few unique details like this one, something about bread on planks of wood. Not sure if it was a personalization unique to the couple or a Swiss tradition. I’ll delve more into research.If you want to wedding crash, make sure you’re dressed for a wedding on Saturdays in the summer!

Brides carry bread as an omen for good harvests and the
groom carries grain for wealth and good fortune.
 

 

6. Swimming at Seebad. This is a very cool structure to swim in the lake.It features a sundeck, floating logs to play on.  The Swiss guys wear long swim shorts as oppose to the little speedos the German guys wear.  It’s 8 dollar adult entrance, $2 locker key plus a $20 or passport as a deposit.  Bring your own towel and wine.

The tour guide claimed the lake was drinking water quality.
 

7. Running.  I didn’t bring running gear to Oslo last weekend and regretted it so I was well prepared this weekend. Running beside the lake in the early morning, before the tourist and before the heat, was perfect. My run started at about 0730. It’s a shame I couldn’t pull myself out of my comfy bed to catch the streaks of pinks and purples across the sky reflect on the lake at dawn. 

This was actually at sunset but similar to what I imagine the sunrise view to look as well.

 

Pretty sure Tchaikovsky could have been inspired here.

 

 

 

 
Where I Ate
Mr. Pickwick Pub. Spent $32.50 on 5 chicken wings, Pommes, bitter Limon, tap water, and garlic brot (bread)

Also on the menu:

Small salad $10.50
Grilled ham and cheese with pommes (fries):  $17.50
Small nachos   $8.50
Four person platter $65
Chicken club sandwich $14.50
Chicken Club sandwich with pommes or side salad $22.50
Ben and Jerry’s mini ice cream cups $6

Remember, Switzerland’s Frank exchange rate to the USD is a 1:1 ration. They just charge a ton for very little.

At Ernesto Italian Ristorante beside the Chapel Bridge I had a Picola sized Penne Aurora, coke, rose wine and tap water for a grand total of $32.70.  Carpaccio, which is my favorite European appetizer, was $22.50!

I spent $3 on a snickers and $4 on a .5 liter bottle of water. Goodness it was hotter than blue blazes this weekend. Perfect lake weather.

Next time:
I’ll be adhering to a budget! I could have saved over $300 had I not gone post card shopping (they’re $2 a pop here), fashion shopping, and eaten out.   My goodness, in one overnight I spent $100 on food, snacks, and drinks.  Had I been prepared, I could have been making sandwiches or eating Rammen so I wasn’t starving to the point that I didn’t notice $30 was a bit much for 5 wings. Next time I’ll pack my own meals!  I know people say live it up when you’re on vacation but, I vaycay like this every weekend. This isn’t a once a year type event for me so I need to think a little more frugally. Besides, I went to two of Europe’s most expensive countries within five days. Maybe not the best financial move. Next time I go to Norway or Switzerland, I’ll make sure the rest of my trips for the month are more economical.

It was so hot I was guzzling water by the liter. Keep in mind bottled water was $5 for .5 liters…little bottles. I can get 2 liters of water in Germany for .40 cents!  From 1300-1700 was the hottest time of day. I could have napped during this time to avoid the extreme heat and spending money to stay hydrated. Then I could have been ready to party all night.

I’d pack a swimsuit. I don’t know why I over looked this important item. But they had cute affordable ones there.  I may also give a paddle boat a go, or at least convince  someone to paddle the boat for me…that’s a lot of work. Better yet, I’ll have my Idaho Beau, a sailor by trade, rent a sailboat to sail around the lake. With all that, I won’t be saving much by not eating out.

Red benches could be found all over.

What I learned from this visit

Germans and the Swiss have very different mannerisms, even though they speak the same language. And the Deutsch was understandable…none of this Schweizerdeutsch I was warned about from my Deutsche friends. But I could often identify the Swiss from the Germans.  There were a group of bachelors enjoying their stag weekend acting wild and crazy! I was excited! They reminded me of the Brits I see everywhere enjoying their final unmarried days but they were speaking Deutsch! Sure enough, they were Swiss asking for Swiss Franks and not Euros. That’s what you do in both Germany and Switzerland, you give $ to those on their stag and hen weekends.  Anyway, I expected the Swiss-German dynamic to be like the Canadian-American one…basically indistinguishable from one another at the surface glance but I was wrong, their mannerisms are distinctly different.

I talked with a father and son team of German Jehovah’s Witnesses. They chose to spend their Saturday witnessing. The son chose Spanish as the language to approach me. I actually get this regularly when I leave Stuttgart, people see me and and choose French or Spanish to initiate conversation…never English.  Stuttgart has a high American population so English is the first go-to language. But outside Stuttgart…English is not the fall back language. Sorry buddy, I don’t know enough to talk about Jesus in Spanish…which is a pity. I realized this as another reason to learn a new language, if not just enough to talk with others about the glory of the Lord.  Typically in the states, folks try to duck and dodge the LDS and the JWs when they come a knockin’ which never allows you to hear what they have to say or how they are different.  Basically, from what I gathered, Jehovah’s Witnesses are different from other Christians because they 1. Don’t think God and Jesus are one and the same. 2. Jehovah is the only name of God and should be honored just as Jesus said in his Lord’s Prayer.  In Hebrew, God was named YHVH, but since we can’t say this in our language, Christian Scholars filled in the missing letters.  3. They also think God will turn the world into a Paradise on his own without the help of people.  I asked the men how people responded to their witnessing. The German men said the Swiss are more polite and educated than Germans so they listen to what they have to say or they politely tell them they are not interested.

I learned that in Germany and Switzerland, St. Nicholas gives children toys on 6 December here. He also watches and protects the sailors on the seas. The town has a sandstone statue of him out in the lake and named a lake view church after him.

I also learned that I don’t need to pay extra to reserve a specific seat on the Duetsch Bahn.  I did this and ended up just sitting where I pleased.  What a waste. Now if traveling in a large group and you want to all sit together, by all means do it. But with two or three…its not necessary

I over pack. I could have done a weekend in 1 backpack instead of a carry-on sized suitcase and a backpack. Bathing suit, sundress, flip-flops, sunglasses and shorts don’t take up much room. that carry on could have been filled with food or with room for my new purchases. Instead I filled it with things I hardly used.  This was definitely a “take half the stuff and twice the money” kind of trip.

Lake Lucerne is a beautiful  holiday location.  Full of sundresses, flip flops, and sun tans. Short, cut-off shorts that are socially unacceptable in most places around Europe are welcome here.  Lucuren redeemed Switzerland from Zurich’s image in my mind. It’s a prefect mix of chill and party. It’s a spot I look forward to returning to soon.  I can add it to my list of favorite experiences. When you’re needed a city break, and can’t get to a beach, Lucurne is the perfect place to go.

Pedro from madrid wanted to take this picture before he started asking way too many questions. No Pedro, you don’t need to know donde es mi hotel or Dónde trabajas or if I Viaja solo . Good bye!
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In Europe, Norway on
August 15, 2012

Belle In Oslo

This weekend I journeyed to Oslo for a long overdue visit with a friend from The States. As I packed, the music from my latest crush, Luke Bryan, was on replay in my head, 

                “Hey there cutie with the Kentucky Coozie, Have you ever hung with a Georgia Boy.”

That was the characterizing theme song for the weekend. I met Georgia boy two years ago when my work colleague who happened to also be his fraternity brother invited me to spend New Years in Atlanta with his friends. We met over an unforgettable dinner at Fogo de Chao and have been friends ever since. At the time, Georgia boy lived in my now neighboring German state of Bavaria and was just visiting his family for the holidays. By the time I moved to the German state of Baden-Württemberg, he had already moved to a Norwegian village outside of Oslo. Anyway, after living on the same continent for a year, it was high time the two of us got together and since Germany was having another one of its many holidays; it was me who did the traveling.

A BEAUTIFUL sneak view I caught while ridding along the cobble stone streets on my rented bike.
A 3-day weekend was just enough time for a relaxing yet productive, comfortable visit. I arrived Thursday evening after a half day at work and left Sunday afternoon. I feel like I could have packed more activity in, but the weekend was just the right pace.

Bummer of the week: I inadvertently submerged my camera in water prior to my trip and it wouldn’t turn on anymore. Plus side, I bought a new camera. Downside, this new camera’s battery refused to charge and did not work all weekend so I had to use my less dynamic back up. On the plus side, my old camera which I later submerged in dry white rice for the weekend turned on again!

Making a habit of this. I posed by the Budapest guards as well!
Drammen Church

Norway has a population of 5 million and is the least densely populated country in Europe. Likewise, the greater Stuttgart metropolitan area has a population of 5+ million. Needless to say, Oslo was not the bustling, happening metropolitan that I once imagined. Fortunately, it isn’t overpopulated with tourist this time of year like so many other European capitols. The Royal palace is a bit less grand than any other European palace I’ve seen…and even our America Palace (the White House). The gardens, however, are lush and everyone relaxes in them all day.

Oslo makes a refreshing city break. I took a relatively inexpensive KLM flight to Amsterdam then to Oslo. I lived off of about $200 and the hospitality of friends the whole weekend. The highlight of the trip was hanging with Georgia Boy, rooting on Norge, Deutschland, and the USA in the Olympics, and the interesting cultural conversations with his friends.

You come to Norge (as they call it in Norway) for the nature, not the shopping or partying which can certainly rack up quite the bill.  I spent the equivalent of $12.17USD on a six pice chicken nugget meal at McD’s…making it more shockingly expensive than Switzerland!  I suggest waiting until you’re back in the Euro to do your shopping…better yet, back in the USD to go on your shopping sprees.

Converse with dresses. Yes, the high top tennis shoe with sexy cocktail dresses. This was the hot fashion statement. And I can appreciate this style. Instead of having your feet suffer all night, you can be comfortable! And you can run away from creepsters that seem to come out at night.  Actually, back in Germany, the girls wore converse with their dirndels.

One of the conversations I had with one of Georgia Boy’s friends centered around me living in Germany. He told me they are required to learn German and English in school but how redundant German was because everyone in Germany also speaks English. French and Spanish were more functional languages to learn because less native speakers of those languages speak Norwegian, German or English.  He actually had five years of German but wasn’t very good at it even though he could speak two other Germanic languages well.  Road signs were easier for me to understand here because of my knowledge of German. For example the German word for entrance is “Eingang.” In Norwegian, its “Inngang.”  and they spell Center, “Senter.” I love how there are so many ways to spell the same word. There is no denying “senter” does not spell center. You certainly read it that way.  In the same conversation, he asked, “so you live in Germany…and you like the Germans?” I chuckled. What a funny question. He expanded that he was not a fan of their sense of humor.  “If you tell a joke…like a man joke, they do not laugh. They don’t have a sense of humor. Not good ones like the Brits.” That got me thinking. I had never thought about the Germans being a non-humorous bunch. I had quite a few comical moments with them but no, the Germans are not known for their fun-having antics like the Brits. German humor is a topic I’m going to have to explore further.

 

Biking is the way to travel

On Sunday morning, I rented a bike to ride up and down the river to take in the gorgeous views of Dramman… a smaller town about 40 kilometers outside of Oslo.

On this trip I realized that guys everywhere seem to find competitive games to play when they drink.  The three Americans introduced the group or Norwegian boys to beer pong. The Norwegians came up with a series of team challenges to play while pre-gaming.

My time in Noway in general was peaceful and easy-going. Maybe because of all the fresh air, even in the city. Maybe because my main objective was to chill with an old friend rather than see everything the city has to offer like I often set out to do every time I go to Paris.  Oslo is a hot spot for outdoor adventuring. It’s a good mix of both city and nature.

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In Local Guides, Take Notes on
August 7, 2012

Be A Good House Guest

Back in the old south, hosting long-term guest was an art form.  Travel was more challenging back then so when people did make long journeys via riverboat, train, or horse carriage, their stay was also much longer.  As I learned from visiting the Houmas Plantation just outside New Orleans, visitors were welcomed with a pineapple placed at their bedside.  When they received their second pineapple, it was the host’s polite way of saying that guest’s welcome had expired and it was time to start making travel arrangements back home.
 

After talking to some co-workers, I’ve noticed Americans living in Germany all have similar experiences when it comes to hosting guests. Folks from back home will say they want to come over and never do. Or they do come over for an extended stay that sucks the soul out of those who of us who live here.  Having guests should not cause the host to be stressed the entire visit or alter the host’s lifestyle too tragically. Your primary goal of a guest is to not impede or interrupt the lifestyle of your hosts.  So here are a few ways you can be a pleasant house guest.
 

On Arrival
Tell your host when you’re coming and going early.  That includes dates and times. People pick up and go to all sorts of far off destinations.  Last thing your host needs is to rearrange her schedule or travel plans to pick you up at the airport because you give her three days or less notice on when you’re coming.  Every day in Europe is an adventure.
 

Pack light.
Do not bring your entire wardrobe! You can always point out the American at the airport…the one that needs the cargo carrier to cart their luggage. No matter how long you’re staying, you only need one suitcase. Europe has washing machines.  It also has little cars. Do not bank on your host having an American sized car than can carry everyone in your parties three pieces of luggage. Don’t bank on being picked up by car, you may be sent a taxi or be riding the train! Remember, you always return with more stuff so save room! 

Bring a gift to say “thank you” when you arrive. A host gift displays your graciousness to your host’s generosity and hospitality. Consider bringing something from home that they cannot get easily in Europe.
 

Your Stay

Noise control: if your host lives alone, she is probably accustomed to peace and tranquility.  Give her some time to have that. Limit times when the TV is going, people are shouting conversations above the t.v. and YouTube and the iPod going all at once. Chances are if you’re in Europe you live in a flat with neighbors all around. You don’t want to leave your host in bad graces with her neighbors.
 

Be independent as quickly as possible. Even though they have graciously invited you into their home, they have already rearranged their normal routines on your behalf. Their hospitality also requires their investment of time, energy, and money for extra food and drink, utilities, and other costs.  Be mindful of that and do not depend on your host to research activities for you, chauffeur you from place to place. Learn things on your own quickly. Learn www.vvs.de and German road signs quickly so you can rent a car.
 

Get out of the house. As Ben Franklin once said, “Fish and visitors stink after three days.” If you are staying for a longer period, find way to leave and stay elsewhere (i.e. a trip to Austria) for a few days to give your hosts some private time.  Everyone needs a little alone time for peace, quiet, and recharging. Your host is accustomed to you not being there. So strike out on your own once in a while so your host can have that alone time.  Just be sure to communicate this with your host so she isn’t expecting you for have dinner or other activities she may have planned.
 

Let your host sleep: Let your host get to bed for a decent night’s rest. Your hosts may not be on vacation as you are (most have to work while you play).  While you may be jet lagged and awake at all hours, your host needs to work. Make an attempt tohurry and get on your new time zone’s schedule. You can bring your own earphones for listening to music or for watching TV. That way you will not keep your host awake all night or feeling restless because of the activity, noise, and lights.
 

Clean up after yourself. Do NOT leave your dirty dishes in the sink. This is just rude, even if your host does. You should leave the kitchen cleaner than you found it, but hopefully it goes without saying that you clean your dishes as soon as you’re done with them.
 

Keep your guest area neat. This is not your home. Make your presence as unobtrusive as possible. Keep your belongings out of the way. You’re on vacation, not in a rush to get to work or school…you have time to make your bed in the mornings. Put dirty laundry in a laundry bag or plastic bag. Just shutting the door to a messy room is NOT an option. If you are a smoker, do not have your host sweeping up your ashes.
 

Use the guest bathroom. Don’t disrupt my host’s morning by having to sort through you’re toiletries to find her own, or have to wait for you to get out of the shower, or deal with your messes.
 

Always offer to help at mealtimes. Your host is not a servant. There is nothing more debilitating than having guests who sit around waiting expectantly for all meals. Offer to cook, help cook and clean afterwards. Hosts often say there is nothing for you to help with, however, you can find something, whether it is consolidating trash, washing dishes, slicing veggies, etc. If you cook for yourself, cook enough for your host… especially if you are using your hosts’ kitchen staples and supplies.
 

Be flexible and adaptive. You adapt to the hosts preferences. They do not cater to you. This is not a hotel.
 

Learn about the electricity! Last thing your host needs is a huge electric bill because you, acting like a typical American, left the transformer plugged all week. Or, you blow your hosts flat screen because you don’t know the difference between a transformer and an adapter. Ask questions. You have google at your finger tips…use it!
 

 Make contributions. Go grocery shopping, foot the bill at a restaurant, do home repairs, clean up, take out the trash.
 

Do your own laundry. Your host works while you’re home all day. Do not quadruple her work load by adding your laundry and your children’s to hers when she gets home. This way, you are solely responsible for your own lost or damaged clothing as well.
 

Entertain yourself. This goes back to the “become independent as quickly as possible” tip.  Your host has probably already spent time mapping out plenty of things for you to see and do. Do these activities during the day while your host is away. Your host has probably already visited the sights many times before. Let your hosts make it clear whether or not they have the time to take you to places, or to spend entire evenings with you. Don’t assume that you can rely on their generosity to drive you to places or to show you around.
 

Communicate. If you’ll be out in the evening or if you’re bringing food home it would be nice to let your host know that you don’t need her to cook for you ahead of time.  Let her know if you’ll be out all night. Make sure your lines don’t cross. Let your host know your plans.
 

Be appreciative. Show appreciation for the local food, sightseeing, and other attractions. Show appreciation for the host opening her home to you. Do not criticize. If things are so much better at home, you could have stayed there.
 

Be considerate with phone usage. Don’t rack up crazy fees. Ask before you call back home to the states or make international phone calls all over Europe or even within the same town. German phone calls are priced differently than in the states.  Even landlines calls across town can have pay by the minute plans.
 

Do not invite other people to the residence without first clearing it with your hosts. This is just common courtesy and respect, as you are a guest, not an equal member in their home. It’s also a security risk. Now this person knows where your host lives long after you’ve returned home.
 

Parting is Such Bitter Sweet Sorrow
Leave a thank-you gift on your departure. Send a thank you card after you arrive home.
Don’t leave work for your host. You are not staying in a hotel.  Your host will have to tidy up after you leave. Make sure you return your accommodations in the manner as you received it so your hosts don’t need to spend time re-organizing after you leave.  If you shop to the point that you can’t fit everything in your suitcase, pack your own boxes to ship things home, DO NOT just leave a mess of items for your host to pack and ship later.  You host may be hosting other guests soon after you leave so help her out.
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In Local Guides, Take Notes on
August 4, 2012

A Southern Girl’s Guide to Hitchhikers

10 Things I Remember About My Aunt Ollie

1. My Great Aunt Ollie was a phenomenal woman.

 

2. She was known for her big heart that had a soft spot for nurturing children. When a child was in need, her heart and home was always open.

 

3. She displayed her big heart by unofficially, on two occasions adopted two boys whose parents just decided to abandon their parental duties. She raised these boys and made them part of the family.

 

4. My great-aunt Olive was a leader. She dedicated her life to being part of the solution to make our small town a better place. As a city council member, she envisioned the town she grew up in as a place that the youth would want to return home to after college.  Not only did she dedicate her life to public service but she lead our family. Even as a member by marriage, she led as a matriarch.

 

5. My Aunt Ollie was the fastest girl in the state of Kentucky, winning a state title in the girl’s 400 meter dash.  Her running discipline as a teen was evident with beautiful, shapely legs as an adult.

 

6. She could throw a party at a moment’s notice. Her pantry was always stocked with delicious goodies. Her fun, social personality could make the simplest gathering around her kitchen entertaining.

 

7. Ollie could transform her house into a wonderland at Christmas time.  Every year, late into the night on Christmas Eve you’d find her entertaining while whipping up magic concoctions that released hypnotizing scents into the air, making even the devil believe he was in heaven. Her living room would be filled to the ceiling with mountains of gifts for her grandchildren and loved ones. A slice of her velvet cake would make you believe.

 

8. When the angels carried her on to Heaven, mourners filled the church paying their respects. The mayor choked-up delivering his eulogy. Traffic was stopped on the busiest street with the longest procession that town has seen. “Will be missing you” played on the radio during her procession. When she died, all our family traditions died along with her traditions died right along with her. We were left trying to figure out, what will we do at holidays without her?

 

9. She was my uncle’s Sarah (without the whole infertility ordeal).  A mother to more than just her two biological children. A princess. Someone to emulate, respect, and honor.

 

10. I was loved by her. This world lost her a few days after my high school graduation. She left my uncle a honey-do list which included getting me a luggage set as my graduation gift. When I consider it now, here she is, fighting cancer, being calling home and she’s still thinking about taking care of me. There’s no doubt that I was loved by her. Back then I only had the perspective of a child on the verge of becoming an adult. I wonder the conversations we’d have if she were still around. I wonder what she’d tell me about leadership. It’s amazing how much you learn about a person after they pass.

A Southern Girl’s Guide to Hitch Hikers

On my way home from class from Heidelberg to Stuttgart I was running low on gas and needed an emergency pit stop. While pumping some diesel into my little golf, a young man came up to me with a map asking if I could get him and a friend closer to München (not sure why English speakers call this town Munich).  “So, you speak English well, how did you learn,” one asked. I explained I was American which is when they revealed they were Dutch. He and his bud were on a race to Sziget Fest in Budapest and had traveled all the way from Rotterdam, Netherlands to nearly Stuttgart all by the transportation of wonderful strangers.  The loser had to buy the winning team “Ali Baba pants.” The other team was way behind them in Cologne, Germany.  I was going to just drop them off on the side of the road as they requested when they let on that they were planning on pitching a tent in the woods somewhere.
Well how could I allow that to happen knowing I had two extra beds? I brought them back to my place.  Which, as one of my friend’s pointed out, sounds like a classic plot to a certain type of movie, if you know what I mean?
These guys made it from Rotterdam to Stuttgart
 I got them set up with internet so they could tell their friends and family that they were alive and well. They started mapping out their plan for the next day. I offered to make pasta (via popping open a pre-made easy bag).  All they wanted was bread. Well, I also had ham and sliced sandwich cheese.  They raised an eyebrow at my miracle whip. “Sounds interesting” they said.  They didn’t use it.  I served them on paper plates since my cabinet crushed my real dishes. We had a laugh about Ikea kitchens. Apparently everyone knows someone who’s wall mounted cabinets have fallen before. I pulled out some mandarin oranges, stuffed peppers, granola, different antipasti type foods AND cheese from their homeland that I served on Delft blue cheese board. They were tickled. “Some people think this is all there is to the Netherlands” He said in references to the girl in wooden shoes in front of a windmill painted on my traditional blue pottery. “Windmills and marijuana” he said somewhat disappointed.
I wound up going to bed. They stayed up on the computer before cuddling up in my pink & chocolate brown clad guest bedroom (It makes me smile seeing a guy curled up in my pink blankets). They had planned to leave at dawn but must have needed the sleep. In the morning, the two showered up — it’s refreshing to get a shower in their mode of traveling and they were very grateful.  I was grateful that they were very tidy, picking up after their mini meal, making the beds, and cleaning their bathroom mess. I caught them before they slipped out around 0900. They were in the process of leaving me a bottle of wine, which I traded with them so they could give to someone else who helped them. They said they tried to give it to a trucker who helped them most but all the trucker wanted as an energy drink. They left the kindest note which concluded, “American hospitality is the best.”  

It was that note that made me feel like I represented my country and the south well. More than that, I was reminded my favorite scripture Hebrews 13:2 “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” In considering this scripture, I also thought of my late aunt. Maybe this was a verse that she lived by.  The gratitude shown by these teenagers because I offered them my surplus of empty beds, leftovers, and a place to wash up humbled me.  It’s been almost a decade since that June day we put Ollie in the grave but I know, that if everyone she touched is being hospitable towad strangers, that she still lives through them.  What a wonderful inheritance she left the world in her 54 years.  She is one of my real life examples of a true representation of a Southern Belle.

And they’re on their way! Good Luck guys!

We waved good bye, and I wish them luck on their way. I’ll say a special prayer for them tonight that the good Lord keeps them safe and they continue to come across amazing strangers and learn that this world is a wonderful place.  I understand the dangers of opening my home to strangers.  My mom made sure I understood and praise God I’m still alive to speak of this adventure.  People tell me all the time that I’m too kind and people will take advantage of my hospitality. And at times it has been true.  But people do not get attacked because they are kind; they get attacked because someone with a sick, wicked mind intentionally set out to hurt them. We can’t afford to live our lives with so much fear in our hearts that we cannot be a saving grace to our fellow humans.

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In Local Guides, Take Notes on
July 28, 2012

Travel-Free Weekend

 

This weekend is the first weekend since March that I have absolutely nothing planned.  Initially I had planned to visit the castles in Cesky Krumlov, but due to a lack of interest, that trip got cancelled!  Although I feel somewhat guilty that I’m not on the go, I really think it was God’s message telling me that I need to chill.  Bruno Mars’ “Lazy Song” is my theme for the weekend. I am worn out! Recouping will be my most productive weekend since my intensive travel began.

 

Keeping with my “Travel More” inspiration for the year, this is what I’ve done:

 

January

Paris
Munich

February

Vienna, Salzburg, Budapest

March

Albania

April

Paris
Disney Paris
Amsterdam & other Holland cities during tulip season
Polish Pottery girl’s weekend

May
  Me @ Keukenhof. with over 7K tulips

Bolzano, Italy
Ljubljana, Slovenia
Normandy, France

June (My family is here!)

Paris
Montenegro
Neuschwanstein
Ulm
Munich

July (My Family is STILL here)

Belgium
Zurich, Switzerland
Poland
Czech Republic
Triberg in The Black Forest
Garmisch, Germany

ME & BABY BELLE IN THE BLACK FOREST

What I still want to do (in no particular order of priority):

Oslo (I have not visited my friend there yet).
Scandinavia Tour
Med Cruise  to Santorini, Croatia, Turkey
Revisit Prague and visit to Cesky Krumlov
Revisit Switzerland (I wasn’t impressed the first time)
Beach: Ibiza, Monte Carlo, French Riviera somewhere
Scotland
Russia
Poland: Krakow maybe Warsaw
Portugal
Italy: Roma, Venice, Pisa, Florance, Milan, Vatican

Spain: Barcelona, Madrid, Seville, Valencia, Malaga, Ibiza, Granada, Cordva, Gibraltar (it’s really GB I know), Canary Islands, Having A Coke With You tour (Check out Frank O’Hara’s poem)
Germany:  Oktoberfest!, Romantik Road, Koln, Berlin, Dresden
Africa: Ferry from Gibraltar into Africa, Seychelles (Even though It’s not Europe, I’m thinking it must be cheaper
from Europe than the U.S. and I’ve never been south of the Equator)
France: Versailles, Paris Catacombs, Moulin Rouge, French cooking school, Nancy, Lyon, Nice, Marseille, Seine River boat Ride, Jim Morrison’s grave site, Saint Tropez, Marseilles

Then of course there are the activities like skiing, white water rafting, marathons, concerts, girls get-a-ways, and romantic retreats that I also want to experience. Then I can say I came, I saw, I conquered all in Europe.  Still very ambitious. When I graduate in May, I’ll return to The States.  I can’t help but to feel my time for touring, exploring, and pilgrimage-ing is running out.  Even Stuttgart is a holiday. I am still wandering into new neighborhoods and discoveries with every new turn in this fabulous hometown.  There is still much in Germany that I have yet to see and explore.

All those trips will have to wait. This weekend, I’ll just enjoy summertime in Stuttgart.  I’ll be finding my balance, getting my life back in order, and recharging from a whirlwind of a year thus far. Besides…I have books to read and papers to write…coming upon my final semester as a grad student! Although it’s bitter sweet, I can see the light at the end of the graduation tunnel!

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