What happened to April?

Hi, everyone!
So I haven't written in a while...sorry. But as usual, I am bursting with plenty of good excuses! First of all, I haven't been around! Where have a been, you ask?
Well...Berlin, Tübingen, Heidelberg, Freiburg, Salzburg and Munich (to name a few). I have been around in between, but this has been my first real chance to recover. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
So...I think the best way to play catch up this time is just to post a few pictures and a few words in reverse order of where I've been and what I've done...and with whom I've done it!!

1. Eislingen. Yes, I am home now. My mom and Michelle left on Thursday morning...after which I came back, too a MUCH needed nap before venturing off to catch up with some of the people I haven't seen in a while. A small non-noteworthy adventure that is not worth telling, but I will tell anyway...I saw "The narrowest street in the world" before eating too much sushi. It is in Rheutlingen, Germany. Thrilling, really. (Just want to bring you back to my normal, rather mundane life here in Eislingen. Possibly a bit too normal.) Flo on the right giving us a size comparison. Nicely done.

Also, before my mom and Michelle flew back to WI, we had a nice barbeque at my place with "the gang." I, unfortunately did not capture this event with photos of my own, but when I get a hold of some from my mom or Michelle, I will be sure to add them.

Team USA BBQ! (Got the pics...thanks Michele!)

2.Munich/München!
I finally spent more than just time in a train or car in Bayern, my neighboring German state. Loved Munich!!! We took a fantastic tour, walked the English Gardens, had a traditional dinner, had a drink in the AugustinerKeller (Beer Hall...obviously)...and then got to spend some time in the Deutsches Museum before we had to head back. Great city...will most definitely need to return!!!

The very old, New Town Hall...

So Bavarian...

May Poll! Decorated not with pretty, colorful ribbons, but quite appropriately with Beer history and names...

Surfers in München? What? Yep! Its "The wave" right in the middle of the English Gardens!

3. Salzburg!
The self-proclaimed "Best preserved European city". The home of The Sound of Music, Mozarts birthplace, original home of those delicious Mozart Kügel chocolates!...and hoards of horses. Here, we wandered for ages, took a self-lead tour of all the sights in the old city, ate an Austrian-style dinner, and even took a carriage ride through the city! Very lovely...very picturesque...

old town across the river on the walk from our hotel

View of the castle from the beauriful flower gardens!

Big church, little alley...

Michele and my mom in the carriage!

Our horses ;)

Another picture of the town from across the river!

4. Easter!
We spent the morning on trains (and buses, thanks to a very welcomed, long detour courtesy of the Deutsche Bahn), and then returned in time for a dinner at my favorite Italian place right down the street. Florian and Meli joined us for dinner, and after a nice dinner...returned to my place for a bit of relaxing and a glass (or two) of wine!

Not so clear...but still cute! Flo, me, Meli!

Flo and I

5. FREIBURG!!!!
At last, a return to my old home!! We stayed in a hotel right next to the town hall, right in the center of the city! I gave (to the best of my abilities and memory) a tour of the town including the Münster (yes, as we pointed out, almost every big city has some sort of Münster Church), the old, Medeival towers, the city center and the university I intermittently attended some three years ago! We ate dinner at my favorite pub: Schlappen!! The next day, we climbed Schloßberg to get a nice view of the city before we took a train back to Eislingen (for Easter).

Yep! Sister city to our state Capitol!! Freiburg <3

Market day by the Münster!!

Mom and I on Schloßberg!

Beginning of the remaining Medieval section still standing in Freiburg

Deserted Münster early on Easter Sunday

6. Heidelberg
Another fantastic city! Well, the first on my moms visit here, actually! Here, we took a tour of the castle, wandered around some of the city, went to the zoo, had an American style dinner, and even got to do a little bit of shopping/browsing the next day! I think the castle was my moms favorite sight, and even as someone who has been to a castle or two, I still agree that it was well worth the visit!

View of the city from the castle terrace...not bad...

Side of the castle...damage from Thirty Years War

Mote...and later...hunting aid. Deer were placed here for the King to personally hunt. Surprised that he was a very successful and "accomplished"  hunter???

Another castle view...damage from lightning bolt...

Castle from across the river

A very large sea lion at the zoo

No glass between this lion and us! Just a few feet and some cage wires!

7. Eislingen?
Before that, I was around...just very busy. Went to Stuttgart for a little shopping/exploring. Flo had his last handball game...and I finally took some photos so you can decide for yourselves what sport this seems to resemble. I will tell you now: it is not basketball! ;) Did some gardening. I gave Easter/spring lessons in school...and spent my time just hanging out, with a small excursion to Tübingen in there, somewhere.

Shopping was open until midnight...and just about everyone was in Stuttgart on this summer-like day!

1000 Paper cranes for Japan victims...

Handball 1

Handball 2

Celebration afterward: "How does this work?" Stereotype disproved: not all Germans can work a tap.

Success! Sort of...note result in glasses...hehe

Conclusion: Gardening is hard work. Will hire gardener in the future.

8. Berlin!!!! Again!!
Dear Fulbright, thank you for paying for another fantastic trip to Berlin. Fantastic hotel right in Alexanderplatz next to the TV Tower! And dinners--drinks included. And to top it off, a weekend with good friends, almost for free! We had a tour of "religous sights and change", did a lot of "networking" (or just sitting with the same friends we know) had some speeches by some important figures in the German-American relationship, the deputy mayor of Berlin gave us a talk, and we ended with a night of fun in Prenzlauerberg.

Museum!

Museum Island...Our hotel is directly behind the big tower!!

Any buyers??

Brandenburger Gate by night...

Jewish Synagogue

Cathedral from a distance...

Fulbright gets free drinks. These are your best and brightest, America ;)

Alright. I don't have the patience to write anymore...or post anymore photos. Sorry for the delay, *gang ;)
You'll hear from me soon...ish

Much love from Germany...