Another Move - Heidelberg To Wiesbaden

Sorry that I haven't been writing much lately. It's not because of my usual excuse which is I have been traveling too much. It's because we moved. Again. If you are thinking that we just got settled in Heidelberg, you're right. We had only lived in Heidelberg for 11 months when we had to trek the 90 kilometers north to Wiesbaden. Even by Army standards, that is a quick. We moved (and all of the US Army in Heidelberg) back in July, but we are just starting to feel settled.

I didn't feel settled for awhile because we got to do this. Again.

And this. Again.

Actually, we didn't do it. The very efficient and kind German moving company did all this.

We just watched. And some of us did less than watch. Some of us napped.

After all the packing and such, we moved here.

And it looks pretty much the same as where we lived in Heidelberg (more lovely Army housing). And then we got to unpack. Again.

We didn't choose to do this. No sane person would choose to move twice in 11 months. The whole reason for the move is that some Burgermeister (mayor) and some Army general didn't see eye-to-eye about where to build some airstrip in Heidelberg. I think it went kind of like this.

General - "I think you should let me block off a road and build an airstrip here."
Burgermeister - "No. I zhink zhat you should do vhat I say and build it over here."
General - "No. I want it here."
Burgermeister - "Too bad. I don't."
General - "Well, maybe the US Army should just leave Heidelberg."
Burgermeister - "Vhat do you mean maybe?"
General - "Oh no you didn't!"
Burgermeister - "Yes! I did!"
General - "Okay, then we'll go!"
Burgermeister - "So go!"
General - "I am!"
Burgermeister - "Good!"
General - "Bye!"
Burgermeister - "Double bye!"

From what I hear, that is pretty close to how it went down. And the crazy thing is, is that neither the Burgermeister nor the general were working with the city of Heidelberg at the time the close down happened. They had both been moved to other positions. But because of the wheels set in motion by these two masters of diplomacy, the American Army left Heidelberg after being there for 66 years. My husband used to work in a building where Nazi troops were headquartered and stationed. (Read more about that HERE.) It is the end of an era.

The move also means that these four kids here had to start at a new school today. Again.

 It also means meeting new people and making new friends. Again. And that is an again that I want to say. Every where we have lived we have met amazing people who have become friends, and then more than friends. They've become like family. Let's hope that we are as lucky in Wiesbaden as we've been everywhere else.

Until the next move, Army.

 

Have you had to move a lot? What are tips and secrets you have used to get you through a move?

Hometown Heidelberg - Germany

We only have about month left in Heidelberg before we have to move north, to the Wiesbaden-Mainz area. The United States Army is withdrawing its presence in Baden-Württemburg and consolidating its forces through out Europe. Heidelberg is on the list of bases set to close. 

One of my friends wanted one last visit to the Altstadt  before she moves back to the States this week, so we woke up early and visited downtown on a beautiful Saturday morning. 

I recently read that my travel guru, Rick Steves, said NOT to visit Heidelberg. He thinks it's touristy and not that great. Oh Rick, don't write us off yet. I took some pictures of some my favorite little spots in Heidelberg and maybe you can decide for yourself.

After wandering the side streets we came out in the square in front of the Heiliggeistkirche, or Church of the Holy Spirit, where vendors were setting up their booths for the day. It was turning out to be an absolutely beautiful day in Germany. My friend lamented about how sad she was to leave after calling Heidelberg her home for three years. I felt a little sad too. I have to move next month, and although I'm not leaving Germany, there is just something special, something magical, about Heidelberg. There isn't anywhere else like it.

Tchüss,

Kelly

What do you think? Do you think Heidelberg is worth a visit? Should we tell that Rick Steves to go stuff it?

Der Früling in Heidelberg

Der Früling is just around the corner. Who or what is der Früling? It's the spring! The season, not the creaky things in beds. It has been a cloudy and cold winter in Germany and spring is definitely trying to take hold. 

If only Mother Nature would cooperate. I have decided though, that Mother Nature is a cruel and vengeful witch when she gave us one week of sunshine and temps above 50F° and then took it all away and replaced it with clouds and a biting cold wind from former East Germany. So that's what we get for tearing down the wall, huh? Cold wind? Thanks. Thanks a lot.

It is Good Friday today so everything is closed up tight and the roads are empty.

See?

After running a quick errand, I saw how deserted town seemed and so I took a quick drive around Heidelberg. Streets that are usually packed with bikers and pedestrians had become ghost towns. The sky was mostly cloudy, but the sun kept trying to peek out and so I walked along the Neckar and enjoyed my city.

The river was slow and lazy today, meandering down from villages higher up in the canyon and sliding quietly by me.

The river was so calm that these two guys were able to do this.

I walked along the river and noticed across from me daffodils had sprung up along the banks.

Bunches of crocus had erupted in formerly all green lawns.

The clouds were getting thicker and the air still had a chill of winter about it, but everywhere you looked it was undeniable that spring was fighting its way into our little corner of Germany.

I stood under the bridge, waiting for the sun to come out one last time (it didn't) so I could a picture of the river with the sun sparkling off of it. When I finally realized the clouds were here to stay I looked up and saw I was right under the old gate tower. 

To millions of people all over the world, Heidelberg will just be that place where they had an amazing vacation. Not me. It will be that place where I lived for a year. Where I walked, and ate, and got lost, and turned the wrong way on Einbahnstraßes (one way streets), and looked for parking, and made friends, American and German. And lastly, where I started to think, "hey, I can do this. I can live in Germany." Because for awhile there, I thought I couldn't.

I walked back to my car and passed tourists getting on buses.

The streets had been fairly empty, all except for these guys. Apparently they didn't get the memo that Germany shuts down Easter weekend. 

Just like spring was slowly working its way through Germany and taking hold, Germany was slowly working its way through me. And taking hold. I drove home thinking about no matter where I move to next or where I go in this world, I will always have been a Heidelberger at one point in my life. 

Which means I will never have to go in here.

Tschüß,

Kelly*

*Heidelberger du jour.

The Dry Spell

Hello World!

May I say first, that I missed you. I realize we may have some catching up to do. Eight months of catching up.

Let me explain. No, is too long. Let me sum up (from The Princess Bride).

Last summer husband came home for R-n-R. Went to Canada on vacation. Kids felt extremely ripped off that their first foreign country experience was exactly like the United States. Walmarts and Chevron gas stations everywhere. Well, not exactly the same. They call a restroom a washroom. I know, how exotic!

Vacation ended. Husband returned to Middle East. Children became seriously depressed. Promised them a puppy. Bought said puppy for $500.00 American dollars. Named her Minkie.

Children returned to school. Children tried out for competition soccer teams. Children made competition soccer teams. And that right there is where my life ceased to exist. All we did was soccer. Eat soccer, breathe soccer, sleep soccer. Soccer, soccer, soccer!!!

Husband's deployment ended. Husband came home for two months. Husband's new training at a base out of state began. Husband leaves.

Sigh.

Alone. Again.

Well, not really alone. I do have a dog now. Yes. She is now a dog. Not a puppy. A barking, eating, pooping, chasing the neighbors kind-of dog. We love her.

So that is pretty much it.

Oh, and this one other thing. Found out that my husband is going to be stationed in Germany and we are moving in three months.

I feel like spiking the football! I don't really play football, but if I did I would be spiking it right now. What does this mean? It means Europe! It means living and eating and breathing in Europe! It means living an hour from France, Luxembourg, Belgium, The Netherlands and Switzerland. Two hours from Austria, Poland, Denmark and Italy. Can you say do you have your passport ready?

What else does it mean? It also means selling a home that I love. Leaving neighbors and friends that are more like family. It means saying goodbye to my parents and brothers and their wives and children. It means packing up our belongings and shipping them across the ocean. It means I will be leaving a place I have lived my entire life.

Sigh.

On to bigger and brighter things, right?

I thought you might be interested. So I hope you will stay tuned for Maybe Too Blonde... European Edition! Come and watch as I have "Blonde Moments" in different countries.*

Hope to see you around!

*People have had a lot of questions about our great move so here are some FAQ's.

1. Where will we live?
-In a town called Wiesbaden. It's in southwestern Germany. It's beautiful.

2. Do we have a house there?
-No. We actually won't know where we will be calling home until we get there. The Army has 30 days to provide housing for us and they have to provide a home that offers a bedroom to every person. I have four kids so that will be a 5 bedroom home. Or actually, an apartment, because that is all they have. So, if after 30 days they haven't had an apartment become available we are able to go out and secure a home for ourselves. Anyway you look at it, I'm living in a hotel for at least a couple of weeks.

3. Do I speak German?
- No, I do not. My husband, however, is fluent in German. I am hoping to learn. At least to say 'How many Euro's?' and 'Does this come in a shoe size 8.5?'

4. Will my kids go to German schools?
- Not at first. We have several reasons for this. First, my children don't speak German. Second, German schools operate on a German calendar. My husband's job will operate on an American calendar. I really don't want my kids having to go to school on say Thanksgiving (not a holiday in Germany) while my husband has a four day weekend. We will look into it after we've been there awhile.

5. Will the Army move us?
- Yes. They will ship our HHG (house hold goods) over on a boat. Takes about 6 weeks.

6. Will they ship our cars?
- They will ship one car. If we want more over there, we have to do it ourselves.

7. Are we going to travel?
- Every chance we get. We are actually going to buy a big map of Europe and laminate it and hang it on the wall in our home over there. We are making it a goal to see every country in Europe.

8. Are we excited?
- Surprisingly, yes. I am not a big fan of change. Probably why I've lived in the same place all my life. But something about this feels so right. I can see myself there. I can picture it. And the fact that my husband is German and loves it over there is a big factor.

9. Can we take our pets?
- Yes.

10. Are we selling our house?
- Only if someone will buy it.

11. Can you come and visit?
- Yes. What I've told everybody is come on over! Bring an air matress and a Euro Rail Pass. See you soon!

Where Are We Going...

With Matt's time in Kuwait now starting to wind down, the reality that we will be moving next year is starting to sink in. Yes, we will be moving. No, there is no possibility that Matt would be stationed here in Utah. We're kind of lacking on Army bases around here. With this idea starting to become more concrete in my head, I've been mulling around the different bases that we could end up at. Here are a few of the possibilities.

Ft. Lewis, Washington - If we go here I will by rain boots and matching rain coats in every color of the rainbow. If I must be wet, at least I can be fashionable.

Ft. Carson, Colorado - Not much would change for me here. I would buy more pairs of hiking boots and a Subaru.

Ft. Polk, Louisiana - I would build a levee around my house and pray.

Ft. Bragg, North Carolina - I would buy river front property (it's on the river Cape Fear, you know, like the movie) and build an enclosed porch out back and sip mint juleps all evening.

Ft. Carson, South Carolina - I would buy a plantation and grow cotton and complain about Northern Aggression. Although, they mostly grow tobacco here.

Ft. Bliss, Texas - I would drag out the cowboy boots I bought on an impulse when I was 18 and I would drive a Ford pickup and say "get-a-long-little-doggy".

Ft. Sill, Oklahoma - I would probably begin drinking. Heavily. It's a real hole.

Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri - I would learn to shoot wild boar and roast it over an open fire pit in my back yard like Matt did with some soldiers when he was training there once.

Ft. Benning, Georgia - I will plant peach trees and make peach cobbler all summer long.

Ft. Drum, New York - Invest in a snow blower. A big one.

Ft. Shafter, Hawaii - Buy a case of sunscreen and lots of flowery dresses and straw hats. And lay around in a hammock drinking coconut milk.

Where would you want to go?