I arrived at 11:45 AM in Frankfurt yesterday which is 4:45 AM according to my tired butt's time (and real time zone differences). After maneuvering through customs and retrieving luggage I was headed for my first stop of Andernach, Germany. Andernach is super cute and very quaint. For those of you that aren't regular readers, my husband has been working here for the last 3 months so he is feeling pretty much at home here. I have been here about a minute and a half and haven't gotten acclimated quite yet.
We dropped in on a Christmas Festival, visited an old fortress, and got settled into our German Guesthouse where we spent last night. Hubby is sleep asleep this morning because it is 4:00 AM and I am awake with an Internet connection. YAY!....
BUT for now...I am going to get cleaned up for the day. I have plenty of pictures of things that I will try to post as time and computer connections allow.
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40 comments:
That sounds like a fabulous trip. Looking forward to seeing some awesome pictures. Have some German beer and have a wonderful time.
What do they have against cold beverages? Ice is great. You may have just talked me out of traveling to Germany. Also, I'm real bad in airports with those inappropriate comments. Surprised I'm not on a list.
Have fun! I'm not surprised they don't put ice in drinks. Those Germans are descended from vikings and barbarians, you know.
The land of beer doesn't have cold beverages? Ugh. I hope they don't serve their beer warm. What a buzz kill.
Cultural differences like that always fascinate me. In Thailand, for example, their pizza doesn't have any sauce. It's just bread, cheese, and toppings. Then you... dip it in ketchup. Yep, it's every bit as gross as it sounds.
I'm sure you'll soon be acclimated when the jet lag wears off and you get your bearings. Have a great time. Germany is wonderful this time of year.
I was surprised that you took the time to post. Such a dedicated blogger (insane blogger?). I've been to a few German towns and villages but Andernach (sounds like "another night"?) doesn't sound familiar. One of my favorite visits was in Freiburg where the hotel was connected to a thermal bath/spa. Have a wunderbar trip.
So far it has been spectacular but this is going to be a difficult week to stay connected. I thought the Internet was "global". The hotels have it but wifi hot spots are non-existant. I think most of the pictures will have to be posted after I get back to the U.S.
I thought it would be fun to do a picture for you with Crabby Pants and Pickleope in airport jail together...but then figured out I am on my husband's computer and he doesn't have my painting software on his laptop. Just one of the technical difficulties I am finding in Europe..
So...anyway back to the subject, you are inappropriate in airports, huh? I will be sure never to get behind a pickleope in a security line.
You are too funny, Debra. I do find the tepid beverages rather barbaric. I can be such a PITA, I know. I actually went to a McDonalds today just for an iced Coke Light...and they put about a tablespoon of ice in it.
I had to ask someone if the beer is cold as I can't drink beer...they said it was.
I agree...cultural differences are so interesting. The last time we came to Germany we stayed at the Munich Sheratin so it felt someone Americanized. This trip we are staying in German hotels. Very different but certainly getting more a feel for how Germans really live.
Our son has spent a lot of time in Thailand and he insists that we would enjoy it. I am skeptical. Does henot understand how spoiled I am?
I am having a great time. I will say that this trip is a bit different than past trips here because we are staying at German Guest Houses and German hotels. In the past we have always stayed in American chain hotels. Very interesting differences. Not bad just different.
Today/Tonight we are in Cologne. The Christmas markets here are wonderful.
I am finding it is very difficult to get on the computer here from both the availabilty and the time constraints so this will be really intermittent. You are very right about the insane part....I admit it. I feel like I am missing out reading what all of you are doing. When I get home I will have a thousand of blogs to read.
We are in Cologne today and tomorrow. The hotel is a little boutique hotel near the Cathedral and is quite charming. I was worried but was pleased to find it wasn't bad.
Thanks for the update! I am so jealous - I want to be on a European trip right now, ice or no ice! Have a wonderful time.
Safe travels, Cheryl!
I immediately thought, oh no, how have I missed Day One of your adventures.? Ha, Ha, so you caught me there. Hopefully with one of those bright red bags you have very warm mufflers for your ears. You will need them, right? Isn't Germany where they drink warm beer, out of kegs? Hence, no ice. Personally, I may have covered Crabby Pants mouth with tape, and then put one of those doctor's masks on her, and said she is protecting herself from germs. Keep her potentially naughty remarks muzzled. Better that than enduring an airport security strip search...brrrrrrr. ;) Looking forward to seeing and hearing more of your trip we are all so envious about!
Yes, the beverages here are mostly expresso style coffee and alcolhol related...such as beer and wine. Since I don't drink alcohol, I am working at a bit of a disadvantage. Funny thing....I rarely ever go to McDonald's in the US but here it's the one place I can get something to drink. It's Coke Light here or Coke Zero. Coke Light tastes very similar to the old Tab soda in the states. (You might not remember that since you are much younger than me)
Flying used to be a lot more fun than it is now.Airports don't tend to have much of a sense of humor. Especially the German airport. Going through customs has the feeling of an police interrogation. (or what I imagine an police interrogation to feel like)
Hi Riot Kitty, I brought all kinds of really warm clothes because typically this time of year, I would be freezing my ass off but yesterday, it didn't get all that cold. Last night at the Christmas Market, I had to put on some gloves and a ski band over my ears. I am having great fun though.
Thanks, Chicken! So far, so good.
I knew that would be confusing. I lost a day in the traveling process. THEN...I discovered that Internet connections are really tricky here. I suspect what little time I have on the Internet will make for little blogging time.
I asked someone yesterday about the beer temp. They told me the beer is served cold but I am not sure there "cold" and the North American version of "cold" are the same.
It's not horribly cold here right now. They are having pretty mild weather. I am sure that is in honor of me and Crabby Pants being here. I do need my gloves and earmuffs but I am not freezing solid.
Yes, if I really had a Crabby Pants that anyone other than me could hear, I would of muzzled her in Frankfurt's airport. The customs people there make the TSA agents in the US look like down-right jovial. I am not familiar enough with Canadian security for a comparison. I had a layover in Toronto and had no unfriendliness at all.
In the Toronto airport, I ran into a wedding party that was there after standing up for a friend. The friend was an 83 year old marrying for the first time. Their friend's name is Carol Harris. (married a man named George Raynes) Evidently, it's making a lot of local news in eastern Canada. Her maid of honor was probably in her 70s and another woman that did some readings at the ceremony, told me all about newlyweds. Sounds like a really cute story. The two women (along with the Maid of Honor's husband) were super fun to visit with. They were from the Nova Scotia area and had those cute regional accents.
Luckily for me, I can't drink any alcohol so the schnaps won't be a problem. The apple strudel might be a problem...at least in regards to the future size of my ass.
Lol, ok, showing my age here… I used to drink Tab. I loved it way back when… but then my brother (who couldn't stand that I drank Tab when my parents drank Tab and he drank Coke.. meaning the household had more Tab than Coke in the house.) One day my brother decided to cure me of Tab…. I drank the drink without realizing my darling sibling poured salt and pepper into the can! YUCKO. Cured alright. Can't think of the drink now without wanting to gag. Lol.
Thanks, Meleah...having fun but am in serious Internet withdrawal. A couple of minutes in the morning before we leave the hotel for the day. Oh well...I will catch up with the outside world when I get back to the US. Hope all is going well at your end.
OMG, That would cure someone from wanting Tab. I drank Tab but preferred Diet Coke. I am mostly an iced tea drinker but that isn't an option here. The only tea available is hot. Even McDonalds doesn't offer it..
I agree he shouldn't be responsible for child support but I still think he is an idiot. How did it not occur to him that offering up sperm to someone on Craigslist is a bad idea.
I totally agree that there is nothing to be gained by the sperm donor's identity being revealed. The kids will be disappointed at his lack of wanting to acknowledge them and he obviously is better off not knowing that he has created all kinds of children that he didn't ever really intend on having. I doubt that most sperm donors get any real thought to the future. They are after a little quick cash.
Just enjoy your time there! The Internet will be here when you return!
Exactly.
Oh Cheryl, love that story. Here's one article on it. http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20759697,00.html Of course you only experienced friendliness in Canada,eh. See, EVEN in hectic business focused Toronto. Now, isn't that amazing! In Vancouver they have this event modelled after the German Christmas markets, supposedly a 700 yr old history of them in Germany? So, are they still in Germany? http://vancouverchristmasmarket.com/
Yes, the Canadians are a friendly bunch. My couple of hours spent visiting with the wedding party was quite pleasant. The group was on the same plane coming to Frankfurt as well. They were going to Christmas Markets for a couple of weeks as well.
There are Christmas Markets here in Germany in just about every major town. The picture on the Vancouver site looks very much like the German markets. I went to the larger ones in Cologne and Koblentz over the last 3 days but tomorrow I am catching a train for the Netherlands.
Normally, I would say I don't like shopping but these are very festive. A lot of interesting booths, lots of food and entertainment. Having such a good time.
Seriously...that chick is out of her f****** mind to put herself even in the same room as Manson. The guy just totally creeps me out.
I agree....very scary. I suspect that if that was a passenger plane as opposed to a cargo plane there would of been some air traffic controllers losing their minds while yelling "ABORT, ABORT".
Yeah, I am not thinking that anyone other than the police would want to close down that party. All those Santas are spending money in the bars, restaurants and hotels. Sounds like a lot of fun.
SantaCon looks friggen awesome and NYC should just let people celebrate!
OOOHHH! I love Germany! There is a castle in Colmburg you should visit - it even has a ghost. ;)
Keep us up to date ... and lots of pics PLEASE!
Hi Jane, We are in Amsterdam tonight. We are very far to the west of Colmburg but on Saturday and Sunday we are going to see some castles. I am now over a week (god...maybe it's closer to two weeks) behind on blog reading....so I haven't read how things are going with you. Hope things are improving.
I will post some pictures when I get back to the states. Working off a iPad sucks for blogging.
Are you on the Rhine? I'm too lazy to look up where your husband works. Haven't been over there in years but loved it when I did visit. GF & I backpacked for 3 mos. My cousin was stationed at Rheine Main (SP) so that was the jumping off & returning to point of our travels.
Hi California Girl.... My husband has a company that is US based but occasionally has him going to point hither and yon. Today we are in Amsterdam He is currently living in Andernach, Germany on the Rhein. I envy the fact you had a chance to backpack for that period of time. I won't see everything I want to see before having to return to the US.
Sorry to be late to your German party. I'm so excited for you, Cheryl. Have a great time. Thanks for making time to update us in a very entertaining way, as always. You well represent us, as a very polite and thoughtful American. Maybe they'll start to think of us differently.
Blessings to you.
xoRobyn
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What a wonderful way to spend Christmas! Have a perfect time! Now as to ice....years ago when I lived in Spain I asked for ice with my coke and got ONE piece of ice.....hilarious! I adjusted and so it goes! Now when I order a soft drink I usually requast "just a little ice" and when I ask for water I always say "No ice please" I think it's because living in the wet climate of Oregon for so many years I did not need my drinks to be that cold. Merry Christmas Cheryl!
Hi Robyn, You are no later than I am. I had a dickens of a time finding wifi available. There were DSL lines in most of the hotels which didn't do a thing for me with an IPad.
Aren't you always the sweet one? Yes, you are! I don't know about if anyone appreciated my attempts at being polite as for the most part, they didn't understand me. I didn't get a sense that Americans were any pushier than any other group. We certainly don't drive as aggressively as the locals on the Autobans. Yikes!
Hi Kathe, I came back to the states last night...actually early this morning. Hubby is coming home for Christmas and then going back for 3 more months so I don't know if I will go over again for another visit or not. I haven't recouped from this one yet.
I saw just a few places that offered ice. One was a hostel in Bacharach and the other was an English pub that offered Bubble (iced) tea. There are, of course, McDonalds and Burger Kings that put ice in drinks but very, VERY minimal amounts.
I am sure now that I am back I will see you over at your blog before Christmas. Can't not check in regularly to see what that cute Lucy is doing.
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