Matt has a friend currently working at Ramstein who was willing to let us ship some boxes to him through APO that we could pick up a couple weeks after we arrived. I also had the kids' school books sent there. We got confirmation from him that he had 13 boxes waiting for us, so early Friday afternoon on August 26, we left to make the 3 hour trip northwest. Back to a former home. A little weird, but welcome.
Along the way, the kids learned the word "Stau" and they learned it well. It was the hottest day we have had so far and even though traffic was infuriating, honestly, we were happier to be crawling along with AC in the car, than sitting in the hot attic apartment or walking around feeling sticky. We watched the temperature reading in the car go from 35 C all the way up to 39.5! It was hot outside. But just as traffic finally picked up and we really started to move, clouds rolled in, the temperature dropped and the rain POURED down. We had to slow down to crawling again for safety reasons. Eventually the rain lightened up and we completed our drive, arriving at our Gasthaus in Otterbach. Upon arrival, Jess said, "That was the longest 3 hours ever." That's because it took just over 6. We had to go to the hotel first so we could use their phone. (At that point we still didn't have working German cell phones, only SIM cards that we couldn't use with our old iphones.)
We called the Chuggs, friends formerly from Las Vegas, to get their Schwedelbach address and drove Isaac and Makenna over there for the night. We had been emailing back and forth, but neglected to get the address. Oops. The kids were all thrilled to see familiar faces and speak English with kids their own age. They have an amazing house. It's only 2 years old and obviously built for American families. There is an actual walk-in-closet with shelves and racks in the master bedroom! And their own bathroom too, not in the hall! We didn't stay long that night because we wanted to go grab a late dinner before bed. We tried going to an old favorite in Ramstein Village first. Closed. Tried another in Ramstein, closed. We went over to a different old favorite in Landstuhl. Closed. Yes, it was dark, but it was Friday night. 9:00 should still be hopping, right? Wrong. We determined to stop at anything with their lights on while heading towards McDonalds as a last resort. Matt saw a place that still had a couple of diners. He asked the staff if dinner would be possible. They were very nice and accommodating, but within a few minutes the other people finished up and before or meals even came, two of the staff went home for the night. Good grief. We were eating fast and feeling awkward. Good thing Jess was so cute and Matt speaks so well so we were not just obnoxious Americans.
We had a pleasant room with an extra bed for Jess. Matt took this picture of her, zonked out. She was quite happy to be having a "date with mom and dad" while the other two were having their sleepover. She got to experience her first German breakfast. There was a basket of assorted rolls, jams, butter, honey, a meat and cheese tray and a variety of yogurts. She even got her own cup of steamed milk hot chocolate complete with whipped cream and chocolate sprinkles.
After breakfast we checked out and went back to the Chuggs. The kids were having a slow morning, having stayed up playing well into the night. What fun for Isaac and Makenna. I'm so glad they could spend time with Carter and Hannah. The kids and I hung out there while Matt went on base to pick up all the boxes. He amazingly fit them all into the back of the station wagon. The kids jumped on the tramp and then went down to the frog pond for a bit. When we were all back together, we drove up to Landstuhl castle. It's the local castle that we have been to many times and it was fun to introduce the Chuggs. It's a great spot for visitors who don't want to drive far. Isaac and Makenna remembered it. Jess didn't but hopefully will now. Below is a picture of the kids looking up at the cannonballs stuck in the wall. Oh, and see how everyone is in jackets now? Sweating to shivering in one night.
Okay, back to mine. Goal: take a photography class and really learn to make use of our camera!
We lucked out with the weather. On our way down the hill it started raining. Matt drove us over to a close, tasty Imbiss in Ramstein for lunch, but they were closed too! Is it just holiday season? Jared Chugg offered to sign me in for a one day pass, so we all went on base. We ate in the new BX. It's crazy big. There are almost too many food choices. The BX itself is like a long one level JC Penny's. It's huge and has everything. And the old satellite shops are included and bigger too. Katie Wolfharts is inside. The Bookmark is like a Barnes and Nobles. . . . It's a mall, complete with Cinnabon. There are even new movie theaters upstairs. Those were overdue. The old ones were old and gross. I bet the Kino is hurting since its opening. While there, we bought two cheap cell phones. They should work all over Europe. We have Aldi Talk, pay as you go SIM cards for Germany. In Italy, I'm sure we will switch to something else.
After a bit of shopping around together, we said good-bye to the Chuggs with a possibility of seeing them again in a couple months. We drove over to where Matt used to work and saw the Satellite Dish Farm that has sprung up. They went from a few to a dozen+ huge dishes. Then we went off base and drove by our old house. Hans was home and said it was fine to walk around the backyard.
We left after that quick stop. We were worried about having another bad traffic day, but we worried for nothing. We made excellent time. At one point the Garmin routed us off the Autobahn and along a more scenic route. It turned into a great blessing because we passed by a sign that said "Schönblick Cafe". We turned around and drove up the hill to check it out. We were only 30km from home at that point, but hungry. The name means beautiful view, and it lived up it. This is a shot of the kids on the balcony. But we ate inside where it was warmer. It was classic German fare and delicious. We have plans to go back when Matt's parents are here in another week.
Along the way, the kids learned the word "Stau" and they learned it well. It was the hottest day we have had so far and even though traffic was infuriating, honestly, we were happier to be crawling along with AC in the car, than sitting in the hot attic apartment or walking around feeling sticky. We watched the temperature reading in the car go from 35 C all the way up to 39.5! It was hot outside. But just as traffic finally picked up and we really started to move, clouds rolled in, the temperature dropped and the rain POURED down. We had to slow down to crawling again for safety reasons. Eventually the rain lightened up and we completed our drive, arriving at our Gasthaus in Otterbach. Upon arrival, Jess said, "That was the longest 3 hours ever." That's because it took just over 6. We had to go to the hotel first so we could use their phone. (At that point we still didn't have working German cell phones, only SIM cards that we couldn't use with our old iphones.)
We called the Chuggs, friends formerly from Las Vegas, to get their Schwedelbach address and drove Isaac and Makenna over there for the night. We had been emailing back and forth, but neglected to get the address. Oops. The kids were all thrilled to see familiar faces and speak English with kids their own age. They have an amazing house. It's only 2 years old and obviously built for American families. There is an actual walk-in-closet with shelves and racks in the master bedroom! And their own bathroom too, not in the hall! We didn't stay long that night because we wanted to go grab a late dinner before bed. We tried going to an old favorite in Ramstein Village first. Closed. Tried another in Ramstein, closed. We went over to a different old favorite in Landstuhl. Closed. Yes, it was dark, but it was Friday night. 9:00 should still be hopping, right? Wrong. We determined to stop at anything with their lights on while heading towards McDonalds as a last resort. Matt saw a place that still had a couple of diners. He asked the staff if dinner would be possible. They were very nice and accommodating, but within a few minutes the other people finished up and before or meals even came, two of the staff went home for the night. Good grief. We were eating fast and feeling awkward. Good thing Jess was so cute and Matt speaks so well so we were not just obnoxious Americans.
We had a pleasant room with an extra bed for Jess. Matt took this picture of her, zonked out. She was quite happy to be having a "date with mom and dad" while the other two were having their sleepover. She got to experience her first German breakfast. There was a basket of assorted rolls, jams, butter, honey, a meat and cheese tray and a variety of yogurts. She even got her own cup of steamed milk hot chocolate complete with whipped cream and chocolate sprinkles.
After breakfast we checked out and went back to the Chuggs. The kids were having a slow morning, having stayed up playing well into the night. What fun for Isaac and Makenna. I'm so glad they could spend time with Carter and Hannah. The kids and I hung out there while Matt went on base to pick up all the boxes. He amazingly fit them all into the back of the station wagon. The kids jumped on the tramp and then went down to the frog pond for a bit. When we were all back together, we drove up to Landstuhl castle. It's the local castle that we have been to many times and it was fun to introduce the Chuggs. It's a great spot for visitors who don't want to drive far. Isaac and Makenna remembered it. Jess didn't but hopefully will now. Below is a picture of the kids looking up at the cannonballs stuck in the wall. Oh, and see how everyone is in jackets now? Sweating to shivering in one night.
These next few shots have been pilfered from dear Geneva's blog. She is the superior photographer! Thanks for sharing and the fun trip, Geneva.
View looking down at Landstuhl. I have many memories of midnight fireworks looking down on New Year's Eve.
Carter and Isaac
Much better angle of Makenna and Carter waiting for more people to find them, playing sardines.
View from the ramparts, looking down. There are some of the seats set up for the play.
Okay, back to mine. Goal: take a photography class and really learn to make use of our camera!
This is one of the side rooms off the stairway above where the prince died.
Looking down from above at the boys running around.
I think the boys were scoping out good hiding places at this point. The kids decided to play Sardines.
This is taken through the bars into the room where the injured prince died (and is buried?). It didn't turn out well. Too big a space for my little flash.
Makenna was the first to find Carter.
Scary Isaac running out of the big open limestone basement. Grandma Terry can correct my castle labels. I don't remember what the different rooms were used for or their proper names.
Makenna is standing in front of a stage they had set up for a play. There were temporary bleachers too with a few hundred seats. I didn't bother taking a picture of those though.
Searching for the hider.
Isaac was getting ready to hide.
Looking through the archers guard post.
Makenna ran ahead to insist I come back to see the snail she found.
Ah, nostalgia.
We lucked out with the weather. On our way down the hill it started raining. Matt drove us over to a close, tasty Imbiss in Ramstein for lunch, but they were closed too! Is it just holiday season? Jared Chugg offered to sign me in for a one day pass, so we all went on base. We ate in the new BX. It's crazy big. There are almost too many food choices. The BX itself is like a long one level JC Penny's. It's huge and has everything. And the old satellite shops are included and bigger too. Katie Wolfharts is inside. The Bookmark is like a Barnes and Nobles. . . . It's a mall, complete with Cinnabon. There are even new movie theaters upstairs. Those were overdue. The old ones were old and gross. I bet the Kino is hurting since its opening. While there, we bought two cheap cell phones. They should work all over Europe. We have Aldi Talk, pay as you go SIM cards for Germany. In Italy, I'm sure we will switch to something else.
Where we used to park the car.
Jess remembered this tree! Or she has seen enough pictures of her by it, that she remembers those. Anyway, we took a new one of her.
The old stump is deteriorating rapidly. We didn't see any signs showing if the bulbs I planted are still there or not.
They all remembered the gazebo and raspberry bushes.
We left after that quick stop. We were worried about having another bad traffic day, but we worried for nothing. We made excellent time. At one point the Garmin routed us off the Autobahn and along a more scenic route. It turned into a great blessing because we passed by a sign that said "Schönblick Cafe". We turned around and drove up the hill to check it out. We were only 30km from home at that point, but hungry. The name means beautiful view, and it lived up it. This is a shot of the kids on the balcony. But we ate inside where it was warmer. It was classic German fare and delicious. We have plans to go back when Matt's parents are here in another week.
The girls tried Spatzel.
I had a yummy salad plus I helped Isaac and Matt eat their fancy feast for two.
So fun that you got to hook up with the chugg's. So fun to see your two families together again! We miss you guys. Looks like you are having a fabulous european adventure. Makenna, thanks for the post card. I will have Aspen write soon, and send some pictures from the Bon Voyage party!
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