Swiss Studies… I visited the C.G. Jung Institute (part seven)

On Friday morning, Bill had one last seminar. Then, his plan was to come back to the apartment and spend the afternoon with me, before we went to Küsnacht to attend a “farewell/graduation” party for the participants. Some of the people that were attending the intensive sessions were finishing actual certification programs. And some were just curious folks, like Bill. The staff at the Institute were kind enough to invite me to attend the party with Bill, even though I wasn’t a participant, myself.

Once again, the people in the apartment over us were making a lot of noise. It was also a cleaning day for the staff. So I decided to go back to the lakeside and watch people some more. It was actually interesting, because it looked like they were doing some construction on the pier where people were entering the water. Some of the benches were moved, so I moved to another spot and got a slightly different vantage point.

I got some raw video footage, but for some reason, I’m having trouble getting it to turn into a proper video. So here are some photos of Friday’s visit. The weather was actually very nice that day. The skies were cloudy, making the temperature comfortable, especially with the lake breezes. The clouds also made the lake look otherworldly. A group of kids were entertaining me by jumping into the lake and racing. I also saw some really cool looking herons.

When Bill got back to the apartment, it was just after 1:00 PM. The weather had cleared up a bit, so we decided to go back to the Biergarten by the lake for another sausage lunch, and more photos of the lake. I could enjoy that Biergarten all summer. It’s really laid back, and surprisingly easy to get a good table by the lake. Unfortunately, I noticed that the pile of dog shit that was by the tree on our first visit, several days earlier, was still sitting there. But, on the positive side, it no longer stank. I know a lot of these photos look the same, but they are so pretty, it’s hard to choose just a few!

At about 3:45 PM, we decided to leave the lake and go get ready for the farewell event at the Jung Institute. As we were standing up to leave, a pretty, young Black woman with crutches approached with a big smile on her face. I smiled back and gave her a sweeping “welcome” gesture. It occurred to me that the mood is so much more relaxed in Switzerland than in the United States. There’s a whole lot less hostility. In fact, I didn’t mention it in yesterday’s post, but I wore my “Trump Sucks” t-shirt on Thursday, and some guy stopped me, gave me a big smile, and said, “I love your shirt!” That made me smile, too.

I was thinking of wearing a dress to Bill’s event, but it was too hot. I wore white pants and a t-shirt instead. Bill’s analyst was there, because he gave a presentation that morning. He said it was a casual event, even though some people were dressed up because they had actually graduated from the program. We took the tram for two stops, then got on a local train, which took us to the quiet community of Küsnacht, where Tina Turner lived for years, and where Jung lived, and began his famous institute. It really has a different vibe than the city does.

After we said hello to a few people, including Bill’s analyst (whom I picked out immediately, even though we’d never met), Bill gave me a tour of the facilities. We learned that the grounds are actually rented, which was surprising to hear. The institute itself is quite small, with only a few classrooms. It was pretty warm in the building, although one room had a balcony that opened to lake views and breezes. Bill’s analyst asked me what I do with myself when Bill is attending classes. I just laughed and said, “You haven’t had much exposure to military spouses, have you?” And it’s not even like I’m anything like most military spouses… it’s just that we tend to spend a lot of time fending for ourselves.

The spread was nice. They had jars of several different food items, including one that had smoked salmon, and another that featured lentils. There was also a lovely white chocolate dessert, and plenty of wine, water, prosecco, and juice flowing. The reception was very gracious and elegant, and I was impressed by the send off the Jung Institute gave a staff member who was leaving. They gave her two huge bouquets of flowers, chocolates, gifts, and many kind words. I got the sense that the staff and students were very close. I also enjoyed talking to some of the people who attended. Most of the time, when I go to events with Bill, it’s a military function. Military folks are, are a general rule, typically very different than people who are interested in Jungian psychology.

Küsnacht is such a beautiful area. Bill’s analyst said that when he was a student, there was a lady in town who would kick out her kids and rent out rooms in her house to Institute students. I’m not sure she’s still in business, but her offer must have been a real boon to people who were studying psychology.

As we were leaving to go back to the apartment, I got the sense that Bill will be applying to study, starting next year. The pandemic has made it so that it’s possible for him to do most of the work from afar. I don’t know what the future holds, but this is something Bill wants to do. So, he’s going to try to do it. We’ll see what happens!

Next post will be about our 4.5 hour cruise around Lake Zürich. Stay tuned!

Hessen, Rhein

The international language of dirty looks…

I was dying to get out of the house today. Normally, on Saturdays, Bill ends up doing chores or sleeping in. But we have good weather today, and the temperature is finally warm. I wanted to do something besides hang around in my nightie all day. We thought about several things we could do this afternoon, and finally decided to take Noyzi and Charlie to the Bootshaus Flörsheim. It’s right next to the Rhein/Rhine River.

I think Bill and I were assuming we were going to be visiting a much more casual, low key restaurant today. A couple of years ago, we took Noyzi to this place on the Rhein that was near Mainz-Kastel. Looking back, I see we took him there May 28th in 2023. That place was also called Bootshaus, but it was a different one, with a very laid back Biergarten that served drinks and sausages. It was more like a stand. The place where we went today was a real restaurant. I think the other place also has a real restaurant, but the day we went, they just had their little beer stand going.

Because we were directed to a different establishment, we were a bit confused as we approached the restaurant. But we didn’t need to be. It was very dog friendly, and several canines were enjoying time with their people today.

I was a little nervous about dining at the place, because it had been awhile since we last took the dogs out. I expected the less fancy place with grass on the ground and Bratwursts on a grill. But the dogs ended up mostly doing okay. Noyzi was nervous and a little chatty, but he was not as spooky and nervous as he’s been on previous outings. That didn’t stop a few folks from giving us side eyes as they inexplicably decided to sit near us.

Bill and I ordered beers and water. To eat, I had a Caesar salad with chicken and bacon, while Bill had beef croquettes with salad and sauces. It took awhile to get the food, which offered us time to get the boys more settled. Noyzi sat after a few minutes and eventually rested on the pavement, only to spring up when a person approached, especially someone with another dog. Noyzi made friends with one guy’s adorable puppy, who actually tried to mount Noyzi. That was ambitious of him, because Noyzi is about four or five times his size. Charlie was also nervous, but less so. Since he’s smaller, he’s also easier to control. Below are some photos from the Biergarten.

We brought a bottle of water, but Bill didn’t bring a bowl. I told him to, but he forgot. At one point, some guy brought a bowl over to Noyzi. It had a little water in it. He got excited and bumped into it, making a racket. A lady sitting near us had given us the side eye a few times. I knew she was going to do it again when Noyzi crashed into the bowl. I was ready for her and headed her off with a side eye of my own. 🙄

I know… that’s not nice or particularly mature, but they’re dogs, and dogs are unpredictable. I can’t help it if they freak out. Children also make mistakes in public. Show some grace and realize that within the hour, we’ll be leaving your life forever. Aside from that, it’s hard for dogs to learn how to behave in public if they never go anywhere. Noyzi has made a lot of progress over the years. I was overall very pleased with his behavior.

The woman got the message and quit glaring at us after I returned fire. Isn’t it funny how so much communication is non-verbal? Dirty looks are definitely international language… kind of like music.

It wasn’t easy to eat the salad while holding Noyzi, so Bill took over so I could finish. Then, we finished our beers and paid the check. I got a few more photos while Bill used the bathroom. There was plenty of free parking at the Bootshaus. That’s a definite plus!

We are now back, and Noyzi is behind me, resting, panting, and farting. We need to get him some dog food made of poultry. It’s now cloudy and looks like it might rain.

I don’t know what we’ll do tomorrow. Maybe we’ll go somewhere and do something fun. Or maybe we’ll find another Biergarten and take the boys. The sooner they learn how to behave in restaurants, the better off we’ll be. I think Charlie will be a pro in no time. Noyzi might need a few more lessons.

Hessen, Sundays

Charlie’s first Biergarten visit!

On August 20, 2023, I wrote a blog post about how we took our Kosovar street dog, Noyzi, to the Birkenhof Hofladen’s Biergarten, the Bembelschänke. Noyzi had a great time during that visit. I was thinking we’d go back there more often this year, but we’ve been so busy that we never got around to it. Yesterday, the weather was warm and sunny, and we decided it was time to go back to the Biergarten. Charlie has now been with us for three weeks, and we wanted to see how he’d handle a car ride. We already know that Noyzi is always up for a road trip!

We arrived at the Bembelschänke at about 3:00 PM. The Biergarten had plenty of empty tables, so we chose one far from the crowd. I noticed the owners had put in a sprinkler/fountain that kids were playing with. It wasn’t there last year. Other than that, it was a comfortingly familiar place, as I recognized several of the wait staff who were there last year.

There was a large family in one corner of the Biergarten. They were having some kind of celebration, as they were singing a song together. This isn’t the first time Bill and I have stumbled across a celebration in a public place involving some of kind of performance. I found it charming!

Bill had a cheese plate, while I had wurst with farmer’s bread and a nice fresh salad. I don’t usually get that excited about wurst, but I really liked what they had… and I especially enjoyed the salad. I’ve noticed that cherry tomatoes in Germany are sweet and delicious– almost like candy! In the states, tomatoes taste kind of sour to me and I don’t enjoy eating them raw. But here, they are completely different and vastly superior. As someone who needs to eat more produce, I appreciate that tomatoes, peppers, and lettuce are so lovingly grown here.

The boys behaved pretty well, although Noyzi was barking a bit. Charlie was completely chilled out and at home. He’s going to be the kind of dog we can take anywhere. After we enjoyed some beer, we stopped by the Hofladen’s self-service fridge and picked up a couple of farm fresh items for home. You just pick out what you want and you’re on your honor to pay for it, although that particular Hofladen has security cameras.

Below are some photos…

Our visit to the Bembelschänke was an excellent way to cap off a memorable weekend in Germany. I hope we can do it again before fall arrives. But… actually, we’re going to be in Iceland very soon, so maybe our next visit will have to wait until 2025.

dental

Sorry we missed you, Doc… part three of our 2023 Czech tour!

Monday morning, Bill went to get more goodies from the bakery near Hotel La Casa. I was kind of dreading the afternoon, as I was under the mistaken impression that we would be visiting our dentist. The weather was sunny and warm again, and I was wishing the appointments had been made for the morning, so we could get the cleanings done and be on our way to Czechia. But because they were made for 3:00 PM, we were committed to a third night in Tübingen. I would have rather hung out in that town all day, instead of heading for Stuttgart.

We decided to get to Stuttgart early enough for lunch. I wisely packed a short sleeved shirt in my purse, because I had a feeling I was really going to need it. Bill wanted to try a place called NOA Restaurant, which specializes in Middle Eastern cuisine. He made a reservation on OpenTable.de for about 1:00 PM.

We got to the restaurant, located on Tübingener Strasse, and took a seat on their terrace. I ended up really enjoying our lunch at NOA, which has a lot of colorful and tasty selections. I ended up having a Beirut Bowl, which had chicken, avocado, hummus, red beets, salad, fattoush, and almonds. It was dressed with mango chili dressing. I had a lavender lemonade to go with it, that really tasted like Sprite with lavender syrup in it.

Bill had iced tea and a marinated Oriental chicken breast filet with rice. It was notated as a NOA Favorite. I could see why. Bill really enjoyed the way the chicken was prepared. After lunch, we had time for me to have a beer, while Bill had coffee.

After lunch, we crossed the street and went into the Galeria store, which had signs up that they were closing. I was looking for a couple of items that they didn’t have. I was sorry not to find what I needed, but at least I got a couple of photos of an honest to God German going out of business sale… Actually, the location is closing, but I don’t think they’re totally going out of business.

After a few minutes looking in the store, we headed over to Dr. Blair’s office, which we found totally deserted. Bill was confused, as he was absolutely certain that the appointment was for October 2, 2023 at 3:00 PM. He searched his emails to see if there were any from Blair’s office. He found none.

To be honest, we were both kind of relieved… Neither of us really felt like having cleanings done, anyway. Still, if we’d known this was going to happen, we definitely wouldn’t have visited Tübingen. Hell, maybe we wouldn’t have even taken the trip at all. That would have been too bad, though, because so much happened during our visit to Czechia, and a few cool things happened in Germany, too. I guess it was just meant to be for us to be down in Tübingen when we were. We really have missed being close enough to visit whenever we want to go.

We visited a local public toilet in Stuttgart, where it’s free of charge to use the bathroom. I changed into my t-shirt, because it was pretty warm by that point of the day. We drove back to the hotel in Tübingen and walked to the Neckarmüller, where we enjoyed a little more time at our favorite Biergarten. I swear, I wish we had one like it up here where we live now…

When the sun went down, we walked back to the vacant hotel with a bottle of red wine, which we used to wash down the leftover Hawaiian pizza. Bill sent an email to the dentist’s office. It turned out our appointments were for October 5th, and somehow Bill missed the memo. So now it looks like we’re going to have to go back down to Stuttgart in December for our cleanings… or, alternatively, I can just join Bill at the local dentist he consulted when he broke a tooth a couple of months ago. He saw that dentist today, to check on the status of his healing, and the Wiesbaden dentist found two cavities that need filling. Jeez!

Well, at least I got some pretty photos, right? And I also got beaned by a couple of huge chestnuts.

*These suckers were falling everywhere! I noticed Germans were pocketing them.*

Tübingen is always a pleasure to visit. And now that we’ve stayed down there for a dentist appointment that didn’t happen, we’d consider doing it again. But next time, I think I’ll probably try a different area, just because it’s more fun and educational that way. It also gives me more to write about in this blog.

Onward to part 4!

Champagne Bucket trips, dental, holidays

Strange welcome back to Tübingen… part one of our 2023 Czech tour!

We’re now back from our trip to the Czech Republic, otherwise known as Czechia. I planned this trip in late July, in anticipation of our bi-yearly dental exams in Stuttgart. Bill usually handles booking our dental appointments, because when we go depends on when he’s able to get away from work. When we last saw Dr. Blair in the spring, Bill made an appointment for early October. A couple of months later, the dentist’s receptionist contacted Bill to reschedule, because the original appointment was for German Reunification Day or thereabouts. Somehow, we got the idea that the new appointment was for Monday, October 2, which technically, wasn’t a holiday in Germany.

I planned our trip around the appointment, deciding that this time, we’d go to the lovely city of Tübingen for three nights instead of staying in Stuttgart or the Black Forest. There is a hotel there that I’d been wanting to try. We used to go there to eat in their restaurant when we lived in the Stuttgart area. I have always loved visiting Tübingen on day trips, and I figured it would be fun to go stay there for a few days, especially since there are a lot of nice areas nearby that are good for day trips.

A week or so before we started our journey to Tübingen, I got a message from Hotel La Casa, the boutique hotel I’d booked. They were letting me know that due to a lack of staff, they were going to have to close their hotel on Sunday, the day after we checked in. But, because I’d booked an apartment, we were allowed to “self-cater” and they’d give us a 20 percent discount for the inconvenience.

It did seem rather strange to be staying in a hotel that would have no staff available, but we’ve certainly self-catered plenty of times. So I thanked the lady for letting me know, and on Saturday, September 30, 2023, we made our way down there. On the way, we stopped at the Hundepension Birkenhof to drop off Noyzi, who was only too delighted to be staying there again. He loves going to the dog hotel and meeting new canine friends.

Noyzi is delighted to be back at the Hundepension!

After we dropped off Noyzi, we visited a very crowded rest stop. I guess a lot of Germans were headed out for the holiday. I got a few photos… I think I was enchanted by the wall of horse toys. When I was a kid, I would have been all over that!

When we got to Tübingen, we spoke to the lady manning the reception. She told us that not only did they have to close the hotel for most of our stay, but they’d also had to close the restaurant! She said they didn’t have enough staff to run it, and there weren’t enough people interested in dining there. I thought that was a pity, since we ate there three times and enjoyed ourselves. But a lack of staff in hospitality, especially since COVID, has been a real problem.

Because the hotel was fully booked when we arrived, there weren’t any parking spots available for us in the hotel’s dedicated garage. But since Tübingen doesn’t require people to pay for street parking on weekends, we just found a spot a block or so away. The next day, when everyone checked out, they gave us a spot in the garage and didn’t even charge us for it.

*The lobby, now sans the restaurant, Refugio.*

We were in Room 105, which was clearly originally a suite with adjoining rooms. The sitting room with the kitchenette had a shower with a rainfall head, while the shower in the bedroom was a spout type. Both showers were very small, but once you got into them, they were nice enough. The room came with free beverages, two televisions, and a rather uncomfortable bed. But there is a pizza/pasta joint nearby, and a couple of grocery stores, as well as a decent bakery, and it’s not too hard to walk into Tübingen… It takes maybe 15 or 20 minutes. We had beautiful weather, so that made it easier for us.

*Interesting lighting system. It was also how to work the “do not disturb” sign (red light or green light).*

Hotel La Casa has a pool/spa/hammam. The hammam, unfortunately, was closed– again, due to a lack of staff. Bill checked out the pool, which he said was pretty, but very small. We didn’t get a chance to use it before the hotel closed. In spite of the closures, we had an okay stay, except the bed wasn’t too good for our backs. But it is a very unique hotel, with decor done in a Spanish/Moorish style, and the staff is very pleasant. I would consider booking it again. Below are some photos from the room.

*Every time I turned on the TV, we got the “fish”, with its “tranquil” music.*

We managed to discover a new “to us” Biergarten in Tübingen that we’d never been to before caled Brauwerk Freistil. They do craft beers and snacks there, as well as offer fun activities like karaoke and billiards. We went there for a beer and to have a look at the Neckar River from the other side of our usual favorite Biergarten, the Neckarmüller. We actually went to the Neckarmüller twice, because although they make typical (excellent but kind of boring) German beers, their Biergarten is awesome.

It was interesting to stay just south of Tübingen. We had never had the opportunity to explore the southern side of this college town when we still lived in the Stuttgart area. It was a new experience to walk around there and see what was in that part of town. Below are some photos from our first night, Saturday the 30th. We were a little surprised the Biergartens were still open, as they’re usually closed by the time we visited. But the weather was unusually warm and very beautiful, so I guess it makes sense that they kept the outside areas open. Usually by this time of year, pants, closed shoes, and jackets are essential, but not in 2023. I needed my shorts and t-shirts.

Wow! Just look at these photos! Tübingen is just as beautiful as I always remember it, with plenty of people out and about, enjoying the city. I’m glad we stayed in Tübingen for this trip, even if it ended up being for naught. More on that in the next post… I need to take a pause and walk Noyzi.

Hessen, Rhein

Noyzi’s very first trip to a Biergarten…

Bill and I have been gradually breaking Noyzi in to going to our local wine stands, every other Friday night during the “nicer” months. Yesterday, since we got kind of a late start and were waylaid by chores, I suggested that maybe we should find a nice Biergarten to take him to. We’ve had such beautiful weather this weekend– no clouds to speak of, and temperatures around 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

Bill found a Biergarten near Mainz-Kastel, which is kind of an industrial area. The Biergarten is called Biergarten am Bootshaus, and it is affiliated with a restaurant/boating club on the Rhein River. The restaurant is closed on weekends, but the Biergarten– a no frills affair by a campground– is open from noon until 10 PM. We loaded Noyzi into the Volvo and headed over there. Noyzi was delighted, because he loves going places, especially when going somewhere involves car rides.

We were surprised to find the Biergarten not very populated. Just a few people were there having Weizens and Helles beers with Bratwursts and Pommes. It wasn’t even that hard to park the car. The restaurant has a big parking lot and a clean restroom, which I really appreciated. I had started to wear shorts yesterday, but changed into pants because it seemed chilly outside. When we got to the Biergarten, I was kind of sorry I changed into pants. The weather was definitely shorts weather. Unfortunately, it’s also allergy season, and Bill and I were both suffering!

Noyzi was a bit spooked at the Biergarten, because we were sitting under a big umbrella and the wind was causing it to flap a bit. He doesn’t like loud or strange noises, and he doesn’t like sudden movements. Wind is not his friend. But after about an hour or so, he finally relaxed and laid down for a moment or two.

Meanwhile, we watched ships pass. Cargo ships were the norm, but we also caught a glimpse of the Viking Sigrun, a riverboat that gets pretty good reviews. I think Rhein cruises are probably really nice, but we already live very close to a number of the ports. And we’ve already visited Amsterdam, where a lot of those of those cruises start or end. We haven’t been to Basel, Switzerland, yet. I think it would be weird to stop in Mainz, though, because we live twenty minutes from there. We could get off the boat and take a cab home to pick up the mail, then come back to the boat later. Maybe we’ll do one someday when we’re no longer living in Wiesbaden.

After a couple of hours, we had enough beer and sun. A few more people had come to the Biergarten, including a young family who had arrived on bikes. I could tell the two boys with their parents wanted to pet Noyzi. He would have been alright with it, but they were smart and polite enough not to pet him without asking.

Bill went to return the beer glasses, but we didn’t finish the water we bought for Noyzi, so they kept the two euro Pfand (deposit) for that. As we were about to leave, one of the young guys behind the counter said that Noyzi was beautiful. Bill told him that he’s a street dog who comes from Kosovo. The guy said “Wow!” I think a lot of Germans are intrigued by Noyzi. He’s kind of unique, especially with his little nubby tail that wags all the time. I just wish people didn’t think he had it docked. He really was born with a bob tail. I have DNA proof.

I’m not sure what we’re going to do today… The weather is still beautiful, but our allergies are pretty bad. We’re both sneezing and sniffling. But maybe we’ll get out. Sigh… I really had meant for this to be more of a staycation weekend, but it’s been kind of a bust. At least Noyzi’s getting out some, though.

Below are some photos and videos from yesterday’s short outing. I made another short video for Bill’s daughter, to show her the Rhein and different types of Bratwurst. I had one made of beef, while Bill’s was made of wild boar. The pommes (fries) were very ordinary, but good. I’d go back. Lots of people were biking, walking their dogs, or just enjoying the sun.

*A sex shop in Mainz-Kastel, right next to a KFC…*

We should try to get out today, if only because the weather is so nice. We’ll see what happens. We ended up eating the cakes we bought on Thursday for dinner– Red Wine cake and “Bee Sting” cake. Delicious!

I wouldn’t mind finding a nice short day cruise or something… The river is so inviting, especially on a day like today or yesterday.

Uncategorized

Beautiful Biergarten (and wine stand) weather!

Ahhh… I love September in Germany. The first time we lived here, it was from September 2007 until September 2009. We were in the Stuttgart area. I remember flying over here from Virginia, where it was still hotter than four hells, a warning from a former neighbor still in my head. She’d told me it would be much cooler in Germany. Sure enough, I soon found myself on Panzer Kaserne, at AAFES, buying a cheap suede jacket that made in China. It lasted five years before I tossed it out in Glasgow, Scotland, because it had a big rip in it.

Seven years ago, we moved into our second German home, located in lovely Unterjettingen. I still remember the smell of fermenting apples and the sight of the trees gently turning gold as the month progressed. And now, here we are in Wiesbaden, where the weather is just PERFECT. It was about 80 degrees today, with lots of sunshine and a cool breeze, promising that very soon, the weather would be more like it is in Germany the rest of the year. 😉 Although, I have to admit that global warming has changed things here, even since 2007.

Anyway… I might have been tempted to vegetate and drink in the back yard. Bill decided he wanted to go out. So at about 12:30, we dog proofed the house and set off for Wiesbaden. Bill wanted to check out the park behind the Kurhaus. I don’t know how we’ve missed it for the past almost three years we’ve lived here, but we have. Today, we discovered a lovely oasis, where paddle boats can be rented, picnics and sunbathing can be enjoyed, and beer can be consumed at the 1907 Lounge, a Biergarten that is affiliated with Benner’s Bistronomie, where we had lunch a few weeks ago.

Below are many photos from today’s outing. I think they mostly speak for themselves!

Saturday… big day for weddings and wedding photo shoots!

It was getting close to 4:00pm, which is when Arran and Noyzi eat their dinner. I was loving the weather, but not the cigarette smoke. Also, because Wiesbaden’s COVID cases are on the rise, new restrictions are in place. Everybody has to show that they’ve been vaccinated, tested negative, or recovered from the virus. Of course, medical masks are required, too. They’re a bummer, but people cooperate.

That’s one thing I like about Germany. Nobody enjoys wearing masks, but people do it without causing a ruckus. And, when the threat is no longer, they won’t require masks anymore. Nobody pretends they’re more or less virtuous for complying with the health measures. The masks aren’t political, nor are the vaccines. People accept that this is about health, not politics, and there’s a minimum of fuss. I expect that if and when the pandemic peters out, Germans will enjoy being mask free if they want to be. But until then, people simply do what they’re supposed to do, mostly without getting violent or obnoxious. It helps to have a lot of cops around, of course… and here, the cops are generally not belligerent or violent unless they have to be.

On many levels, I’m so glad we’ve been able to be over here for this particular time in history. I will always be grateful to Germany for being kind to us Americans who don’t want to raise hell and just want to get through this crisis with our lives and health intact.

I’m glad we went out. It’s nice to see Germany functioning again, and people out and about. It would be a crime to miss this wonderful weather. I’m sure we’ll do something similar tomorrow.

supermarkets

A German and Italian inspired outing in Mainz-Kastel…

We have beautiful weather in Wiesbaden today. It was so pretty that Bill decided that he wanted to try out a Biergarten in nearby Mainz-Kastel. Mainz-Kastel is not the prettiest or most picturesque place I’ve ever seen, but it does have a nice Italian supermarket. Bill wanted to stop by there, too, and see if we could score some Italian goodies. We fired up the Mini, which badly needs to be driven, and headed off to our first stop, the Brauhaus-Castel Brewery (or Brauhaus, if you prefer). This restaurant offers hearty German (Bavarian) fare and lots of housemade beers. The kitchen stays open all day, so there are no worries about pauses. They have a nice sized parking lot with free parking, which even has a spot for charging your electric vehicle. There’s also a playground for your kids and a children’s menu!

Here are a few photos from our lunch, which was pretty good. I suspect Bill will be regular for the next few days, thanks to his barley covered schnitzel.

Service was friendly and kind. Our server was indulgent at my pitiful attempts to speak German. I know, after seven years, I should be fluent. Shame on me. For those who don’t want to try to speak German, this place does seem to be very American friendly. I think the server spoke English, although he spoke German to us. I know he knew we were Auslanders, though.

All told, we spent 40 euros on food and beer… two half liter beers each for us. Bill had a Dunkel and an alcohol free Weizen. I had two Weizens. They also had other drinks and, of course, there was plenty of wine! It was a good time. We would go back. I’d like to go back just so I can get pictures of the huge sex shop next door. It has a slogan in English that says, “Sex up your life!” That’s something you probably wouldn’t necessarily see in most parts of the USA. On the other hand, I do remember passing Cafe Risque many times on the way through North Carolina as I traveled on I-95 from Virginia to South Carolina, and vice versa.

After lunch, we headed for the Celpro Italian market. That place was a real treat, and it was DEFINITELY very Italian. There’s also plenty of parking there, as well as lots of high quality Italian goodies.

*I think this was supposed to keep too many people from coming inside… but it never did change from red, so we just went in.*

It’s not a big supermarket and we didn’t linger long, because after being at the Biergarten, I really needed to pee. Alas, the supermarket doesn’t have a public restroom and secluded bushes are scarce. I did see a guy cleaning the parking lot, though. Very impressive! I am sure we’ll back for more. It’s not far from where we live. I love all the ethnic markets here in Germany. There’s always a sure bet you’ll find something fun and interesting in them, although maybe they aren’t as fun as the Mix Markts with the Russian and Eastern European products.

It’s nice to get out again, even though COVID cases are on the rise, even here. Mask mandates never went away here, though… Seriously, it’s nice to be in Germany during these weird times.

I don’t know what we’ll do tomorrow, but I would be up for another trip to both of our spots today. Not tomorrow, of course, but maybe sometime soon… before the weather turns back into shit.

Hessen, Hofheim

Hungry? Bring your XXL appetite to the Waldgeist!

Some time ago, Bill was looking for local restaurant possibilities for us and he stumbled across Restaurant Waldgeist. Located near a Sportsplatz in Hofheim, this restaurant boasts an impressive Biergarten, which wasn’t operating today due to the suddenly cool temperatures, and lots of indoor seating. It’s also known for its huge portions.

I don’t love places that dish out huge portions because I can never finish and stuff has a tendency to go to waste. Also, I end up eating more than I should or really need to eat. However, I was curious about this restaurant due to its Biergarten and its “Hessisch” kitchen. Here’s where you can get your green sauce, Handkäse, or Spundekäs. They also have burgers, schnitzels, ribs, steaks, and sausages.

Big sign out front!

We didn’t make a reservation. Apparently, it’s not a bad idea to call ahead on Saturdays, because when we showed up, we were relegated to “table 9”, that is, a side room where another couple was sitting with their two enormous and well behaved dogs. We were given a two top table and I sat on a bench that was a little too high for it. My legs dangled and I leaned forward to keep my back from getting too sore from the awkward position. I didn’t have a chance to look in the other rooms. It appeared to be kind of a sprawling place with lots of rooms. The room we were in was clearly not the popular place to sit.

The menu… gets the job done, but is kind of annoying.

The waiter brought us laminated tri-fold menus, which kind of annoyed me, since I had to balance on the awkward bench as I opened the tri-fold menu that would not stay open on its own. Nevertheless, I had already decided to order spare ribs, which I only do every once in awhile. The smallest portion is 2 pieces, but you can order up to 4 pieces. And you can also wash it down with a two liter Krug of beer if you want to. For once, I exercised restraint and had a half liter of Hefeweizen. Bill went with a Dunkelweizen and a “small” schnitzel.

Outdoor seating. Looks really nice. In warmer weather, I bet it gets packed.

Wait here, and they’ll show you to your table in “the blink of an eye.”

We waited for awhile. At one point, a waiter tried to deliver the other couple’s schnitzels to us. When they brought out our food, my exact words were “Damn, that’s big!” The waiter laughed.

This is the smallest order of ribs. It’s a full rack. I could have also had this with cole slaw and fries, for just a few euros more. I figured I’d have my hands full. I’d like to know who orders the four piece… Maybe a large group?

Bill’s “small” schnitzel served with gravy, bacon wrapped green beans, and potato croquettes.

Needless, to say, I made it through half of my ribs before I had to stop. That was with help from Bill. When we asked to take it home with us, the waiter brought out aluminum foil and left it up to me to wrap it. I suspect we’ll be snacking on them later, as well as the rest of Bill’s lunch. He finished more of his.

I liked the cool flower pot for the tree.

The ribs were very good, perfectly cooked and tender, with spicy sauce. Actually, I was surprised by how spicy the sauce was. I could see it encouraging beer drinking!

I think we’d go back to Waldgeist, especially in nice weather. The outdoor area is pleasant and they have convenient hours. No pauses or “Ruhetags”, so it’s very convenient– except you have to pay in cash. Prices are very reasonable, though. I’m sure during the summer, you’d best not show up without a reserved table. I’m glad to know where a good Biergarten is up here. They don’t seem to be quite as prevalent in Hesse as they are down south.

Sundays

Charming Herrenberg: Lunch at Hanoi Pho and a hike to the Schloss!

Sometimes I’m really glad I feel compelled to blog. If I didn’t blog, it would be too easy to sit on my can and waste a beautiful Saturday like today. Thanks to my Puritan work ethic and the sad memories I have of the time we wasted during our first Germany tour, I convinced myself to venture out today. However, I didn’t feel like venturing far. It looked like it might rain and I was feeling like I might enjoy a nap. I remembered that even after all of our years living near Herrenberg, before today, we had never visited the ruins of Schlossberg, Herrenberg’s castle. Bill and I resolved to have lunch and make our way up the path leading to the ruins.

One of many lovely views I enjoyed today. I hate climbing hills, but I’m always glad I did it when I get to the top.

Lunch was very successful. We stopped by Hanoi Pho, a place where Bill had only previously gotten takeout. Hanoi Pho serves German style Chinese food, but it’s really more of a Vietnamese restaurant. They had their outdoor seating ready, but we decided to sit inside, where I enjoyed crispy sweet and sour duck and Bill had a Vietnamese dish called Bun cha gio Vietnam. We both had hefeweizens.

I was kind of tempted by the Pho. So was Bill. We have only had it once before, when we lived at Fort Belvoir in Virginia and visited one of the many awesome Asian restaurants outside the Telegraph Road gate. But since it’s kind of warm right now, we decided not to try it this time. The quality of today’s lunch was good enough that I think we’ll be back.

Bill studies the menu, wondering if he should ask “What the pho?”

Nice wheat beer…

And entertaining placemats. Apparently, Bill was born in the Year of the Dragon, while I was born in the Year of the Rat. That makes us compatible. No wonder we get along so well.

Bill’s Vietnamese dish… basically fried dough stuffed with ground meat, cucumbers, coriander, cilantro, and mint, among other things. It was served with rice noodles, fresh vegetables, and a sprinkling of peanuts on top. Since it’s mushroom free, I will probably order it next time we visit. I’ve had my fill of sweet and sour crispy duck.

Although this was very good… For some reason, the waiter gave me a fork and Bill got chopsticks. The sweet and sour duck was served with sliced pineapple, carrots, and red peppers. It was very satisfying.

Total bill was just 22 euros, served with fortune cookies! Mine said I would be getting a big gift soon. I do have a birthday in 18 days… Bill said he would soon get a lot of money. If he knows what’s good for him, he’ll use some of it on my big gift. (Kidding, of course… I’d be happy just to spend the day with him.)

The square was looking fine today!

With lunch sorted, we decided to head up to the Stiftskirche, which is the iconic church that sits on a hillside over the city. We’ve visited it a few times. We walked around the church so I could take some pictures and catch my breath. The walk to the church is a little steep. Below are a few photos I took as I slowed down my heartbeat. We didn’t climb the church tower today, although there are days when that’s permissible.

No dogs. No booze. After 10pm, no loud noises. Seems reasonable to me. And they thank you for your understanding, too.

Lovely red roses. Unfortunately, these weren’t the only thorns we would encounter today.

Behind the Stiftskirche is the trail to the ruins. Instead of heading straight up what appeared to be a curvy and steep but well maintained trail, we decided to go left.

The trail was also good beyond this gate. But then we passed a young woman who had suddenly popped out of the woods.

As we approached where she had come from, Bill said, “I thought maybe there’d be a trail here, but maybe she just ducked in there to take a piss.”

Then I noticed there was actually a trail. It was just kind of narrow and steep. I pointed it out to Bill, who said, “Oh yes… this takes you right to the Schloss!”

Against my better judgment, I followed my husband up the slightly slippery hill. There was a lot of pollution on the trail… bottle caps, broken glass, and cigarette butts. But the trail was functional until it stopped right before the ruins. I could then see why the young woman had decided not to go that way. Bill had already plunged ahead, where there were tons of sticker bushes. They were viciously sharp, but hell, I grew up in Virginia. I’ve crossed my share of wild terrain.

Besides, I was able to get some interesting photos.

Sadly, the trail became more thick with vegetation. I was sorry I’d left my machete at home.

We were so close, though!

So I said, “Screw it… let’s keep going.” That was not the best decision.

Bill told me to go ahead of him. I did, and things were okay until I got to just before the powder tower. Suddenly, I started feeling the sting of thousands of tiny needles. It turned out the vegetation in front of the ruins was riddled with stinging nettle roots. As I type this, I still have patches of stinging flesh on my lower legs and lower left arm. Thank God I wore capris and a shirt with three quarter length sleeves. If I had worn shorts, I would definitely be in Hell right now. The initial stings were pretty painful– hot and intense. Bill suggested we turn around. But again, I looked at how close we were and said, “The hell with it. Let’s just go.” Because if we’d turned around, we’d just have to walk through the nettles again and we wouldn’t have satisfied our curiosity. Besides, it appeared there was an escape…

This is on the other side of the wall, beyond the thick cover of nettles and thorny prickers. There, I could see a very well established trail, sans any dangerous weeds…

I looked at my rapidly reddening skin and the welts that were starting to rise and said, “Let’s just take a quick look.” Bill agreed. Then we were rewarded.

A lovely green lawn, where one can sit and ponder the meaning of life or have a picnic…

And you can climb to the top of the tower and look down over Herrenberg. We spotted the lady who had popped out of the woods up there. She was sitting on the edge of the tower and probably laughed at us as we were making our way through the punishing field of nettles.

We walked to the right of the plateau and looked down. I got a big smile on my face. One of the best things about Germany is that you’re always rewarded when you climb a big hill. Below is the Schlosskeller Biergarten. Not only does it serve food and beer, it also has restrooms where one can start to wash off stinging nettles.

A sight for sore, itchy, stinging skin.

And more enchanting views of Herrenberg and its environs. In the distance, I could see Wurmlinger Kapelle to the south. When we lived in Germany the first time, that chapel on a hill was almost in our backyard. We visited there a few years ago. Our visit to the chapel in 2015 was another case of us taking advantage of having the chance to live here again. Because during our first tour, we gazed at the hilltop church daily, but never took the time to hike up the hill to see it.

We chose a table under a tent and ordered Germany’s national drink.

But if we’d wanted food, that could have been arranged. This Biergarten is also very dog and kid friendly. Several people brought their dogs, who were all given bowls of water to drink.

As we were finishing our beers, a large group of elderly German hikers showed up and took the large table in front of ours. They good naturedly apologized for spoiling our view. But I said in German, “Kein Problem! Prost!” This was more successful than my attempt at ordering food in German last night, which started off German and slipped into Armenian. Some habits die very hard. I haven’t been in Armenia since 1997, but I still have a few language skills.

Below are a few photos of the view from the Biergarten before we hiked back down the hill.

I used the zoom lens to focus on Wurmlinger Chapel, which is probably about ten miles away. We used to live in a neighborhood very close to this chapel.

I had to explore this before we headed down…

It was a beautiful day for a hike!

The park near the Schloss has many sculptures in it.

But none of the art could match the beauty of Herrenberg itself.

There was probably a lot more to the Schloss ruins than we saw today, but I really needed to get home and into a hot shower.

Overall, I’m really glad I wasn’t lazy today. We really enjoyed our afternoon in Herrenberg, even if I do have a painful stinging nettle rash now. As for that trail, I would not recommend taking it unless you’re well protected with long pants, closed shoes, and long sleeves… and maybe a machete. However, I will admit that the trail was a handy shortcut. I won’t be cheating again, though. Next time we visit, I’m sticking to the professionally made trails!

I enhanced my photo of Wurmlinger Chapel and it looks like a painting!

The Traveling Overeducated Housewife

…the wanderings and ramblings of a boring housewife…

Tag Archives: biergartens