Austria-bound!

We're heading to Austria for the week to celebrate Sylvester!

Salzburg, Austria for sightseeing - Dec. 29 - Jan. 1 - with our friends the Krautheims

Innsbruck, Austria for skiing - Jan. 1 - 3 - with our friends Zach and Andrea

Crossing my fingers for good skiing and picture-taking weather.

Patience is a Virtue

To live in Germany requires patience. Don’t get me wrong, I love it here. But as a whole, they have some ‘quirks’ that as Americans, take patience and some getting used to.

The villages in Germany have extremely narrow streets. Kasel, our town, is no exception. You often find yourself driving on the curb to pass a car going the opposite direction. Our streets HAVE sidewalks, most streets around here do because the Germans are always on foot. But the Germans rarely use the sidewalk. Instead, they choose to walk ON the narrow road, blocking traffic. WHY?! Also, if a car in front of you comes across a car of someone they know (doesn’t matter if the car is in the same or opposite lane), they stop, in the middle of the road, to chat. They don’t pull over. They don’t just say hi. They block the entire street to carry on a conversation with someone who they most likely see 4+ times a day.

Waiting for a parking spot with your blinker on means nothing. Don’t wait, for some German is bound to whip right in front of you and steal the spot.

If you’ve read the blog before, you know about the German line cutting ways (another quirk that takes a LOT of getting used to). Well this habit follows into the streets. The Germans CANNOT merge. And this is because they all cut in line, they all have to be first. Instead of merging when they see that their lane is ending, they speed up and try to pass each other. If it didn’t cause such a traffic back-up, no big deal, but instead, it causes major traffic delays. Yes, this happens in the U.S. as well, but not to the extreme, trust me. You can always spot the Americans on the autobahn, for they are the only ones who actually merge.

Americans living in Germany must learn patience.

Ein Anderer Tag der Burgen

With Alex being on call for Christmas, we haven't been able to travel overnight (of course, that all changes with New Years/Sylvester). Fortunately, there are plenty of castles within 70 km. to explore! Today we took the dogs to Traben-Trarbach to walk around the Grevenburg Castle ruins (dating back to 1350), as well as Morbach to see the Baldenau Castle Ruins (dating back to 1320).

frohe Weihnachten

frohe Weihnachten auf Deutschland!

Merry Christmas from Germany!

While we miss spending the holidays with family, we have had a great Christmas so far.

The Germans celebrate the holiday on the 24th. We started the day off exploring some of the castles near our house, burg Humolstein, burg Birkenfeld, and schloss Veldenz. Later, we went over to the neighbors house and toasted (prost) sekt (champagne, but from Germany) to Weihnachten. We made chinese food (Palmer tradition) and stayed at home for a nice night. Tonight, we're having Christmas dinner with two other American couples!

Traveler's Luck

While Alexander flew the United States again for work, my very best friend came to visit, again (twice in 6 months! I am one lucky girl! No, Mrs. Bhatta – she is NOT moving here… although I, of course, would love it!). We’re marking countries off of Bhatta’s list. This visit: Spain!

A few of the 23 pilots recommended Ibiza, Spain. I googled pictures and my heart was set. What a good choice it wound up being!

Bhatta flew into Dusseldorf, Germany, so we could fly out of the same location the next day. Of course the travel drama started with me picking her up from the airport. New airport this time, everyone that visits always flies into Frankfurt. I have Cassandra, the GPS, but besides her, I made the trek alone. 3.5 hours and many tears later (Cassandra said it would take only 2hrs), I made it to the airport. This is after lots of screaming at Cassandra, winding up in a packed football arena parking lot thinking it was the airport, getting flashed (the German way of giving speeding tickets – thank goodness I wasn’t on the phone, otherwise I would not have a license), and driving through a snow storm! But we made it! We stayed the night in a great hotel in Weeze, Germany, a cute German town with a cute Christmas market. The next day, our flight out to Ibiza.

Prior to Bhatta’s arrival, I checked Ibiza’s weather religiously. In the 2 months of checking, never once was there rain. When we got off the airplane, what did we see? Rain. Cool. That’s ok, we have almost 5 days. No worries.

We take a taxi from the airport to our “hotel,” and I use this term very loosely. Being the budget travelers that we are, Bhatta and I booked a hostel. Mistake. We were the ONLY people there, no staff on sight, no lock on the door, and the place was almost flooded because it was an “open” apartment (no ceilings accept in the rooms). We are both uncomfortable from the start, but decide to give it a go. That night we barricaded the door with a table and chairs. Yes, that is how sketch city this place was.

Our luck changed quickly, though! There was an internet café down the street. We quickly booked a new hotel, which turned out to be a spectacular idea. One of the nicer hotels I’ve been to, ever. Great restaurant, huge room, spa, free entrance to their club, great bar in the hotel, and more. We could only have been happier if it stopped raining, which it did! Travelers luck.

We got to explore two of the main parts of Ibiza – Sant Antoni and Ibiza Town. Both gorgeous. The Dalt Villa, or old town, in Ibiza Town was definitely the favorite. Great views, crystal clear water, and great restaurants and bars. Overall, a perfect vacation! We had trouble leaving.

With Ibiza being so beautiful and us having such a good time, we of course had to made plans to go back. Quarter of a Century Birthday Party for Bhatta and I: April 2011. Ibiza here we come.. again!

Fotos de Eivissa

** I didn’t bring my camera (or my wedding ring) because A was nervous about us being mugged (probably a good idea), but here are some pictures from Bhatta’s camera. I will be bringing my camera on our April 2011 trip!

erste Schnee

Bhatta and I in the Trier walking platz
Bernkastel Christmas Market
Snow at our house
Riva and Boston's First Snow

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Rewear

The Germans are huge on recycling, as were the Swiss. It’s one of the things I love about the country. They care about their environment.

When we moved into our house, we were issued one small trash can, one large paper bin, and many, many ‘gelb sacks,’ (yellow bags). Our small trash can, about double the size of a normal kitchen trash can, is shared between two houses. It is emptied ONCE A MONTH. That’s it. Not once a week like in America. Because of the extensive recycling, we have yet to have a problem, or even fill it up. Impressive, if you ask me.

The gelb sack is for plastic, aluminum, and Styrofoam. These are picked up two time a month. Paper is also picked up twice a month.

With glass, we have a few options. The city does not pick it up on the street. And rightfully so. Who wants broken glass all over the street? We can either drive our glasses down the street to bins where we can dispose of them. Or we can return them for a refund at the grocery store. Both good options if you ask me.

I look back at the amount of trash that we “made” in every other home and can barely believe it. We would empty an entire kitchen size trash bag almost every other day. Here, we use small grocery-sized bags for our trash and take them out once a week, MAYBE.

Our Christmas tree is even recyclable – alive and replantable!

Almost forgot to mention.. they also rewear their clothes. And by rewear, I mean, day after day, without washing. I am not such a fan of this habit.

Show Your Appreciation

www.LetsSayThanks.com

Xerox is doing a good thing for deployed soldiers. If interested, go to the website and send a Christmas card for free to a soldier who is doing something great for you and your country.

zee Germans

As per request, by one of my favorite people in the world (Grandaddy Martin), a picture of "zee Germans." This picture was taken on Thanksgiving.

Svenja is on the left, called Sveni for short. She lives across the street and is best friend's with Jill.

Michaella is in the middle. My neighbor/landlord's wife.

Jill is on the right. She is Michaella and my landlord, Axel's daughter.

The two girls house sit/dog sit while we travel. It works out perfectly. They LOVE having the house to themselves (sometimes asking if we can go away for the weekend! haha!). They also LOVE to eat my American food! Their favorites are peanut butter, Honey-O's, Cinnamon Life, anything microwaveable, and marshmallows.

Must Haves

While visiting us in Germany, you all must try the following:

Riesling (especially from the Scherf vineyard), beer (German and Belgian), cheese (preferably Dutch), chocolate (preferably Belgian), spatzle, gluhwein, French fries, Haribo, nutella, froop, federweisser, prosciutto sandwiches, gelato (my favorite is hazelnuss), apfel strudel mit gelato, Belgian beer, Pasta from Cosa Nova, doner kebab (I recommend klein, not gross), weiss wein und panoramatopf auf Piesport, Baren Treff Fruit-Snacks Erdbeer-Rhabarber, riebekuchen (potato pancakes dipped in apfelmus – MY ABSOLUTELY FAVORITE!), waffles (preferably Belgian), schoko croissant (from our bakery down the street), schoko twists, tomato-mozzarella Panini, kaffe auf Delikat Baguetteria mit almond cookie, nutella banana crepes, zweibel baguette (from the bakery down the street).

This list will continue to grow as we live here longer, eating more and more.

Trier Weihnachtsmarkt

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Table Contribution

In spirit of the Thanksgiving season (and in honor of Mrs. Rapalje's Thanksgiving table tradition), I’d like to say that I am extremely thankful for being able to live overseas in these next few years of my life. Many people aren’t able to travel overseas in their lifetime, much less live over here, and I am lucky enough to do both, with my very best friend. Couldn’t ask for more!

Refill, please

You know you're an American living in Germany when you go to an American restaurant on base and get excited for the 99cent Coke with endless refills, so much so, that you get 16+ refills. And use one pack of ketchup per french fry. (Today, on base, I swear I had at least 15 Cokes while eating lunch - endless refills are amazing!)

German ketchup is curry ketchup. It's good, but different. They usually eat their pommes (french fries - which are WAY better in Germany than in America) with mayo, not ketchup. But if you do get ketchup, it's curry flavored, tasting more like bbq sauce. I've found myself craving American ketchup.

And as for the soda, well, the Germans make their money on beverages. Water is expensive. Soda is expensive. But beer and wine are dirt cheap. When you order a Coke, or Cola light, at a German restaurant, it is likely to cost you 3-4euro. It comes in a small, 6oz glass, with lemon, room temperature, no ice, and worst of all, NO REFILLS! As for the water, it is also from a bottle, and costing 3-4euro. It will be sprudel (or fizzy) if you do not ask for it otherwise (we now bring our own water to restaurants and wait to drink soda until we are on base!)

Heidelberg, Germany

Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany

Ding

The Germans love their bikes and bells.

Literally EVERY German has a bike with a bell attached for convenience when passing. If a biker comes up behind you and sees that you are going to be in his way, he dings his bell. You move to the right, no questions asked. Don't look back, you never know how much time you have. Some dingers ding early, giving you ample time, other dingers ding at the last possible second, almost running you over.

It was amazing how quickly the dogs have learned not to look back at the sound of the ding, only move over to the right.

My friend Kathleen, however, was a different story. First time she heard the ding, she slowly looked back AND moved left! HUGE mistake that could've cost her her life, or at least a bad fall. Luckily the German did not hit her, only cursed, frowned, and acted grumpy, you know, the usual German interaction.

So remember, if you hear a 'ding' while in Germany, MOVE RIGHT.

Watch Your Step

(The Creek and Snake #1)

Boston and Riva are very habitual, in part, I guess, because I am habitual. We have our 45 minute morning walk everyday (of course there are multiple routes we take), and play time by the creek. Recently, it's been muddy and rainy and I haven't let them play in the water. Today, however, was absolutely gorgeous. No coat needed! I was still hoping they wouldn't wind up wet, but that didn't last long.

Boston only chases after the tennis ball. Riva only chases after the stick. This morning, Bos, while chasing after a ball, disappeared into the brush, only to come out five minutes later, soaking wet. Of course at that point, Riva sees her and also joins in the fun. Now I have two wet dogs. At least it's sunny and warm out!

Occasionally, Boston loses the tennis ball under the apple tree. She can't tell the difference between apples and tennis balls (they both are constantly gorging themselves on fallen apples, eating the entire thing, thank you raw food diet). Today, same story. Another lost tennis ball under the apple tree. Boston is searching frantically. I walk over to help her (I of course can tell the difference between an apple and tennis ball!) and step on a snake! EEK! This is the SECOND German snake I've encountered (a little larger than the first). Luckily, they've been friendly, unlike some of the other Germans I've met! No harm no foul, but I think our next project will be to mow/weed eat some of the brush so one of the dogs doesn't get a snake bite!

The Old Battles the New

The new couch has arrived.. in part. All we're missing now is the love seat. But what a process this has been.

First, we find out the couch is FINALLY in stock. Of course, it is ONLY the couch, no love seat. What to do, what to do? With the German work force the way it is AND the AF the way it is, who knows when they both would've been in stock at the same time. So we jump on it and buy the couch. Next decision, should we rent a moving van and drive it back to the house today or have it delivered? We rented a moving van for the patio furniture and everything went smoothly. Again, with the German work ethic, who knows when it would be delivered. Decision made! Alex will be picking it up since he's already in the area and bringing it home. I await patiently.

2 hours later (at this point I'm thinking he would be almost home), Alex calls, lost. Great. I don't know how to help? I'm an hour away and don't know my way around that part of the country. Googlemap to the rescue? No, Completely useless. I finally get the genius idea of calling a friend who was stationed in the area. She calls Alex and magically, he is found again :) Of course at this point, he's on the phone, swearing and saying he doesn't even want the couch anymore. One hour later, the couch, the moving van, my grumpy husband, and the rain have arrived. Luckily the landlord is home to help move it into the house and it looks great!

After all his hard work, Alex sits down to rest. Where does he sit? The old couch (which will temporarily remain in the living room until we have help to move it)! Where does he fall asleep in front of the TV? The old couch! As Bhatta stated, guess it was just his way of saying goodbye!

"All I Want for Christmas is You, Baby"

One of the first things I did when we moved into Trier was a join a gym. The one on base is too far away to go everyday, so why not join the Germans (of course, that's what I said at the time.. now I know why, they're smelly when they're not working out, just imagine when they're all sweaty and working out). I walked in and tried to explain to the trainers that I wanted to join their gym. With the language barrier, this was difficult. I finally got the point across and they gave me the application to fill out, which of course, was IN GERMAN. For the most part, I knew what it was asking for, but not really knowing German, I could have just signed my life away.

I was pretty inconspicuous for a while. I’m definitely the only American there. Minus the one trainer that helped me join, no other members and/or trainers suspected me of being American. I almost got caught one day when not walking in with a ‘handtuch,’ (handtowel) to put on the machines – these are required. A trainer yelled at me in German, so I took the towel and thought, ha, you didn’t hurt MY feelings, I don’t even know what you said!

The cat came out of the bag the other day though. While on the elliptical, one of the trainers was walking around asking a few people questions. Crap, I can’t answer him, I don’t speak German. I tried to ignore him, but had no luck. I used the German I did know to say, I don’t understand you, I speak English ( Ich verstehe sie nicht. Ich spreche English). Turns out, he was just asking if he could open the window (OF COURSE you can open the window – there is no AC and everyone in here smells – PLEASE OPEN!). He says a couple more things to me and walks off. Not so bad afterall? Not so fast…

The next day I walk in, find my machine, turn on my iPod, starting working out, when another trainer comes up to me. He says excitedly, “Are you the American?” Guess everyone knows, might as well admit it.

Me: “Ja.”

German Trainer: “Oh my God, are you listening to an iPod?”

Me: “Ja.”

German Trainer: “I LOVE American music. Can I have it?!”

Me: “Um, NO.”

German Trainer (in broken English): “No, just play over gym stereo today.”

Me: “Ok, I guess.”

Luckily, my iPod decides to play a non-embarrassing selection of tunes for the Germans to listen to. The next day, however, is a different story. The same trainer asks me for my iPod. I agree. Why not? I’ll tell you why not.. First song to come on: Mariah Carey 1990s classic, “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” I hear it start to play and think oh nooo. About 30 seconds into it, the song is manually skipped by my trainer friend. I’m embarrassed. Now, before I go to the gym, I weed out the embarrassing tunes!

EVOO

The neighbor girls who watch the dogs come over often. They pretend to do their homework here, play with the dogs, play the wii, etc. They think it's cool to have an American friend. Well, randomly one day, I showed them some videos of Bhatta and I, including, 'The Flip,' where Bhatta flips a ginormous pancake in the kitchen at Destin, successfully! The girls didn't know what pancakes were!!! How could you not know what pancakes are?! On my next shopping trip on base, the girls come with me and stock up on American junk food, including pancake mix (Oreos are a HUGE hit with the Germans). They take all the groceries back with them, excited to try all the foods (cereal, chips and salsa, pancakes, brownie mix, popcorn, anything microwavable since the Germans don't have microwaves, etc) and that's the last I hear of the pancakes.. until last night.

While I was working on my homework last night, the girls came over saying they were having problems making pancakes. They had friends over and wanted to eat them but couldn't figure it out (I forgot the directions were in English, which they speak well, but don't read quite as well). I walk in the kitchen and find a huuuuge pan is filled with a TON of oil and about half the pancake batter. I said, "Ok, let's try this again. Warm up a new pan, get out your Pam, and I'll show you how to make pancakes." They don't have Pam, they don't know what Pam even is. And they don't have syrup or butter! How could you eat pancakes without syrup?!!! They cook everything in lots and lots of EVOO, which didn't quite work with the pancakes. The pancake batter was just swimming in oil. Not to0 appetizing. So we get the syrup, butter, and Pam from my house, and cook the Germans up their first batch of pancakes, which they loved!

O Tannenbaum

The Germans outdo the Americans on all major holidays. New Years, Easter, and especially Christmas, with their month-long celebration, christmas markets, picturesque snowy towns, chocolate, gluhwein, and the like. All holidays, that is, except for Thanksgiving, which theyobviously don't celebrate. As we found out last night, not having Thanksgiving makes them feel left out.

Shopping in Trier during the day, A and I ran into a street celebration in the walking platz. A band, everyone dressed up in crazy hats and costumes, and of course, vendors selling beer, brats, and for the holiday season, gluhwein (a warm, spiced wine - delicious). We had no idea what the celebration was for, but of course joined in.

When we got home that afternoon, our neighbor told us about a celebration going on in Trier. She said, 'it's like our Thanksgiving.' She explained that the town meets at the top of the hill, the kids bearing homemade lanterns, the older boys carrying fire sticks, and walk all the way down (responsibly of course, meaning with the fire dpt.) to the town center while singing songs. We of course joined in and thankfully were not caught of fire by all the crazy boys carrying fire sticks. At the bottom of the hill, a huge bonfire, free sugar pretzels, and of course, beer and gluhwein.

While the holiday was nothing like Thanksgiving, it was a fun thing to partake in on a random Wednesday night. With Thanksgiving being just around the corner, we'll have to see who outdoes who on this holiday!

Marie and I drinking gluhwein

Not for the thin-skinned

Germans have an entirely different demeanor than Americans. No smiling, no waving, they cut in line, etc. They say exactly what they think and don't think twice about hurting your feelings or offending you. Much more gruff than we're used to.

Line cutting gets on my nerves. I am easily agitated. These Germans easily get my blood boiling..

For example, traveling to inter-Europe via RyanAir. RyanAir is a budget airline. GREAT for European travel. My flight to Ibiza was only 40 euro roundtrip. It's a steal. However, there are catches. One, you never want to check luggage. It is the most unorganized catastrophe you could imagine. Two, there are no seat numbers on the plane. Unless you pay for priority boarding, it is first come first serve. People start waiting in line about 45 min. to an hour out. If my flight is over an hour, I am not sitting alone, without Alex, and beside some smelly German. So we wait in line with the rest of the folks. Slowly, you see people behind you creeping up. All of sudden, without even blinking, those line creepers are in front of you. How the heck does this happen? They have TONS of practice line-cutting, tons. After being passed by 3 different people, I decide, this is it, nobody else is passing us. I see a family of 5 start creeping. Not this time, no sir, they are not passing us. Just as they get behind us (by sneaking their way past gobs of other people), I start knocking them out, one by one, with my ginormous backpack (like I said, we do NOT check bags). I'm getting pissed. I don't know how, but the FAMILY OF FIVE got past us. Turns out, joke was on them. First ones in line were first ones on the BUS TRANSFER to the plane, making them LAST ONES off the bus and last ones on the plane. As we're sitting in our seats on the plane BESIDE each other, the German family of five passes us. HA HA - beat ya.

This line-cutting and passing and trying to go first even if they were there last happens everywhere, the gas station, grocery store, bakery, restaurants, etc. It takes some getting used to. And you can't be offended when you smile and wave at someone you pass and they frown, ignore you, and keep on walking.

For Sale

One 10mo. old Labrador Retriever, Riva, and her 18mo. old sister, Boston.

Their puppy faces and entertaining wrestling will help you to forget they just chewed on your new wooden patio chairs. They love to be outside, chase tennis balls, wrestle, shed endless amount of hair on your clean floor, and drool while you're cooking dinner. Riva is an expert at cleaning up her own and others' poop (be it dog, cow, or horse), gobbling it up whenever and wherever she can find it. Boston will keep you in physical shape with her peanut-sized bladder needing to relieve itself every hour.

Special Discount, today, this week, or anytime in the near future: FREE! Riva, Boston, or both! Will ship internationally at no additional cost to you!

(Not really, but gosh, sometimes it's tempting.)

New House Pics - just for Mrs. Rapalje

Rooms are being completed one by one, finally! I'll put up more pictures just as soon as they're done.

the deck - we got patio furniture yesterday from the base equivalent of Craigslist.

dining room, wine rack soon to come

our Hokie office!

Moving to Germany? Don't Forget your Kitchen!

Bet you didn't know, Germany is the land of the traveling kitchen!

When we moved into our house and Axel, our landlord asked, "Did you bring your kitchen," I didn't know how to respond, or what he was even talking about. Now I know. When the Germans move, they bring with them their entire kitchen, cabinets, sink, oven, stove, etc.

(the best part - the view/openness to outside)

(Our Ikea Kitchen)

On to New Heights

German front doors lock automatically. Potentially, this could be a problem. Luckily, we live next to our landlord, so if this DOES become a problem, most likely, Axel will be there to let us use the spare key.

Today, however, was a different story. While getting ready to pick up Brad and Anna from the airport, I was going in and out of the house constantly, taking the dogs out, hanging the mats out, putting stuff in the car, checking the mail etc. I usually leave the side door all the way open with a door stop, just in case. Since I was getting ready to leave though, I shut and locked it. I walk out on the porch ONE more time to fill the dogs' water bowls up and here a slam. The front door closed, and being German, locked. At this point, I'm supposed to leave for the airport in 5 minutes. Axel, our landlord has just left for work. Great.

I walk around the house seeing if windows are open. No luck. The three houses in our courtyard share a HUGE cellar that connects all three of the houses. I walk to one of the other houses, go in the cellar, walk through to our house. Unluckily, (and luckily both, makes me feel a little safer) it is locked to our house. I walk back out of the cellar, up the hill to our house, and see a HUGE ladder that the workers have been using to touch up the paint on the houses. ONE lonely window is unlocked.. on the second floor... I had just put a plant out on the window sill.. lucky again, I guess. I start trying to pick up this HUGE ladder and basically fall over. It is 10x the size of me and heavy. At the same time, one of the workers walks down the driveway and asks if I need help. YES. DUH. He puts the ladder up the house to the window and tells me to go ahead. Thanks A LOT. I climb up two stories on a ladder, through the window, and let myself into the house! All in time to pick up Brad and Anna from the airport! Woohoo!

Needless to say, we need a spare key.

ciao bella

6 pizzas, 4 pounds of pasta, 10 bottles of wine, and 18 scoops of gelato later, we're home from Rome!

We flew to Rome for a whopping 8 euro flight (thank you RyanAir) with Brad and Anna. The weather was perfect, (80F), the company was great, the food was mouth-watering, and the sights were gorgeous.

"Oy Oy Oy Oy"

Oktoberfest 2009 in Munich, Germany

Alexander's friend Matthew, who's being stationed in Germany in a few months, came to visit. We all went to Munich for the weekend for the celebration of Oktoberfest. Alexander and Matthew didn't wear liederhosen, but I wore the traditional durndel.

Paris, France

He's HOME! And he has wings!

Alexander finally made it home! And he passed! Now he gets to fly in the F-16s.

It's On Tight

While driving to base the other day, Alexander sneezed. I, being the lady-like wife that I am, said, "God bless you," followed by, " Or maybe I should say, Gesundheit," (German for God Bless You). Alexander starts in this rant about how he has never understood why when someone sneezes, people say, "It's on tight." "What's on tight?" he asks? HAHAHA!!!

Yes ladies and gentleman, this is my husband the doctor and he was being 100% serious. From now on, I will be saying, "It's on tight," following a sneeze.

B'Gosh

Royal blue overalls are a must-have for all German men. At first, I thought it was a work thing.. only worn when doing construction, yardwork, etc. However recently, I've noticed all German males wearing them, young and old, and to any sort of event, whether it be dinner, a festival, work, bike riding, etc.

Someone should let them know Osh Kosh is not nearly as becoming on someone over the age of four.

365 Days Later

For our one year wedding anniversary, we headed to Bodensee, a lake bordering Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. We stayed in a little town called Friederichshafen, Germany, right on the water and biked to the neighboring towns, including Eriskirch, Langenargen, and Fischbach. We also took the ferry across the lake to Romanshorn, Switzerland. It was a beautiful area and we could not have asked for better weather. All around a perfect weekend!