Weekend in Bamberg

We try to go back to Bamberg as often as possible. It is a little tricky though with the kids sports schedule. The football Season has ended though and Camden had a break in soccer, so were able to go back last weekend. Both Bailey and Camden had an invitation to spend 2 nights at different friends houses, so it was just Bryan, Bailey , and I at our apartment for the weekend. I don't think Bailey was too thrilled at first (spending the weekend with her parents ;-), but she ended up having a really nice time too (sans Siblings :-)).   Oh how I love Bamberg (have I mentioned that before??? :-)). We got there Friday evening, dropped Camden and Mia off at their respective friends and then rode bikes to our other friends' house for dinner. Biking is definitely the best way to go...  On Saturday, we woke up and went to a few of our favorite shops and then out to Lunch at one of the Breweries near our apartment. Then we walked to another Cafe to meet up with another group of friends. A couple of those friends invited us to Schlenkerla for a Bock Bier (a specially brewed batch of beer that they offer here this time of year). We walked home, watched a movie. Slept in a little on Sunday (because the time changed already here), and then went for a run with Bryan and a friend. The entire time too, I knew that Mia and Camden were also having fun - which made the weekend even that much better. Have I mentioned I love Bamberg???? :-)

Bailey and Bryan at Keesmann

Outside of the Restaurant - so cute!

Outside of the Wunderburg Church was this car waiting for a wedding party - so cute!!! My friend was married in this same church 65 years ago - cute to think the same type of car may have waited for them back then!

The Wunderburg area of town...

The had pumpkin carving in the downtown for the kids. Halloween is slowly becoming a "holiday" here. It isn't in full swing yet, but slowly....

I feel so at home when I am in Bamberg!

Inside the Schlenkerla Brewery. Such Character! Look at the ceilings!

Friends!!!

Bock Beer - every Brewery has a special batch of beer that they make this time of year called Bock Beer. When it runs out, it runs out ...

Inside the Brewery - Bamberg is a Catholic town for sure!!!

As we left the Brewery and started walking home, I took this photo. Have I mentioned I love Bamberg?

Homecoming

Bailey's school had Homecoming this weekend. Saturday was filled with sporting events, including the big football game against Ramstein High School. Sadly, their team lost, but Bailey had fun cheering and we had fun watching! We have some friends that moved to Ramstein this summer, and their son plays on the team, so it was fun catching up too! The games were followed by the big Homecoming Dance. I think Bailey is very happy to experience all of the American traditions, and for that I am so happy that she has the opportunity to do so! I thought she looked so pretty! I still can't believe she is old enough to be a sophomore in High School, but I guess I have to get over that :-)!!!!

Cheering for the Homecoming game!

Bailey and Bryan before the Dance...

Bailey and her date on the way to Homecoming

Fall Colors

Growing up in Maine, the foliage was always gorgeous! While it doesn't quite have the reds and the oranges that Maine has, the leaves have been quite stunning here lately....

Hard to see the foliage in this one, but the sky was beautiful!

Crafty Girl...

Mia LOVES arts and crafts. In her school, they not only have an art class each week, but also a separate "WTG" class, which is where they make stuff (they are building a bird house from scratch for the next couple of weeks...Amazing)! Anyway... her latest thing is getting on Youtube and following the tutorials on how to make things. She has learned lots of Origami, "fork weaving etc." The other day she hopped on and learned how to finger knit with yarn (she had learned the basics from her friend in Bamberg already). The funny thing about it, is that she has such patience to sit and focus and work on it for a long time (with my ADD-like personality, I would have given up 10 minutes into it :-). So the other morning - BEFORE SCHOOL - she finger knitted 3 rows of yarn, then braided them together to make a scarf. In 20 minutes! We all kind of looked at her with our jaws dropped. I love her little passion for art! She teaches my parents a crafting class each week via face time too - so I have to say: Watch out Grandmommy and Grampa - get out the yarn - you will be finger knitting this week :-)

The finished product...

She is a lefty, so it is hard for me to figure it out :-)

2 of the finished rows...

finishing up the third row...

Such a cool craft for a 9 year old!!!

The Bike License - Mia is legal!!!!!

I know I have mentioned "the bike License" at least a couple of times, but after a couple of months of; classes (20 hours to be exact), studying, memorizing rules, police visits, and lots of street practice - Mia has passed the Bike Test! This means she can officially ride on the streets (not just the sidewalk) by herself. ANYWHERE, by herself. She has learned about any and every possible scenario that could possibly occur, and she has passed both the written tests (there were 2) and the actual riding road test that was administered by the police as well.  All 4th graders in Germany are required to take this class and it is amazingly in depth - Basically a driving test for 4th graders!  Mia has spent many days at the table studying the rules and memorizing traffic signs, traffic patterns, and traffic rules. Did you know that if there is a 4 way intersection without stop lights or stop signs (yes, they seem to have lots of these in our new city), you must yield to the vehicle or bike furthest to the right? So many little details to memorize! *Sorry that the photos are sideways, backwards, and upside down - I just was so impressed with the in depth curriculum, I had to share a bit :-). These are just a FEW of the pages in Mia's notebook (it doesn't even include the actual book that they were given to study as well!). The tests were part of her HSK grade too. The school even has bikes on hand for all of the kids - it is that important!

One rule - You should always ride the distance of 3 bikes behind the person in front of you - who would have known :-) . You also must use your right or left arm to signal turning at each turn.

Pedestrians zones mean that bikes are not allowed. If the street light only is meant for Pedestrians, then you must get off your bike and walk across.

On a path meant for bikers and pedestrians, always pass on the right, and identify yourself when needed by using your bike bell (a requirement by German Law). You also must have a bike light on the front and back of your bikes at all times (by law) to be used when it is dark or raining.

Lots of European Street signs to memorize...

Here is an example of the intersections and yielding to the right... (sorry it is upside down :-))

More examples of  traffic patterns and potential situations... If there is construction ahead of you, you must hand signal and then ride a safe distance around it....  

even more examples

I knew these Traffic Police movements existed, but I'm not sure if I ever had to actually memorize them? Mia knows them well now!

The occasion even made the local paper - can you spot Mia :-)

One happy girl with her license! 

Officially stamped by the Polizei (police)

Even the Eye Doctor came to give their stamp of approval that the kids are road ready :-) 

Regensburg

Bryan, Mia, and I spent the day in Regensburg the other day. I am still struggling with our move from what I deem to be the best city in the world, so it was nice to get out and be reminded that there are other great cities out there too. Regensburg is a Medieval City and has such character. It is a University City, which I have come to discover really brings a city to life! When a European City has a University, it makes all of the difference and is usually a great city (just my opinion of course ;-)). Anyway, the city was bustling and it was a fun trip. Regensburg is 1 1/2 from Bamberg, but only 45 minutes from Amberg - so it will definitely become a popular place on our list to visit.
 *The only things I was disappointed about was not finding the house that Oskar Schindler (you know, the name sake of the movie "Schindler's List") lived after WWII. We saw where he was buried in Jerusalem and thought it would be neat to see where he lived too, but it is a fairly low key location and we couldn't seem to find it :-( Maybe next time...

This is where we ate... It is the Famous Historic "Wursthouse" - it is claimed to be 900 years old (yes, you read that correctly - 900 years!!!). It began serving its sausages to the workers that built the famous bridge next to it (on the Danube River).   

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Bryan and Mia (you can see the popularity of the restaurant with the crowd behind it. It ONLY has beer and bratwurst on the menu. It is a tiny little place, but serves 6000 sausages a day!!!)  

The line at the restuarant....

The basket of bread on the table is charged by the honor system. It is delicious fresh baked bread, and you just tell the waiter how many you ate.... (of course, you have to have a beer (or in my case, a Radler ) with your bratwurst too:-).

Bratwurst, sauerkraut and the yummy bread :-)

So much character in this city! I told Mia that I could picture her driving one of these in a few years ;-)

A Giant Mural of David and Goliath

Mia being goofy :-)

So... way back in the day I guess people here tried to "keep up with the Jones's" too. In Regensburg, you see several "tall houses". Supposedly, the more stories the house had, the wealthier the family was. This  one was pretty tall....

This one was a bit taller.... (yes, that is a house!!!)

And this one was obnoxiously tall - I guess this family must have been quite wealthy :-). Maybe they were in the 1% :-) I picture Rapunzel living in something like this...

And of course the best (and cheapest) attraction in any European City is a Church Tower. The views can't be beat, and the climb up is always interesting...

Stunning views....

And here is the Danube River and the famous Bridge that was built by the workers who ate at the Wursthaus. It is being historically renovated - that is the problem here...everything is so darn old that it needs to be renovated every so often to be safe. It stinks when you take a once in a lifetime trip to the Parthenon in Athens (for example) or the Eiffel Tower and it is draped in scaffolding or netting :-( .