February 03, 2015

Mine Tours and Snow

February 03, 2015/ Meghan Oaks

We found snow! This weekend, we headed north, instead of south, to the town of Goslar. We left after work on Friday and headed out. On our way, we stopped and stayed in a small hotel in a small outdoor recreation area next to a river. Conveniently, this was their first snowfall of the year, meaning the snow was still clean, and it coated everything. It was absolutely beautiful! Inconveniently, the Germans apparently didn't know how to drive in the snow. About 30 km away from our final destination, traffic

January 16, 2015

Weekend Driving

January 16, 2015/ Meghan Oaks

In between our ''bigger'' trips, we have found we like to stay closer to home and explore. The past two weekends, we spent in the Schwarzwald (Black Forest), which starts just an hour south of where we live. The first weekend, Aaron planned, and didn't tell me where we were going of what we were doing. I always love when he surprises me like that (and secretly hate it too, I never know how to dress for it!).

December 25, 2014

Bucket List Item - Mass at the Dom

December 25, 2014/ Meghan Oaks

Another item on our Bucket List was to attend mass at the Dom in Cologne, which we did this weekend. Before we went, I had checked mass times online and Google translate did work so well. They listed four mass times for Sunday morning, a time, which google translated to Church Office, and then weekday mass services. We opted for the 9 AM mass, which was held in one of the small, side chapels. As we were finishing up though, we realized that the rest of the church was full for the 10AM mass, which is held at the main alter. Oops. Nonetheless, it was still beautiful, especially as the rising sun started to stream through the stained glass windows into the mostly dark church.

December 23, 2014

A Weekend in Cologne

December 23, 2014/ Meghan Oaks

This past weekend, we took a quick overnight jaunt up to Cologne. Five years ago, on our Beer and Cathedral Tour of Germany, it was our first stop. When we found out we were moving to Germany, it was pretty clear to both of us that we would have to visit Cologne again. And what better time to do it than during Christmas time with the Weihnachtsmarkt!? As an added bonus, we got to meet up with a fellow AST, her husband and kids!

We decided to take the train this time instead of driving. Aaron did some savvy computering with a coworker

December 21, 2014

Final Tour of Munich

December 21, 2014/ Meghan Oaks

Sunday morning came early and bearing headaches after a night spent at the Hofbrauhaus. Nonetheless, we needed to move, and head home eventually. But, before we did, we went back to the Munich Altstadt for a couple of hours.

Sundays are brunch days in Germany. Everyone and their brother goes out for brunch and if you want to go, but haven't planned ahead and made a reservation, good luck. I had found a place online that looked promising - The Glockenspiel Cafe. It is on the 5th floor of a building

December 19, 2014

Munich Weihnachtsmarkt and Hofbrauhaus

December 19, 2014/ Meghan Oaks

After we were done at the Deutsches Museum, we decided to head over to the Munich Weihnachtsmarkt in Marienplatz. Being Saturday, in Munich, two weeks before Christmas, it was packed. Like, almost shoulder to shoulder packed. But, we were there and, gosh darnit, we (ok, I, Aaron wasn't all that interested), was going to experience the Munich Weihnachtsmarkt. So, that's exactly what we did.

But, before we headed to the market, there was, surprise!, another church we wanted to visit.

December 17, 2014

Deutsches Museum

December 17, 2014/ Meghan Oaks

This past weekend we went to Munich to knock a couple of things off our our European Bucket List. One of them being the Deutsches Museum. This is a HUGE 6 story museum, built in 1925, that focuses on anything and everything technology related. From mining to planes, trains, glass, paper, space travel, robots, and LOTS more. There is SO MUCH stuff here that it is impossible to see it all. And in fact, we didn't.