Germany part 1

We only got to spend 2 days in Germany. I would have loved to have more time to explore southern Germany, but when you only have 16 days to visit 5 countries, you have to take what you can get.

And what we got with our 2 days in Germany was a trip down memory lane. Before this blog really got going, I spent a year in Bonn, Germany nannying for 2 boys, ages 3 and 6 months. This experience changed my life and helped me to gain a new perspective on what was really important to me. Brandon's grateful I went because I don't know if I would have been wise enough to marry him had I not spent 12 months in this wonderful place.

Let me take you on a trip down memory lane, just as I did Brandon.

My best friend in Germany, Luise, met us at the train station, let us crash on her awesome red couch, and got to hang out with us quite a bit. Luise was my "friend just down the street". We had numerous sleepovers, venting sessions, outings, and attended YSA activities together while I was there. We had such awesome times together. We became friends so fast and she is one of the most loyal friends I've ever known. It was so fun seeing her again.

Now back to the field trip. Ever wonder where Beethoven was born? Well, good thing you read this blog today because now you know. This, my friends is his birthplace, right in downtown Bonn.

We happened to walk right by it on our way to the BEST bakery in the world--Kamp's.

And there you can get Zimt-Wuppis. I've got to learn how to make these. I lived off these!

Then we headed to Bad Godesberg, a cute little village just outside the main city. I showed Brandon Germany's version of Costco. It's called LIDL. All the stuff you buy there comes in bulk--well, that is if you consider 6 tomatoes or 1 large box of cereal bulk. While we were there, we picked up some of my favorite German chocolate bars called Ritter-Sport and some bananas for our new...drum roll please...

BANABOXes! Aren't those the coolest things you have ever seen? It's a container in the shape of a banana, to hold a banana. When I first saw those in Germany, I thought it was the coolest thing ever. I assumed that every sport store had them. When I got home, I asked around at every store I could think of and they all gave me blank stares. They had no idea what I was talking about.

So, of course, I had to get some while we were there. I LOVE LOVE LOVE bananas and now I have a handy container that I can stash a banana in without it bruising or smelling up anything else.

Next stop: the Haribo factory! A child's dream! (and mine :) They have endless bulk bins filled with any kind of gummy candy you could think of.

We stocked up and good thing we did because this is what kept me nourished during the Russia segment of our trip...more details on that later.

One of my favorite parts of Bonn was living so close to the Rhein River. I took a bike ride next to it every day! It is so beautiful and soothing. We took a short, but sweet ferry ride to the other side.


Brandon did his good deed of the day by carrying this wooden bed for a little German girl who had just bought it at a flea market. She bought it for her puppet. It must be one large puppet!

Final stop of the day...visiting the family I nannied for. I got to meet the current nanny, Linze who was so fun to be around. These pictures definitely shows how much fun the girls were having

while Brandon was having so much fun with Nicholas.

Tomorrow's post will be more interesting, so stay tuned. Our trip to a real castle...