'Tis the Season Part II

As I write this, I have been back in Germany for sixteen days, but I probably would have believed you if you said it had been six months.  The time has gone by so fast, and with so much we have yet to do around the new apartment and me applying for as many jobs as possible, I don't see things slowing down anytime soon.

My last entry I posted some pictures from getting ready for Christmas at home before I left, but in actuality I spent Christmas in Germany.  I have celebrated three previous holiday seasons abroad before, but only one of those was with a German family.  This time, knowing much better what I would be in for, I was able to really enjoy the five days spent in west Germany with my boyfriend and his very welcoming and wonderful family.  

We got up at 3:45am on the 22nd in order to make it to the airport in Berlin for our 7am flight.  That was a drag.  But we eventually made it to Düsseldorf, and took the train to Aachen, where our hosts were waiting to pick us up.  The rest of the day was spent socializing, eating and celebrating missed birthday from the previous couple months.  

The next day we had planned to attend the Aachen Christmas Market.  The weather the previous day and that morning had been verging on extremely stormy however, so we kept our fingers crossed that the rain and winds would hold off for a few hours.  We were lucky with the beginning of our visit, and it only misted while we enjoyed some Aachener Printer (a regional gingerbread speciality) and were able to order our Feuerzangenbowle (mulled wine with rum-soaked sugar cubes set on fire and melted into them) before the down pour really started. 

Keep a look out for my next post about German Heilige Abend (Christmas Eve) and a walk in the woods.  Hope everyone at home is warm, safe and enjoying the snow!

Until Next Time,

Chelsea

End of the Road

The past couple months have been extremely busy, so I must first apologize for not having posted since my Scotland update.  Lots happened in May and June, so instead of giving every tiny detail I will just post a bunch of pictures with a few sparsley placed comments.  Work for everyone? Alright, here we go.

May 1st was a public holiday in Germany and I took a 5 hour bike ride to a beach outside of Kiel.

In May I also took a day trip across the Elbe River in Hamburg to Altes Land. 

Hamburg

The town of Buxtehude

Buxtehude

Buxtehude

must-have German Springtime meal: asparagus 

Buxtehude

The weather in May was surprisingly nice and we were even able to visit the beach... though going in the water was not in the question.

Yes, we went to a beach called "Brazil" which was right next to a beach called "California".

As May rolled into June the weather stayed fairly nice and I was able to enjoy some more parks and beaches in Hamburg.

Typical Hamburg

From there, the Euro-Cup soccer championship started and Germany went into a soccer frenzy!

Someone celebrating Germany's first win in Hamburg

Celebrations on Hamburg's Reeperbahn.

Watching a Germany game in Kiel.

Happy Fulbrighters watching their team win.

The rest of the month, until I left for my vacation in Portugal, was filled with daily visits to the famed Kieler Woche festivities and enjoying as much of my last couple of weeks as possible.

A genuine American burger stand, selling genuine Brooklyn Lager and run by genuine New Yorkers.

Pretty great burgers.

Pirate rock band.

Maßes at the Bavarian tent.

Last time all together.

The international food market at the Kiel Rathaus.

Huge Russian sailing ship on the right, with the normal Swedish cruise ship on the left.

Watching the Germany vs. Denmark game at the huge fan viewing area. 

And now here I am, only three full days until I fly home to the US. It has been an incredible year and I have had the most amazing time.  But don't think Germany has seen the last of me! I have a surprise in store for it, but it will just have to wait a few months!

Until Next Time,

Chelsea