Alabama (Germany) Hoff House

7/12/11

Something is "Fishy" in Suttgart!

Because our last few days of touring have been a tad on the “heavy” side, we decided to do something a little bit light...well not light for my hips! Katie and I headed down to Karls Square for the Hamburg Fish Market in Stuttgart.

The people from Hamburg bring their specialty fish and beer down to Suttgart every summer for 10 days. Thank goodness it is only for 10 days…I could see myself finding my way down to the Square everyday to sit under the shade trees eating fish, drinking a beer, and following up with a homemade doughnut. It was light in many ways and a perfect afternoon.

The day only got better when our friends from Alabama arrived for the night. We didn’t’ grill fish, but wonderful Bratwurst! Having friends visit often is one of my favorite parts about living in Germany!

Shrimp

Gingerbread

homemade doughnuts

great seats

smoked fish

cookout with friends visiting from AL

7/11/11

Headed South...in Germany

We headed to München this weekend. (No, that is not a misspelling of Munich but rather the correct German spelling.)

As we come into Katie’s last week visiting us, we want to give her a little piece of everything Germany has to offer to take back home with her. So, Saturday we hoped on the Autobahn and headed South. The first part of our weekend was fun and funny, the second part very solemn, to say the least.

Her parents, Philip & Alice, have succeeded in raising their daughter. Katie is everything I hope my daughter will be when she is 20 years old; loving, intelligent, giving, compassionate, polite, creative (list goes on) Because of this, I just can’t pull myself to say 'no' when she requests for me to join her ‘tours’. A few of her requests this weekend involved doing things I wouldn’t do.. no matter who asked. But, because it was Katie…I agreed to climbing 306 steps to the top of St. Peter’s church tower even though I don’t care for heights, walked for 8 hours straight to see every inch of a city instead of relaxing at the hotel's spa pool, and most importantly, I visited Dachau concentration camp which I never thought I could do in this lifetime.

I am glad I did visit Dachau. I have always felt emotional about the effect Hilter's 'rule' had on peoples lives. Over the years, I have read many books, toured museums, and watched movies about this time period always feeling sad. However, nothing prepared me for the magnitude of emotions I felt when I actually stepped foot on the Concentration Camp site. If I was a professional writer, I would try to put my experience in words, but I am not. I fear my words would not give Dachau's prisoners the recognition they deserve.

Instead, I write about the “Things I observed as I toured with Katie this weekend”

I saw Munich through new eyes-it is amazing how I felt like it was my first trip to Munich as I watched her enthusiasm.
I can provide humor when climbing up a high tower- she couldn’t stop laughing at me all the way up the narrow climb and decided to video ME…not the steps.
I can continue to walk even though my legs are boycotting.
Kids don’t care so much for old churches...but love a water fountain.
I have a great husband who spent most of the weekend at the hotel with the kids swimming so I could ‘play’ with Katie (I strongly recommend the Sofitel in Munich)
Beer Gartens don’t work in a downpour.
When touring with a ‘PYT’, you will be invited to a disco party. (Since I have moved to Germany, I don’t think any young guys have said, “Hey American girl, wanna come to my disco?)
A quick Foot massage is good before the second 5 hours of walking

The Biggest and most rewarding thing I observed this weekend, was watching her mind grow and expand right in front of my eyes.

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you have to drink a Beer in Munich:)

Hofbrauhaus

Foot massage

Come on Kirstin..keep climbing

We made it to the top!

Look at that view!

Dachau

Entry Gate

Museum

Prisoner Barracks


The "Brausebad" ("Shower"), gas chamber

"To honor the dead and warn the living"

7/8/11

Stuttgart's Birkenkopf

The site we visited today, is one that no words can describe. I think it is one of those things that a person must experience in order to have a true understanding of what it represents. It was too emotional not to post a blog with a few pictures and a brief overview, but my words will be brief about “Birkenkopf” because I could never write the words to give this monument the respect it deserves!

From Wikipedia-

Between 1953 and 1957, 15 million cubic metres^[1] of rubble from 53 bombing missions during World War II were built on top of the hill. At the summit there are many recognizable facades from the ruined buildings. One of the pieces of rubble has a plaque attached to it, which says: Dieser Berg nach dem Zweiten Weltkrieg aufgetürmt aus den Trümmern der Stadt steht den Opfern zum Gedächtnis den Lebenden zur Mahnung. This translates roughly as: This mountain was built after the Second World War from the rubble of the town to stand as a memorial of the dead and a warning to the living. From the summit the whole city centre can be seen, and on a clear day the view extends to the Swabian Alb, to the Black Forest, and the lowlands of Württemberg.

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City view

Birkenkopf

New Life

Birkenkopf

7/7/11

Differences in Living...

Roasting Marshmallows...in JULY!

When I am often asked, “what is the biggest difference between living in German vs. Alabama”, I can’t think of an answer fast enough for the person to remain in the conversation. But I find throughout my normal day I am constantly thinking, “this is so different from Alabama”. This week, I actually remembered some of these thoughts and thought I would share….

A Few Differences I have noticed between living in Germany and Alabama

I have had my picture taken more here in 6 mos than probably 6 years thanks to our many tours

I celebrated a ‘Fourth of July’ without hearing a single firework.

I live amongst buildings that are older than “when America was discovered”.

I WOULD NOT have a fire in my house and roast marshmallows in July---I could probably just roast them on the sidewalk in AL in July.

The one thing that I find is the same, is our ability to find people that we will call FRIENDS for many years to come. Isn’t that one of the most important things about living???

Cheese...

Fourth

No Fireworks...only children's laughter

Friends

More friends

Listening to what friends ask us "to do"

showing Katie how to jump

7/4/11

Celebrating the Fourth in Germany

Don't look down!

scary bridge

As all of our friends in “the states” were celebrating the Fourth of July, we decided to celebrate by touring a little of Germany’s history. Besides, our house was a “bloody mess”(literally) and Cooper was feeling well enough to start climbing the walls again.

Katie and I started our morning with one of my favorite excursions here in Germany; a bike ride in the forest. As she was taking pictures she said, “pictures just can’t capture this!” AMEN SISTER…In order to enjoy this ‘German attraction’, you must come visit us.

Once showered, we hit the autobahn and made the 2-hour journey down to Bavaria to enjoy Schloss Neuschwanstein and it’s surrounding area. It is one of the famous castles here in Germany and I quickly got a sense of this by the amount of tourists joining our excursion. (It was the castle that was the inspiration for Disney’s Sleeping Beauty castle) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuschwanstein_Castle

If you want to hear a snippet of every language from around the world all in one day, tour Neuschwanstein. It is a gorgeous area and I understand why people from around the world come to visit. I am not sure which was the highlight for me- The walk across Marienbrücke bridge which made my stomach move to my throat or the Cold Radler that made my stomach jump for joy while we were waiting for our tour to begin. Overall it was a great day, touring, hiking, skipping pebbles on the lake and finishing with a big hearty German meal. After our late night ~~drive~~ flight home on the Autobahn, we tucked the kids in, and then Jason and I honored the 4^th by acting like crazy Americans- we finished building their swing set in the dark at 10:30 p.m.! We always try to keep our promises no matter what the holiday! As we head over to some friend's house to have a cookout in honor of this American holiday, I wish you a Happy Fourth of July...from Germany!!!