Der Jetlag

This is an email we sent out detailing our first week...

Hello all. Greg and I wanted to drop a line and say hello, we are
alive! This past week is a bit of a blur. Between jet lag and the
various issues surrounding ID's and what not, we have not gone out as
much as we would like. The main downtown area and a major park,
Kurpark, are only about 5 minutes away. Most of these pics are from
that area. Sorry there aren't that many - I promise I'll get more in
the future.

There is a wine festival going on downtown - I'm going to go full
tourist and take pictures there today. Hundreds of vintners from the
area have set up booths near the Rathaus (town hall), and you can buy
a glass of wine for about 2 euro (cheaper than the US!). This is the
heart of Reisling country, and we have had a crash course in the ins
and outs of the Riesling type of wine. If you want a Riesling in
Oklahoma, you have one choice on the menu, and only three or so
choices at the liquor store. There are so many types of Reisling we
haven't been introduced to - dry, half-dry, fruitlich (sweet),
perlwein (bubbly, but not as bubbly as champagne), icewein (winter
brew - the grapes are allowed to freeze on the vine), red Reisling
(it's a red white whine, go figure), etc. etc.

Mixed in with the wine vendors are the blessed food vendors. No fried
Twinkies at this fair! There are sausages on hard buns, antipasto
salads, roasted chicken, roast beef on a roll, potato salad, crepes
with various toppings, and the requisite bread and cheese (brought to
you on a skewer by a nice lady in a dirndl). I thought this might be
higher brow food to accompany the wine - not so. This is 'typical'
fair food.

The shopping area around the square boast everything from Prada to
Benneton, Starbucks to Haagan Daas. This is considered a tourist area
- we are told that we shouldn't spend too much money there, as better
deals can be found outside the city center. For goodness sake, if
you're going to shop, bring your own bag. Most places charge you
extra for a plastic bag - we ended up walking around the festival one
night with a can of Febreeze and a bag of chocolate granola because we
didn't want to spring for the plastic.

Weather has been in the 70's and 80's. We had rain at the beginning
of the week, but it fell straight down and that was a little weird.
They say we should start a cool down in late September. People told
us that it was hot at 84. 84.... really....

We have pictures - I will post them when we have a better internet connection....