Walking in a Winter Wetzlar Land

Hello friends and family!! Serge and I hope you are all doing well! We have been enjoying ourselves over here in Deutschland, but MAN are we ready for some warm weather and sunshine! The old saying is certainly proving true for us, we really didn't know what we had back in Fort Lauderdale until now that it's gone! Seventy-five degrees and sunny sounds pretty good this cold and gloomy February. We haven't really had snow since December, but we've also only seen the sun maybe ten times since then too! We'll get through it, I'm sure, but I certainly miss my tan complexion, sun-bleached locks, and that immune-boosting Vitamin D!  I wonder if the groundhog not seeing his shadow means springtime comes sooner across the pond too??

I started German classes at the Volkshochschule last week, and it's been going really well. Everyone is super nice, friendly, and quite international; we're representing Russia, Turkey, Albania, Kazakhstan, Philippines, Brazil, Colombia, and of course one lowly American. The course is at my level and is predominantly speaking, which is most important (and most difficult) for me. The school is a 30 minute walk from our apartment, so I get my schoolin' on and my walkin' done by 1:00 each afternoon. I'm getting into a little routine, and it's great!

Serge has been busy at work, which is a good thing because he is not a fan of boredom. His language skills have really improved over the past couple of months; to me, they're perfect! We're both making friends, planning our next trips together, and making the most of this overseas adventure! We've spent the past couple weekends hanging around Wetzlar, so here are some pictures from those lazy days!

Before dinner with friends.

I thought we looked super cute in our matching V-neck sweaters and button-up collared shirts!

Serge was feeling a little homesick one day, so I thought we should check out Chevy's American Diner in Gießen for a burger and fries.

It looked pretty neat, they had some American beers on tap, and their potato wedges were great!

 But the burger was frozen, so I think it only made him miss Five Guys more!

And a little tip for Chevy's, a "veggie burger" in America is not a deep fried potato pancake! :-)

My favorite cappuccino in Wetzlar, Kaiser im Viseum 

They serve every coffee with a chocolate truffle and a rose!

Cheers!

This sweet little lady had eyelashes around her headlights - gotta love it!

The Secret Garden

Sunday Hike with my boo! 

I walk by this Koi pond on my way to school everyday...

But what happens to the fish when it freezes over?

I've been baking a lot lately. 

Here are some grain-free dark chocolate orange scones I made!

Uh oh! Mr. Foamy needs to work on HIS bartending skills!

We've bought more bags since we moved here than I've owned my whole life! 

This one is for school.

Another Sunday Hike

We love finding random fields!

And I love doing cartwheels in them!

Don't fall, Sergio!

We found some horses on this trek.

I'm going to be an aunt!! And I can't wait to meet that sweet baby girl!!

FUKU... no seriously! :-)

I guess the Koi survived the freeze!

Hmm... Walking 30 minutes there and 30 minutes back kind of sucks in the RAIN!

I take back my comment about the best Chai Latte being in Würzburg...

This one is right down the hill at Sachers Café, and it's what I think Heaven tastes like!

My beautiful Valentine's Day flowers!

I also got perfume, a pair of boots, and a blouse from my Valentine. Thanks darlin!

Ich liebe dich!!

We wish you all a very happy Valentine's Day!!! We're sending lots of love to our family and friends back in the States!!

Köln aka Cologne

Serge and I are some Germany travelin' fools!  Our friend Brian flew into Deutschland from the US last weekend, so we met him in Köln, also known as Cologne for those of us (myself specifically!) who have trouble pronouncing the "o umlaut." I'm from South Carolina, y'all!  My mouth just won't form some of these German words properly! :-) Brian is the same guy that met us in Munich at the end of November, so he gets the Reinert Award for Most Frequent Visitor!  We had a wonderful weekend in Cologne, sightseeing, bar hopping, and visiting with Brian and another friend Nicole, who lives near the city.  Thanks for showing us a great time, guys!

This is Serge's "I-think-it's-this-way-oh-no-wait-it's-this-way-or-maybe-this-way" face.

 der Kölner Dom

This church is HUGE! And beautiful!!

die Hohenzollernbrücke über den Rhein

Groß St. Martin und Kölner Dom von der Deutzer Brücke 

Again on the Deutz Bridge, looking out at the Rhein River

This is my "Are-we-both-in-the-picture-and-are-we-blocking-the-view-and-which-button-do-I-push" face.

Café Rosenow, in honor of Ivan and Stephanie! :-) 

Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Rosenow!!

Serge's first Kölsch Bier

Espresso Macchiato und eine Kugel Schokoladeneis = the perfect 3pm snack!

im Kölner Dom

I read somewhere that this is Germany's most popular landmark, with an average of 6 million visitors per year!

Why is there Polizei in the nativity scene??

Brian: "It's too big. I can't fit it all in."

Tater: "That's what she said."

Serge: "Seriously?! Even about a church?!"

First Dunkin' Donuts we've spotted in Deutschland!

If only it were a TCBY/Subway combo like in 5 points...

Brian and Serge enjoying some Päffgen-Kölsch in bar Nummer eins

Bierhaus en d'r Salzgass

I told Serge he looked like this kid to the left of him because they had on similar shirts, and his response was, "The only difference between this 8-year-old kid and myself is that his German is waaay better than mine." :-)

My amazing salad at Gilden im Zims with Bratkartoffeln and a fried egg on top.

Now that's a German salad!

Papa Joe's Jazzlokal

Enjoying the live jazz music

Martin's Bad?? :-)

Brian and his new buddies!

Probably laughing about their wild times in Salzburg :-)

'Sup?

Papa Joe's Biersalon

Checking out the music selection

"Errr rrrraaa eeerrrr rrraaaa  eeerrrr"

Go Cocks!!!

Making friends at the Irish Pub :-)

Hallöchen!

I couldn't stop taking pictures of the church! It's gorgeous!

1st time we've been to Starbucks in Germany!

Nicole, Brian, and Serge at Früh for lunch - one of the 6 times we ate that day :-)

Karneval festivities in Fischmarkt

Nicole's "secret" spot for a great view of Cologne... at the Chocolate Museum!

Thanks so much to Nicole and Brian for meeting us in Cologne and showing us the city! We had an awesome time and hope to see you both again soon!!