Welcoming the Road Trippers

Last weekend was truly a fun-filled weekend! It was met with reunions and so so much fun. Just what you need to cheer you up when everything is below freezing for weeks on end, dark when you leave work and dark when you arrive, and everything in between!

My dear friend Eva came to visit me, and to see Kleiningersheim. She brought along Christiane, who did the Women's Run in Frankfurt with us back in July. It was fun to have them come, and I was excitedly and eagerly waiting their arrival!

Katja, one of my other friends in Stuttgart also studied at Sac State the same time Eva did, and also Annette, who lives in Tübingen, north of Stuttgart. We often did a lot of fun things together, and with Eva coming, it presented itself with the perfect opportunity for a reunion. Luckily, everyone managed to make it to Stuttgart despite the weather, and we had a great night catching up. It was really fun!

I also got to show Eva and Christiane around Kleiningersheim, Grossingersheim, around the castle and we also went to see the castle in Ludwigsburg. I hadn't get been to the castle, so it was really fun to be able to go and see it! It kind of reminds me a little of Schönbrunn Castle in Vienna. We also made it to Neuschwanstein!! (Well, kind of. There is a huge replica of the Neuschwanstein castle in someone's front yard in Grossingersheim. I have wanted to stop and take a picture forever, because I think it is so funny! Every time I drive by I am in the bus (and obviously can't get out just to take a pic!). So, we stopped, parked and had an impromptu photo shoot at Neuschwanstein. This is what memories are made of!).

All in all it was great having visitors, and I loved showing them my neck of the woods. What fun!

The three of us

Ludwigsburg Castle

We even made it to Neuschwanstein!

Darn You, Deutsche Post!

If you read my blog about the Ludwigsburg Christmas Market, then you remember me mentioning that in fact my Christmas package hadn't made it to the States. Here is the story:

After finding gems of gifts, really gems, I assembled, wrapped and sent my package with love and full of Christmas joy to my family on the 10th of December. Yes, I know it was a tad bit late, but with 15 days until Christmas, I thought it might have a chance. Well, Deutsche Post had other things in mind for my package.

I sent the package from the company I work for, as we get deals on shipping, etc. I knew in advance how much the package would cost, and we had all the necessary paperwork to send it already filled out. Go us, so I thought.

We get to the makeshift post office - Klein Ingersheim doesn't have a post office, and neither does Gross Ingersheim. However, in the one shop in Gross Ingersheim, there is a place where you can drop off and mail packages and letters, etc. This is the same place where about three weeks earlier I had mailed all of our Christmas calendars to our overseas partners. Needless to say the shop owner wasn't too happy seeing me come again.

I waited in line at the counter while the shop owner was on the phone in the back. Her daughter was at the counter, and as I came with a business packet, she didn't have the slightest clue what to do with it. Between her mother trying to tell her what to do (and I think not really knowing herself...) and talking on the phone, it was a disaster. Finally she accepted the package, gave me a paper back and said that's all. Ok, well I do have to pay, don't I? She said no, that she couldn't tell me how much it was (even though I already knew) and that was all she could tell me. Ok, well there was nothing left to do but hope that it all worked out. Not such a comforting feeling when you have many many Euros upon Euros of Christmas gifts in a box waiting to be shipped overseas (with no tracking number).

So, my family patiently waited and waited. And waited. And Christmas came and went. And New Years came and went, and still no package. When I got back to the office after the new year, one of my colleagues called me on the phone and said, "You might want to come look at this. I got a bill from the post office, and it is the same number as your package, and it could be that something isn't right..." Oh great, I thought. This just sucks. I went to my colleague's office and she showed me the bill, for a package weighing 20 KG (around 44lbs.) and that cost 126 Euro. Supposedly this was my package. Well I can assure you that it was no 44lbs! It weighed 2.9 KG (just over 6lbs) and was supposed to cost 37 Euro. There was first of all no way I was going to pay that, and second of all no way it had even come close to 20 KG! I was furious.

Our other colleague who deals with our FedEx orders etc came and offered her assistance. She dug into the matter, and eventually came across a tracking number, which made me quite happy. She also was arguing with them about the weight and price, and finally they said they would "look into it". I was just happy to get a tracking number! So, I checked it out, and it had arrived in New Jersey on the 7th of January. By the 10th they had the package, after the postman refused to deliver it and left a note saying it needed to be picked up. FINALLY after 30 days they could have their Christmas sent from Germany.

By reviewing the tracking data, my poor little package had spent 20 days in Frankfurt at German customs!!! There is NO reason why it would have needed to spend 20 days there! I am furious that it took so long, and am just as furious that they didn't do their job. How can you mistake 6lbs for 44??? Absolutely ridiculous. I have definitely lost faith in Deutsche Post, and am none too pleased with USPS either. Lets just hope the things I send home in the future don't take as long...

The Greatest NYE

New Years Eve 2012 will be one that I will never forget. This was a time spent with friends, hanging out, making good food and being in my favorite city in the entire world. Not to mention the rocking fireworks show that we watched from the Rhein in the shadow of the Theodor Heuss bridge. We could see for miles that night, it was so clear and gorgeous. We could see fireworks from Mainz to Wiesbaden and beyond.

Caitriona, Me and Christian

Happy New Year!

Cheers to 2013, and the new adventures it will bring!

Christmas in Killawalla

It was a very happy Christmas this year in Killawalla, County Mayo, Ireland. This lovely little village is where my dear dear friend Caitriona is from. She and her family so graciously invited me to come spend Christmas with them, and I jumped at the chance. For those of you who read my blog when I was in Vienna, I also spent Christmas in Killawalla that year abroad as well. Lucky me, I get to spend Christmas with my Irish family once again.

Caitriona and I flew from Frankfurt to Dublin, and then took the train from Dublin to Westport, where the family picked us up. It was a long journey, as Killawalla lies in the west of Ireland, across the country from Dublin. After a quick but very turbulent flight (where more than one person got sick), we had a couple of hours to wait before our train left. Once on the train, equipped with WIFI, we had about a three and a half our journey through the Irish country before getting to Westport. The train was absolutely jam packed. People had to stand in the corridors because there were not seats to be had. Luckily Caitriona and I had been there early enough to have gotten seats.

Once we got to Westport, we went out to eat with Caitriona's parents and sister to the Castle Court Hotel. This is a hotel, restaurant and also has two "disco"s in it. This is where all the local teens and twenty-somethings go out. The restaurant was nice and the food was absolutely delicious.

Going to Caitriona's is like going home for me. Caitriona's Mom is similar to mine, in that she is the most kind, warm and generous person you will ever meet. I couldn't have been in better hands. It was so nice to just relax, drink tea, and eat Mary's famous Christmas cake. I was so happy to just relax in front of the turf-burning fireplace, with my feet up in a recliner. See? Just like at home. :)

On Christmas eve we all went to Mass at the church in the village, which is about a two minute walk from Caitriona's house. The church was also jam packed, and quickly became standing-room only. It was nice to sing Christmas hymns and reflect on the true meaning of Christmas and the joy and celebration of Christ's birth.

After church we went home and some relatives came over. We had a nice chat, some food, tea and sweets. That morning we had also gone around and delivered gifts to others in the village. That evening we were all busy preparing for the next day, and the excitement that Christmas day brings. However, before Christmas Day could come, Tom, Caitriona's Dad, had some very official business to do: play Santa.

In the village, there is a family with children close to Caitriona's sister's age. There are also a couple smaller children in that family. It is tradition that Caitriona's Dad dresses up as Santa and delivers some presents to the children on Christmas eve. Caitriona, Mary and I helped Tom get ready, and then he was off! I think the kids really enjoyed it. There is only one more that still believes in Santa, so it was sweet that the other kids continued to go along with the notion.

Mary helping Tom dress as Santa

Christmas Day came with a feast at Ann and Thomas's house. Ann is Caitriona's sister, and is married to Thomas (one of the funniest Irish men I have ever met), and they have two children; Sarah and Joseph. It was so nice to see them again, and catch up. I also hadn't met Joseph yet, as he is only two and hadn't yet come into the world when I was there last time.

Ann served a lovely appetizer of deep fried brie cheese and salad (absolutely delightful!), turkey, ham, stuffing, roasties, vegetables and for desert Mary had made a cheesecake, and Ann also had ice cream and other deserts. This was the best Christmas feast we could have had. It was so delicious, and Ann did an amazing job in the kitchen. Afterwards, Sarah, a wonderful musician who has a beautiful voice, treated us (mainly me, haha!) to a concert with her guitar, her voice and the bagpipes. Such a talent, this girl!

Christmas in Ireland 2012

The rest of the time in Ireland was spent in front of the fire, going shopping and hanging out. We also went out on the town in Westport on St. Stephen's Night, with Caitriona's friends. We went to a few pubs in Westport, and had a really fun time. We met up with some of Caitriona's other friends, some that I had met before, and some that I had just met. Everyone was so nice, and it was a really fun atmosphere.

The girls ready to hit the town on St. Stephen's Night

On the trip back to Germany, we took the train quite early in the morning on Sunday as the next train service wouldn't have gotten us to Dublin in time. We had a few hours in Dublin before our flight took off, so we went shopping around (despite having two huge suitcases) and then headed to the airport. We had some time to shop in the airport as well, and let me tell you, if you ever find yourself with time to waste in an airport, Dublin is the place to be. The shops are great, there are so many things to see and do, and it is all really convenient. I definitely recommend Dublin airport.

All in all this was a fantastic trip, and if I couldn't be at home, this was the next best place to be. My Irish family is amazing, and they are so near and dear to me. I hope to one day be able to show them the hospitality that they have shown me, and welcome them to Oregon with open arms. They are very special people, and I am so thankful to have had yet another wonderful Christmas with them in Ireland.

Merry Christmas! Sunrise on Christmas Day.

Mainz Christmas Market 2.0

Before heading off on my Christmas adventure, I headed back to Mainz again for the Christmas market. Mainz is like my home; I feel so comfortable there, know it like the back of my hand, and could easily imagine myself living there.

The Christmas Market is beautiful. There is just something so magical about being in the shadow of my favorite cathedral, in this wonderful city. It is really special, and I think that all of the people I have brought here would say the same. It is my favorite city in the entire world, and nothing compares to this place that holds so many good memories.

Before jetting off for Christmas, it was nice to get in one last Christmas Market in my favorite town. Enjoy!

Life-size nativity scene

Fresh hot roasted (sugary) almonds, anyone?

Lovely pyramid

Mainzer Dom

Erasmus/Study Abroad mini reunion - Fergus, Caitriona and Me (albeit a little blurry...)

Snow - As Seen From Schloss Ingersheim

Did I mention snow? All in the days leading up to Christmas...I guess my post before with the little dog was premature...much more snow came...and came. And came.

Here are some pictures taken from the castle. Very beautiful all covered in white!

From the third floor, looking east

From the third floor, looking down into the courtyard (with star light for Christmas)

From my third floor office, looking out the window onto the nebenhaus

Ludwigsburg Baroque Christmas Market

Snow, snow and more snow. That is what we had here in Kleiningersheim leading up to Christmas. It was below freezing, and the therefore the snow lingered for around two weeks. However, that wasn't going to stop me from going to visit more Christmas markets.

The weekend after St. Nikolaus Tag I went to explore the Ludwigsburg Christmas market. Ludwigsburg is half way between where I live and Stuttgart. It was nice to be able to get out and go, and the sun was shining beautifully despite the cold temperatures and snow. Those are the best days though; cold, snow and sun.

This Christmas market and this town are famous for Baroque architecture and style. The town itself isn't that nice; it is just another town. However, there is a beautiful castle (which I have yet to see) and the main square with the Baroque church is really nice.

I went to this Christmas market on a mission: find the present I was looking for, for someone special. I needed this one last thing in order to send the package home for the holidays. This was the last piece, or pieces of the puzzle. Lucky for me, I found exactly what I was looking for. I am not going to give it away, because the people haven't received their gifts yet, and I don't want to ruin the surprise. Yes, the package took forever, but that is another post...

Each Christmas market is different; each prides itself on being unique and different, differentiating itself from all of the other markets around. There were plenty of booths, with all different kinds of wares. I would say that this market doesn't necessarily crack my top 10, but it was interesting and beautiful none-the-less.