Well, week 3 was definitely an interesting one. It was the first full 5 day week and it sure felt like it.
I was finally able to make it to Brussels for a visit, which was nice. I really like how everything there is on a much smaller scale, a lot less stressful! It was a little challenging getting to the girls' apartment as the GPS seemed to be a little indecisive. Once I'd arrived, I parked infront of an apartment building as the GPS directed. After a few minutes I wasn't hearing from the girls that they were home, so I decided to walk around with the GPS to find the actual building they lived in. After walking a little ways, I realized the GPS was telling me that I still had 5 minutes of driving time... which was odd because I parked once it said I'd reached my destination. So after a few more minutes of waiting, hoping the girls would be home to direct me, I decided to get back in the car and listen to the GPS. So I drove those 5 minutes and parked where it said I should. Right as I parked the girls called to let me know they were home. It took about 10 minutes for us to figure out where in Brussels I was, after looking at a few bus maps & trying to find Christmas trees & roundabouts (they're everywhere!). The girls finally decided that they'd have to take the bus to come find me, which they did. Once they found me, we drove to their apartment which was, ironically, exactly where I had parked originally !! In fact, I had parked directly infront of their building, you can't get a better parking spot than that! But of course, this time around we had to park 2 blocks away. I'm still not sure what the glitch was with the GPS, but that wasn't the first (or last) time I'd trusted the GPS and it guided me wrong... and this time, it made us too late to go shopping :(
Other than that, nothing too exciting or awful seems to jump out from the week... this past weekend (8th & 9th) we decided to lay low & just do a few day trips. So on Saturday we ventured
out to Trier, the oldest city in Germany. The main incentive to visit Trier on Saturday was that there is a lot of shopping to do there, and that was basically the only day we'd actually had to shop (stores close at 7pm on weekdays, aren't open on Sundays or holidays).
out to Trier, the oldest city in Germany. The main incentive to visit Trier on Saturday was that there is a lot of shopping to do there, and that was basically the only day we'd actually had to shop (stores close at 7pm on weekdays, aren't open on Sundays or holidays).It ended up being a perfect day, the sun was actually out for once & the temperatures were in the mid 40s, it felt like April! We did see a few of the sights, Porta Nigra was the original city gate (right) & the Roman Baths were pretty neat too...
Sunday we ventured out to Heidelberg to see another castle. Unfortunately for us, the weat
her wasn't quite as nice. It was much colder and poured rain the entire day... but I guess it could've been worse :) The castle was really neat, not as extravagant as the Neuschwanstein but it was still very cool to see the inside. And since Germany has had this abnormally large amount of snow this winter, and then it warmed up and rained all week... the river running right through the middle of Heidelberg flooded part of the roads. Thankfully it seemed only roads were covered at this point and it hadn't reached any buildings yet... but the forecast calls for more rain so we'll see!
her wasn't quite as nice. It was much colder and poured rain the entire day... but I guess it could've been worse :) The castle was really neat, not as extravagant as the Neuschwanstein but it was still very cool to see the inside. And since Germany has had this abnormally large amount of snow this winter, and then it warmed up and rained all week... the river running right through the middle of Heidelberg flooded part of the roads. Thankfully it seemed only roads were covered at this point and it hadn't reached any buildings yet... but the forecast calls for more rain so we'll see!For dinner 
on Sunday we searched for the "Schnitzel Haus" which was recommended to us by a few friends and was supposed to be worth the trip. After asking a few people for directions & finding the flood waters, we finally found it & were so glad! The menu had over 100 kinds of Schnitzel (101 to be exact). So all 5 of us tried a different kind, and we loved them all (I got the Ratatouille Schnitzel). Definitely a recommendation if you're ever in Heidelberg, it's right along the river, just down the hill from the castle by one of the bus stops :)
on Sunday we searched for the "Schnitzel Haus" which was recommended to us by a few friends and was supposed to be worth the trip. After asking a few people for directions & finding the flood waters, we finally found it & were so glad! The menu had over 100 kinds of Schnitzel (101 to be exact). So all 5 of us tried a different kind, and we loved them all (I got the Ratatouille Schnitzel). Definitely a recommendation if you're ever in Heidelberg, it's right along the river, just down the hill from the castle by one of the bus stops :)Now I'm off to the last week here in Germany. Hard to believe it's over so soon, but it feels like I've been here a few months! It's definitely been an adventure and a challenge for me. I'm looking forward to getting back to Iowa and relaxing a bit... (and not answering my phone!) :)
"Sometimes you can only see as far as your headlights can shine, but you can make the whole trip that way"
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