9/25/11 Just when I thought I had heard it all...

Well nothing overly exciting to report. Pretty much just working. I did find a car...definitely not a brand spanking new shiny expensive automobile. No no, far from it. it is an older Mercedes that unfortunately is a stick shift, but a good Point A to Point B kind of car. I had to kind of laugh; so I pay for the car and we wait in line and go from one window to the next (that is the way of doing it here...you pay for it, and both the old owner and new owner go to register the car together. So we went from one window to do the first thing, then to the next window for me to pay, then on to the next window to out-process the stuff we had done at the first two windows. I suppose it psychologically makes people think they aren't waiting as long if they go to three different windows. At any rate, it took about an hour or so to complete the process.

So I proudly go out to put my German plates on my little POS Mercedes and go to drive off into the sunset (OK not really the sunset, actually I was driving off to go to the post office and pick up my much ignored mail). I did OK, considering that other than the test drive I really haven't driven a stick shift in a long long time, but then, as I was going to make a left turn into the post office parking lot my horn beeped. "What the heck!" I figured I must have just somehow it the horn. So I go in and get my mail and come toddling out, get in the car, turn the key and the horn starts honking. OK, the car did not do this when I test drove it...not once. Was my newly bought car possessed and should have been named Christine?

Luckily, it stopped and I sat there thinking what in the world have I gotten myself into. Also luckily, I hadn't paid much for the car...my theory was that I could rent a car for two months for basically the price of the car, so even if it wasn't a long term solution, it would get me around. So I started on my way to get my ESSO card from the shoppette. As I was turning, left, into the parking lot the horn went off again (just quick beep). OK, this was going to be annoying if it kept up. I go in to get the card and of course I cant because the registration hadn't been processed yet, so I went to go back to lodging. Next thing I know I am waiting at the gate to get off base (yes, you have to drive off base in order to go down the street a bit in order to get back on base...crazy, I know) and the silly horn starts blaring. HOW embarrassing! Then it just stopped. I am sitting there thinking to myself what kind of mess have I gotten myself into? But then the horn just stopped and it didn't do it again, and actually hasn't since. I have a feeling there is probably a loose connection that just happened to get pulled in just the right way before...so fingers crossed, it has re-positioned itself and I wont have that problem again.

This is my Mercedes POS:

Let's see, last night I went with a few people to see a "cabaret" show at one of the other bases. It wasn't bad. It was basically this one woman (who happens to be a teacher on the other base) who has been in plays and musicals since she was a kid and it was somewhat her one woman show. It was titled "Life upon the wicked stage" and she told tales of various situations she has been in associated with being on the stage. The show also included her singing a lot of the songs from various shows she had been in.  She could definitely sing well and the show had its comical side. Definitely beat just sitting around doing nothing for the night, so I am glad that Donna and Carol invited me along. It didn't hurt that we went to dinner before the show...believe it or not, we went to a Mexican food restaurant that is owned by an Italian in a German village, and it wasn't half bad. Actually, either I am just tired of microwaved food or it was pretty good tasting (perhaps a mixture of both).

Then today I had an appointment to go see a house in Kindsbach. The pictures on the housing ad looked good, it was roomy with a fenced yard, etc. So Deb and I took the little drive over to Kindsbach in hopes of being able to find a place to live that would allow me to feel more normal (there is only so much time one can live in a "hotel" room before you start feeling so odd (you know, you cant do any cooking, you don't have all your stuff, etc). We get to the house and it looks really good outside. There are apple trees and grape vines with grapes growing on them. As we enter the house there are beautiful marble tiles on the foyer and a beautiful leaded glass door. Kind of an odd smell as we walked in, but still we looked on.

So we go into the first bedroom which is next to the living room. Then out onto a deck that is off the living room. As we walk out there are two cats on the deck. One was actually a pretty black and white cat, and the other was a calico. Deb noticed what looked like a strange doggie door on the door leading out and so she said something about wondering if it would be big enough for Luigi.  I mentioned that it was an unusual doggie door and the owner said no it wasn't a dog door. Dogs were not allowed (I was sure the ad had stated that pets were allowed). Then she says, no, no dogs, not with the cats. It seemed odd but we continued to look anyway; what the heck we were there. So we went up the spiral staircase to the upper level which included the dining room, kitchen, and two bedrooms. Then something clicked and so we asked the owner what she had meant about no dogs because of the cats.

I swear I have never heard of anything like this in my life...the owner expected that if you rented the house you also had to take care of the two cats. Its one thing to decide to feed an outside cat...when I am allowed to have my dog (although I would still think that was odd too) but to expect that you take care of their inside and outside cat and not be allowed to have your dog...while you pay rent for their house and I am sure the cost of the cat food and litter were not part of the rent...ODD! No other word works for it.

Needless to say, I passed on the house. Sure I like my daughters cat. Lily is OK for a cat. But I don't want a cat around, and definitely not two...and somehow the owner seemed to think it odd that I didn't want to take care of the cats. Odd, odd indeed! Oh well, back to the house search. I swear for a country that loves their dogs so much (they are allowed to take their dogs in stores, in restaurants, to the zoo...you name it) they don't seem to allow renters to have their dogs. If I didn't concern myself with finding someplace that Luigi could live at the house hunt would be so simple. Darn their double standards.

On a funny note, it seems that my dog, Luigi, who rarely liked to go upstairs, usually preferring to sleep in the basement or the first level has now taken to sleeping upstairs in Alex and Phoenix's room (Luigi is staying with Heather, Dale and the boys for now). I guess Luigi likes sleeping up there now and Phoenix has taken to sleeping on the floor with him. To tell the truth, the thing that shocks me most in this is that Luigi doesn't get up on the bed and sleep on the pillow LOL. Heather sent me this picture...leave it to my dog and my grandson :)

9/17/11 Swiss Border

Believe it or not, I actually did wake up on time despite only 3 and a half hours of sleep. This was not good planning on my part, but I did it. So, I woke up at 4 am rushed to get ready and walk my happy butt over to the other side of base. I knew I wasn't going to be able to take the short cut since it would be locked up, but wasn't sure how long it would take me the other way, so I had to leave no later than 4:15. Ok, that part, I messed up because I didn't get out of the room until 4:20. Luckily, I could cut through my schools campus which cut off a little of the distance, but I was still worried I would take too long. How silly of me. I was rushing along trying to make sure I would get there in time and I ended up being 20 minutes early. I swear sometimes I am such a dork!

So, needless to say, once we got on the bus, I went back to sleep. Not like there was anything to see at 5 am anyway. It wasn't the most comfy nap I have ever taken, but it could have been much worse. I knew I had about two hours before we would be stopping for a traditional German breakfast, as the tour guide put it...so I just hope I didn't snore any (seems even if you don't normally snore, if you are exhausted you just might...I don't think I did though, because I didn't wake myself up LOL) Anyway, I was deep in sleep when the tour guides New Hampshire accent comes through loud and clear saying we needed to wake up. We pull into this rest stop restaurant that was completely different than the ones we had stopped at for other tours. This one seemed to be really clean (not that the others weren't) and had all sorts of items. We of course had a specific breakfast (it was part of the tour)...typical German breakfast; a croissant, a roll, some jelly, some meat, some cheese, coffee, tea, or hot chocolate.

After breakfast, we got back on the bus to complete our first leg of our trip; to the Island Mainau (pronounced My Now). I of course snoozed a bit more, but once did take a few pictures on the way once I woke up.

By about 10 am (I think that is when we got there) we made it to Lake Constance (known as Bodensee). This is Central Europe's second largest freshwater lake and is bordered by Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. It also happens to be the home of the Island of Mainau (the flower island). The island has a palace, a beautiful chapel, a greenhouse that keeps being expanded upward to make room for the trees growing in it, beautiful flowers, and the largest butterfly house in Europe (among other things).I know this is one spot that at least a few people will want to see when they come to visit.

A Swiss cross. Looters during the 1500's attempted to steal it off the island but it was so heavy that they gave up and  it has been in place in the lake since then.

This was our tour guide, Susanne

the Italian fountain

Looking down from the top of the Italian fountain.

The Palace residents used to like to use this patio area for sunbathing...au natural

side view of the palace and that green house that keeps getting a new roof to make it taller to meet the needs of the trees growing within it.

the ceiling in the chapel

this is one of the door handles on the doors for the chapel

the front of the palace. Although most people would never have a chance to stay in this palace, those that win the Nobel Prize do get to stay for a few nights. Hmmm wonder what I can do to get a Nobel Prize. Obviously, looking at the recent history of the prize, it can't be that difficult (considering some who have gotten it and for what?)

a peacock strolling around the grounds.

Talk about craziness...they have cigarette machines out in public...ok, it's the individual persons choice if they smoke or not, but they have these machines out on the streets in Germany too. I was surprised to see one here, but I guess they are ok with it.

These tables are so cool...down the center of the table is a planter filled with flowers.

when you put all the tables together on a patio, with all that planter area on the tops, its like a see of flowers while you eat.

part of what is left of the city wall on the island

a carriage carrying a bride and her father on their way to the wedding.

This would be a lovely place to have a wedding. It is a beautiful island. The Island of Flowers...the Island of Mainau

 

The butterfly house on Mainau. There are approximately 80 species of butterflies in the house from all over the world. The butterfly house is kept at 90% humidity and temperatures between 25°C and 30°C. All of the butterflies are real and alive and quite often will land on you.Along with the butterflies, there are all sorts of lovely flowers, especially orchids, and other tropical, lush plants. It is definitely humid in the building though...but the sights inside the building make the dewiness on your skin well worth it.

Look at the wings on this butterfly...other than the white and brown areas, they are translucent.

This butterfly is somewhat deceptive...or the picture is at least. This butterfly was clear up on the roof of the butterfly house. This picture was taken with zoom. So if you look at the picture below, you can see how far apart the beams on the ceiling are...then look at the picture above, again, and you will start to see how large this butterfly is.  I would guess it was at least a foot wide. 

Yummy afternoon snack at the butterfly house. Orange Kuchen

part of the kids play area (its a huge and fun play area)

back of the swiss cross (the front is below)

Beer on the bus...this one was a grapefruit beer. Interesting...not quite like the orange beers from Old Chicago, but interesting. And tasty after a walk around the island on a hot day.

 This is going into Switzerland.

interesting little bus, I would guess its a tour bus of some kind

Stein am Rhein. This is a neat little town where they have created historical tales in the form of murals on many of the buildings.

These manhole covers are St. George and the dragon.

This was on a church in town. Each of the four corners of the church tower has a dragons head.

As with most of these little villages, their fountains aren't just for looking at, people use them to get a drink.

I am not sure you can see what all is going on in these windows. but there is a bird in the house in a birdcage, but there are birds on the window sill as well and there is a cat in the window too...quite the lively house I have a feeling.

This is castle Hohenklingen, it is on a hill above Stein am Rhein

Then it was off to Schaffhausen to go to the the most powerful waterfalls in Europe. Above the fall, the river is more than 500 feet wide. The then rounds a curve and narrows as it passes by some huge rocks and then plunges 70 feet into the river basin.

If you click on the picture it should enlarge enough to see the stairs that go from the base of the rock to the very top (flag is there)...this is the observation deck.

I just thought this bridge was interesting.

Castle Munot, Schaffhausen, Switzerland

The view before starting our long trip home (two movies and a lot of dead dvd time later, I slept through it all...we were home)