TeMp HouSinG

So I am staying in a temporary hotel Apartment. It's much nicer than staying in a traditional hotel considering I have been living out of my suit cases and in hotels for almost 2+ months now. This is very typical German Housing:

I am staying in the attic apartment. So that explains the angled ceilings and beams. For some odd reason they tend to put the Americans on higher floors. I don't know if that's just because most people don't want to climb the stairs...(?) This would be my little living room. The apartment has Parquet floor, which is really popular here.

Yeah I have a pink bathroom. I happened to discover another bathroom in the apartment too...but for some reason they have it locked up! It's got a fancy two person tub...I guess they didn't want me to have access to both?

So German housing does not have built in closets. This would be the large shrunk in my hotel bedroom. It's not nearly big enough to hold all of my clothes...It'll be interesting to find a shrunk big enough to hold all of my stuff!

This would be my extremely uncomfortable bed! I don't know why...but the German beds I have slept in are all terrible! I can't explain how excited I am about getting my bed here! :)

This is the mini kitchenette in my hotel. Surprisingly this is way bigger and nicer than what I will have in my actual apartment! German fridges are about the size of dorm room fridges in the States. They are really big on buying fresh bread, meats, and produce. So they don't buy groceries in bulk like we do. They frequent the bakeries, butcher shops, and farmers markets!

The first weekend I was in Germany, there was a Holiday market. It was kind of like something you would see at the Dulles Expo Center, with European goods. Every thing was amazing! I didn't buy much because I am learning that it's not fun to have to drag your possessions everywhere...and while I am living in a hotel I can't get more stuff to have to move! But I did buy cheese! I was never a huge cheese lover, but cheese here is AMAZING. I can't seem to get enough!

Heidelberg

So I finally had a few minutes of down time to upload some pictures of Heidelberg! This is where I live now. These pictures are a little dated as they were taken back in the Fall, during my October visit to Heidelberg. Just about all of these pictures are of the Altstadt (Old City) of Heidelberg. It's the downtown area I just signed a lease for! It's one of the few towns that didn't get destroyed in World War II. So a lot of the buildings date back to 300+ years old. The pictures of the old bridge going over the Necker river is actually 900 years old. The Altstadt is nestled between the river and these rolling hills, with an old run down castle. I can't really do a good job describing it other than it seems like something out of a book! A picture perfect setting not that my pictures do it any justice! Here are some of the pics I liked!

Pewter round table and knights...it totally reminded me of Europe!

This is the castle on the hill. Part of it is in ruins. I haven't actually gone up there yet, so I don't know to much about it right now.


This little car was parked outside of a church. The newly weds were planning on driving away in this! I saw a few of these downtown this day...I guess they don't do the whole limo thing! I am ok with this cute litte car!

This would be the townhall. There are all sorts of little squares aka 'platz' through out the downtown area. In the warmer weather they are set up with tables and chairs for outside eating. On Saturdays many of them have farmers markets which totally blow away any we have at home.


This is just a peak at one of the hills through a narrow alley way!


This Church is located a couple of blocks from my new apartment!


This will be the typical scene of what I will see when I walk out of my front door and go any where. Cobble stone sidewalks and lots of little stores/restaurants/bars.


This church is directly behind my new apartment. The architecture is just beautiful. I am totally wanting a new camera!


This is a view from one of the smaller hills, part of the way up. I was trying to capture the river and Altstadt arial view...Heidelberg has a population of 150,000 people but it's small enough to walk most of it. Everything is just very tightly spaced! These buildings definitely pre-date cars.


View of the river through the trees. I was hiking up the hills behind my new house.


This would be the University Library. I was just amazed by this and now, I will live about 2 blocks away! I am still in disbelief that this is where I live.


I'll try to upload the rest of the pics onto Picasa...so anyone who wants to see more can go through them on their own! :)

'See ya Later'

I don't like good byes...and have actually stopped crying about leaving all of my loved ones back home. But this is a 'Thank You' to everyone who spent time with me over the last few months before I left for Germany! And thanks for all of the thoughtful gifts, dinners, pictures, help w/ move, rides to airports, and mostly for just being a part of my life and supporting one of the biggest decisions I have made for myself. I have to stop writing...b/c I haven't cried once since I have gotten here and I don't want to start! But here are some pictures of my last few weeks/days in DC...

Sorry Alex...you made the funny face. I felt the need to post it.

I spent some quality time with my family too...but there was only one person photographed of course! Guess who...Omar. Yes, my two year old nephew now knows how to swing on his own.



Here are some more pics of people I met up with before leaving.







Then there is the kickball crew...my Thursday nights will never be the same.