Bike ride to Hemsbach to swim!

I towed Whitney in this nifty contraption behind a bike two and a half miles to the next town over (Hemsbach) where there's a lovely lake and SWIMMING POOL! It was another beautiful day so Whitney and I thought we'd take advantage and bike down to the lake for the day. It felt GREAT to be in the pool and get a little sun! Whitney also seemed to be loving her first swimming lesson. :]

80+degrees in South Germany=:D

I picked the boys up from the bus stop and told them I was taking them to the "secret fort" I found on my run the other day. So we packed a snack picnic, water and sunscreen since it was SO hot, the kite, frisbee and Kayla and headed on our hike out of town to a shady spot by "the fort".

"the fort"

The boys flying a kite for the first time! They were SO excited and it was nice and breezy, perfect day for Connor's new kite.

Whitney having her turn and giggling the whole time while the boys chased after it.

Over all great sunny day in Deutschland! I heard it was 60 degrees back home in Southern California today, bummer dudes!

My favorite run in Huttenfeld!

Worms Continued...

Worms!

Had my first true German draft beer, at a true German biergarten. I ordered the smallest and lightest local beer they had, since I had much more walking and exploring I wanted to do. Plus the sizes and depths of color of the beers of my local patrons intimidated me! This was light and refreshing and just what I wanted :]

This bell tower rang for about 5 minutes straight! I sat and basked in the 75 degree sun and beautiful sound.

I've always been enamored with building, planning, structure and architecture and but I just can't get enough of the German style of building! Even if it's just apartments :]

das Einkaufszentrum (the shopping center)

Pretty buildings. I just can't stop looking at them!

Beautiful garden. Random tiny Subway hut. Beautiful building. hmmm.

I roll around alone a lot so here's an obligatory self photo.

This is the tips of the massive 1,400 year old Cathedral, doesn't it look like an awesome castle!? This photo doesn't do it justice, you're just going to have to see it for yourself!

Worms

Worms was one of Rome's first German colonies and is said to be the oldest city in Germany (Trier argues that they are). This is the city where Martin Luther defended his doctrines during 1512 and the location of a GLORIOUS cathedral (which I first thought was a gothic castle) built in 600AD!

I spent the afternoon walking around Worms while Amy attended a baby shower there and I LOVED it!! It's my favorite place I've seen thus far in Germany, I totally recommend it to anyone who visits here.

Reference point: it's only 20 minutes away from where I live :]

After the zoo we took Aiden to his soccer practice. None of the children or coaches speak any English so he just watches and follows the others, it's adorable! The field is at the end of the Huttenfeld village and has the most gorgeous background! You can even see a castle off in the distance. SO lovely, just like today's weather!

In the 70's, the warmest day since I've been here :]

Heidelberg Zoo

Today Aiden's kindergarten class went to the Heidelberg Zoo, Aiden LOVES animals so this was pretty much his favorite day of the year. Amy works in Heidelberg so she brought is along to surprise him :]

Happy Birthday Dorian!

Happy 24th Birthday Dorian!

I hope you have something fun planned in Portland, or in Malibu with Lauren! I miss and love you!

Whitney is 3!

Today Whitney turned 3!

Happy Birthday Whitney!

Sick kids=Disney movie marathons

Everyone is sick! The boys stayed home from school and we celebrated Whitney's birthday with popcorn, movies, soup and blankets.

Mannheim...

Old building with a skyscraper backdrop, this is how Mannheim is! Old and quaint, then at the same time industrial.

View from Alessandra's flat.


My first German cuisine...Currywurst! Level two spicy, which was recommended and pretty spicy. It was good!

Mannheim water tower and park right off the Rhine River.

Another whiny lion :]

Mannheim continued...

We walked through a lovely cathedral that Mozart used to frequent apparently, according to Alex this memoriam says just that.

I LOVED these crying lions on the outside!! There were tons, and all different.
Inside.

Outside.

Machine gun bullet holes from WWII in the cathedral walls.

Downtown Mannheim.

The beautiful and famous Rhine River.

Schloss Mannheim today.

Schloss Mannheim in 1945.

Local apartments.

Tour of Mannheim

Mannheim is the second largest city (after Stuttgart) in Badn-Wurttemberg. It was 90% destroyed in World War II. You can still see bullet holes from the machine guns in many of the buildings that survived. On most streets you'll see an old building that survived attached to refurbished and brand new structures. It's a little bizarre but really cool!

Tour guide Alex:

Party Time at Mannheim Castle

Schloss Mannheim (aka Mannheim Palace)

Schloss Mannheim was where the party was held! This castle has been converted into Mannheim University, where Alex and his friends attend. This castle was completely destroyed during WWII and then completely rebuilt. This picture doesn't do it justice, it is MASSIVE.

The party was randomly in honor of Norwegian foreign exchange students.

Alex and I. I was introduced to Alessandra and Alex via Facebook through a mutual friend, Lauren Heineck who is living in Spain (and who I will be visiting Memorial Day :) Lauren met Alex while travelling through Europe and they have remained good friends and continue to visit each other. Alex couldn't have been a more excellent host and tour guide! He made sure to keep track of me amongst the thousands of crazy drunk students at the party.

Alessandra and Alex.

I drank German beer and watched the German Trophy cup with these guys before the party! Munich beat Breman 4-0, and apparently that is a VERY good thing. Everyone was SO pumped. These are Alex's friends and roommates, they were super polite and fun to hang out with! Everyone I met last night spoke ENGLISH too! OMG that was such a refreshing relief! I was actually able to learn quite a bit from them.

Homework time

Ahaha then I realized I realized I told Connor he spelled Tuesday right when he didn't, he had just spelled it right before I videoed! Anyway, aren't they cute!!! Whitney LOVES to sing, I'll film more later, Cinderella just came in my package I sent today and she's never seen it! We're watching it today and learning the songs.

Connor and Aiden wanted to play too, they asked me (the one who knows not a WORD of German) to ask the kids if they could play too. The German children looked at me totally confused and a little terrified, so we just watched. They DID however know how to say "Ladies first!"

Whitney goes to Gym Class and the boys to the Grafitti Park

The local art at the local park.

Cute little German kids

Tire swing.

Aiden getting ready to go.

Whitney at her gym class, none of the other moms speak english either! But it's cute to watch.