Germany - Day 3

Another glorious day in Bavaria!  Tonight our little family, Christine, Hermann, Gustl, Sandy and I, joined Christine's son Julian and his friends for dinner and then to a local pub for drinks.  One of Julian's friends, Sebastian was celebrating his 27th birthday and we sang Happy Birthday to him in a lovely Italian restaurant.  Again we have had perfect weather today and were able to dine outside the restaurant, spilling out the doors nearly into the street. Walking across the stone bridge tonight we were enjoying a very full and bright moon and marveling at how lucky we were to be here.  Gustl was perfectly behaved and spoiled by everyone.  If only Lia, (Christine's daughter) had been able to join us it would have been perfect but Lia is in Hungary, which is 8 hours drive away, in medical school. Lia stayed with us in Orion a few years ago on a visit to America and we missed her.  Next time, Lia!

I opened with writing about being in Bavaria and not saying Germany.  We are in the Bavaria region of Germany and the residents are very proud of this, often flying their blue and white Bavarian flag. While in Bavaria today we stayed local in Regensburg.  Christine was at work and Sandy and I spent the morning catching up on journaling, uploading photos, just general travel related housekeeping.  By noon we were ready to explore some more and headed across the river into the center of Regensburg.  We spent the afternoon exploring museums, churches, and shops.  I ate my ice cream cone for the day this time strawberry but with all the walking we are doing I hope it will negate the caloric intake. I also enjoyed watching locals visiting their flower market to purchase blooms for the table. Felt a bit like home!

Sandy and I took the city bus tour we took on the first day here but couldn't understand because it was all in German.  We knew better this time and heard it in English and learned so much about the city. We are continually awed by the age of this place.  We visited a church where the burial markers read dates like 940.  Yes, I typed this correctly! Little Western Township Cemetery has a ways to go! 

The people here have been very friendly to these non-speaking Americans.  When we got turned around I just asked a random guy on the street , "Which way is the river?"  he quickly pointed it out with a smile. Most of the people here speak English pretty well and are quite patient with us.  We have the Euro paper money figured out but the coins we still can't do quickly so when making purchases just hold out the coins and they show us which ones they need. 

One highlight of the day was lunch.  We dined in a biergarten on the Danube where the employees grill the sausages over an open fire. We enjoyed sausages with sauerkraut on a rye roll with the most delicious sweet mustard.  Yum yum!  The only thing we still have trouble with is getting the correct water.  Bottled water here is often carbonated or mineral water.  We know to ask for "still" water which is what we drink at home, but it still often comes wrong.  Sometimes I just ask for Coke.  However, it does not come with ice unless you ask for it and then it comes in a separate glass.

This is our last day in Regensburg as we pack up our things and take a train to Darmstadt and meet the rest of the group for the final 2 weeks.  More adventures lay ahead but we will miss our friends in Regensburg.  Thank you Christine and family for a wonderful stay!  I hope we see you again very soon!