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Yes, we are really in Europe...I think it is starting to sink in a bit. Though we are all still in a bit of 'culture shock', who can complain with sights like these?
The above is a nearby castle ruin. It was originally built for the German King and Holy Roman Emperor Barbarossa. It's amazing to stand on the grounds of something like that, and realize how long it's been there. Yes, we americans are easily impressed with history!
 This is a 600 year-old church called Stiftskirche. It was nearly destroyed in WWII, but obviously they've done a pretty good job of rebuilding the abbey. It's beautiful--wish I had some photos of the inside! My youngest stood breathlessly looking waaaay up at the arched and beamed ceilings, then finally whispered "it's the most beautiful church I've ever seen".
I agree.
The girls and I have booked our Holland weekend tickets to see the Keukonhof tulip garden in a couple of weeks. We are all so excited! We will also get an Amsterdam city tour, as well as visiting a shoe factory and also watching the process of that famous cheese being made.
Then, plans are afoot for a Paris weekend as hubby and I celebrate our 20th(!!) anniversary this summer.
Lest I make it sound like all is fun and travel,...we are still without our household goods (going on 2 months of living out of suitcases), and the weather has been quite cold and rainy. I think we are adjusting as well as can be expected. Shopping helps. Online shopping without having to exchange for euros helps even more. :) Also telling ourselves that this is a once-in-a-lifetime-opportunity and Sonic cherry limeades will still be there when we get back to the U.S.
Going offbase has been quite an adventure, and our gigantic family is a spectacle. By 'gigantic', I don't necessarily mean just number of kids (4--a LOT by German standards), but their size. With three of them adult-sized, it's impossible for us to just sidle in anywhere (like say, a bakery) without notice. It's so funny--all the OPSEC says 'blend in', 'don't make it obvious you're american'.....um, yeah RIGHT. With these monsters? Anyway, our minivan looks like a bus the further out we get from base, and the more you see the very many Smart Cars that seem so popular here. (the girls call them "Mr. Bean" cars) We are joking that their dad should get one for work--I'd love to see him fold himself into that thing like Mr. Incredible. Local folks stare at us and we stare at their witty bitty cars that look like they need a can opener to peel open. :)
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Posted by Jen at http://homeschoolingjourney.wordpress.com/
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