First Weekend in Heidelberg

Just an FYI this blog is really a chance to document my experiences here in Germany.  It is basically my study abroad journal.

            This was the weekend that I really got a chance to connect with my great Aunt Gudrun and Uncle Butch whom have lived in Heidelberg for 30+ years.  On Saturday after successfully walking to their beautiful house right near the Neckar River, I felt so much deja vu from my first and only trip to Germany when I was four years old.  With my aunt I talked about some of the differences in German culture, the first being that Germans keep doors closed all the time.  It actually makes sense.  Why let the heat escape?  Especially if only that room has heat.  We then had a very nice lunch of chicken, potatoes, and vegetables.  They were very happy that I was a potato person and assured me there would be no shortage of them in Germany.  My uncle then took me to Rewe a much classier grocery store than the first one I had been too.  Rewe was much bigger and had a great chocolate selection!  My uncle then showed me two great Catholic churches, St. Raphael that was built 150 years ago and St. Michael that was built in the year 700.  Of the two St. Raphael was much prettier and mass started at 11:00 so I chose to go to that one.
            On Sunday morning a bunch of my classmates and I went to church at St. Raphael's.  I was able to bring the readings in English and listen to the German.  I was so great to hear the priest speak in the Catholic universal tones and some what understand what was going on!  However singing was much more difficult.  We were able to figure out which song to sing when but foreign language pronunciation has never been my thing.  

Forgot my camera, stole this one off the net as Gudrun calls it

             After my first German Catholic mass experience I headed off to my aunt's and uncle's again with a bag full of laundry.  I went for a great and very unexpected hike with Gudrun!  Of course I forgot my camera's memory chip in my laptop from the last blog post!  So I guess I will just have to do the hike again.  We saw Nazi Amphitheater and the monastery ruins.  She introduced my to my first very tasty Apelschorle  apple juice with mineral water.  It tasted like what I imagine an apple juice beer would be like.  Gudrun also said she was impressed with my walking!!! Coming from my crazy in shape German aunt that is the best compliment!  We then went home and ate dinner that's when I realized German dinners are not nearly as big a deal as German lunches ;)
         Today was the first day of classes.  Not really exciting but I get Fridays off!
          I also went back to Rewe and used my German to get a "schokolade croissant" and a "pretzel brot."  I also bought some more beer and Coke Leight.  

Enjoyed dinner with some travel reading

Enjoyed the German Soccer Game with some needlepoint! 

GO DEUTSCHLAND!!! (except when the US is playing)

PS The beer wasn't that good!  I don't think I will ever buy canned beer again!

First Full Day in Heidelberg Complete!

My first day:
After a very tiring flight out of JFK I landed in Frankfurt at 10:30 German time. After an unusually short wait in customs and finding my bag quickly I was able to hop on the shuttle and arrive in Heidelberg an hour and a half later.   Quickly after putting my luggage in my room I joined the group of students and we headed off to town. We first went to at ATM to get Euros and I went to my first German grocery store. I have to say did what the first real difference I saw in the German culture. You bring your own bag and you put your groceries into your actual bag as you are shopping. Then you bring them to the front and the cashier immediately throws your groceries at you. You have to be fast with putting your groceries in your bag because the cashier is already ringing up the next person. Next we got a tour of the European Study Center where the residence is. All I have to say about the place so far is there are a lot of stairs. I then took a quick nap, then watched the soccer game. I was to tired to care much when the U.S. lost.

My first full day!

Waking up in a dorm for the first time. I then used a community shower for the first time. I must admit, I do appreciate being a commuter to Ramapo College. We took a group trip to the Heidelberg Castle where we got a great view of the city!

 I learned so many fun facts about Heidelberg! Like the fact that it what attacked by the French in the 1800's. That was then end of the Castle which is now a ruin.

 Shot of a statue of Charlemagne in the top left. Apparently the royal family were direct decedents. There were pillars that were taken from Charlegmane's palace at Ingelheim.  Such awesome history!

We then had some time to explore downtown Heidelberg. I had my first beer dasPilsner from the Distillery bar.

 We then walked around and took some more photos on the Old Bridge.

We then ate at the The Red Ox is was a great historical pub where we ate delicious chicken and potatoes! I also drank Nordheimer Sonntagberg Riesling Trocken a really nice dry white wine for the price of 4.80 euros. (They use commas instead of periods!) I then returned to my room and promptly fell right asleep. Great first day in Germany!

 Then I woke up this morning and finished my first mattress on the Princess and Pea needlepoint did I brought with me!

 The view from the window in my room!

 My desk!

Time to start my first weekend in Heidelberg!