GERMANY!!!

NOTE: I started writing this over a week ago, but just now got around to finishing it...sorry for the delay folks!

Greetings from Germany!

It's been a few days since I've updated the blog, but I've been busy and trying to relax here in Germany with Kate and Miss O. The base, ('Camp' as everyone here calls it) is REALLY nice and a great place for families to live. It's nothing like I expected it to be (although I really didn't know WHAT to expect since I've never been on a base before), and incredibly well laid out.

After I arrived on Saturday morning, we drove back home, stopping by the American PX store on the way home. I COMPLETELY hit the jackpot and not ONLY did I find some normal skim milk (which I've been deprived of for the past month, which has been torture), but I also found some Kraft ranch dressing! SUCH a great find! Kate tried it on her salad that night and she liked it....described it as a cross between cesear dressing and blue cheese dressing and she's absolutely right.

That afternoon we (Kate, Miss O, and myself) went on a bike ride around the base for the 'grand tour' and played with Miss O for a bit. She's SUCH a delight and is toddling around like a pro and chatting up a storm! She said "Vicki" once (which came out more like "icky", but only once and it was when I was in the bathroom on the day I arrived and she was talking to me through the door. Not much else happened after that other than Kate making us a DELISH dinner! :-)

On Sunday morning we got up and went to this German restaurant (to remain nameless until I can get the name of it again from Kate, sadly....) for a true and very authentic (and very POSH!)German brunch. It had 5 courses (yes!) and was absolutely delicious! I tried many new things (and even some I hadn't a clue what was in them) and Miss O "socialized" with a couple of the other children there. That part was quite hilarious, as she kept the majority fo the tables around us entertained throughout! :-)

Monday morning was quite a treat! I got to go with Kate and Miss O to the "Bonnie Bumps and Babies" play group that Kate organizes at the family center on base. It's basically where mothers (and even mothers to be) come and hang out for a couple of hours each monday morning for everyone to socialize and have a good time. It's a really great group of people and definitely good for the kids to be a part of (as well as the Mums). That evening we had one of the expectant Mums (Katie) over for dinner and dessert - she's really great and a lot of fun as well!!! :-)

Tuesday was action packed with a trip to Koln (Cologne) to see the famous Cathedral and then go to the Lindt chocolate factory. We took the train there and once again, Miss O entertained the other passengers. HA! The Cathedral was really amazing and unlike many of the others I've seen in Europe, although it did very much resemble the Gaudi Cathedral in Barcelona. Then came the fun part...adventurous Kate decided that she wanted to climb to the top of the dome (dom). Sounds like no big deal until you realize that it's like climbing to the top of St. Peter's Cathedral in Vatican City and there are literally a couple of HUNDRED of steps with ONE passageway for traffic in both directions, no wider than about 1.5 adult bodies across!!! At least at St. Peter's they have one stairwell to go up and one to go down!

So let me continue to paint this picture for you...Kate has Miss O strapped to her back with one of those baby backpacks but with all of the weight included, it prolly weighs over 40 pounds or so. We start walking up the VERY narrow stairwell and then realize that it's two way traffic. People are gawking at Kate the entire time, obviously admiring her bravery in carrying a child up so many flights since many people can barely carry THEMSELVES up to the top! Let me just say though, that I didn't say ONE WORD about the number of stairs involved or achy legs b/c I knew better - HA! When we got to the top of the dome, we got an excellent view of the city of Koln (Cologne) and enjoyed the breeze and the break from the stairs. However, it was them time to climb back DOWN the stairs and continue with the constant gawking from admirers. When we got to the bottom, I officially awarded Kate the "Mother of the Year" award for her bravery and strength - incredible! (See "Mother of the Year" award photo on the left)

After our wild climb, we headed over to the Lindt chocolate factory to see the chocolate making process and of COURSE do a bit of sampling. Kate and I ended up hitting up the chocolate fountain and wafer lady three times b/c it was so delicious! Miss O enjoyed taking in the sights as well and we had a great time. Then it was time to head home...



On Wednesday, we bravely sought out again on another adventure - this time to the great city of Dusseldorf. Kate and I decided that the walking tour would be best (of couse with Miss O on Kate's back, and mine for a VERY brief period of time...). So we did that for a couple of hours, then walked down by the river (the Rhine) and had lunch. After that however, we had to hustle back home for another play date/dinner with a few of Kate's friends on the base and their children. All of the kids jumped around on a huge trampoline for a while and then we all had dinner and hung out.

By Wednesday evening, we were all 3 exhausted but still had to pack to leave for London the next day!!! The packing continued on into Thursday morning and then it was time to head to the airport. I wasn't quite sure how Miss O would be on the plane considering she still has to be strapped to Kate during takeoff and landing, but she was a trooper and made it through just fine. I actually sat behind Kate and Miss O, squished between two businessmen that didn't seem to be thrilled about sitting in the vicinity of a child. However, Miss O provided non-stop "in-flight entertainment" complete with climbing, a few leg kicks, and even a few squeals.

It was hilarious and I thought she earned a few tips, but sadly she didn't receive any...My favorite part was when she was completely turned around in the seat, looking over the head rest and down at the gentleman next to me playing Playstation. (See pic) He didn't even acknowledge that she existed so at that point, I thought it would be fun to bust out the camera and be even MORE annoying! HA! Serves him right - GEEZ!

Anyway, that about wraps up our time in Germany. It was SO good to see Kate and Miss O again and to see the base they live on (although not for much longer!). Of course it was also good to see a bit of Germany and experience some of the World Cup fever firsthand! Geoff (Stuart's Dad) came to pick us three girls up at the airport and drove us back to Basingstoke (just outside London) for a few days before it was time to head back to London, completing my crazy/whirlwind tour of Europe!

Will post a few pics from Basingstoke though tomorrow...it's time to stop for the evening and go to bed!

Love,
-V :-)