market day

Yesterday was raining and hot and humid.  Much cooler today and I'm glad for it!

Thursday is one of the market days here in Heilbronn along with Tuesday and Saturday.  Got the most wonderful red raspberries (himbeeren) earlier in the week.  They are so fresh and not at all tart.  Once we have a freezer, I'll have to store some up.  Yummies!  There is also a bakery wagon with lots of deliciousness.  Tried the Russian Brezel (pretzel) which is like a cocoa dough rolled with a crescent dough and twisted around and baked.  Also tried something much like a cinnamon roll without the icing and less cinnamon sugar stuff.  As the baker said, they are "not overly sweet" which to an American could translate to "almost sweet".  Both very tasty, but there are many more to explore before declaring a favorite.  There are cheese and meat and flowers, but mostly fresh produce.      

DJ and I went for dinner at the Ratskeller last night for dinner as DH was out with a coworker and client.  He tried the Spatzle (Swabian noodles) and loved them!  They really are quite delicious.  The Ratskeller is cellar below the Rathaus and there is one in every city with regional menus.  I can heartily recommend the one here in Heilbronn as well as the one in Ludwigsberg.  So now we can add that to his diet along with the Pommes and Pizza.

DH and I have been people watching quite a bit and have decided that Europeans don't necessary dress better than Americans, just different.  It's true that overall the majority of people here dress a bit more formally, but there are some very interesting exceptions of course!  We have seen men wearing crop pants, women wearing shorts with leggings underneath and a trend toward MC Hammer pants.  Crocs are not just for women here...saw an older gentleman wearing a pink pair all decked out with charms.  Sorry, I wasn't bold enough to take a picture.  Something that seems to run commonly is black, navy, brown, grey?  It's all good...feel free to wear as many of these colors as you can at the same time.    

Really need to work on some translating.  Our washer and dryer only have manuals in German and I have no idea what is what including where to put the detergent and how to get the clothes dry without shrinking them to nothing.  Still working through the list of items that are and are not accepted in the BioMull (compostable garbage) bin for the new apartment.  Housework takes on a whole new level of fun when you can't read the labels!

The golden rams are butting heads while the clock bell rings 11 so it's time to venture out and find the sandbox for DJ.  

What I miss most about the USA?  skim milk...1.5% fett sure is yummy, but miss the option of skim

What I love most about Germany?  how helpful people are when you try to speak German

photo: view from our apartment of the market, the tram tracks, and Kilianskirche - the largest church in Heilbronn   

it's really real

So we have officially been expats for 13 days and counting...it's really real.

We have figured out how to purchase a tram ticket, buy enough milk to keep from running out on Sunday and adjusted to the sounds of living with the bells of Heilbronn, though I still count every time they ring.  The air shipment arrived several days ago and it looks like a lot when in boxes, but not much when it's been unpacked.  Though most of it was toys for DJ, the most important part was the Thomas the Tank Engine inflatable sleeping bag which he LOVES.  We are all sleeping better.

Spending as much time as we can getting things ready at our new home which we have nicknamed the sandbox apartment to help DJ keep the two straight.  Home is an idea very much in flux right now.  DH and I are working to firm it up as much as we can so that when beds arrive, we will be ready to go.  

Having eaten there three times already, we are on our way to being regulars at an Italian cafe in Feuerbach which is down the meandering road on the way to the train station.  The owner is friendly, the food is delicious and DJ likes the rigatoni with tomato sauce so everyone is happy.  Thank you, Da Nello! Of course we have also been to Old McDonald's for happy meals with pommes (french fries) a few times too.

With about 40 hours of German lessons under my belt, I'm really in awe of anyone that is multi-lingual.  I seldom understand what people are saying to me, but did have a small conversation with a lady at the tram stop about DJ, language training and her sister who lives in California - at least I think that's what she said.  I am having trouble keeping straight my two's (zwei) and my three's (drei), but it's coming along.  How long does the immersion method take?  Meine Deutsch ist nicht so gut!

At last I have a phone!  After a visit to Vodafone with DH, we both have German cell phones.  They are now charging up and I'm looking forward to texting and calling and downloading apps and whatever else the thing will let me do.  The internet connection with the temporary apartment is weak and unreliable so this is going to make life a lot easier.

Tomorrow is market day so DJ and I will get some fresh fruit there and then we'll take the sand toys out to play.  Hoping to hit OBI again (a cross between Meijer and Home Depot) to get more light fixtures and maybe swing by Feuerbach in the afternoon/evening tomorrow.  

What I miss most about the USA?  air conditioning

What I love most about Germany?  Donner (a Turkish gyro with cabbage, sauce and tomatoes in a pocket pita)

photo: from our apartment window - Heilbronn Rathaus clock which is over 500 years old