New things to learn

Cause all Texans look like this right?  Hot Texas Noodles? 

German candy.  The kids thought it was disgusting. Then they asked me to try it.  No thank you.  You just said it was disgusting.

Our fridge and freezer.  And these are BIG for Germans.  Can't put much in there.

Our first Stau.  A German traffic jam. German do not let their cars idle.  So everyone moves over, and turns their car off.  Then they get out of the car, and smoke, and talk to each other.  There are all kinds of people just standing around on the autobahn.  I can't even imagine people standing around on an interstate in the States, just hanging out and talking.  But here, you don't move.  You hang out until its taken care of, and move on your way.

Even at McDonalds they don't let their cars idle.  You turn your car off, and sit.  Then turn it on to move forward, and back off again. Of course, here, McDonalds is not "fast" food.  It takes a while.

Pizza is different here.  You get no sauce.  You need to order it Margarita style to get sauce. Mental note for next time.

We have slugs EVERYWHERE.  I mean everywhere.  They are pretty gross. They are as big as a finger.  Fat slimy slugs.  Gross.  Even more gross if you step on one in your bare feet.

Trier with Bart and The Kids

The Porta Nigra, or Black Gate, is the largest surviving Roman city gate. They used no mortar to build it, instead fastening the blocks with iron clamps inserted into holes filled with molten lead. Some of the clamps are still visible. It's called the "Black Gate" because the sandstone blocks the Roman's used to build it in AD 180 gained a darkened appearance from pollution centuries ago. The name seems to have originated from the Middle Ages when the gate was used as a church. After 1028, the Greek monk Simeon lived аs а hermit іn the ruins оf the Porta Nigra. Аfter hіs death (1035) аnd sanctification, the Simeonstift monastery wаs built next tо the Porta Nigra tо honor him. Saving іt frоm further destruction, the Porta Nigra wаs transformed іntо а church: The inner court оf the gate wаs roofed аnd intermediate ceilings were inserted. The twо middle storys оf the former gate were converted іntо church naves: the upper story being fоr the monks аnd the lower story fоr the general public. The ground floor wіth the large gates wаs sealed, аnd а large outside staircase wаs constructed alongside the south side (the town side) оf the gate, up tо the lower story оf the church. А small staircase led further up tо the upper storey. The church rooms were accessible through former windows оf the western tower оf the Porta Nigra thаt were enlarged tо become entrance doors (still visible today). The top floor оf the western tower wаs used аs church tower. There are four stories.  Today the can be accessed by an interior spiral staircase. It's pretty dark inside, but the view of the town from the top windows is amazing. You can still find traces of the church today.  Elaina is standing beside a bishop sculpture.

Climbing the spiral staircase to the top!

Already chilly weather.  And this is summer.  Fortunately we are told this is not the norm.

This was also inside the Porta Nigra.

I think they like the ice cream here. Not completely sure....

Watching our fresh waffle cones be made!

Playing in the fountains.

The Bell tower

We climbed up the bell tower in our house today.  The landlord showed it to us.  Its amazing.  I could see house I didn't even know were in our village!  There are slats in the top so its very hard to get a good picture, but it was amazing up there.

And We're off!

Here we go!  Starting our big adventure.  All of us are boarded and on the plane! Here's hoping for a great three years of adventure and exploration!

We're half way there!!There was some sort of emergency at this point.  They paged any available doctors overheard.  Apparently someone had passed out.  Ended up being no big deal from what we heard.

 

Here we are.  We have made it to Germany.   In line at customs.  The kids did not sleep much, nor did I.  Bart slept most of the flight, with his noise cancelling headphones.  This momma is thankful that Eden slept the entire flight over here.  It is hard to sleep really well in an airplane seat, upright, buckled, and people walking up and sown the aisles.  So, I am very thankful at least Eden slept, of any of the k ids I am glad it was her.  So, here is our first picture in Germany. Not quite sure how we will get our 21 checked bags to our TLF.  But, we are all excited, smiling (kind of), TIRED, nervously giddy all at the same time.  Who knows what we are getting ourselves into.  All I know is that we are diving in feet first.

DC in a Day

We had a layover in Washington DC, so we did one heck of a whirlwind self guided tour, trying to see as much as we could before we got on the plane.  I loved that our last day in the states was in our Nation's capital. The kids had never been there, so although we were all  exhausted from the last month of being unsettled and out of our house, we tried to see as much as we could and enjoy our last day in the states.  Here is the capital. And below are the kiddos in front of the FBI building.

Bart and the kids waiting at the train station, and the kids in front of the Smithsonian. 

The kids really enjoyed the Smithsonian. I love that its free to go into these museums!!

Excuse me, Mr. President?

Big brother is watching you.... the kids in front of the FBI building, looking up at the cameras over them.

At the entrance to Chinatown in DC.

In front of the Department of Treasury.

Julia studied mummies in school, so she thought this display was kind of cool.  A REAL mummy!

The kids in front of the white house....