Category And We Wrote…the story of us

Neustadt an der WeinstraBe

Anna--The Adventurer

A wonderful adventure with family!! My Uncle came to visit Germany from Maryland (and staying with his brother, my other Uncle). We all met up somewhere in the middle…in the lovely town of Neustadt an der WeinstraBe (literally translating into the “New City on the Wine Street” but it is truly an older city, being several hundreds of years old in age.)

The city hosts both multiple Protestant and Catholic Churches, Cathedrals, and squares/plazas galore, and many wonderful attractions, as we discovered wondering around the town after a delightful German lunch together. What a lovely treat to get to spend the day with my Uncles, cousin, Aunt and Thomas.

Play the video to experience beautiful Cathedral bells.

 

Share a meal/split a hearty plate

Laufenburg and Leistal, Switzerland

Anna--The Adventurer

What a wonderful adventure–driving through Freiburg, Germany (where we stopped for a Cappuccino), we continued on the #5 interstate, through border control/inspection, and into Switzerland!! We were able to change countries in a matter of about 2 1/2 hours, which to my American mind, is just outstanding and so surprising.

I, with passport in tow, felt giddy to be going to Switzerland and was anticipating a stamp in my passport. Alas, it would not be possible as the border control did not have a stamp and only did visual checks. Bummer, alas that is the rule. The inspector said that passport stamps are usually only available via the airport.

I gawked as we drove thru Basel, Switzerland, which is 2 kilometers from the border, inside Switzerland. Remembering, albeit too late, that Switzerland is neutral and not part of the European Union, I did not think to convert Euros to Swiss Francs but I was in luck.

Upon arriving in Laufenburg, already having crossed the Rhine (Rhein) River, we pulled off in the Aldstadt (historic) district, which in part borders the Rhine. Opening the car door, the scents of a Swiss Spring filled the air with beauty and grace and the air smelled of sweet things verses grilled sausages (which is often an occurrence in Germany.) The Videos tell the rest of the story and how I was in multiple places at once (and we went further into Switzerland and shopped in Leistal.)

I can attest, Swiss crafted cheese and chocolate are absolutely amazing!!!

Saturday Evening Folk Concert, Schloss Gartenhalle

Anna--The Adventurer

While walking to the tram one day,a poster, advertisement caught my eye. To my delight, it was featuring, showcasing an upcoming concert, featuring Folk Music from across the ages and the globe, instantly causing giddiness for me, even more so when I found that the event offered free entrance!!!

Delightfully, Thomas and I dressed for the occasion and off we went for a beautiful evening of enchanting music, which included folk music:

John Phillip Souza

Williams (English Folk Song Suite, Seventeen Come Sunday, Intermezzo, Folk Songs from Somerset)

Galle (Bohmischer Traum)

Llan Alcazar

De Meij (Songs from the Castskills)

Manilow/De Meij (Copacaban)

Grainger (Irish Tune from County Derry)

R. Hariman/Bernaerts (Lord of the Dance)

Please, listen to the videos below. I hope you enjoy the music as much as we enjoyed it.

Director: Julian Reichard

#Ettlingen #Folkmusik #Musikverein

MV “Harmonie” Ruppur

Spring time, Baden Wurtemburg (Southwest Germany)

Anna--The Adventurer

April marks the one year mark of my being here in Germany, wow, time sure does fly!!  The natural ways have thus also come full cycle since I have arrived with all of its beauty and splendor!!!

The Earth is awakening, bring scents and blossoms of new growth and splendor!!!

Check out the wonderful treasures, fashion, and more on my

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JägerSchnitzel and PanniertSchnitzel @ Täglich Restaurant, Ettlingen

Anna--The Adventurer

I cannot even imagine where I would be today were it not for that handful of friends who have given me a heart full of joy. Let’s face it, friends make life a lot more fun.
Charles R. Swindoll

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Beer and Flammkuchen Night

Anna--The Adventurer

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p5A twist on a classic of Beer and Pizza night, Thomas and I enjoyed an evening out at Zum Hoepfner Pub in Ittersbach with Pilsners and Flammkuchen–Lecker!!! Lots of laughter and good times, listening to the tunes playing, chatter of fellow pub patrons, and enjoying a fun evening out.

Mixing it up with Coffee

Anna--The Adventurer

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This evening Thomas and I drove to Karlsruhe to help reamp the battery as it had died (resulting in our car needing to be jumped) so we drove around, grabbed coffee at McDonalds (which tastes very different than the blend in the United States.)  A fun evening, taking a ‘Sunday Drive’ around the region, drinking coffee (which is always a good idea) and putting some charge back in the battery.

Check out the awesome treasures on my eBay

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Coming to a close as the year winds down

Anna--The Adventurer

2016 is winding down and coming to a close…and it has been an enourmously eventufl year for me. Upon reminiscing over the year, realizing just how much has occured over the past 365 days. The dream list, posted in January of this year, I successfully marked off several components.

Here are just a few of this years occurences:

  • My brother got married and I caught the bouquet
  • I hosted a final garage sale, selling the general contents of my house
  • I moved to a foriegn country
  • Danced in a public venue
  • Enjoyed a live Baroque Quartet
  • Sampled Many different worldy beverages, many of them ocffee in origin
  • I learned how to navitage and use the tram, buses, and other public transportation in Germany
  • My best friend had a baby
  • My brother and his wife had a baby.
  • I adventured often in South West Germany
  • I had tea in a castle
  • I climbed to the top of an old fortress tower
  • Met up with an old friend of 20 years (an exchange student that lived with my family)
  • Gave a tour to my Grandfather
  • Practiced baking and cooking, expanding my culinary abilities and flavors
  • Wrote and received mail to and from friends and family
  • Read a childrens book (all on my own) in German
  • Spent Christmas  Eve with German friends
  • Enrolled and attended German language courses
  • Learned how to use WhatsApp
  • Lost Weight
  • Lost a Grandmother and Aunt
  • Attended-toured 3 different Christmas Markets in Germany
  • Petted Donkeys and Goats in a live Nativity
  • Crossed country borders in a car and bus
  • Shopped in a French Super Market
  • Drank Turkish Coffee
  • Thomas and I got a kitten
  • Thomas has started to teach me the joys of soccer
  • Open Air soccer viewing in an open air event
  • video chatted for the first time with friends and family

 

 

Homemade Fudge–sharing a tradition

Anna--The Adventurer

Fudge

Coconut Fudge, made with almond extract and shredded coconut.

Marshmellow Fudge

Classic Marshmellow Fudge, plain, traditional recipe

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A small dish of Marschino cherry fudge, absolutely delicous, made with tart cherries, almond oil, and chopped walnuts

 

 

Bakers chocolate

Bakers dark bitter chocolate shavings, used to create the fudge

 

 

 

Thomas had never experienced fudge before, which is such a bummer as it is one of my more favorite Christmas treats–and not knowing what Fudge and all of it its variations he was missing, I accepted the challenge of creating the wonderful delight, in a few simple varieties, at home.

I used condensed milk, sugar,  various extracts, walnuts, cherries, marshmellow fluff (which thankfully is now available in Germany) and love to make the delights, which turned out super well.

Thomas soon became ‘addicted’ to the wonderful American delights, which is great–now pronouncing the word ‘fudge’ is still a bit odd but I know what he means.

Chriskinder Market, Frederichsplatz, Karlsruhe

Anna--The Adventurer

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A nativity Scene on display

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A walking path through the lights inside the market itself

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A hand crafted, wood working vendor

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Thomas enjoying a hot glühwein in the market

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A dining venue located inside a rotating wind mill

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I am drinking hot red glühwein, too!! It is so good and really is lovely on a cold night, walking around the market

A great adventure this evening with Thomas–we went to the Chriskinder Market on Frederichs Platz in Karlsruhe. A little gift shopping, a little mulled hot wine and a lovely evening out on the town.