Belated Weekend Posts

Hello Everyone! 

I want to first appologize for the lack in blogging over the past few weeks. I have been having too much fun and have been traveling a lot!

So let me fill you in on the past couple of weekends here in Germany.

Weekend Three: Sommerfest and Losheim am See

On the Friday of weekend three we had an event called Sommerfest at the Carl Duisberg Center. All of the countries at the CDC presented their cultures and we decided to sing "This Land is Your Land" as our presentation. It went pretty well and everyone seemed excited by it. 

Our Presentation board and table

Some of the PPPlers at Sommerfest


On Sunday, I traveled with another PPPler, Alicia, to Losheim on See, a lake about 45 minutes away. We spent the day walking around the lake, taking a nap, and eating a Popsicle. It was relaxing and a ton of fun. 

A garden on the path around the lake. 

Losheim am See

Delicious Popsicle! :D

Me standing in front of Losheim am See

Weekend 4: Soccer game, Heidelberg, and Metz

The Friday of weekend 4, a bunch of PPPlers and myself went to see a football game in Saabrücken. The game was pretty fun, but it rained almost the entire evening. (Thank goodness I brought my rain jacket!)

Dustin, Alicia, Myself, and Patrick at the soccer game

Myself and gilbert (partially soaked but having a good time)

I never found out who won: we left early because of all the rain.

That Saturday, 8 of us (including my host brother Ferdi), traveled to the city of Heidelberg, Germany, about an hour and a half away from Saarbrücken. My host sister, Milena, studies in Mannheim, a town about 10 minutes away by train so she met us in Heidelberg and showed us around the beautiful town.

First Arriving in Heidelberg

Standing on the Philosophers Weg (Path) with the castle in the background

The town of Heidelberg

Walking through town (lots of people out and about)

A view of Heidelberg taken from the castle

Das Schloss (The Castle)

After a busy day in Heidelberg, then going out to the disko, you would think I would spend my Sunday taking a break. Nope, instead two other PPPlers (Natalie and Patrick) and I traveled to Metz, France, where Natalie had studied for 3 months. She showed us around the town, and we got to see the Mirabelle Festival. The town was small but pretty and we had some food at a cafe before we left that day.

Metz, France

The cathedral (currently being repaired)

The beautiful stained glass windows in the cathedral

Weekend 5: Bier Bike, Trier, and an American Brunch

My fifth weekend in Germany began on Thursday with an adventure on a "Bier Bike". When we were at a festival in Saabrücken we saw several people riding on this "bier bike" and thought it would be a ton of fun. So we decided to rent one for a couple of hours. It was about 14 Euros a person and drinks were included. So we spent about 3 hours pedaling around town and drinking soda and beer. It was a ton of fun and an unique experience. 

The Bier Bike

Myself, Denisse, and Alicia

Eric and I on the Bier Bike

On Saturday a couple of us decided to make a trip to Trier, Germany, one of the oldest cities in Germany.

The girls on the trip. :) (Natalie, myself, Alysha, and Eryn)

Some of the old Roman Ruins in Trier

Our travel group (minus Keith)

We decided not to go inside where a lot of the ruins are because there was a festival going on. (We were too cheap to pay for the festival)

After our adventure to Trier we went out to a Disko, then met up at Natalie's house that Sunday for a delicious American Brunch. We cooked all the staples: scrambled eggs, muffins, biscuits and gravy, fried grits, french toast, and of course, bacon. :) We all came in comfy clothes, cooked some delicious food, then watched a movie together. 

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Banana crumb and lemon muffins I baked for the brunch. :)

Watching a movie after a delicious meal

So all in all, those were a great couple of weekends with many different adventures. Next post: Paris!

Birthday Weekend!! :D

Let me just say that my birthday weekend was overall amazing.

Friday was my host mother's birthday and she had a birthday party that night. It was interesting to see how the Germans throw a party. Everyone was very nice and asked me questions about my stay in Germany. There were even some people my age there who gave me some good advice on where to go to hang out in Saarbrücken. 

At midnight we had celebrated my birthday with a champagne toast, a song, and I even lit off some fireworks! 

My host mom was amazing and made me an original Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte for my birthday!

The next day I had a birthday breakfast and got some beautiful birthday flowers from my Oma. :)

Natalie and I then got a ride from Reingart's friend Ullie from Saarbrücken to Offenburg, taking a shortcut through France. He's the most generous German ever. When we got to the train station, he bought Natalie's and my ticket and gave us 50 Euros to spend for my birthday! I was completely surprised and very grateful for his generosity. 

After Ullie's amazing gift, Natalie and I took the train for 2 hours from Offenburg to Radolfzell to meet with other CBYX/PPPlr's who are going to language school there. Joe from my program met us at the train station and took us to his guest house he is staying in for these 2 months so we could drop off our stuff.

A view from the train on the way to Radolfzell.

After dropping our stuff off and exploring Radolfzell for a bit we met up with some other people in our program and took the tram to Konstanz for the Seenachtfest. The Seenachtfest is a huge festival that takes place in both Germany and Switzerland on the banks of Lake Constance. Because the German side was 16 Euros to get in, we walked into Switzerland and the free side of the festival. After walking around and getting some Schnitzel Brot (where I got my change back in Francs ha) we decided to head back into Konstanz and walk around. After getting some delicious Bailey's iced coffee we watched the fireworks show from the middle of the city. The Swiss and the Germans both had their own displays then both lit off fireworks simultaneously. As much as I love Germany I have to admit that the Swiss dominate when it comes to fireworks. They even had fireworks that were a happy face!

Walking through Konstanz

Hot Air Balloons being inflated on the Swiss side of the Seenachtfest

A fountain in the middle of Konstanz

Konstanz Maypole

Seenachfest in Switzerland

My wonderful friend Clayton and I in Kontanz with the fireworks in the background. 

Fireworks!

After a spectacular Saturday and birthday we kept Sunday a little more relaxed in Radolfzell. After Natalie, Joe, and I had a brunch that got a little interrupted by the insane amount of yellow jackets we headed down to the Bodensee for some swimming and sunbathing.

The clock-tower/church in Radolfzell

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The beautiful Lake Constance (Bodensee)

Some of my fellow PPPlr's and friends, Adam, Liz, and Clayton

My friend Alex and myself hanging at the Bodensee

I had a ton of fun hanging out with the Radolfzellers and got a little too much sun. :P

In the evening we had dinner at an Italian restaurant with some delicious and preiswert (affordable) pizza. With one last short sit by the Bodensee we headed to Liz's house to spend our final night in Radolfzell.

Adam and I with other PPPlr's in the background during dinner

A view of the church in Radolfzell at night. :)

On Monday we had a holiday in Saarbrücken so we took the train back early in the morning. 

Last glimpse of the Bodensee as our train left Radolfzell

Overall I can't wish for a better birthday weekend in Europe! :D