After we got back from the Alps we hung out and then went to bed and slept for a long time. We spent the rest of the day lounging and waiting for the night. Domi, Isabelle, Annette and Domi's boyfriend David came over to Julia's and we had some more Raclette. It was really good. So we ate too much and then hung out for a while, played some games, and I talked to some friends from Prague. It was fun. Then at 11 we went to go see the fireworks show. It was great! It felt like I was at Disneyland, or a German version at least. The show was long and excellent and we had some Sekt to celebrate. After that we came back home and one the way we ran into Julian and Urs [two of my guy friends]. It was nice to see them! The ground was very icy so we "ice skated" home. It was pretty funny. It was a great New Years!
Friday night Julia, David, Pille and I went to get a Doner and then Julia and I went bowling after. It was pretty funny! I haven't been in a while but it seems that the wii bowling paid off because I won both games. After that we went into the city to meet up with Flo, another friend, to get some drinks and catch up. It was nice to see him! He came in the summer so it hadn't been that long but nice nonetheless.
Saturday, Julia and I went to Essliengen to walk around. We went up to the castle and got a great view of the city, but it was a little hazy. We got some lunch at a cafe. It was delicious. Then we decided to go to a little palace outside of Stuttgart. It proved to be harder than anticipated to get there but after the third of fourth try we made it and it was worth it. The area was pretty cool and the palace was neat but the weather was freezing! It felt like my face was getting frostbite. And because we had many attempts at finidng it we were too late to actually go inside but it was fun!
Last night Julia and I went over to Nudel's house [another girl from GAPP] and we had dinner with a bunch of the girls. It was delicious. We talked a lot, in German and English, ate a lot and laughed a lot. And the night ended the way any good "Girls night" should, with a viewing of the Sex and the City movie. It was really fun!
Tonight some of the boys [Spence, Julian and Zippi] are coming over and we're making some dinner before doing something else. Not sure what we're doing yet; we've had many invitations because its my last night. Possibly a birthday party, possibly going into the city for drinks first, possibly both, possibly neither. But whatever it is, I am sure it will be a great end.
So, tomorrow I am leaving at 6.55am from Stuttgart and that will conclude my absolutely amazing time I have had here. I can't believe its over but I am very happy to be going home! And as its snowing here, I am even more excited to see the sun and be able to wear shorts! It's been too long and I've realized I really am a California girl! Miss you all but see you soon!! Thanks for reading!! Love you all!!
Monday, January 5, 2009
Friday, January 2, 2009
The Alps
So on the 26th, we set off for the Austrian Alps with another family: Uli, Alenka and Thomas. They, all three, turned out to be real treats!
We arrived at the mountains in pretty good time to snow! It was great! They stay at this "guesthouse" every year, for many years now, and with many of the same people. I met many new families, all of which were very amiable. There was a Dutch family that I got on with very well because they spoke almost perfect English. Anyway, the house is a big house with lots of rooms and a common dining room. The food was amazing and you just went in and ordered any drinks you wanted. I think I had more schnapps on that trip than I will have again in my entire life. There was lots of hot chocolate and beer that was drank as well.
The slopes were much different than I was used to because the mountain was much smaller [in width] than Mammoth. We spent the first lunch talking about the differences. The first day was pretty silly. I don't think I have ever been waited for so much in my life. I felt bad but I realized how much I appreciate my own equipment and how much I rely on my knowledge of Mammoth. It was an experience. The second day was MUCH better. The weather was perfect, the snow was great and the company could hardly have been improved upon. But, all good things end and I, by my own fault, ended up falling and bruising my tailbone. It was awful. I couldn't even laugh. So, needless to say Julia and I, very slowly, made our way back to the house a little early. The third day I didn't want to risk it, so I stayed back and read while the rest of them skied and snowboarded. The fourth day, and our last, I decided to brave it again because my butt was feeling better. But this turned out to be fatal and ended with me and Julia climbing up the slope and taking the chairlift down to the mid-chalet-type restaurant. We had some lunch and then Eva walked down the long way with me.
Every night we hung out for many hours in the dining room. It was very fun. We played lots of card games and chatted. I had many good conversations and a great number of laughs. One night in particular was hilarious. We, being Uli, Alenka, Martin, Julia, Thomas and I played speed UNO. It was one of the funniest things I have seen. There were lots of rules and if you violated one you had to take a card so everyone was trying to give everyone else cards. I was dying laughing. And the best part was at the end of every game, when someone got UNO there was a resouding "Scheisse" every time, without fail.
So when the 30th finally rolled around Thomas, David, Julia and I left for Stuttgart. We stopped for dinner at a restaurant with delicious schnitzel and Julia reassured me that she now definitely knows the difference between a castle and a palace. After that I fell asleep and awoke much closer to our destination.
The trip was serious fun. I think it gave our family ski trips a run for their money in laughs had. Photos will be uploaded at a later time because they will not cooperate right now.
We arrived at the mountains in pretty good time to snow! It was great! They stay at this "guesthouse" every year, for many years now, and with many of the same people. I met many new families, all of which were very amiable. There was a Dutch family that I got on with very well because they spoke almost perfect English. Anyway, the house is a big house with lots of rooms and a common dining room. The food was amazing and you just went in and ordered any drinks you wanted. I think I had more schnapps on that trip than I will have again in my entire life. There was lots of hot chocolate and beer that was drank as well.
The slopes were much different than I was used to because the mountain was much smaller [in width] than Mammoth. We spent the first lunch talking about the differences. The first day was pretty silly. I don't think I have ever been waited for so much in my life. I felt bad but I realized how much I appreciate my own equipment and how much I rely on my knowledge of Mammoth. It was an experience. The second day was MUCH better. The weather was perfect, the snow was great and the company could hardly have been improved upon. But, all good things end and I, by my own fault, ended up falling and bruising my tailbone. It was awful. I couldn't even laugh. So, needless to say Julia and I, very slowly, made our way back to the house a little early. The third day I didn't want to risk it, so I stayed back and read while the rest of them skied and snowboarded. The fourth day, and our last, I decided to brave it again because my butt was feeling better. But this turned out to be fatal and ended with me and Julia climbing up the slope and taking the chairlift down to the mid-chalet-type restaurant. We had some lunch and then Eva walked down the long way with me.
Every night we hung out for many hours in the dining room. It was very fun. We played lots of card games and chatted. I had many good conversations and a great number of laughs. One night in particular was hilarious. We, being Uli, Alenka, Martin, Julia, Thomas and I played speed UNO. It was one of the funniest things I have seen. There were lots of rules and if you violated one you had to take a card so everyone was trying to give everyone else cards. I was dying laughing. And the best part was at the end of every game, when someone got UNO there was a resouding "Scheisse" every time, without fail.
So when the 30th finally rolled around Thomas, David, Julia and I left for Stuttgart. We stopped for dinner at a restaurant with delicious schnitzel and Julia reassured me that she now definitely knows the difference between a castle and a palace. After that I fell asleep and awoke much closer to our destination.
The trip was serious fun. I think it gave our family ski trips a run for their money in laughs had. Photos will be uploaded at a later time because they will not cooperate right now.
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