Errands, Commissary, Trip Prep

Was able to sleep in somewhat this morning and got ready to run errands. As I was using my homemade dry shampoo that the TSA didn't confiscate (YAY) Ellert walked in and asked what it was. I explained that it was for when you don't have time to take a shower and you use this to make your hair look like you did. I soon realized his interest was due to the fact that he loathed showers and this was his ticket to non-showering. Perhaps I should make some more and market it to middle-school aged boys who dislike showers? ;)

Aunt Rachel and I went for a walk in the neighborhood to try and find the Tuesday morning market, which we did not locate and we later discovered wasn't being held due to the holiday weekend.

Was slightly amused because ahead of us, I saw a youngish guy who had parked on the sidewalk to pick up a man that appeared to be his Father. His Father was furious that he had done so and in German he said as he got in the car:

"The ladies (motioning to us) cannot walk on the sidewalk now, see? You--"

The rest of the diatribe was cut off by his abruptly shutting the door. Poor kid. We didn't care, we just walked around him.

Went to the local grocery store (Knittels) and got some peaches and cherries and stuff. 

And I took pictures of the German butter section. Just cause.

Next, Arnheidur picked us up and with Erla in tow, we went to run errands in town and on base. Once we checked into the base using our passports, we saw the building where George works,  a yellow 4 story building. He bikes 14 miles there every morning and back every evening.

Aunt Rachel and I went shopping at the commissary for water and snacks, as our 10 day trip starts tomorrow. 

It's a little slice of America, everyone is military or military family members, they use USD and everything is in English. Things are VERY inexpensive compared to other area stores. Water, for example, is $2.30 for 12

LITERS of French water (which is insanely cheap) and we found some GF stuff Aunt Rachel can eat. And 90 cent Larabars. Score!

Got coffee while Arnheidur shipped a package at the post office on base. We took a big risk by bringing Erla with us, sans Mama. I still speak to her strictly in German, and thankfully I remembered the word for "slowly" (langsamer) and I told her to hold my hand and walk SLOWLY. She did great and behaved quite well, until she became very desirous of some blue Gatorade that she could not have. She took off running, and thankfully ended up under a table outside instead of in the street which was her usual modus operandi. 

On the way home we drove through downtown Stuttgart for a change.

It was bombed out pretty throughly in WWII, but has been rebuilt to its original glory. Some towns, like ours and Waldenbuch, the next town after ours, were untouched by the war and still have their old buildings intact. We ended up driving through Waldenbuch on our way back to Schönaich and noticed the Ritter Chocolate factory and museum. Hmm. Good to know. ;)

Taking the back road home was just lovely.

^ (Right before she conked out) :)

We arrived home with our goods and I went back out with Embla and Aunt Rachel shortly thereafter in search of a baby gift for her former student's first child. She found a very nice German-made sterling silver utensil set at a little shop down the road. We stopped at Knittels again, as Aunt Rach needed some things for the trip, AND I TALKED TO THE LADY TO ASK HOW MUCH A BAG COST AND SHE UNDERSTOOD ME AND I UNDERSTOOD HER ANSWER. I haven't been here very long, but I'm glad that I'm getting more comfortable every day talking/interacting with people using my (limited) German. Even though they may talk fast, I'm working on listening fast. ;)

Arnheidur made us all a delicious dinner of Thai chicken and rice. Ellert was not a happy camper for some reason or another.

"Did you know Margaret is writing a journal online about her time here? What do you think she will say about you, huh?"

*flicker of concern that faded into stoicism*

"Eh, I don't care."

Me: "I'm gonna say you were a big baby."

Ellert:

*laughs and rolls eyes*

So, when you read this one day, you wuz a big baby that day. ;P

I came back in a little while later with some cookies for dessert, Erla had a cassette tape and was playing Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer and Winter Wonderland.....in Icelandic. Aunt Rachel said "it's Christmas in July!" "or wait...I mean Christmas in May." 

I began to pack stuff up for our 10 day trip. We leave tomorrow, and will travel to Munich, then Ulm, Nuremburg, Prague, Poland (to see Auschwitz,) then Berlin-basically a big loop around Germany/Poland/Czech Republic. Not sure how my access to wifi will be, but I will post once the wifi becomes available. So, if you don't hear from me, I'm off exploring one of those places and will report back on all the happenings of note. :)