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The Autobahn!
It was rainy today. Sprechen sie Englisch?
Today's lessons:
1. The autobahn is easy to get lost on.
2. I still need to know more basic German.
First time life experience today:
1. Both Angie, AJ, and I got stuck in an elevator for the first time in our lives today.
That's what Angie taught me today as we were driving on the autobohn toward Heidelberg. It's useful 'cause I don't know any flippin' German. She also taught me how to pronounce "police" in German (I don't even know how to spell it). She's taken some German classes as part of the training the army has to do here, so luckily she can help us out when we need it. I know "ausfahrt" and "einfahrt" are exit and entrance, "bitte" is please, and I found out I was butchering "danke schon." Today we went to the castle at Heidelberg, a German post office, and the post where she worked.
We drove A LOT on the autobahn today. In fact, we got lost. We had to turn around at a kreuze (intersection). Evidently, on the autobahn, the signs aren't idiot proof like they are in the US, and the exits
Heidelberg!
Pretty, pretty town. are not numbered, and there are no signs every so often telling you where a certain exit is......there are some, but far fewer than the interstates in the US. Angie said she loves the autobahn roads, but hates their sign system. I concur. We missed two stops in the course of our trip and ended up going a little out of our way.
When we got to Heidelberg (which is a BEAUTIFUL hillside city) we found the castle easy enough--there are lots of signs. We got out, parked the car in the parking ramp, and began to take the elevator down with an elderly British couple, and the elevator got stuck! We'd never been stuck in an elevator in our lives! The British lady was cool though...her husband not so much so.
Then we got out eventually (we had to call on the speaker phone), and we went up a train to the castle. It was really awesome! It's not one of the prettiest in Germany, but it is still way cool. There was an apothecary museum there too we saw, and then we decided to eat.
When we ate was a fun part. We ordered food,
Me and Heidelberg!
This was taken from the castle. and Angie knew how to basically order in German. Me--not a clue. In fact, since Angie knows bits and entirities of other languages (English, Spanish, and enough French and German to communicate on the street) she accidently ordered the food wrong. When she said "thing" instead of saying it in German, she said thing in French--"chose." So, the whole sentence except for that word was German, and the lady looked at her like, "Wha?" I was like, "Sprechen sie Englisch?" I ordered bratwurst (obviously). It was funny because they also had "promme frites" advertised, which is French for "French fries." That was all kinds of confusing.
Sometime later we left Heidelberg and got lost again. Then we got to Miesau (where her husband works) and we used the German post office there because I wanted to send postcards. They spoke no English, but Angie was able to translate the price for me. Then we went to her post so she could sign some papers, then the American grocery store, then back home.
All in all it was a good day. We're going to Kaiserslautern tomorrow (technically we're right outside of it on the army post called "Landstuhl") and
Angie and AJ!
Angie and her baby on the castle overlooking Heidelberg. we're going to see the Japanese Gardens. Here's some pictures for you're viewing pleasure!
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frank
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jealoussssss
i wanna go to germany so bad. i'm so jealous. i love how your plans include going to castles and the louvre and stuff, and my itinerary is: work at stomping grounds, bust my ass off to write 3 songs in the next week to record next month, starve to death, etc. hope you're having a great time, ames is a dreary place without you.