Mosel Valley Germany Day 2 and Camping is getting better!

So guess what!  I'm on the internet in my apartment!  I had to jerry rig it to get it set up, but I did it.  I'm not totally sure on the security of the network, but I'm on it.  Things are looking up big time now.  A friend from work (Dutch!) brought over a camping table and 2 camping chairs tonight too!  So I had dinner at a proper table and in a proper chair rather than on the floor!  What more could a girl ask for.  I'm set, really.  My stuff can take it's time....I've got a chair, table, internet, blankets and basic kitchen stuff.  Bring customs....I can so out wait you now.  Although....I really miss having a real bed.  The air mattress is tough.  But I still feel much more energized about coming home than I did yesterday.  It's the little things.  Here's the rest of the weekend:

1.  On Sunday, I meant to get up early, but I know the walk really took it out of me the day before because I slept straight through my alarm, which I never do.  It's a good thing too because getting as much sleep on a real bed was a high priority.  Side note:  I facetimed with M & D on Saturday night and it was really fun.  Glad we got that worked out!

2.  After a slow morning start, I decided to head to Cochem for the touristy side of the German valley.  I put the town in Faith and we headed off, with me mostly ignoring her instructions and she mostly getting really upset with me.  I wanted to stay on the river, she wanted to take the short cut.  I won.  It was a really pretty drive that took much longer than it should have, but what a sight.

3.  Cochem is quaint, but much more touristy.  There were people everywhere, tour buses as far as the eye can see, etc.  I found parking at the train station, paid for a 6 hour pass and walked the 1 KM into town.  Side note:  Europe and I have VERY different defnitions of what a 2 way street is.  Most 2 ways look like 1 ways in these quaint towns.  But for the most part, I got lucky and just followed the guy ahead of me.  I figured he would be the one to crash, not me.

4.  Cochem is great for one thing for sure:  Shopping.  I enjoyed walking to different stores and seeing the goods.  I even tried on a pair of shoes (didn't fit), but I felt good for giving it a shot.  I am realizing that I wished I owned a pair of Ugg boots.  I wondered where people wore those when I've seen them in stores.  I know now that they where them in Europe.  Something to bring back at Christmas!

5.  I shopped for a bit, found a Christmas present for the bro's gf and then looked some more for other people with no luck.  I'm not worried - I've got plenty of time to find the right things.  I just got really lucky with her gift - it was exactly what I was looking for.

6.  After wandering the shopping, I was hungry and decided that even if it's 100% tourist trap restaurants along the river, I was going to eat along the river.  It was so worth it.  The food (chicken schnitzel) wasn't as good as yesterday's pork, but the view!!!  Wow.  It got a tad chilly, but so worth the scenery.

7.  I headed back after lunch because I didn't want to drive at night and I knew I had a long trip back.  The scenery continued to be gorgeous on the trip back.  I saw signs for more places I want to see in the area....Koln, Bonn, among others.  I'll be headed back at some point.  SHAMELESS PLUG ALERT:  Actually a good place to go if you come to visit too. 

8.  Another plus of the area was it was within range of the huge US military base, so I actually found an English radio station from the base.  So nice to hear English on the radio, even for just a bit.

9.  Speaking of radio, I've found that countries I've visited do not have the good old FCC monitoring their language.  It's funny how the curse words don't translate to something different in say Dutch or German....and they don't alter songs either.  I've found quite a few songs I no longer enjoy because of the word changes.  I also found that you can be listening to the Dutch announcers (which I've been doing to try to pick up the word sounds) and suddenly here an unfortunate word in the middle.  It's so strange.  I gave up about half way through the trip and switched to classical music that I could find in just about any range.  I usually can't stand listening to classical at all.  At all.  But driving through the mountains, it just seemed appropriate to listen to Beethoven and Mozart.  I loved it and will probably listen to it more often now.

10.  When I got back, I headed to what is becoming my "local" pub for a Coke and some NFL action.  They also happened to be showing the Real Madrid v. FC Barcelona game, which was clearly the highlight of the night.  Every single football fan, particularly Spanish, showed up to the pub.  The people watching was great and I actually enjoyed watching the other football game more than the NFL.  NFL was really a side show this weekend.

Some pictures:

Burg Eltz walk

Burg Eltz 

 Burg Eltz

 View from lunch

 

 

On tap next is Rome at the end of November.  Booked the flight, just need to book the hotel.  Love the fact that EasyJet is so easy :)  If you've stayed somewhere you would highly recommend, let me know.  I have a few suggestions from T, but I'd love some more.  Oh and I missed the birth of my "nephew" :(.  Congrats to T and D on Baby A.  Can't wait to see him at Christmas!