Darmstadt

1 hour

September 24

Lunch on the square.

While we were eating this little train came out of no where. Well I guess not nowhere since there were tracks and all, but it was still very surprising. It had 3 or 4 cars with passengers attached.

The camera operator who will remain nameless had a hard time taking the picture at the right time. The people passing loved the show of me trying over and over. We finally decided this one was good enough. *Said camera operator says it was the subjects fault.

We thought it was cool they built this building around the ruins. Anyone want to guess the business that resides in this building? ..... Weight Watchers International.

We covered the stroller hoping that it would help Kaben sleep. A few minutes later the blanket was still and we assumed he was sleeping...until I moved to the other side of the stroller and saw this cute thing!

Not as big as it looks in the picture.

A beer bike. A bar tender in the middle and the drinkers pedal. I wish they had a non-alcoholic version. Evans fam. It reminded me a little of that bike in Florida.

I think Clara and Chloe should come and give these men a run for their money.

Waiting for dinner.

Ohmbach

30 minutes

but you don't want to go here unless there's an event going on.

September 17

Farmer's Market

Great food and fun booths with local goods.

Because it was rainy we didn't have the camera out much, but we were able to get the highlights.

Baumkuchens

Doesn't it make you hungry just looking at them! No one here we've talked to has ever heard of them so we're getting worried this was a once a year deal. No bueno.

Trier: The oldest city in Germany, 15 A.D.

1 hour

Until our arrival in Germany I had never heard of the city Trier so I had low expectations. We were very happy with what we found.

Cathedral of St. Peter. The oldest cathedral in Germany.

Supposedly they have the robe Christ wore before his crucifixion. You can't see it, but you can look at the truck where they keep it stored. They get it out every 50 years or something. Whatever it is 2012 is the year they parade it through the streets. We might try to make it. Not necessarily because we think it's his robe, but because it should be quite the event.

Having said that. This was outside the cathedral. We thought it was a little sacriliegious but couldn't resist the opportunity for a photo-op.

Pasta, pasta. Delicious food and affordable. I'm already craving more.

The flower market in the main plaza was beautiful. They had so many varieties of flowers. Some I'd never seen before.

Porta Nigra. The city gate built by the Romans in 180 A.D.

From the top of Porta Nigra

We took a little tour around the city on the yellow train in the picture above. We are going to save our visitors so much money, 1. with a free place to stay. 2. by letting them know what things are a waste of money. Like this train ride.

Ramstein Inns

Most military bases have a hotel. They can be booked for military, their visiting family, or in our case during a PCS (permanent change of station). They allow you to stay up to 30 days (varies per base, but that's what it is here) while you find an apt or home. Because the Army base is so small and doesn't have a hotel we are staying on the Air Force base nearby.

Our room is pretty much a one bedroom apt with a small kitchen.

There's a grate by the door that Kaben loves. Whenever the door opens he books it over there. It makes the loudest noises when he bangs on it. Who wouldn't love that?!

Poor quality, but I still love these.

Remember when your parents would threaten that if you didn't put your toys away they'd throw them away? That's what happens at Ramstein Inns. If we don't have Kaben's (favorite) toys put away housekeeping throws them away.

Rothenburg

2 and 1/2 hours

Sept. 10

Rothenburg is known as the walled city. Back in the day many of the cities or villages here were surrounded by huge walls for protection. Most of the walls were destroyed during WWII, but as you may have guessed from the name, Rothenburg's wall was not.

Rothenburg's famous corner.

Barton's and Blair's

Outside the Crime and Torture Museum. I just love Kaben's face in this one. Little does he know he's trapped just like us. :)

On the wall.

Inside the cathedral.

Trying our first schneballen. It's pretty much pie crust strips wound up and rolled in some fudge-type frosting. It was also my last schneballen, not a fan.

View from the Cathedral's bell tower. Doesn't it look like a step back in time?

At the top.

Climbing the tower. There were so many stairs. This was a nice, but short set. Most were narrow, steep and in some places even I had to duck. ...this is April typing so you know it must have been low.