My last week in Germany: sad

Aaahhh what do I say, although we have many adventures in front of us, it has been a bittersweet week of goodbyes and memories as I get ready to head back to the states in a couple weeks. On Thursday we went to visit some old farms, and I mean OLD. Like, older than the colonization of the USA old. Some of the farms we visited have been operating since the 15th and 16th centuries. Wow.
A friend took us to a cheese and dairy farm where baby calves sucked on my fingers:)

Me with the calve and Ben's friend

An awesome water trough made from an entire tree.

That barrel thing? It's an outdoor sauna!

There it is! The oldest farm in Lenzkirch.

Another angle of the same farm...

The farmers keep fruit/vegetables in that hut you see

Making cheese. Just imagine the smell in this room.

This farmer ages his cheese for 6 months before being sold

We said our goodbyes this week to friends (but hopefully we will get to see everyone very soon). We had dinner with Ben's parents, brother and sister in-law at an American-style steakhouse. We tried Kangaroo, and it actually tasted really good. We also visited the falls on the Rhein in Switzerland. It was beautiful and much larger than what Google Images bring up! It was a little rainy!

If you look closely, you can see people climbing up the rock in the middle of the falls.

I am packing up my things and finishing up my assignments. But before I go, I will take a hop, skip and a jump to Munich for Oktoberfest (I've already witnessed Germany being crowned World Cup champs, now I have to mark off one of the most cultural festivities: the original Oktoberfest). I have some very special friends boarding a plane in a couple hours that I will meet for a visit! Very excite. I will miss an upcoming blog or two but until then, Auf Wiedersehen :)

Skyping with my niece Olivia 

My sister and Niece. Doesn't my sister look happy to see me?

Back in Berlin

This past week was my first time back to Berlin since Summer 2008. Which was my very first time to Europe. It was a little gloomy and it looks like Fall has already started to set in there with yellow leaves on the ground. The two times I've been there I have stayed with my sweet friend Nina who has lived in Berlin for years and knows the essence of the city.
When I flew in the first night we caught up at a french cafe down the street from her charming apartment (the building is from 1908) with a couple of glasses of wine. The next day was shopping on the main street at the Ka Da We, a major department store in Berlin. Complete with the top floor filled with gourmet foods. Yum...I always have to spend time browsing the foods and restaurants there. We had lunch at an Italian restaurant where I had an amazing pasta, I just wanted to cry it was that good. And the day wouldn't be complete without a double decker bus tour around Berlin, the most populated city in Germany:)
That night we went to a publicity event for a celebrity hairstylist. Complete with German soap and reality stars and World Cup players. Of course I didn't recognize anyone. I just enjoyed the wine and curry-wurst with my friend! Which of course the event was right in front of one of the best curry wurst restaurants in town.
The next day Nina and I enjoyed the more hipster part of Berlin with a stop at The Pony bar. Which has a great outdoor sitting area to people watch. I thought for a second, am I in LA? Then we ate at this fabulous restaurant called dudu (translation- youyou). I had one of the best curry dishes and sushi rolls that almost made Nina and I both cry. We topped the night off with enjoying a photography gallery called Lumas and watching the hookers on the corner.

One of the cafes on the top of The Ka De We

This outfit isn't complete without a somethingsaurus

Parts of the Berlin Wall

Berlin cathedral

The view out my friend's apartment

Later, the girls all danced with blow dryers

There are the blow dryers!

square toilet anyone?

Don't cry! It was a beautiful experience ;)

Nina and I

Back home, Ben and I finished the week with a walk around a small lake that was filled with beautiful mossyness. 

Look at these cute little bunnies

I wanted to take this moss rock home.

Until next time, Viele Grüße,

The Hamburg Essence and sailing in Switzerland

We made a trip to Hamburg to visit a friend of Ben's. It was fantastic. The German's that I have had the pleasure of becoming friends with (mainly though Ben) have been wonderful hosts. We started with a tour of the massive port that is around 1,000 years old. We took a boat tour in German and it went through the old Warehouse district canals. Afterward we strolled the waterfront and finished the day with an excellent dinner at Restaurant Rive, overlooking the harbor. The nightlife is great too. Clubs and vintage bars galore (The Beatles became famous at The Star Club) along with new bars/restaurants. We started the night at a posh rooftop bar called Clouds-Heaven's Bar. They have a great atmosphere on the roof top with fun and tasty drinks.
Of course, we had to make our way over to Hamburg's version of the Red Light District "The Reeperbahn". Where the prostitutes stand on corners wearing fannie packs and in the winter...they still work on the corner...but in ski suits!
The next day we visited the Miniature Wunderland (a world famous miniature train and city exhibition) and the Hamburg zoo...where they let you hand feed some animals. We fed the Elephants. Too cute.

The old Warehouse District canals

Harbor

Me, Fabian and Ben at Clouds!

One of the vintage bars

An old boxing arena- now an entrance to a bar

The Zoo!

Feeding the Elephant a carrot.

We also had the pleasure of joining a couple of good friends of ours on their sailboat for an adventure. We sailed on Lake Constance or The Bodensee (in German). It is located at the foot of the Alps and is bordered by Austria, Switzerland and Germany. We sailed from the Swiss side to the German side and had a wonderful dinner at a beautiful restaurant. We slept on the boat and sailed back in the morning. A great time with friends:):)

Us sailing!

Andreas and Andrina

Beautiful and warm

Andreas taking a swim

Sad to say, my time living here in Deutschland is coming to an end soon. I have had such a wondeful and adventurous time here with my man, his family and our friends. I am looking forward to soaking up the next month and then I get to visit home! Much love!