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Playground Day
The request was simple. Eva, the 10 year old, LOVES playgrounds and asked if we could spend one entire day of school spring break visiting playgrounds in the area. Unlike America where life goes on as usual during the COVID-19 pandemic, here in Deutschland the lockdown continues in some fashion now in its 14th month. And rather than discuss loosening restrictions, national and regional leaders are strategizing how to tighten the restrictions. With this background we set out to do one activity that was initially banned in Deutschland early in the pandemic lockdown but was now allowed, visit playgrounds. Our first stop was Schwaighausen which is a ten minute drive…
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A DAY IN THE LIFE
EN ROUTE TO ROTHENBURG OB DER TAUBER
STANDARD GOVT ISSUED STAIRWELL
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Burg Loch
When your child has a birthday in the era of COVID-19, celebration options are limited. What a difference a year makes. This time last year we were celebrating Hunter’s eleventh birthday in Ireland. You can read all about that adventure here. For his twelfth birthday Hunter requested castle hikes–our family’s number one ‘travel’ adventure during lockdown. For this day I put two castles on the list that cumulatively were within 30 minutes of our home. For those with children you know how much better the moods are when the trip is shorter so that was a bonus. Our first stop was an urban castle remnant in Laaber. From there we…
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Kallmunz Castle Ruins
EN ROUTE TO ROTHENBURG OB DER TAUBER
Naab River Rope Swing
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Burgruine Sengersberg
The weather forecast was cold with a chance for freezing rain, sleet, or snow but later in the day. What a great opportunity to get out before the bad weather set in. Jules hadn’t been able to join the kids and I on the last couple of castle hikes but even with the downbeat weather she was excited to get out and explore our backyard. One of the permissible things allowed under Deutschland’s COVID lockdown–outdoor exercise. Burgruine Sengersberg was our third castle stop of the afternoon and I was hoping to visit one additional castle ruin before hitting up our favorite Vietnamese restaurant in Nittenau. Turns out, this would be…
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THE RIDE HOME
MALLS – DEUTSCHLAND STYLE
AS IF PENNIES WEREN’T ENOUGH
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Burgruine Adelburg
Nestled in the countryside between Parsberg and Velburg lies Burgruine Adelburg. Never heard of Burgruine Adelburg? Not surprising. A quick glance of Google Reviews shows 160 reviews of the Velburg castle ruins and only TWO Burgruine Adelburg reviews. This isn’t on anyone’s radar. Although not currently living in the Lupburg-Parsberg-Velburg Triangle our family did spend six weeks as residents of the Winkler Brau upon our arrival to Deutschland in 2019 so the area still holds a special place in our hearts. As such we enjoy finding reasons to visit friends in the these towns as well as finding reasons to play there. It was the latter that led us to…
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Burgruine Kürnburg
Prior to COVID-19, we traveled extensively across Europe year round. So much so that my wife Jules often lamented how infrequently we enjoyed the confines of our own home. With travel restrictions in place across Europe that is no longer a problem. In some ways we are now under house arrest. Unfortunately, this time of year is not ideal for being under house arrest. When the last rays of summer warmth dissipate into the brown and crumbling leaves of Autumn in November, the fog descends on Bayern like a cheesy 1980s horror movie set. Our little river valley in Deutschland can be a very foggy place. For days on end. …
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Naab River Rope Swing
If you’re old enough you remember those Mountain Dew commercials where the 20 somethings swig their Mountain Dew while swinging into a body of water on a hot summer day, you’ll appreciate this swimming spot on the Naab River. For those not familiar with the Naab, some days it’s warm, some days it’s chilly, and some days its off the coast of Maine chilly. Your best bet is to make sure it’s sunny and hot and if it’s one of those days where the water is Maine cold, well at least it will be refresing. The drive from Hohenfels to Duggendorf is approximately 25 minutes and the town is just…
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Etterzhausen On The Naab
Just down the road from Kallmunz and before you get to Nittendorf is a swimming spot located in Etterzhausen on the Naab River. For those not familiar with the Naab, some days it’s warm, some days it’s chilly, and some days its off the coast of Maine chilly. I still haven’t figured out the cause for this variance. Back in New England you may find the swimming waters slightly cooler following a rainstorm. The rain would elevate the water levels and cause more movement (think rushing brooks) which would allow less time for the water to pool and heat on sun drenched afternoons. We had passed this swimming spot numerous…
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PRE-TEEN AWARENESS
AS IF PENNIES WEREN’T ENOUGH
MONEY MONEY MONEY!!
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Rothsee
Being a kid from Vermont I seek the water. I grew up swimming in lakes, ponds, swimming holes, brooks, rivers, streams, gorges, and quarries. Here in Hohenfels I’m looking for those same water opportunities for my children. That’s why on a sunny day with temperatures in the 80s, Hunter (11), Eva (9), and Acadia (7) and I jumped in the car for the 80 minute drive to Rothsee. Had we taken the Autobahn the drive would have been 60 minutes but what’s the point of racing to a place where you are trying to relax? Why not take the backroads? Indeed. And the drive was beautiful. Just before arriving at…
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EN ROUTE TO ROTHENBURG OB DER TAUBER
ENGLISHIZATION OF DEUTSCHLAND
TRASH-LESS SOCIETY….
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Thinking About Living Overseas?
Maybe you thought about living overseas before you had kids. Maybe you thought about living overseas before you were married. Maybe you thought about living overseas before you stopped dreaming. What this piece is not about are those Facebook and Instagram posts you’ve seen from your friends stationed or living overseas where the entire family is standing in front of the Eiffel Tower or in the Neuschwanstein Castle upon which the Disney castle is modeled (see featured image). If living overseas was filled with those type of moments every second of every day, then who wouldn’t want to live overseas? No, this piece is about the little adjustments we as Americans must make every…
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Ghost Stories for Dinner Parties
But Do They Appreciate All They Have?
Choosing Battle Lines
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Kallmunz Castle Ruins
In anticipation of moving to Germany I scoured the internet for tips on how best to prepare for the move from one culture to another. Among the internet resources I found was a military spouse blog that used a featured image that became lodged in my head. Living in America at the time, it looked like a German fairytale. There was a seemingly medieval bridge in the center of town, castle ruins high above the town, and charming structures dotted throughout the town. I would revisit that blog after living in Germany in a hotel 25 minutes away only to realize that village was Kallmunz. I have hiked the Kallmunz…
