Yesterday, Bill asked me if I’d like to go out to lunch today. I said sure, so he booked us a table at Landhaus Diedert, one of our favorite local restaurants. I’ve written quite a lot about this restaurant, located on the outskirts of Wiesbaden. We go there a few times a year and enjoy their rustic dining room, or their beautiful Biergarten. Today, since the weather was fine, we sat outside. And, an added bonus… parking was plentiful!
Landhaus Diedert is not just a restaurant. It’s also a hotel, and a former monastery. We have not had the pleasure of staying at this place, but we have dined there quite a few times. Every time, the food and service have been excellent. Today was no exception.
Our server was a lovely young woman who spoke English and lamented that there were a few words she couldn’t translate for us. For instance, the catch of the day was Lachs Forelle. She didn’t know the English words for this. Surprisingly enough to her, we know what Lachs Forelle is. We reassured her that we know some German. Failing that, there’s always Google Translate on our phones. 😁
Bill started with a non-alcholic cherry juice. I went with the house aperitif, which was orange and rose based and effervescent. I noticed that when they were next to each other, they looked like my high school colors.
Go Dukes! Red and gold forever! 🤪
Our waitress explained that they’re getting ready to change menus. Tuesday, September 1, the fall choices will be offered. Consequently, some of the items on the summer menu are no longer available. For example, if we’d ordered anything with Spargel (asparagus), that would be replaced by broccoli. Also, one of the desserts– a plum vanilla parfait– was replaced by chocolate mousse.
Bill ordered our usual sparkling water and a bottle of Italian Primitivo. They brought out white and whole grain bread with butter and chili flavored hummus. And then we made our choices. I started with a pea and mint soup. Bill had burrata…
Both of these dishes were outstanding, but I especially loved the soup, which was creamy and comforting. Bill marveled at the tomatoes in the burrata, which he said were kind of “jammy”.
For our main courses, I chose the catch of the day, Lachs Forelle (salmon trout), which came with polenta, artichoke hearts, Barigoule sauce, and potato chips. Bill had the venison loin, which came with Pinot Noir jus, potato, mousseline, and sugar snap peas.
And then, after a leisurely second course, we had dessert. He had the chocolate mousse with mango sorbet, which replaced the plum vanilla parfait. I had the Yuzu lemon cake, which came with salted caramel candy and verbena sorrel ice cream.
Both of the desserts were delightful, and we didn’t feel totally stuffed when we left. I don’t know how many Americans Landhaus Diedert gets. My guess is that those of us who live there don’t venture out to that restaurant often. Of that, I’m pretty grateful, because it’s a nice find. It’s especially nice to enjoy the beautiful Biergarten, with it’s huge oak and sycamore trees.
Very soon, it will be cold and rainy again, so it’s great to be able to enjoy the nice weather while we still can. This particular meal came to about 233 euros, which isn’t cheap, but the food was definitely worth the expense. I always enjoy this restaurant on Sundays, and I look forward to our next visit with great anticipation! The soup alone was well worth the trip!
Bill took the day off of work today. Our dog, Noyzi, needed some blood work done, and it was going to take a few hours. So, rather than come and go at work, or task me with the job of taking him, Bill stayed home. We did some boring housework, which you can read about on my main blog.
While Bill was at the vet’s, he ran into our neighbor, the veterinarian who owns the practice where we take our dogs. He immediately recognized Noyzi and gave him a pat. Sadly, Bill happened to be there as a family was saying goodbye to a much beloved family member. We lost our dogs, Zane and Arran, here. In fact, Zane’s anniversary is coming up on the 31st. 🕯️ I’m sending warm thoughts to that family. It’s so hard to say goodbye.
It was hard for Charlie to say goodbye to Bill and Noyzi; that’s for sure! He was really upset at being left home with me. He cried, barked, and stayed in the foyer, waiting for them to come back. However, unlike Noyzi, Charlie doesn’t like car rides, and he hates the vet. I think he got the better end of the deal. Noyzi wasn’t thrilled to be at the vet’s today! But he did get a treat.
One unexpected thing that happened today is that I ended up ordering a new steam mop. The one I bought in late 2018, when we were fixing to move from Baden-Württemberg, seems to have bit the dust. It started to heat up, as usual, and then just kind of died. It didn’t die all of the way, mind you. The little green power light was on, and I could feel the electrics trying to heat up. But it just never got there.
I got tired of waiting for our old mop to try to heat up, and broke out the Tineco wet vacuum I bought a few years ago. I cleaned the floors with that. It does do a good job. But I still like having a lighter, less cumbersome steam mop for upstairs. So I ordered one from Paris that will probably get to me in a few days.
Then, after all of that stuff was done, we decided to go to the weekly market in our village. It just started up again after a brief summer pause.
I love the weekly market. One can purchase deli meats and cheeses, fresh breads, fresh vegetables, Middle Eastern goodies, and wine… The ice cream man also comes with his goodies. He has a good sense of humor, speaks English, and offers delicious ice creams. I think he gets a kick out of us, because when we first met him several weeks ago, we said we were hiding out in Germany.
Bill bought some cold cuts and cheeses from a Tyrolean farmer’s market seller. They had a nice conversation in English and German. An older gent asked us if we were British. We told them we’re American. I was flattered that it wasn’t obvious, in spite of my profane t-shirt…
Look carefully. I should probably buy another one.
We also bought a kilo of plums from the fruits and vegetables vendor. We would have bought bread, but the guy was busy, and Bill has an appointment with his Jungian analyst today. So we had some wine and ice cream from the friendly vendor…
As we were enjoying the low key weekly market, which the city manager attended, I was thinking about how lucky we are to live here. People around here mostly know us, but even the ones who don’t are very nice.
The Metzgerei vendor asked if we were new, because he’d never seen us before. I think he’s different from the folks who used to come. We said we weren’t. He kind of good-naturedly ribbed Bill for his attempts at German, then sang “Take Me Home, Country Roads”, when he heard that I’m from Virginia. Of course, Virginia is NOT West Virginia… but that’s okay. It’s a great song. Besides, Bill Danoff, who mostly wrote that song, had not been to West Virginia when he wrote it. The song was actually inspired by drives in Maryland. Germans love it, though. Who wouldn’t love Germanic John Denver’s beautiful tenor voice?
Another elderly gent asked if we were Brits. We said no, we’re American. Bill told him where we live, and he said, “Please come back.”
I did notice that the weekly market seemed a bit sparse… but that might be because it’s August, and people tend to vacation in August. Also, they host it during working hours. It’s hard to go to the market when one doesn’t leave work until an hour before the market closes. But I guess the people who run it sell their wares at bigger markets on weekends, and no one wants to be hanging out on a town square during the dinner hour.
We also saw our old neighbor, Daniel, who stopped to pick up some vegetables. Daniel moved to a smaller, cheaper place following his divorce. He’s a very nice guy. We miss having him near, but it was nice to see him today.
Anyway… I do love our little village, and I’m grateful that we get to live here. We were very lucky, because this was the last house we toured when we were looking, and it popped up the day before we were heading back to Jettingen, back in November 2018, having come up here to look for a place to live. I suspect we were the only ones to tour it when it came up, and you’re damned right we snapped it up quickly. It’s been a GREAT place to live… both in terms of the house, and the town.
Every once in awhile, I like to write useful blog posts. Today is one of those days. This subject comes up as a result of a search I did yesterday, purely out of curiosity.
I had just watched a YouTube video by a lawyer named Hawk, who was explaining why Joe Rogan was pleading with Republicans in Texas to chill out, lest they turn the state blue in the midterms. Why? Because as of July 31, 2026, Texas has new draconian laws regarding possession marijuana and THC. Apparently, just having an illegal gummy in your possession can now send you to prison. 🤬
I don’t usually share political stuff on the travel blog, but this subject led me to read up on Germany’s laws on this… On another note, Texas is so FUCKED.
Since I happen to be a resident of Texas, at least technically, this topic is interesting to me. But I live in Germany, where, as of April 1, 2024, it is now legal to possess and use marijuana for recreational purposes. No, it’s not like going to Amsterdam and hitting up a coffee shop. Tourists are not allowed to buy marijuana here, and there are a lot of rules about how and where the pot can be purchased and consumed. But in spite of all of that, after years of arguing, Germany has finally legalized marijuana… or, at least it’s more legal than it was.
German citizens and legal residents, over the age of 18, are allowed to partake of weed. On July 1, 2024, Germany introduced Cannabis Social Clubs (CSCs), and this is how most people here can get their cannabis fix (they’ve got a club for EVERYTHING!). Folks are also allowed to grow marijuana plants for personal use. Check the above link for more specific information on this fairly new law.
Tourists and newcomers (arrived within six months) are not allowed to purchase cannabis in Germany. Edibles are also not legal in Germany, because the powers that be think edibles are more enticing to children and youth. In fact, marijuana is not permitted to be consumed in places where children are likely to be, like within proximity to schools or “kitas” (daycares). And… as I found out yesterday, people who live in Germany– or really, Europe as a whole– on SOFA (Status of Forces Agreement) status, are forbidden from purchasing, possessing, or partaking of cannabis. 🥲
More info on this… for GERMANS. This is a pretty great video!
It does seem strange that I, as someone who has spent the last 12 years living in Germany, am not considered an ordinary resident… 🤭. Alas, those of us who live in Europe on SOFA status, don’t have ordinary resident status, and that means we aren’t allowed to enjoy cannabis as our German neighbors can.
Why not?
People who are affiliated with the US military, the Department of Defense, or other branches of the US government are strictly forbidden from using marijuana products or other recreational drugs. And since most of us are not considered ordinary residents by the German government, we might as well be living in the United States. There are a few exceptions– some Americans who work as contractors become residents and pay German taxes– however, they probably still would not be allowed to enjoy consuming weed due to policies set by their companies, which are employed by the US government.
What happens if you ignore the rules?
It depends on who you are, and where you work. If you are a member of the uniformed services, you will be subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). Federal and branch-specific military regulations explicitly forbid controlled substances like THC. Violations can result in disciplinary action, non-judicial punishment, courts-martial, or termination of employment and revocation of SOFA privileges.
If you are working as a government employee, you’re not allowed pot because of the federal Controlled Substances Act. While marijuana is legal in some states, cannabis is classified as a controlled substance on the federal level. Executive Order 12564 mandates a drug-free federal workplace. You can be fired, lose your security clearance, or otherwise disciplined.
If you work as a contractor, you are subject to the same rules as government employees are, as well as any policies set by your company. If you get caught using drugs, your company may be forced to terminate your employment or move you somewhere else. The Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988 requires that any company that receives a federal contract of $100,000 or more must enforce drug free workplace policies. That law would apply to just about any government contractor operating in Europe.
What if you’re just a spouse?
Spouses are held to the same rules employees are, as are any other “dependents”. Spouses and other family members who use marijuana may be sent home (early return of dependents) at their own expense. Or they may lose their SOFA status, and lose installation access. Remember, the sponsor is responsible for the conduct of any of their dependents (ick)– so, even if you are just a spouse who is getting baked, you can still get your other half in hot water.
What if I just light up at home?
While it’s not exactly clear how these policies would apply to people who consume their pot at home, even off base houses are considered “islands of prohibition.” So, if you are a US citizen on SOFA status, and you get caught with marijuana at home, you can still get in big trouble, even if your German neighbors are lighting up in their backyards every night and grow their own weed.
You can read a lot more about this conundrum on Stripes.com, which has a great article about marijuana rules. It was written by journalist Alexander Riedel.
Personally, I think this particular rule should be relaxed, especially given that drinking alcohol is still fine, and alcohol arguably does a lot more damage on every level. But, what I think and a nickel will get you nowhere. 😏 Remember, this is a place where we Americans can get in deep shit for ordering coffee through the APO. They’re certainly not gonna let us have weed. 🤬
As for my personal thoughts on cannabis… Well, I’ve only tried it a couple of times. I went to The Netherlands for my 43rd birthday, back in 2015, and I enjoyed an edible or three. That was my first and, to date, only experience with marijuana. I did enjoy it, and would partake again, but I can certainly live without it. On the other hand, I’ve used hemp and CBD products with great success on my dogs, when they had cancer. I think people should have more access to weed based products that truly are health promoting.
I wouldn’t mind having access to marijuana. In fact, I’d probably prefer it to drinking beer. But even if it was available to me, I probably couldn’t be arsed to seek it out… and given that marijuana can make a person lazy, it’s probably better that I continue to avoid such things. I’m clearly not all that industrious under the best of circumstances. 🤭
REMEMBER— it doesn’t matter where you are in Europe. Even if marijuana is totally legal where you are, technically, it’s against US federal law for US citizens to partake, if they are living in Europe under Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) regulations. So there’s your answer… and your warning. Now, how often this particular rule is actually enforced is another matter, altogether. 🤔
It was EXTREMELY hot last night. Nevertheless, Bill and I decided to attend last night’s wine stand in our Dorfplatz, which was hosted by the Förderverein der Kindergessettä of Wiesbaden-Breckenheim. Google Translate tells me this is an association dedicated to the promotion of children’s law. My German friend says it’s actually a Kita (daycare center).
In the spirit of being friendly to children and their welfare, this club provided the usual wine, along with a bouncy house and someone making kid tattoos! The ice cream guy was also there to sell his wares!
The ad on one of the local Facebook pages for this event.
Last night also happened to be the first day of Wiesbaden’s annual Rheingauer Weinwoche. I’m sure that event was packed, since it’s huge, and there are thousands of wines to be tasted, along with lots of food and entertainment. I’m sure Bill and I will pay a visit. It’ll probably happen tomorrow, since Bill has some chores he wants to do today. It’s also going to be hot again today. Maybe it’ll be less sticky tomorrow. I’m not holding my breath.
Bill and I were a little late last night, so our usual spots at the far back corner were already taken when we arrived. We ended up sitting at a front table close to the kiosk. It was a very HOT place to sit, as the sun beat down on the Dorfplatz. But it did give me a front row seat to the lively action at the bouncy house.
Wow!
Bill and I had wineschorles (wine spritzers) and steak sandwiches, as we chatted with a few people we know. Our new local friend, who grew up in West Berlin, came back and shared more about his experiences moving from there to Frankfurt in 1976! That was surely an experience… along with moving to a new city and having locals treat him like an Ausländer (foreigner).
We saw our American friends who have bought a house very close to where they currently rent. They won’t even need a moving truck to move into their new home, when the time comes in November.
I got some photos, too…
Our village library. I probably should put a few English books in there.Local eccentric…A reward!
Although it was pretty hot, there was a nice sized crowd. In fact, I was glad it wasn’t super crowded. Then, as the neighborhood eccentric passed our table, the sun suddenly dropped low, and it got darker and cooler. That probably was the time we should have arrived… But Bill likes to do things early.
After a couple of hours, we decided to go home and enjoy some more conversation in our dining room. So ends another work week in Germany, and another fun wine stand in our village. I really enjoyed this one… the bouncy house was a great feature, not only for the kids, but for big kids like me. These days, I just watch the fun, though… I don’t miss the smell of plastic, mildew, sweat, feet, and the odd urinary accident. 😉
Edited to add: I took a couple of photos of the local ambulance service on Thursday. I’m not sure what was going on. They didn’t have a patient (which is why I took the pics). I did hear a lot of sirens on Thursday afternoon, hours after these pics were taken. It looked like maybe they were involved with the weekly market that started up on Thursday.
It’s been pretty hot and dry lately. Bill has been very busy at work, so we haven’t been out and about. Actually, this summer has been pretty devoid of outings. I think part of it is that we’re both getting older and more tired, and going places can be exhausting. Bill and I both got sick in May, and Bill is still coughing a lot from that.
However, if there’s one thing Breckenheim is good for, it’s local events. This weekend, we’re having the Dorfplatzfest, which is a yearly party held in our little village square. This year’s fest started last night, and we had wine, beer, food, and live entertainment. Dr. Konrad Blendinger, our neighbor and veterinarian, was performing with his band.
We have never seen Dr. Konrad Blendinger for vet services, because he mostly works with animals intended for breeding. His wife, who is also a vet, has seen our dogs, as have most of the vets employed at the practice. But since he’s our neighbor, he’s seen Noyzi and Charlie in the neighborhood. I think he admires Noyzi, who can’t be bred, but strikes an impressive pose.
Dr. Blendinger plays guitar and sings, and he’s even written an original song about Breckenheim. I didn’t hear his song about Breckenheim last night, but there were some pretty good covers of classic American songs.
Bill and I didn’t eat at the fest last night, but we did enjoy beer and wine, and good conversation with Germans. One person who sat with us was a man we met several weeks ago. He brought his dog on that first encounter, but left her at home last night. It was pretty hot and busy, and she probably wouldn’t have enjoyed the party as much as we did.
As we were talking, we learned that our new friend grew up in West Berlin. Since he’s Bill’s age, he was born there during the Cold War, when the city was walled in. He said it was like growing up in a prison. I’m sure it wasn’t quite that extreme, but I got point he was trying to make. It was hard to drive anywhere without encountering the Berlin Wall.
Unfortunately, his English skills aren’t quite as extensive as he would have liked, and our German skills are even less sufficient. So it wasn’t easy to get too far in depth about what it was like to grow up when Germany was divided, and Berlin was split into two sections. Our friend also told us that his mother, who had come from Poland, managed to escape to the West by sheer luck. She got on a train before she could be stopped by the guard who had told her that her papers weren’t in order.
I really value conversations with people who have lived through that bygone era in Germany and other countries that were once behind the Iron Curtain. I fear that kind of totalitarianism could one day affect the United States, if we aren’t careful.
Another older man, whose name I didn’t catch, talked to Bill for a long time about traveling in the United States. He knew Gaby and Boris, a older German couple who don’t speak much English, but seem to like Bill and me. I wonder if it’s because we always get to the fests early and score a table. No one wants to sit with us, because we’re Americans, so they’re pretty much guaranteed a place to sit. 😁 I’m kidding, of course. They’re very nice folks, and we always enjoy practicing our crappy German skills with them. And yes, I know I should be fluent by now.
Bill wore a t-shirt I bought for him last year. There’s a picture of Socrates on it, and the quote “Meh… good enough” on it. Under the picture of the philosopher, it says “Mediocrates”. Another acquaintance asked Bill about the shirt, and he explained. I had totally forgotten that I bought him that shirt.
Below are some photos from last night…
He’s the best… and I am a crone.We sat by the grape vine, and got accosted by wasps!
I don’t think we meant to stay as long as we did. It really was fun, though, and it continues today, starting at 2 o’clock. However, it’s raining right now, so I’m not sure if or when we’ll attend. My liver might appreciate a break. Below are a couple of photos I took of my neighbor’s flowers this week. Sadly, they both now badly wilted because of the hot, dry weather.
The only other thing that happened this week was some random older guy dressed in white banged on the door. I had just gotten out of the shower and wasn’t dressed. I opened the door, and he started speaking rapid fire German. I said, “I’m sorry, I don’t understand you. I have to go.” Then I shut the door. I think I heard him cursing.
I always feel bad doing that, but people who randomly bang on the door are usually wanting to sell something, begging, casing, or otherwise being pests. I don’t like being rude to people, but if I’m at home, minding my own business, and the visitor doesn’t have an appointment to see me, I also don’t feel obligated to interact. Still, it goes against my raising to be so abrupt.
Anyway… we’ll see if we go to the fest today. We might decide to hole up at home and enjoy the rain. We really need it!
Neighbor relations can be a tricky thing. Bill and I have had our share of moves, and we’ve encountered plenty of people who became our neighbors. We have lived in our current neighborhood since late 2018, and to date, Breckenheim is the neighborhood where we’ve lived the longest as a married couple.
I’ve really liked living here. I often think about how, back in 2018, I was nervous about the prospect of moving. I didn’t like our previous house much, although I did like where it was situated. Our former landlady and I didn’t get along at all, and I hated dealing with her. She could be very toxic. And yet, in spite of that, I was hesitant to move. I worried that the next place would be as bad, or perhaps even worse.
Well, as it turns out, we have enjoyed life in Wiesbaden. Our landlord is our next door neighbor. Although the idea of living next to the landlord initially had made me nervous, I really didn’t need to be concerned. He’s great. He does what needs to be done and we don’t bother each other. He doesn’t freak out over things like dog hair in the doorway, and when something needs to be fixed, he takes care of it promptly, and without negativity.
Yesterday, he came over to tell Bill that he’d ordered us a new refrigerator. It will likely get to us next week, although he and his wife won’t be home. But the landlord has a “guy” who takes care of such things, so the guy will call Bill and arrange a time to change out the fridge. That will mean it will be done before Bill and I go to Switzerland on the 19th.
The landlord even asked us if we minded if the refrigerator was different. Of course not! We just want one that works! He said that only three companies make refrigerators that will fit in the “cabinet” in our kitchen, but he’d bought the best one.
I suspect the kitchen set up in this house is pretty old, and is from an era when it was stylish to hide the fridge with “cabinet” facades. I’d actually love it if the landlord got rid of the cabinet and got us a bigger fridge, but then we’d have less storage space. We do need the storage space, because German houses don’t have closets. Instead, they typically use Schranks (portable cabinet/wardrobe).
Anyway… hopefully next week, we’ll have our new fridge, and that will mean we won’t have to go to the basement to get our cold stuff. That will be a good thing.
Now… on to the next neighbor story…
Back in January, our little cul-de-sac was abnormally packed with cars. People were visiting their loved ones for the holiday season, which made the street especially and uncharacteristically crowded.
One night, Bill was coming home from work, and our neighbor, who works at a car dealership, had parked one of his employer’s cars in an unusual spot, and that made it difficult to squeeze past and reach our house.
Bill was trying to get to our driveway, and as he passed the neighbor’s house, he accidentally traded paint with the neighbor’s employer’s car. Because he’s a very honest guy, Bill immediately told our neighbor what had happened. Our neighbor, who is a really nice guy from Italy, had answered the door in his bathrobe, and was pretty understanding. Bill told him to let him know what the damage was, and he’d pay for it.
Months passed with no word. Then I went to the mailbox yesterday, and found a handwritten note in German, along with an estimate for the damages done to the car. The note was cheerful and apologetic, explaining that the estimate had been sitting in a desk drawer since January.
The damages came to about 1900 euros after tax. Because we’re Americans on SOFA status, we can use a VAT form to get the taxes removed. Bill said he’ll call our neighbor today and come to an arrangement.
Yeah, it is an expensive bill, and it took a really long time to get it. And it could be argued that the car got scratched, in part, because it was blocking ingress to our driveway. But then, we shouldn’t be surprised it took so long to settle this. It took the local hospital a full year to send us a bill for my 2024 colonoscopy. 🤷♀️
Bill will probably just pay the bill in full… because he can, and because he’s honest. And we want to show people over here that while our country is a bit messed up right now, not all Americans are assholes. Next time the neighbor parks in an unusual spot that makes parking difficult, Bill will just knock on his door and get him to move.
In spite of all of this inconvenient stuff that has happened, this neighborhood is probably the one where I’ve felt the most like I was part of a community. I also can’t ignore the fact that living here was a good financial decision. There was a time when a bill like the one we got yesterday would have sent us into heart palpitations. But at least for now, it’s not a big deal. We really have been blessed.
Edited to add: Our neighbor talked to Bill and said he gets a 35% employee discount that perhaps could be applied to the total… If that is possible, it would be out of sight, dude. 🥰
Featured photo is a screenshot of the ad for the fridge I bought in September 2014, when we first moved back to Germany. At the time, we didn’t have much money, but we needed a fridge of our own, because our house only had a really shitty dorm sized fridge in it. Now that we live in Wiesbaden, that fridge is coming in handy, as the one that came with the kitchen has finally died on us… Meanwhile, Bill and I are both sick.
Bill got back from Spain a week ago. He brought with him a vile respiratory virus, which he has now shared with me. I’m assuming we have the same sickness, anyway, because I haven’t been around anyone else who would have been able to pass it to me.
I have noticed that Bill and I have different symptoms. His are more like a sinus infection. Mine is just annoying crud in my lungs that makes me cough and gives me a sore throat and scratchy voice. He probably picked up the virus on the plane, although he might have gotten it at the conference, which had about 300 people from different countries in attendance.
This is one of the drawbacks of Bill’s job. He travels a lot, and he goes to different countries, where he mingles with all sorts of people. Then, he brings home viruses to me, and I get sick, even though I rarely interact with people in person anymore. It’s a real drag, because I always seem to get these things on weekends and holidays.
I remember when Bill worked in Stuttgart, he often went to African countries. More than once, he brought back really nasty sicknesses that he passed on to me. This virus that I have now doesn’t seem quite as gross as some of the African ones I’ve experienced, but it’s never fun to be sick… especially in the summer!
Last night, I felt so icky that we decided to skip the wine stand. I do enjoy going to the wine stands, but I don’t want to spread this yucky illness to my neighbors– especially the elderly ones who tend to go to the wine stands.
Also, we’re not all that popular, so I didn’t want to feel physically bad, while ignoring the side eyes from the folks who are tired of Americans in Germany. 😏 I’m being slightly facetious, of course. Most people in this neighborhood are nice, and we’ve been here long enough that they know we aren’t troublemakers. But I can tell that some would like it if we left. As it is, we will also miss the next wine stand, because it’s happening while we will be traveling.
Luckily, our landlord is not among those who hope to see us go. In fact, he’s really been great.
Here is a case in point. Last night, we had a mishap with the landlord’s refrigerator. After dinner, I went to put the butter back in the fridge, and the light went out. A few seconds later, I realized that the damn thing had just died. I told Bill he needed to go tell the landlord, because we definitely need a working refrigerator!
Bill was reluctant to bother the landlord, since it was a Friday night. I insisted that he should let him know, because the sooner he knows, the sooner the problem can be fixed.
So Bill went over to tell the landlord. He spoke in broken German, and apologized profusely that he was bothering him on a Friday night. The landlord and his wife (who actually owns the house, because it was built by her brother), were very kind, understanding, and welcoming. In fact, the wife, who speaks less English than her husband does, even figured out the problem first. She said, “Der Kuhlschrank ist kaput!” (or maybe she said it was “tot”).
The fridge in our current home is definitely much nicer than the dorm style fridge our former landlady had in her house. However, the fridge in this house was old when we moved here in late November 2018. It’s also installed in a cabinet, which means that it’s not as easy to replace as a freestanding fridge is.
Anyway, the landlord said he would come over today and measure the space for a new fridge. He’s been really great about replacing appliances when they break. A couple of years ago, he got us a new dishwasher and a new garage door opener. He also put in a new shower head for us, which was really a nice upgrade.
Bill moved all of our refrigerated stuff to the fridge we own. He said the ice cream had already gone soft, so I guess the death wasn’t as sudden as it had initially seemed.
It’s actually kind of a blessing that all of this is happening this weekend. Next weekend, we have to go see the eye doctor at Ramstein, so I can update my prescriptions for glasses and contacts. I definitely don’t want to be sick for that.
The weekend after that is my birthday, and we are going to Bern, Switzerland for two nights to celebrate. Then we will move onward to Küsnacht, so Bill can attend courses during the summer session at the Jung Institute.
Also, the landlord said that he and his wife have been in Munich, not for a vacation, but because she’s having hip replacement surgery. In a couple of weeks, they will be going back to Munich for a month. So… it’s fortuitous that the fridge gave up the ghost now, so it can be replaced before they go away.
Meanwhile, I am so glad I bought that spare refrigerator back in September 2014… the one the ex landlady accused us of stealing. We bought it because the existing dorm sized fridge, which she later claimed we had “dumped” on her, wasn’t going to serve our needs adequately. Fortunately, I had a photo that I took on the day we moved in, which proved it was there when we took possession of her house. I now wish I’d bought a bigger fridge. I hesitate to replace the one I bought now, because who knows how much longer we’re going to be living here…
Sigh… one of the many challenges of contracting life in Europe, especially during the Trump era. Hopefully, I’ll feel better today, and the whole weekend won’t be ruined. I actually do feel better than I did when I woke up this morning. We’ll see if it lasts.
A couple of weeks ago, Bill and I decided to visit Celpro, an Italian market in Mainz-Kastel. That store is like a traditional market, and it carries things one might find in a small Italian grocery store. While we were at Celpro, I couldn’t help but notice that it was kind of stressful to shop there. The aisles are jam packed with goods, and it tends to be crowded on Saturdays. However, they have some really nice products from Italy, so it’s great to have them nearby.
I got curious and wanted to see if there were other Italian markets near us. That’s when I discovered Fornara, a Feinkost with its flagship store in Taunusstein. I also noticed that Fornara has a satellite store behind the train station in Wiesbaden. Even after living here for going on eight years, I didn’t know we had such a store so close. Today, Bill and I decided to visit.
It turns out that two weeks ago, they moved into their brand new space, which is very close to the old one. Consequently, it looked to me like they are still setting things up somewhat. However, they had enough there that we ran up a 300 euro bill… 😈
I found high end pastas, lots of sauces, liquor, lots of wines from Italy, France, and Germany, and plenty of frozen seafood and meat. They also had frozen Italian desserts like tartufos, and frozen sorbet filled lemons and oranges. Pour a little vodka in those, and you have yourself a classic French dessert called a “Colonel”.
Never thought I’d find these in a store!
They sold Tomahawk steaks, Wagyu steaks, flat iron steaks… but they also had huge scallops, tiger shrimps, octopus, and salmon filets. I think they’re still working on expanding their stock. The helpful English speaking staff said they were expecting a shipment this week of more goods.
This Feinkost is very convenient to downtown Wiesbaden, as it’s very close to the train station and bus services, and even has free parking. You can pay with euros or credit cards. The guy who rang us up said that Fornara was founded by one Italian guy, and everybody else is German!
I really enjoyed the ambiance in Fornara. They played energetic music, and the lighting was not too harsh. The store is in what looks like it used to be a warehouse, so I think they will turn that space into something very cool, indeed… and I don’t mean literally, because of all the freezers. Below are some more photos from today’s visit.
Tartufos aplenty!I found seven bottles of wine to take home!
I look forward to another visit to Fornara, especially after they get everything set up in their new space. I also hope Bill and I can take a “field trip” to their flagship store in Taununsstein, which is about 18 miles away and appears to be much larger and more expansive.
The flagship store has event space that can be rented for private affairs, as well as classes on different foods and wines. For instance, at this writing, they’re offering a class in different cuts of meats, a Primativo wine tasting, and a summer wine tasting, among other events.
There is also a store in Norderstedt (near Hamburg) and another one coming to Berlin. Bill said Fornara gave him “Eataly” vibes, although I wouldn’t go that far. Eataly is a lot bigger and more overwhelming… but I don’t mind a smaller version of Eataly in these parts.
Bill has to go to Spain next week, so a visit to the store in Taunusstein will have to wait until he gets back. The good news is, we got word that my driver’s license application was approved, so I will soon have my new license in hand. Maybe I can do the driving when we go to the big Fornara store. 😁
Today, we have to go to Ramstein and visit the optometry store, so I can get one last requirement for an updated Texas driver’s license fulfilled. For some reason, Texas is now requiring people to get peripheral vision tests. I have never, in the 38 years I’ve had a driver’s license, had to get this particular test done for a renewal. I’m not even sure if every Texas driver has to do it now. But anyway, the local optometry clinic can’t do that test, so we have to go to Ramstein. Hopefully, we’ll get it done; I’ll pass (which shouldn’t be a problem); and my new license will soon be on its way.
This week, we sent the people in Texas a properly filled out form, and proof that I’m a Texas resident. That also turned into a bit of an ordeal, because I never got my updated voter card, which is the one other document I have that proves I vote in Texas and am, therefore, officially a resident. I think things got messed up when I tried to vote in the primaries, earlier this year, and unwittingly changed the address on the paperwork to our old house in Texas, rather than my mother-in-law’s apartment. So, although Bill got his voter card, I never got mine. It probably went to our old address.
Fortunately, I was able to prove my status because I could go to the Texas Secretary of State’s Web site and find myself listed as an active Texas voter. BUT– in order to do ANY of this shit, you pretty much must use a VPN. It’s like the people of Texas have forgotten that there are a lot of military affiliated people who reside in their state and need to stay in touch with state officials. They don’t ever mention needing a VPN, so you kind of have to figure it out for yourself, which can be pretty annoying.
I often forget about the need for a VPN, so it can be frustrating trying to get stuff like this done. VPNs also typically cost money. I don’t understand why they have to block people from foreign countries, since anyone can get a VPN to circumvent that shit, anyway. People with nefarious purposes will certainly be doing that, or something worse, to get at that boring bureaucratic data.
Anyway… after breakfast, our plan is to head to Ramstein so I can get that last bit accomplished and maintain my legal right to drive. Updating my license has been more of a pain than usual; that’s for sure! I needed new photos, money to pay for the license, an expanded eye test, paperwork, and proof of residence. Phew… but at least I didn’t have to stand in line at the actual office.
Moving on…
Last night, our village had a wine stand. It was hosted by the fire department, and was very well attended. I got some photos, and we had a nice visit with people in our neighborhood, Gabby and Boris. They are always so nice to us, but they don’t speak much English. We had to ask their names again, because we don’t see them often enough to remember… although I never forget their kind faces, and I also remember that Gabby’s birthday is in June, like mine is!
The wine was the usual stuff… Rieslings, Cabernets, Feinherbs, and a few non-alcoholic choices. We stayed for a couple of hours, and by the time we left, it was really busy! I love these wine stands, and the sense of community that I feel here. It’s a great way for people to mingle with their neighbors, and prevent loneliness. We feel welcome, and it’s such a blessing to know that no gun nuts are going to show up and be violent… which is more than we can say for our homeland…
I never noticed this tree blooming before. How pretty!Flashy fire department van!
Well… I’m sure we’ll have an interesting experience in Ramstein today. Please wish me luck on getting this last bit of my driver’s license saga accomplished! I look forward to having one last thing to worry about on a long list of things to worry about…
I’m just writing a quick post to update this blog, since it’s been 13 days since my last entry. The weather has been pretty crappy since my last post. This week, we had two snowstorms. One occurred Sunday, and though most of the snow had melted by the afternoon, Bill’s planned business trip to Prague was abruptly canceled.
The meeting he was supposed to attend still happened, but his flight was called off, and there was no way to get to Prague in a timely manner. I heard that not only was the weather bad in Prague, but there was also an airline strike. So I don’t know what actually caused the cancelation– the winter weather, or a strike. I was glad he missed his business trip, because I like it when Bill is home with me. However, it did kind of spoil Presidents Day weekend, which used to be a good time for short trips away.
It’s been quite a winter in 2026. This is the kind of snow we experienced in BW. But it doesn’t hang around for as long up here.
The other snowstorm happened on Thursday. A couple of inches were dropped and then promptly melted. Not quite all of the snow from the first storm was gone. The backyard is sodden, and the creek that runs through Breckenheim is very high right now.
Bill has another trip planned starting Monday. He’ll be gone until Thursday. It’s only to the Netherlands, though, so no airplanes are involved. Meanwhile, once again, a shipper has decided not to deliver to my house. I got an email letting me know that DPD tried to deliver yesterday, and wasn’t able to, because they didn’t have my full address. Of course, that’s not true… it seems like nowadays, shipping companies just want you to go schlep to a packstation. 🙄 The same thing happened last week.
Valentine’s Day was also pretty boring. Bill did send me 30 roses, but they didn’t last long. I think maybe it’s best not to get roses for Valentine’s Day. Maybe choose another flower, or get it a day or two ahead of time… or just buy diamond earrings. 🤣 My roses arrived on Friday, but they were pretty small. I remember last year, the florist sent a small bouquet, which they claimed was the “wrong order”. The roses were tiny and quickly wilted. The following week, they sent a new bouquet that was much better and lasted a lot longer.
Sadly, these only lasted a couple of days before they were depressing to look at. But I did appreciate the lovely thought.
Anyway, I’ve been giving some thought as to where I’d like to travel next. We will definitely go to Switzerland again this year, because of Bill’s studies at the Jung Institute. But I would like to go somewhere we haven’t been yet… providing that we don’t end up in another world war. So, I’m working on that, and waiting for the sun to come out again. Maybe we’ll go out and do something tomorrow… maybe not. But I do look forward to getting out and doing something fun in Germany, soon. The days are getting longer, so it won’t be long before spring arrives, and we can get out and about… then this blog will “spring” back to life. 😆
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