Day Five: Everything Has Stopped Running Together

Yesterday was the longest day I have ever experienced. It started at 5am Monday, and ended last night at 9pm. 40 hours is a long time to be awake. I know that one day I will be doing this on a regular basis, but for what we were doing, it was a horrible introduction to this. I only had two cups of coffee if that puts it in perspective. However, last night I got some good old fashioned REM sleep and all was well. However, for whatever reason, my Oma thought interrupting it at midnight would be a fantastic idea. Read: heavy sarcasm. She woke up hearing people coming home from the club (yes these people's lives revolve around their partying make no mistake about that) and thought it was people going to work. Of course, since everyone is up and going to work we should get up and get dressed when the sun isn't even up yet. This fact did indeed turn out to be true (we got up at 7) but we lost an hour of sleep to it, which wasn't appreciated.

Moving right along, today we spent almost the entire day in Mannheim. Before we left, we stopped by to see my great-grandmother again. My mom and I were washing the lunch dishes and I voiced my observation that everything in Germany is miniature sized. This, of course, does not apply to the people, the architecture, or even the water bottles. Yes, you can buy 1.5 liter water bottles, and in the grocery stores this is generally all you can find to buy in packs greater than one.

But, I mean look at this kitchen. Everything in it is smaller than it is in the states.

But, my mom made the most valid point I've ever heard. There are 81.89 million people in a country approximately the size of Ohio. Everything has to be smaller. Anyway, we had lunch there and then went off to get on the bus to Mannheim. My mom won a bet about the bus schedule so it was bound to be a good day. 

And we were off! The bus took a different route than it did the last time we were here, so we got to see a whole new side of Schwetzingen and Mannheim which was pretty cool. When we got there, we decided to go by the Mannheim Baunhoff to see about a trip to Nuremberg. As luck would have it, we managed to get a trip there. We take a train to Mannheim then an ICE (acronym, not actually ice) bus to Nuremberg. We would have liked to take a train but that was way less cost effective. So, bus it is. Then after Christmas we are going to take the train to Worms. After we finished purchasing our tickets (the lady was super nice and even spoke English to us at points) we made our way to the Weinachtsmarkt.

These markets come once a year to some of the German towns. You can find some pretty awesome stuff, from handmade ornaments, to gluhwein, to cookies so big they need a string to hand around your neck. After visiting this one, I'm finally feeling in the Christmas spirit. Anyway, then we went off to go and find some dinner. We ended up having Kase Kuchen and apfelscholen. It was delicious. We also found some Roman things while we were exploring. 

After wandering around another market in the city, we made our way back to the Baunhoff and went back to Schwetzingen. Now, we're relaxing and getting ready for bed. It's been a long day, but in a good way.

Cheers!

Day Four: At Last...

WE MADE IT

Thanks to some very favorable tail winds (that are going to work against us on the way home no doubt) our flight was only 7 hours, 50 minutes (ish, by the end I was delirious). It was the single best flight I've been on, I hardly remembered we were flying. Actually, that is a complete lie; you don't just forget when turbulence comes and also when you can't stand to sit any longer than you have to. Now, we are relaxing and waiting for my uncle to come back to take us to see my great grandmother. Here's my first view upon walking out of the airport:

The sun was just coming up, and it was so flipping cold! 

Then it was autobahn time

Hooray sun! 

And here is the first look at Schwetzingen 

I may or may not be the kind of tired that only going to sleep at six tonight can fix, but I'm also super excited! Now it's time to find the Aldi and lunch and such things. 

Cheers! 

Day Three: Up, Up, and Away

So

I lied

I'm bored and at the gate so yeah!

Houston, we have a stow-away! This is Fonzo and he's coming with us. I tried not bringing him to Idaho with me and he ended up being shipped to me. Because of this, he's stowed in my carry-on bag. Here we have my nails that I updated last night for Christmas: 

The airport is positively empty! I can't believe how quick check-in, security, and finding our gate. Now, I think it's time to sit back, relax, and wait for my flight to start boarding. I promise I'm not lying when I say next post will be from across the pond. 

Cheers!

Day Two: 'Twas the Night Before Traveling

'Twas the night before travel and all through the house, every creature was stirring, even the mouse. All the bags were packed by the door with care, in the hopes that we wouldn't have to turn around tomorrow.  

Tomorrow is the day! Much excitement can be felt all through the house. My Oma is here, we had a big family dinner, the third candle of the Advent is lit, and I'm running around cleaning the kitchen and trying to make a mental list of all the things I need to remember to put in my carry on bag. 

I'm so ready for tomorrow! Leaving on a jet plane. ✈️

Next update will be from across the pond. 

Cheers! 

Day One: The Calm Before the Storm

Seeing as how tomorrow is going to be all hustle and bustle and running around, I figured tonight is as good as any to start this. I've been playing around with ideas on how best to document this trip to Germany, and a blog won as the best idea. This is mostly due to the fact that I won't be able to communicate with many people due to the lack of a cell phone over there. Who knows, maybe I'll even keep up with it after we get home. I hope to update this at least every other day with pictures, stories, and the like. Today doesn't have much significance except that I finally finished packing my suitcase; it's well under the weight limit. Hooray for small victories! We'll be airborne Monday afternoon and be there early Tuesday morning.
Actually, it's going to be Tuesday morning over there. In America, it will be about 1 in the morning. However, that's beside the point. We'll be there Tuesday and let's just leave it at that. 
I'm really excited because I haven't been since fourth grade and I get to see everything I did then, and how the cities have changed in the past years. Tomorrow we're going to a Christmas party, getting my Oma, and I'm going to pack electronics. Here's to smooth sailing and a great trip. 
Cheers