Tag Living life big on a dime

Over the River–and into Lauterbourg, France

Anna--The Adventurer

 
A new friend’s invitation drove me to the edge, over the river, and thru the woods to a local French Restaurant—Au Bord Du Rhin

Changing countries in this part of Europe is easy, by American standards. Planes, trains, automobiles, trams and so much more make it convienent and super accesible to cross borders.

The menu was divided into three langues–French (of course), German (which I am in the prelimary classes of learning) and a very unique version of English.  When the ingredients or key words of a dish are still foreign, guessing (or asking) is best when ordering and finding yourself lucky and on the receiving end is always a pleasant surprise.

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French Desserts–Caramel Flan with a vanilla sauce and fresh fruit–including St. Johns Berries

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The Restaurant’s Logo placed artistically on a plate

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French Mouse (chocolate) with cream sauce adn fresh seasonal fruit

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Monika, a local German friend, showing me the ropes of French Cuisine–from lochs to Chevre and so much more

 

Treasure hunting is so much fun–and it is helping to create great and awesome products on my eBay.

 

 

St. Martins Church, Ettlingen, Baden-Wartümberg, Germany

Anna--The Adventurer

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One lovely, very sunny (and thus hot day), I leisurely went into St. Martins to enjoy the shade and for prayers.  The church was silent, in reverence of peace and quiet–the church being void of other humans.

I bolted upright from a very bizarre sound, not from the ding dang dong of the musical bells, for it was only 10:12 in the morning. Thinking something amiss, I searched for the source of the disturbance and was but awoken by the reverberations of my own rumbling snores echoing off the walls.

 

St. Annas Potthoffs 2780Martins Church, located in downtown Ettlingen (Kirchplatz) is a lovely place to visit–the church has different periods of construction (having been destroyed at points during previous wars.) The Spire is original and is easily seen from about anywhere in town.  Annas Potthoffs 2777

Upon looking up (once inside) the painting on the ceiling will fascinate as it is not rendered in the traditional sense.

The wooden, standardized pews are a lovely way to sit, relax and enjoy the divine presense of our Lord Saviour.

Treasure hunting is so much fun–and it is helping to create great and awesome products on my eBay.

Hobbled by Cobbles, Freiberg, Germany

Anna--The Adventurer

Once upon a time…a long, long time ago, I dreamt of excitment, not tripping over uneven cobble stones, which is how I literally stumbled across some amazing things on the streets of Freiburg–I think, therefore I am not sure, that these were once markers of cities, trades or something that were once welcome into the markets of Freiburg, and there they remain.

Thomas and I stopped and had a ice-cream Sundaes and my cobbled legs got a rest….

Treasure hunting is so much fun–and it is helping to create great and awesome products on my eBay.

City Trade markers

City Trade markers

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Kirch & Kloster (Ruins) and town of Bad Herrenalb

Anna--The Adventurer

Video Link

A fellow tourist summed it up perfect (excerpt from German Eagle)

The Cistercian monastery, origin of the town, was founded in 1149 by Berthold III von Eberstein and his wife Uta. It became economically successful, in the 14th and 15th century it prospered. However, the end came soon: In 1525 farmers plundered it, as a result of the Reformation it was closed down in 1534 and turned into a school. In the 30-years war the Swedish troops burned it almost completely down.

So, not much is left of the monastery buildings. The still existing choir of the former monastery church was incorporated in the construction of the ev. parish church. Best preserved is the so called “paradise”, the entrance hall of the former monastery church (pics 1 – 3). The “paradise” was built about the year 1200, in 1462 the beautiful gable in Gothic style was added. Portal and windows are still in Romanesque style. Inside are some old epitaphs.

The monastery grounds are still the heart of Bad Herrenalb. But nowadays you find things like the Kneipp bath (pic 4) and a monument (pic 5) on the grounds. Relics from the Cistercian era are also the parsonage and the adjoining house, some remains of the walls and a barn.

Access is free, always open. For the ev. church see separate tip.

Directions: Central location in town

Treasure hunting is so much fun–and it is helping to create great and awesome products on my eBay.
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Inside the church.Photography by Anna Potthoff.

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.Photography by Anna Potthoff.

Turkish Delight–Döner

Anna--The Adventurer

Döner Teller--amazing

Döner Teller–amazing

turkish-doner

Locally owned and operated.

A definite ‘must’ in Karlsruhe–a family restuarant/locally owned business that is just simply amazing!!

Located on Kronenplatz, Karlsruhe, Germany, it is a must for any local or traveler.

The Döner Teller is filled with shaved, roasted meal,  a yogurt dressing atop a fresh salad,  a potato side with a orange sauce..incredible. The falafels were also a hit with our friends.

Treasure hunting is so much fun–and it is helping to create great and awesome products on my eBay.

Friends enjoying great food.

Friends enjoying great food.

An exchange student and an American come together again

Anna--The Adventurer

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Jenny F. with her 2 daughters and boyfriend

Way back when, okay, so in 1996 and 1997 my family hosted an exchange student from Germany–and we have kept in touch all these years.

Before leaving Colorado, I wrote to Jenny, telling her I would be moving to Germany–and she came to see me.

The last time I had seen Jenny in person, I was 15, she was 18. Now, we are older ( a lady never reveals her true age) and Jenny has two beautiful daughters.

Jenny and her family drove 6 hours to spend a weekend with us the Black Forrest and A joyous day makes all the difference.

We enjoyed the Botanical Gardens (Karlsruhe, Germany), Schloss Karlsruhe and so much more. It is awesome to get to see old friends and spend time together.

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Jenny, Thomas, Leoni, Sara, Marcel on the Rhein (German side, France across the river)

Treasure hunting is so much fun–and it is helping to create great and awesome products on my eBay.

Coffee with Old and New Friends, Waldbronn, Germany

Anna--The Adventurer

Jenny and I wrote text messages back and forth over the past few weeks–and she has come down this weekend  see friends, myself included, as we all live in close proximity.

Jenny’s friends, whom she knew from travels and summers working abroad in Spain,  are hosting Jenny and her lovely girls and boyfriend this weekend, which is awesome, as we all got to meet this evening.

Ute and Heinrick, Jenny’s Waldbronn friends, invited Thomas and I over drinks this evening–what a treat. Ute and Heinrick have a beautiful home and are wonderful, nice people–I am so glad we all were able to get together!!!

Ute, Heinrick and the other guest asked how Jenny and I knew each other, which brought tears of laughter to our eyes as we reminisced about all the adventures and fun we had together when Jenny was an exchange student with my family in Colorado.

Leoni and Sara, Jenny’s teenage daughters, learned ‘interesting’ things about their mother when she was younger–and Marcel, Ute, and Heinrick laughed at the antics we once pulled in our youth together–a side of Jenny and I no one else experienced before as we had known each other the longest amongst the friends at the table.

Tomorrow is going to a great day as Ute and Heinrick are attending a wedding–and Thomas and I will be spending the whole day with Jenny, Sara, Leoni, and Marcel….and let the adventures continue.

Treasure hunting is so much fun–and it is helping to create great and awesome products on my eBay.

 

Celebrating my ’21st’ birthday abroad

Anna--The Adventurer

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Celebrating my Birthday in Germany with a dinner in the backyard

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Celebrating my Birthday in Germany–family and friends in Ettlingen, Germany

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Celebrating my Birthday in Germany with Fabian and his sisters

I turned 21 today, for the 13th time but who is counting??

It is truly the first time, though, that I have celebrated a birthday abroad and it has been wonderful. Thomas hosted a dinner celebration in the backyard for my special day, with family and friends attending.

Celebrating my Birthday in Germany

Celebrating my Birthday in Germany

 

Treasure hunting is so much fun–and it is helping to create great and awesome products on my eBay.

A Cool Meal

Anna--The Adventurer

Summer Pasta Salad

Summer Pasta Salad

A light, easy meal for a hot summer evening–easily feeds 4.

1 Box of spiraly Pasta, Cooked al-dente (easily done if directions on box are followed)

1 large can of sliced black olives

6 fresh basil leaves, coarsely chopped

3 tablespoons of virgin olive oil

1/2 tsp coarse ground salt

1 cup of Feta Cheese Crumbles

1 tsp Lemon Juice

1 large tomatoe, diced

A dash of Pepper

Mix all ingredients together in a large, glass bowl. Cover and let stand (in refridgearador) for 30 minutes.

Stir and serve. It is excellent, cool, and super yummy.

The Porcelain Palace–

Anna--The Adventurer

Amazing day!! The chapel is not normally open to tourists-visitors but today, with special perimissin, Thomas and I not only got a tour of the private chapel on estate grounds but I also was given the opprotunity to cross something off my bucket list–our guide ENCOURAGED me, with full permission (without me even asking) to ring the bell in the chapel–all after an amazing, personal tour of the estate–including the private chambers of the Margravine Franziska Sibylla Augusta of Sachsen-Lauenburg.

A week after touring the estate, Thomas and I were invited to attend a classical concert at the estate–an amazing evening where the musicians dressed in period correct costumes.  Champagne and delights were served during intermission and oh, what fun!!!

History Courtesy Wik.

Schloss Favorite is a castle on the outskirts of Rastatt-Förch in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Built by Johann Michael Ludwig Rohrer between 1710 and 1730, it was a pleasure and hunting palace (French: Maison de plaisance) used by Margravine Franziska Sibylla Augusta of Sachsen-Lauenburg, widow of Louis William, Margrave of Baden-Baden (‘Türkenlouis’). It is the oldest of the German so-called ‘Porcelain Palaces’ and the only to survive intact to this day. The castle was only used for several weeks a year as a summer residence.

The castle houses a large collection of Chinese porcelain, black lacquerwork and Schwartz Porcelain.

Address: Am Schloß Favorite 5, 76437 Rastatt, Germany