Week Ending Sunday 11/30/08

We have seen two snowstorms in the last week. Very unusual for Germany in November (much like in DC). Pretty cold too. Didn't time the shipping of our winter coats too well and had to buy some stuff to tie us over.

Pretty eventful week but then again every week since mid-August has been eventful..

Hope you all liked my picture blog last week. I'm embedding a link to some more (and better) pictures of our new house, which we move into on Dec. 15th. We originally planned to move Dec. 1st but that is tomorrow and we don't even have our car yet.

http://picasaweb.google.com/mossless/HomeInGermany

I forgot to mention last week that I attended a weeklong orientation here at the hotel for Army and DoD spouses and dependants (for free!) by the Army Community Service. It was conducted by a German lady named Irmgard who is considered the local expert on German culture and customs.

We spent the first day getting maps and general info about Wiesbaden. Tuesday we heard from vendors like the USO, PX, Commissary and then a quick course in survival German. Wednesday we had to take our driver's tests (we passed!) so I had to miss Irmgard's walking tour of Wiesbaden. Thursday we all met at the train station to learn about the train system and then she took us on a tour of a German version of Whole Foods. Friday's event was cancelled due to the threat of snow (which didn't happen till Sunday). We had planned to meet at a bus station so Irmgard could show us the bus system and then travel to and from Mainz. I could have really used that lesson, but the orientation was free so I guess beggars can't be choosers.

OK, so back to this past week. Lots more stuff to report. Monday went to the Post Office and checked our mail. Dropped off / picked up some DvDs from the library to watch at the hotel. Getting pretty tired of watching the AFN (Armed Forces Network). Basically all the commercials are military-related and extremely repetitive. My saving grace is that they are broadcasting all my favorite shows - Daily Show, Colbert Report and Boston Legal!

Tuesday the Wiesbaden Christmas mart opened! Christmas Marts are street festivals held in most German cities from the end of Nov. through Christmas. The streets are closed so food and craft vendors can set up shop while everyone browses through, sipping mulled wine (gluhwein) and munching on local favorites such as bratwurst, pommes frites, potato pancakes, soup, flat breads, etc.

Wednesday I spent most of the day finding Lew a 9th Wedding Anniversary card in German. Most of them seemed to be wedding cards. It's too bad my dictionary didn't translate wedding anniversary but Lew's did. In case anyone's interested, the Germany word for wedding is Hochzeit and wedding anniversary is Hochzeitstag, which I thought to mean wedding day. Oh well... Lew did get me a card and in English!

Thursday was Thanksgiving and our Anniversary. Thanksgiving is just an average day here in Germany. We had an invite to join a family for dinner who works with Lew but got a tip on a great restaurant near our new house so made that our plan instead. The big adventure that day was taking the bus to the restaurant! Also a chance to practice taking the bus from Wiesbaden to our new house and back. The commute was fine except we almost caught a cab home when we discovered the return route had been switched to another stop causing us to miss the first three buses back into Wiesbaden.

Friday was a workday for Lew. I spent the morning at the train station firming up our itinerary to Cologne the next day. Turns out that round trip fare for up to five people from Wiesbaden to ANYWHERE in Germany only costs about $45 total on weekends. We invited another coworker of Lew's, so that made our train fare pretty cheap.

We had a fabulous trip to Cologne! They have about 7 different Christmas marts, including a floating one and one that sits right in front of the Cologne Cathedral. Weather was terrific, not to mention the company! But we got a little Christmas-mart'ed out toward the end of the afternoon and made our way home.

The ride up from Wiesbaden was quite scenic. The train bordered the Rhine River most of the way, passing many castles and quaint Germany villages. By far the best deal for our money yet. We are looking forward to more train travel on weekends whenever possible.

Today is Sunday and we splurged on a brunch at a five star restaurant at Kafers, located in the Kurhaus (casino). YUM! Got our second snowfall today but it didn't stick.

Hoping to start my German class this week but won't know for sure till tomorrow. Tomorrow going on tour to Rudesheim w/Irmgard. Wonderful medieval town with fabulous Christmas Mart.

As of today (Monday), our main shipment and car have arrived so we are 100% in Germany now. Just may not see our car till next week's post.

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving holiday!

Love,

Jaime, Lew, Howard and Rocky