Germany

Well, Germany was a real whirlwind trip. We went through three countries in the 2 ½ hour trip…there and back.

We got into Freiburg at about 11 am. After we dropped out stuff off at the hostel, we did a walking tour of the city. Freiburg was a really great town. It is really beautiful, and it has a huge cathedral that is known as the Munster. I think it is the biggest cathedral I have seen. Also, the town had up all its Christmas decorations, so it was very festive.

That night we went to the Christmas market. The Christmas markets started in Germany, so they really get into it. They had lots of handmade ornaments. They were really amazing. They also had a place where you could make your own candles, so we all made one. Mine ended up a little crooked, but at least I can say I made it in Germany.

There were so many people at the market, so it was difficult to move in the crowd. I also found out that German people don’t like to wait in lines, so they will just cut in front of you. Sarah warned us about that before we got there, but it is still surprising to see everyone do it.

We stayed at the Black Forest Hostel. It was a clean place. We had three beds in an eleven-bed room. Sarah and Mandy didn’t seem to mind, but I didn’t sleep very well. I don’t think hostels are made for light sleepers. The showers were also crazy. They looked like big metal space ship things. They were round and tall, and when you got in there was a little window that you could see out (and others could look in which was a little weird). I just squatted down and took the fastest shower ever. Anyway I made it through my first hostel experience, and it only set me back 19 euros.

This morning we went to the Black Forest. It was only about 20 minutes out of town by tram and bus. We took the cable car up the mountain. It took about 20 minutes, and the views were incredible. Then we hiked up the mountain to the very top, which was about 3,800 feet (so really it was just a hill to me). The views were once again amazing, but it was so windy that it felt like we were going to blow away.

After we had something hot to drink, we decided to WALK back down the mountain. It was about 6 miles down because it took us 2 ½ hours. It was on a marked train, but it was still really rocky and steep. We stumbled quite a bit, but we still had a great time. It was nice for me to back near some trees and mountains. I really miss that.

After our long day we caught the train back to Belfort and got home at 7:30 pm. It was a quick trip, but loads of fun. I am still glad to be back in France where I can speak the language. It was the first time I had been in a country where I didn’t speak the language. It can be a little tricky, but luckily for me Sarah speaks German so it was a little easier.

I will be working on the pictures in the next few days. Now I am going to fito bed because I am exhausted, and I have to teach 120 kids tomorrow.