Spoon Artist And Spoon Pirate On The Horizon

I have finally found my calling!
We went to this open air museum in Hagen--I think that's the name of the town--Kat will tell me if I'm wrong. :)
Anyway, it was this enormous village type thing dedicated to how people lived way-back-when. Some of the buildings were already there and some have been moved in since. They have people who recreate the old trades and make their own horseshoes and other metals, old printing presses, an old brewery, shoes, etc. And spoons! Yes, spoons made from wood, along with other eating utensils.
It is on a HUGE area of ground, so we walked and walked and walked and got tired about 3/4s of the way through, but we pushed on. I took many pictures before losing interest in old metal instruments and huge fireplaces. I did really dig the architecture, though. And the area was pretty beautiful. I really wanted to slide down the big overspill thingie, but since it was out of bounds I figured I would get us kicked out before I had a chance to buy a wooden spoon! I refrained.
The one place I wanted to see was the spoon building area, and it was this tiny little workshop in the back of where they make wooden clog type shoes. I fell in love! It was amazing. I wish there had been someone inside, making spoons, but apparently that is now a lost art. Wooden spoons and utensils don't hold up real well in dishwashers, you know. Bummer. I think I need to resurrect the art of the perfect spoon from wood. I learned that they used to ship the spoons and utensils all over--which means I could also be a Spoon Pirate! I could sell my spoons, ship them off, and steal them back! More profit for me...
I went to the gift shop to buy a genuine wooden spoon and--no bueno--they don't sell genuine, hand-crafted, wooden spoons. They did sell a genuine hand-made teeny-tiny scoop for flour or something, so I had to content myself with that. Now do you see the need for my new hobby? I could be selling these things to tourists for 10 euro a spoon! And in return, they wouldn't have to be disallusioned like I was! Amazing spoons and other utensils! If I had been born back then, this is what I would have done! Just think, I could have been the one to invent the spork.Where the spoons and other utensils are actually constructed...be careful not to lose a thumb, as that is probably the biggest deterrent facing spoon-makers.

I have a fever and the only prescription is more cowbell! This is where they made their own cowbells. It was their own little cowbell forge...This tunnel was pretty cool. It was built for midgets, though...I had to bend almost over in some places.

Anyway, we are leaving here in the morning--back to Carlsburg to stay with Kat's dad and step-mom again for the week.
We have been going shopping and the only thing I have purchased is that lame-o wooden scoop! We have big plans for shopping in Mannheim, though. I also need to hit the English sections of the bookstores because I did not pack enough books!

Exploring the Neighborhood

Kaelan and I went out to explore the neighborhood tonight. Today is Kurt and Kat's 9-year anniversary, so they went out to eat. Kaelan and I started off by going to the park and then went exploring on all the little paths around the house. We pretended we were pirates--in jackets, of course. Kaelan told me at first that pirates don't wear jackets, but he decided that he could make a concession since it was a little chilly out. Anyway, all good pirates have to have some danger to avoid and ours was stinging nettles and fat slugs on the ground!

Photo Op

View from the top!
Kam-Kam looking like a little gnome. He loved the stroller ride.
Part of the stairs that took you all the way up.
A fat little goaty at the petting zoo.

Sci-Fi and Birds

The other day we climbed up a big hill to see the view from the top. They are building this huge horizon-detector thing at the top, and it looks all sci-fi and space-age. Or like the beginnings of an out of control roller coaster. Or, wait, have you ever seen that Jody Foster movie? Contact! It looks like the thing she sits in, with the rings spinning out from it. Well, at any rate, here's a picture of it.

And I gather the point of it is to pinpoint the exact location of the stars. Anyway, it was pretty cool, and the hill afforded a sweet view. It was incredibly windy up there!

You could either climb straight up via stairs, or take the windy stroller-bike-jogging path. We did a bit of both. Kameron sat in his stroller and after climbing half way up the hill on the path, Kaelan and I took the stairs. Whoo! That could get you into shape quick. I was feeling the burn in my legs. We had a nice picnic lunch up there and then climbed back down.

After that--which was one of my favorite things that we have done so far, my love of castles notwithstanding--we went to a little petting zoo. Everything there was fat! Fat little goats, fat peacocks, really fat monkeys, fat piggies, etc. I would say that they are well-fed. It was fun. We went into the birdhouse and it was amazing! You stand inside with the birds and they are swooping all over the place, dive-bombing your head. So loud in there! In a good way. No one got pooped on, so that was lucky. There are every type of bird imaginable in there--morning doves, sparrows, parrots, cornish game hens that can't fly, finches, and tons of others that I don't know the names of but like to look at. I posted a video of what it was like to be in there.

It was a good day.

I Love Castles!

Day...I have no idea what day it is for me here in Germany. Let me take a stab at it. Umm, 4? Today is Monday, so it must be day four. Anyway, while still in Carlsburg, the little town where Kat's dad and step-mom Maggie live, we took a hike through the forest to a castle that is now a youth hostel. It was built in 1100 something and was destroyed by the French in 1600 something. It has since been rebuilt into a youth hostel, but parts of the old walls are still standing. I took pictures of that one. It wasn't that spectacular, but it was my first castle. Spaghetti Ice Cream!

Then we drove to Bad Durkheim, where we surprised upon a bike festival that was going on and nearly got run over everywhere we walked. We went to a little cafe and had ice cream. I tried spaghetti ice cream, which isn't nearly as gross as it sounds. It is actually vanilla ice cream squeezed through tubes to look like spaghetti noodles, and then strawberry sauce on top to look like red sauce. It was really good! Ice cream here is a production.

After that we drove through this really windy one lane road--and one lane here does not mean one-way traffic, either! You have to pull off in some spots to let other people drive by. We were driving through the forest, though, and it was beautiful! At one point we could see all the way to the horizon of the Rhine valley, all filled with little towns and vinyards. There are tons of vinyards in this area.

After that we packed up and drove Kat's dad's BMW to Herton, where Kat's mom lives. The drive was an experience! We couldn't fit our luggage in the trunk, so we packed what we thought we would need in bags. I am now living out of my backpack and a garbage bag. And then we squeezed ourselves in the car--a feat with 2 car seats in the back--and headed out. Everyone here drives 160 kilometers per hour or faster, which is roughly 100 mph. So we were going at that speed almost the entire time, and it doesn't even feel like you are going that fast, because everyone else is passing you! I also must add that the chances of me ever riding in a more expensive car are slim to none. I did ride in Maggie's Mercedes, though, so...

And now we are here to stay for the week. I have my own room once again, but everyone shares the bathrooms.

This morning we took a walk to see the school where Kat used to go and then we drove to this old village where the houses are super old--some from the 1600s. I took many pictures. There was a castle there, but it doesn't really looke like a castle. Then we drove downtown and had lunch--a doner, which is pronounced doo-na, and should have the double dot doohickey over the o. It is basically a turkish version of the gyro, but bigger, and they use turkey instead of whatever the greeks use. It was good. Then we walked to the castle in the middle of this huge park with 200 year old trees. It was fascinating. We stopped at this playground to climb this huge cargo net. I felt like I should have been clipped in with a 'biner while someone belayed me!

This thing was intense! I love castles!

I do not love stinging nettles! The darn things are everywhere here, lurking where you least expect them. Thus far I have avoided a sting, but I know it is only inevitable, considering my penchant for wandering off the path to look at things. I crawled down off this bridge to get the perfect shot of the castle, and there were stinging nettles everywhere! I managed not to fall in to the moat and not to grab a stinging nettle by accident.

Another thing I am not used to is eating lunchmeat for breakfast. Salami, ham, many types of cheeses--all on a roll, eaten for breakfast. I do like trying out the different types of cheeses, though. They have some good ones here. I plan on trying many more. I'm not into the different types of sausages, but cheese is good!

More later!

Locations

I should probably say just where I am in Germany. We flew into Frankfurt and then drove about an hour to Mannheim, where Kat's dad and step-mom live. If you look on a map it is right next to the Rhine, close to the border of France.

I slept from 10 last night until 8:30 this morning. Kaelan slept with me and he didn't move until 10:30 this morning! He told me he slept like a cadillac--does that mean he slept like a rock? He also told me he stings like a beaver. I think he's going for the version of Cars where Lightning McQueen says he stings like a Beemer. Anyway, he's fun.

I think we're going for a walk today to see a castle and be outside. It is beatiful here. The countryside looks a bit like Pennsylvania--lots of rolling hills covered in trees. I took a few pictures of the view from the yard above the house.

I guess we are supposed to be taking it easy today, but I feel fine. I think my internal clock reset itself already. Once the sun goes down, my body said sleep, and when the sun came up, my body said wake up! No problems. Once I took a shower I felt human again. And I squeegied the shower doors. I did have to take some Tylenol at about midnight so my leg would stop hurting. It feels ok now, though. I was worried for a while there that I would have a permanent limp while we are here.

More later!

I am already taking lots of pictures.

Germany

I am finally in Germany. After an entire day of flying--which equals a day and a night with the time difference. I started the trek at 8:55 AM and ended at 7:30 AM Germany time the next day. Other than a leg that is absolutely killing me and hurts to walk on, I'm ok. A wee bit tired, but I took a 4 hour nap today. I didn't want to do anymore because I need to get my body adjusted to the time difference. It is currently 9 PM here and I am ready for bed.
Other than being completely clueless about every conversation that takes place around me--unless it is in English--I'm enjoying it thus far. We are staying with Kat's dad and his wife and they have a beautiful home. I'm a little afraid to use anything though, in case I get it dirty. My bedroom and bathroom are immaculate and I worry about actually using the bathroom! White marble and gleaming fixtures... having my own shower will be great, though.
So thus far I have some observations. The cars here are little--there are quite a few of those that look like the kind circuses can cram 15 clowns into. And they drive at incredible speeds, all while following too closely and breaking in a manner that throws you against your seat restraint. Yikes! The village we drove through to get to Kat's dad's house had the tiny, European style street and old quaint houses. I'll include pictures later.
Kaelan and I played a game of soccer tonight after dinner. He's getting pretty good at kicking!
More later, with pictures!