Germany

I was lucky enough to go to a concert the other night in the city I live in (almost to be past tense in a few short days), Kornwestheim. I sort of understood some of the songs even though it was mostly in German. Interesting. The more I live here and actually TRY to pick up the language, the more I am doing just that! Of course I am not remotely fluent in any sense of the word but I totally understand certain words which makes my stay better. My colleagues have also been amazing in helping me pronounce words and say things correctly but it is shocking that I can say some words all on my own. It is good to note that Germans pronounce every letter in a word, no matter how long (and damn, some words are ridiculously long) it happens to be.

Here are a few pics of my time at the concert.

I have to admit that I didn't stay too long as

Sunday found me up kinda eary and out in the door in search of greenery, animals and fresh air. Fresh air is plentiful in this part of Germany so that was a no brainer. I found animals at the Wilhelma Zoo and Botanical Gardens. Before getting to the zoo, I took a bit of a detour and walked in this huge park overlooking Neckar Park. I was able to think about a few things that are going on in my life now and about my future. Nothing was really resolved but I managed to clear my head, enjoy a solitary walk and take some pictures of Swabish countryside.

Before I got the zoo, I happened upon Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde Rosenstein. Totally unexpected and was just okay in its magnificence. It was just a hause to me, nothing too important looking.

Next was the Wilhelma. I don't usually like zoo's as I am not too interested in seeing animals in cages but it was not that bad here. Also, they had a gorgeous botanical garden full of flowers and plants some of which I have never seen before.

After walking around for a few hours, I called it quits to the zoo and headed to Neckar Park for some looking around. It was a soothing, calming time. Very lovely park. Great morning and midday outing.

Since I have been in Germany I have only been in the city over the weekend once and that was the first weekend I arrived. From then on, I have been busy going on one adventure or the next. As my time is pretty much over here, I decided to stay in the city this weekend and explore some of the things I told myself I would see way before I even landed on this continent. I thought that I would visit the Wilhelma Zoological and Botanic Garden my first weekend in but I was busy doing other things so I decided to throw it in this time.

In any case, this is what I did last weekend. Took a train to Ulm, Germany which is on the river Danube and the birthplace of Albert Einstein. In Ulm I visited the beautiful, colorful and busy Ulm Marktplatz. But, my real purpose for going to this city was the see the famous Ulm Cathedral and climb all of its 768 stairs.
the beginning of the 768 stair climb. Which I did of course albeit huffing and puffing pretty much all the way up. So was everyone else so I didn't feel too bad.

Ulmer Münster

view of Ulm and surrounds from Münster

Inside Münster

My lunch

Last Friday night I went over to my coworker, Sylvia's, house for dinner and a bit of a city tour. We all had such a great time. We went to Sylvia's village and had a very German type of dinner. It was called Dumpfnudel which was damn good.

dumpfnudel cooking

vanilla sauce

Dumpfnudel is a sort of steamed bun/bread which is served with a sprinkling of cinnanon and a generous dousing of warm vanilla sauce. My gosh, I can still taste it on my tongue....it was that delicious!
ready to eat. Yum!


having an apparatif

Syvia's mom hanging out the window waving good-bye

After dinner Sylvia and I took off to do the "town", which is really walking around the town, more exciting, next door. The town of Bbeitingheim. We walked around in a park, listened for a bit to a band playing an open air concert and then moved on.

Hornmoldhaus. I love the look of old timbre houses

this town is renounded for its sculptures



why, why, WHY are most of the words in german sooooo bloody long! try pronouncing this word 3 times

We did a sort of detour and ended up visiting a small schloss. It was not big or spectacular but it sat on a gorgeous bit of water where the locals frolic on the weekend. Very nice.