Germany welcomed me with a bang! Quite literally. 🙂

Today, Julia and her boyfriend Tim treated me to both food AND an adventure. Those who know me best, better, and maybe even those who have met me just once know how important food is, so they already know today was a success.

We started with breakfast in German style, including lauden brezelbröt. At least that’s how it sounded. The taste made the name worth remembering, especially with butter between halves as a filling. The rest of the breakfast spread included brötchen (rolls) with toppings of butter, jam, cucumbers, cheese, salami, and chocolate. I tried various combinations of these (including butter with chocolate), and found all to be satisfactory. Yummm.

Then the 45 minute drive to Heidelberg, a university/touristy town on the Neckar River. We put some 20-25 kilometers on our feet as we traipsed the city in between rain showers, hiding out in an old church and under trees on the grounds of the Schloss (castle) on the hill. I gaped at the views from the Schloss and took a few (hundred) photos of winding cobblestone streets, flowering window boxes, views of and from the Schloss, and the pedestrian bridge spanning the Neckar.

We worked up some hanger (I’m not the only one in the group familiar with the feeling) and trekked off to find some döner – a Turkish dish of rotisserie style chicken or beef (similar to Greek gyro) served with a salad in a pita. At least that’s the best description I can muster. In combination with a hearty yummmmm.

Then a rendezvous with other new friends to round out our dinner (I bumbled through an order for a pfirsich maracuja smoothie after tutoring from Julia and was pleased to taste the anticipated peach-passion fruit flavoring. Score: Jess 1, German language 87). More walking, this time up the hill on the opposite side of the river to catch the Schloss lighting and fireworks demonstration. We found a lovely spot on the hill with a beautiful view of Heidelberg’s twinkling lights, the Schloss illuminated in red, and the 3/4 moon casting blue shadows. The sound of murmuring In German, cricket chirps, and shuffling feet grew gradually more excited as 1015 approached.

BOOM.

The flash-bang of the first blast echoed between the hills for 8-10 reverberations. Dozens more fireworks from the castle, another BOOM, fireworks from the bridge, and a final BOOM to finish the show. Boat horns and applause signaled our descent from the hill, the walk back to the car, and the quiet, content ride home.

Danke, Deutschland, for the welcome. I’m glad to be here. 🙂