Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Weekend of October 19th -- Beautiful Frankfurt

Weekend of October 19th -- Beautiful Frankfurt

With S at Model U.N. in London and K lunching with friends, C and I decided to head off to Frankfurt.  Admittedly, it did not start off that well.  We somehow managed to get on a train that was packed with soccer fans.  We could not breathe much less sit.  We did, however, survive and arrived in Frankfurt -- Hauptwacht Train stop.  We had lunch and then walked along the Main River, past the Städel Museum to the historic area.  On Sunday, C, Ana and I went for a walk in the forest.  We took the good dog for a change!  Here a a few pics from a glorious fall weekend!


















Sunday walk in the Forest with C and the good dog, Ana.



















Tuesday, October 23, 2012

October 18, 2012 -- Watch Out! Someone May Be Watching!

October 18, 2012 -- Smile You Just Got Flashed

I worked at the FIS Bookstore Wednesday and I got a lesson on traffic cameras and tickets in Germany.     I have to admit that I was aware that there were traffic cameras at certain intersections.  (They constantly move the cameras around so you can't get too comfortable)  But, I figured that it couldn't be that easy to get a ticket.  I thought you would have to be going at least 10 kilometers over the speed limit to get a ticket (keep in mind we are talking kilometers not miles).  I was quickly informed that people receive tickets if they are going  more than 4 kilometers over the speed limit.  What happens is that the camera flashes if you are caught speeding, going through a traffic signal, riding the bumper of another car on the Autobahn etc. and it takes a picture of the driver of the car (no squirming out of your ticket).  In about a month, you receive the ticket in the mail.  I suppose the good news is that you do not receive any points if you are going less than 20 kilometers over the speed limit.

Why am I so concerned?  Well,  while I make every attempt to observe the speed limit, it is not always so simple.  For example, on the hill by my house the speed limit is 30 kilometers (about 20 miles an hour).  I can barely get my car to go up the hill at 30.  On other roads, I am not even sure of the speed limit (speed limits are not that standard here (no 65 mph on highways-- remember at times there is no speed limit on the Autobahn).  Not to mention, some roads the speed limit will be 30 kilometers, then you will go a kilometer and it will change to 60 and then you will go another kilometer and it will revert back to 30.  Since there is a month's delay before you receive your tickets, who knows what the future may hold for me!  Yikes!

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

October 17, 2012 -- Raking Leaves!

October 17, 2012 -- Raking Leaves

So, I lived in Connecticut for 14 years and never once raked a leaf.  I move to Oberursel, and yes, there are leaves galore.  Not only am I raking the yard, but I have to sweep the sidewalk in front of our house (a corner lot I might add).


October 16, 2012 -- Museum Visit

October 16, 2012 -- Museum Visit

Today, I visited the Städel Museum in Frankfurt.  The woman who runs the relocation company that helped us with the move to Germany, periodically organizes events for her clients.  This event was a guided tour of the Städel Museum by an art history teacher followed by lunch in the café at the Museum.  I decided to take the train into Frankfurt as parking is impossible.  I managed to figure out the correct stop for the museum and then to ask directions from the stop to the museum ("Wo ist das Städel Museum?").  The tour was amazing.  The art history teacher, who is self taught, choose three rooms in the museum and gave us an introductory art history lesson for two hours.   In addition to the lesson, we saw a Rembrandt and a Vermeer.  The Vermeer, the Geographer, is off to the side in a room with other paintings -- virtually ignored.  The teacher explained that when that painting goes on tour people line up around the block to get a look at it.  After the tour, our group had lunch at the cáfe.  I took the train home, but this time I crossed over the Main River.  My fellow group member (also in my German class) pointed out the historic section of Frankfurt further down the river and then showed me how to get to the Main Train Station in Frankfurt.  We took the train home together.  When I arrived home, I let Mac and Ana out of their room.  I suppose I should be greatful that after being left alone for 7 hours Mac only chewed the arm of the couch (the same spot she had damaged weeks ago).  It was a great day!

Städel Museum

View of the Museum from the bridge

A view of the historic area of Frankfurt (where the tall steeple is)





Looks like New England doesn't it!


I signed up for an art history course offered by this teacher on Flemish Art.  After the course, the class will travel to Brussels.

Here are a few pictures of the Museum,  the treeline along the river and the historic area further down the river.

October 12th-15th -- Our First Visitors

October 12th-15th -- Our First Visitors

C and A, our first visitors, arrived on Friday morning.  Unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate, but they enjoyed their stay nonetheless.  Friday evening, we treated them to German food at Zum Hirsch, a local German restaurant.  The next evening, K and S served as tour guides showing them around Frankfurt and taking them to an Irish Pub.  For dinner, C and A sampled currywurst (a delicacy that I am happy to say I have not tried).  After the pub, C and A walked around and stumbled upon a small festival in downtown Frankfurt.  Sunday was a lazy day.  We made crêpes for lunch, savory and sweet (C has become quite the crêpe maker with the help of our newly purchased crêpe pan) and enjoyed our neighbor's company(and the homemade cake they brought) in the afternoon.  For their last evening with us, we all went to our favorite Italian restaurant in Königstein.  Monday morning they departed for NY.  As they arrived in the pouring rain, it was only fitting that it was pouring as I dropped them at the airport.  While it was a short visit, we all enjoyed spending time together.

Sunday, October 14, 2012

October 11, 2012 -- The Handyman

October 11, 2012

At 9:30 am Thursday, the handyman and his wife (Hans and Helga) arrived.  They are a husband and wife team.  For those of you who knew my grandparents, Ann and Leonard, H and H reminded me of the German version of my grandparents - just minus the arguing.  (Ann and Leonard were infamous for their arguing as they worked together to put up wall paper, paint, hang up pictures etc. -- yes, I even remember their granddaughter tape recording them one time).   An hour and half after Hans and Helga left, our rental house started to looked like a home with Bob Crawford's print of a snowy night in Woodbury, the two collages of C, K and S as little ones and a new addition, the beautiful painting of a barn in New England that C's colleagues gave him when he left.  They also hung a coat rack for us -- remember no closets in Europe.   With addition of flowers and a few candles -- we are ready for our first visitors from the States -- C and his girlfriend, A, fly in tomorrow!

Saturday, October 13, 2012

October 8-10, 2012 -- Success at IKEA -- Finally!

October 8th - 10th

It was a relatively uneventful week here in Oberursel.  I went furniture shopping with my neighbor -- two places other than IKEA.  After a couple of hours, guess what?  We ended up back at IKEA.  For the price, IKEA seems to have the best selection, at least in Germany. (I am thinking of starting a Bob's Furniture Store here in Frankfurt Am Main -- anyone know Bob?).  When I went this time, however, I had German speaking help.  After getting all of our items, I once again needed to have them transported and put together (these were very big pieces and while C is patient it would not have worked).  We went over to the Transport Counter and my neighbor, Katrin, handled the transaction -- obviously all in German.  At first the man at the counter told me that I would not be able to have everything delivered and put together until the end of October.  But then, he leaned across the counter and told Katrin that if she threatened to put everything back, they would deliver and put it together by Wednesday (it was Monday).  He then went over to another desk and told us it was all taken care of and that we should go to the other desk any everything would be put together and delivered on Wednesday.  (I do not believe that I would be getting that service speaking English).  When we went over there, the people recognized me (at that time K's wardrobe was still not complete despite two attempts by their employees to put it together because the correct parts were not included).  He asked me if I had received the parts from Sweden and I told him that I received them in the mail over the weekend.  He said that everything would be taken care of on Wednesday -- my three new pieces and the wardrobe.  YES, MIRACLES DO HAPPEN!  IKEA CAME ON WEDNESDAY PUT TOGETHER MY NEW PIECES AND K'S WARDBROBE (IT ONLY TOOK A MONTH AND A HALF TO GET K HER WARDROBE).

Friday, October 12, 2012

October 5, 2012--Just Pure Fun!





October 5, 2012

Day 3 in Prague was great.  We began our day by rising early so that we could take a Segway tour of Prague.  While it was a bit chilly at times, we all loved it.  The Segways were easy to operate and a great way to get up the hills in Prague.  Our tour guide for the day was Stan (note the picture below with K & S).  We went up to the castle where the President of the Czech Republic now resides.  We saw the changing of the guards and several incredible views of Prague.  We also stopped at a number of other points, but because I was trying not to run into anyone, Stan had my camera.  For a while, he was a tour guide and a photographer.  I try to avoid being in pictures, but that it hard to do if someone else has your camera.

Later in the day, we walked back up to the castle.  Some of these pictures are mine and some of them were taken by Stan.


The Castle Complex



Part of the Castle Complex


Family Shot in front of the Presidential Palace -- Part of the Castle Complex

Segway Shot




Segway shot in front of the Prague's Eiffel Tower

Beautiful Prague

S, Stan our tour guide for the Segway Tour, and K

S on the Charles Bridge

View of the Castle from the Charles Bridge

Note the Monkey -- Organ Grinder

Entrance to the part of the city where the Castle is located.

The Church of St. Nicholas

Organ in the Church of St. Nicholas -- Mozart played this organ!



Altar Church of St. Nicholas


Castle Complex -- Cathedral of St. Vitus within the Castle Walls

Guard Outside the Czech Castle -- Czech Republic President
resides here


Cathedral of St. Vitus within the Castle Complex






St. Vitus Cathedral -- located within the Castle complex



 St. Vitus

Just Beautiful!

Church -- Loreta




Note -- the Marionette


Law School right across the street from our hotel.



View of the Castle from dinner our last night in Prague



S and C