So, what was I saying about jet lag? After my entry yesterday, I took a shower and then went to “just lay down for a little bit”, and in what seemed like a split second, Andrea woke me up five hours later when she got home from work. I do actually feel pretty well adjusted to the time, but I know I’ll at least need a nap this afternoon since I’ve been awake since 4:30 AM or so (Its about 9 AM now).
Last night after dinner, we went for a walk around the neighborhood. Its quite cold here in the evenings.. I’d estimate it to be somewhere around the 30’s at night. With my raincoat and my fleece jacket, it’s just enough to keep me warm in the evenings. This town is really beautiful–it’s a mix between new and old buildings and streets. I really like the cozy feel of the narrow, brick streets and the tall buildings which surround them.
On the way back to the apartment, we stopped by a restaurant where Andrea had some fresh wine, and I had my first real German Hefeweizen. Talk about an amazing beer–I wish the Hefe in the states was this good. Very, very smooth, creamy, with a nice frothy head. I’m going to get spoiled by the beer here and be disappointed with the any of the US versions of this liquid gold when I get home I’m sure. I tried a bit of Andrea’s wine which was pretty good too. Though it was very fresh (she estimated a couple of days old), so it mostly tasted like grape juice. I also had some Sippro (sp?) which Andrea brought back from Greece which was pretty interesting. I haven’t really had enough to form an opinion of it one way or the other, unless my comment of it being “palette cleansing” counts.
After a shower, I’m going to head out for a walk to take some pictures and to stop and smell the roses, so to speak, while Andrea is at work, and perhaps find some postcards at the market that is a couple of buildings down from where I’m staying. After she gets home, the plan is to go to the supermarket to pick up some groceries and to show me around downtown, and then I think we’ll actually start making plans for the week ahead. I have to admit, now that I’m here, I’m not super motivated to travel outside of Germany that much because I really like it here, and usually would prefer to get an intimate knowledge of one place rather than the tourist view of many places. I guess we’ll see what we end-up planning, though.
Its kind of nice to take my first trip out of the states at this age since I feel like I’ll appreciate it more than I would have had I taken it, say, five years ago. I’m very impressed with Germany so far, and there are a lot of things here which make more sense to me rather than the way things are done in the US. It’s interesting interacting in a German engineered world–things are very simple, but elegant. Even down to things such as light switches, door handles, and windows, Germans easily have the American’s beat. Even things which I knew about and expected are still pleasant surprises! last night there was nudity on TV during the news, and this morning, I had to laugh about waking-up while listening to the un-edited version of 50 Cent’s “P.I.M.P.” on the radio. I really wished I could of found a German class to have of taken this summer, but now perhaps I’ll be more motivated to learn it once I get home.
Oh yeah, and the scooter riders here make me look like a big Sally. Its rare that you would catch me out on my motorcycle if its colder than 50 degrees out, but I heard them going by at all hours of the night last night, and I was cold just walking around in two coats. I’ve actually only seen a couple of motorcycles here so far, but Andrea says they are usually out more on Sunday’s. That, and its freaking cold at night.
Being here does sort of make me curious about what my bloodline actually is.. I think this is something I’m going to have to start working on once I get home. I seem to have the impression that perhaps there is some German blood on my mom’s side of the family, but who knows.
Enough babbling.. it’s time for me to go outside. Auf Weidersehen!
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