I've left the country again!

So, I got the urge to travel again and thought I might continue the blog since it's such a great record for me to look back at. So, this time I've gone to Germany for three weeks to visit some friends. I arrived in Frankfurt and realized that I had been here before for a few hours three years ago during the World Cup 2006. It's still a pretty place but like last time I was only in the city for about 3 hours.


I was actually on my way to Stuttgart, or actually to a little village near it called Endersbach, where my friend Anna lives. Endersbach really is a village. It has 10,000 residents and is so cute.

One of the million reasons why Anna and I are friends is because she drives a Smart Car. I've always liked these little cars but I've never ridden in one until now. It's like riding in a bubble.

So, the first day we just looked around Stuttgart, the nearest city. It's a nice place but wasn't meant for tourists.

But there were these gigantic pretzels. They're only for New Year's but still... Germans eat big pretzels.

The next day Anna's father had to do something in a Swiss bank (SPY!) so we crossed the border into Swizterland to a town called Scaffhausen. Nearby is a waterfall called Rheinfall where the Rhein leaves Lake Konstanz.

Schaffhausen was impressive. Though is was accidentallz bombed by the Americans in WWII a lot of the old buildings still survived. Very medieval. Some buildings were entirely painted on the outside.

A close up look. (I love my new camera!)

All the buildings had names and dates on the front. This one was the oldest I saw from 1542 names 'The Ostrich Feather' . These old buildings now house modern shops and even a McDonalds but still very interesting architecture.

In the evening.

The weather has been gloomy and rainy but these cities are still fabulous. The next day we went to Heidelberg. Known for its university it also has two famous scenes: the bridge and...
the ruined castle. (burned by the French in the 100 years war)

Heidelberg also has the cool buildings.

Anna's father has been driving us around so on the way back from Heidelberg he just decided to show us a local castle. So here is a privately owned hilltop castle near Endersbach.

Tonight is New Year's Eve so I'm off to some crazy German party and then on to Hamburg tomorrow.