Off post OCONUS Housing Rentals can be found online

I already posted this on my Twitter page, but I know many of my readers don't use that....so....I have found in the past, that some OCONUS duty locations managed their own housing websites, with rental listings for their area.  Now, I see more and more are putting up their listings on AHRN.  If you are moving to a new overseas location, be sure to stop by and get a jump on what's available for housing off post.  Of course, you won't be able to bid for homes, but at least you know what will be awaiting you:-)

Who told you about the lightbulbs?

Don't you absolutely hate it when you move somewhere, and everyone else knows some simple little helpful thing, except you?  It's not something you talk about or even discuss...just expected to know.  Here's a tip to know before moving to Europe that can save you from buying new light fixtures and lamps.

Most people moving over here, get the information that electricity is different over here than in the US...not just the plugs but also the power with which that stuff shoots thru the walls.  Plug in your 110 volt US appliance and scare yourself as it literally blows smoke (and typically a spark) along with tripping the breakers.....and then kills your appliance....forever!  Even I fried a computer after we arrived....not because I didn't know, but because desktops have a SWITCH in the back that you must switch from 110 volt to 220 volt (unlike the laptops I had been using all summer that switch automatically between the two voltages....ooops).

Anyway, when you go into the PX or commissary over here, they will have TONS of light bulbs that are meant for 110 volts (they say 120 volt on them)....why?  I don't know....not every post in Europe has on post housing with dual voltages where you could actually use these bulbs...and as far as I know, none in Belgium do...go figure.  I never figured out why they would sell all these 110 volt appliances either, especially when I noticed my Chi dryer and straightening iron I bought in the US can be used in EITHER voltage....come on AAFES....sell something USEFUL!  There I go getting off on a tangent again...don't get me started on AAFES overseas..

If you are bringing your nice lamps from the US, all you have to do is purchase a 220 volt lightbulb (they do have some at AAFES and the commissary, just check that it says 240 volt on the box somewhere).  Then use a round European prong adapter so it'll connect in the wall, and you're done.  You are now using your US lamp....in Europe....no need to rewire or do anything else with it...and yes, you can buy those lamps at the PX, even if they say 120 volt.

Can you think of anything else like this, that everyone just expected you to know coming over here?

The trash situation over here

Most places you live....at least stateside....you either pay for a trash service from one of the trash companies servicing your area (like we did in Colorado) or your property taxes pay for it (like in Florida) or perhaps something else in between?  The Germans and the Belgians do things a bit differently.....and it takes some getting used to for Americans!

In Germany, if you live off post, your local municipality will run trash collection.  In Germany, you had better have at least a college diploma to figure out how to sort your garbage or risk them not picking it up!  Most German localities will get you to purchase these special stickers, which you stick on each of your trashcans.  You mean there is more than one?  Yes, sometimes.....Germans are avid recyclers, and you will quickly get in the game or be shunned by the neighbors.  And these trashcans are regulation size....you can't just buy ANY trashcan!

I remember living in the Vilseck area and having a HUGE plastic trashcan with a fliptop and wheels where we could ONLY put biodegradables.....that means, your meal leftovers, potato peels, coffee grounds and other organic substances.  I don't need to tell you that this thing smelled riper than the roses after just a few days.  I hated dealing with this thing and you can imagine what the inside looked like...you couldn't put a bag in there, and it was always a race to see how fast you could close the lid after opening it.  So, I looked to see what my neighbors were doing, and other than the urinal my next door neighbor had mounted to the back of his house in full view of our back yard.....I noticed a pile in the far back corner of his garden....hmmmm....it was a compost pile I figured out after I moseyed on over there and poked it with a stick....yes, it was towards our side and not the other side...thanks.  I saw his wife dumping their stuff there.  Of course, I decided right then and there to make one too.  I added our kitchen junk and our grass clippings and all the overripe apples that fell into our yard.  I even started a garden, but I just couldn't bring myself to dig into that pile other than to turn it, as I had read somewhere, which just involved sticking a shovel in there and turning portions of that....yuckness.....over....to keep it fresh?

We also had to sort out paper, glass and plastic.  After doing this for a few years, we moved back stateside and promptly forgot everything, other than the paper sorting for some reason.  Our next big stint in Germany was on post.  We had big dumpsters down the street.  We had three for paper, two for plastic, a funny contraption for glass and the "other" dumpster.  Honestly, I was ashamed to be an American by the filth that my neighbors made at the dumpster.  Don't wing it over the fence and hope your load makes it in...especially if it was doggie-doo...hey, let's at least CLOSE the bag....I guess I should've been happy they even picked it up, another problem for another blogpost perhaps...the trials and tribulations of living on post!

Many times I'd go out and also see perfectly good furniture sitting out there.  We had this German guy with a trailer, regularly making the rounds of all the dumpsters, picking out treasures to take home.  Inevitably, he'd come while I was out there, and I'd always avert my eyes....I was embarrassed by the mess!  Over the weekend was obviously the worst!

On a positive note, many of my fellow Americans neighbors did not know that many of the items they buy in their German stores come packaged in returnable bottles, so we would regularly load up a crate and fill it with yogurt glasses, soda plastic bottles and of course beer bottles and the occasional rack of beer.  If the container says "Pfand" on the label somewhere, it is worth something (although you won't find that sticker on beer bottles...it's just assumed those get turned in).  We found so much of that stuff, that my husband was able to support and pay for his beer habit just by turning in these misdirected bottles and jars!  I am totally being serious here! 

The Germans do bottle turn-in so high tech too...you go to your local store and look for a machine where people are putting their bottles in. You put the bottles in one at a time or by the rack, and the machine will scan the bottle and determine how much it is worth.  It keeps adding up the money, and when you are done, push the green button and get a ticket.  This ticket has a euro amount on it, and you can turn it in at check-out to either get the money back or get that amount off your next purchase.  It's very simple, and honestly, I wish more would use it instead of throwing money away.  Just to give you an idea, this group of guys returned 140 CASES of beer!  I included the link to show you what the machine typically looks like and how easy it is.  Look for a sign that says "Pfand Rueckgabe".

Here in Belgium, we have less recycling going on...the Belgians are not as diligent as the Germans unfortunately....but, that does translate into less work.  What makes it so ingenious I think, is that each municipality or area charges you by the BAG.  So the more trash you have, the more you personally will pay for that privilege.  You go to a local grocery store and buy either the white "everything can go in there" bag (you buy a pack which costs over 8 euro) or the blue recyclable bags that take plastic and metal basically.  As you can probably tell, the blue bags are much cheaper.  Of course, that means we try to stuff as much as we can into the blue bags which get picked up every other week.  Paper, doesn't go into any bag but also gets picked up every other week, rotating with the plastic.  You just have to stack it neatly by the curb.  The white bags get picked up once a week, and like I said....anything goes in there, although I like to take non-recyclable bottles (which are almost all bottles except for beer bottles) to the local recycling center...each community has one...you can also take bulk and yard trash there, as there is only one pick up a year for that kind of stuff.  Many also use the recycling center on SHAPE which is open every weekday (closed for lunch).  I've noticed some REALLY cheap people using the "everything" dumpster over there for their regular everyday garbage...I guess the DH goes to work every day with the trash in tow as part of his routine....I've seen people do it in Germany too when they didn't want to buy the stickers for living off-post. I don't know...I do a lot to save money...but that's a bit excessive if you ask me...and probably wrong!

And that about wraps up the garbage!  Funny, how no one ever talks about it....but everybody has it and deals with it on a daily basis.  If there is another place that has an interesting trash collection method, I'd love to hear it....it's been that kind of day!

When are the German Stores Ever Open on Sundays?

I recently received an email from a confused American in Germany.  Now don't make a joke...this is serious, as it involves shopping.  This certain lady asked why sometimes, she can drive through her town on a Sunday and all the stores are open, and everyone seems to be "in the know" except for her.  The next Sunday, she decides to try it too...and everything is closed again with imaginary tumbleweeds going thru there it's so quiet.  So what's the scoop with that?  Why are some stores open sometimes, and why are other stores open other than sometimes?

Let me try to explain....as you may know, the Germans have been VERY resistant through the years to open stores, as a general rule, on Sundays.  Believe it or not, it was like that in the US...many, many years ago, before it became the land of always 24 hours.  The Germans always believed that their society would be "ruined" if they started allowing stores to break that last bit of sacredness, by opening on Sunday....no, not for religious reasons, although that does sound pretty good.  I think it has something to do with the labor laws and compensation or something in that direction...or at least that is the official party line, so yes, there is some valid reasoning behind it.

At some point in the government, someone decided there is much more revenue to be had on Sunday and darn it, those politicians wanted to be able to go get that bottle of wine or whatever last minute item on Sunday not to mention fresh rolls Sunday morning.  It started slowly at first with gas stations and stores near major transit hubs being allowed to open on Sundays and holidays.  Then it progressed a bit to include a few more, in particular some bakeries and such.  Then someone came up with this literally translated "sell open Sundays" or "Verkauksoffener Sonntags".

Many city governments and even smaller localities will get with retailers in their city center (or town center) to enable this....it'll happen almost once a month.  And how do you find out about it?  You can either check your city newspaper or the municipality's or town's website (not the tourist one, but the one for residents).  Many stores will also announce it ahead of time in their own literature as well, so keep an eye out there.  There is also a German website that lists some of the dates by region and then by town.  I don't know how complete it is, but I do see plenty of listings there.

Now if I could only figure out the equivalent in French, cause I see many of the towns do it here, at least around the holidays!

New tire regulations for Germany (important)

I know that Americans used to debate whether it was required by law or not to have winter or all weather tires in Germany when the weather warrants it.  Well, now it has officially become law to the point of a police officer being able to stop your vehicle if you do not have winter or all weather tires and fining you and putting points on your license.  Also....

in addition to this 40 euros you'll pay, if you cause any kind of accident, you'll pay another 40 euros plus most likely be held at fault and be responsible for damages which could of course run into the hundreds or thousands.

So, ADAC Motorwelt, the ADAC monthly magazine, is recommending you put winter or all weather tires on your vehicle from October to Easter (Oktober bis Ostern, O to O to make it easy for Germans to remember).  Do remember that there are also other options for tire purchases in Germany besides the economy (very expensive) and the PX (expensive).  My favorite is Tirerack.com (good prices) where I recently purchased my all-weather tires, arriving here in just under a week.  Be sure to get it done before the mad rush at the local repair shop!

Where Can I See Movies in English?

Being overseas, we're allowed to crave our American TV and movies.  Believe it or not, there are quite a handful of theatres, and I bet not too far from your overseas location that play movies...in English.  I still remember watching "Avatar" on one of the largest 3-D screens in Europe, in Berlin....in English.  How did I know which theater and which showing to attend?

Simple....just google the name of your nearest decent-sized city (whether you are in Germany, Belgium or wherever)...and type the name for movies ("kino" in German as an example).  You should see some pop up in your area.  Go to their website (and use Google Translator if you need to navigate around at first and find the actual moving listings, dates and times).

After you see the title of the movie listed, look for the initials "OV", which means "original version" (or "Version Originale" in French).  So if it's an American or US-made movie, it'll be shown in English, for those showtimes that list "OV" or "VO".  Obviously, if it's a movie made in Spain, it'll be in Spanish.  You get the drill.

Here in Belgium, many of my fellow Shapians go up to the Kinepolis Imagibraine (or even the one up in Brussels if you want to make a day of it at (and visit the Antonium and other sites in that area).  You will also see the movie with subtitles while you are watching your American movie (French or German subtitles respectively), but guess what?  This should help you learn the language...so it's all good in the end!

For a movie that's REALLY popular ala "Edward & Bella, the Movie", and some of the 3D premiere showings, you can even reserve your seats and pay for your tickets online (if you have online banking).  You can do this months ahead of time for peace of mind....so, if you are really itching to see something that is coming up soon....keep your eyes PEELED.  I like to get the daily podcast, New Movie Trailers to keep up on the latest movies coming down the pipeline.  Get them daily on your IPOD or other MP3 player.

Of course, let me also plug AAFES and your local AAFES movie theater.  We don't have to wait as long for new releases as we used to wait, and they do try to keep the prices down for us folks overseas.....not fond of the censorship on which movies they will and will not play here (such as the new Pat Tilman movie which did not make the overseas line-up)....but I guess that's a topic for another day for someone else's blog.

Mobile Phone Choices While Stationed in Germany (and Elsewhere in Europe)

I never got around to finishing up this post about cell phone choices in Germany.  Fact #1:  Cell phones in Germany are about two years more advanced than cell phone technology in the States.  Fact #2:  More Germans go the pre-paid route than the contract route.  Fact #3:  Don't call it a cell phone but call it a "handy".  Which is best for you in Germany?  Let's go over the pros and cons of each and then you decide.

Cell phone standards are different in Europe (actually the entire world) than the US.  We always have to do things the opposite, don't we!  The Europeans use GSM cell phone technology. This is why most times, your US cell phone will not work over here.  You can read more about GSM technology here. I believe some handys, like IPhones, do have GSM technology, and can be used anywhere in the world

There are a variety of mobile providers in Germany to include T-Mobile, Vodafone and O2 to name some of the big ones.  Before you buy any phone or plan, check with your military spouse, as many are issued handys over here, and you don't want to be on one network while he is on the other.  You'll just end up spending more money calling from one provider's network to another's.

Even though I was on a plan in the States, I realized I wouldn't be talking as much on the phone over here....and I didn't.  It would take me months to go through the minutes on one prepaid card, and when I needed more, I could buy more minutes from almost any German store (look at the checkout for these little displays by the cigarettes; pick your provider and choose a 10, 25 or 50 euro ticket or other denominations may be available too).  You then take that ticket to the cashier, pay, and your receipt will have a phone # and code you call to add minutes.  The PX also sells them at the checkout (in dollars at their exchange rate) and also the TKS store on some posts, which is where you can also set up home phone, cable TV and handy service (and purchase phones).

I bought my prepaid phone for around $20 at the gas station on Patch Barracks in Stuttgart.  It is my understanding that some PXes and Shopettes sell these very basic prepaid phones (not all).  These come locked (all the ones I've seen were from Vodafone) and with their own SIM card already inside.  You just charge the battery and start using it, no registration required.  It already comes preloaded with some minutes.  There are also numerous stores, including the provider stores throughout the major German shopping areas.  For example, in Sindelfingen, you can find all three of the providers I mentioned, with their own stores, at the Stern Center and Breuninger Land shopping centers.

If you are a gabber, or feel you need one of the better technology phones in Europe and want a contract, BEWARE.  They are mostly for two years, and you cannot get out of it, even if you PCS (it is not like in the US).  Be prepared to pay up if you leave early.  Also, you must have a German bank account established before purchasing one.

With contracts, as any contract in Germany, you must give them a few months' notice in writing of any cancellation, even when your two years is drawing near.  I believe this is required by law.  Otherwise, at the two year mark, they may debit your bank account and continue your contract.  You pay through your local bank account and not by credit card, as you do many other German bills (unlike the States where you can pay by credit card).

Also, if you have a contract phone, and you lose or damage it....you are liable.  I know someone who lost an IPhone and had to pay close to 500 euro to the their mobile provider.

Remember that prepaid SIM cards have only texting and call capabilities, so if you put a prepaid SIM card into an IPhone as an example, you most likely won’t be able to use the IPhone to its full capability.

Before you choose a mobile provider, talk to others in your area.  For example, in the Stuttgart area, I had Vodafone and had no problem calling people (or receiving calls) inside the thick walls of the PX or any building on post.  I can't tell you the times that I've had people with T-Mobile complain about the "no reception" inside the PX and other buildings on post.  In fact, in the building where I worked, people with T-Mobile had to go outside to make calls.  Again, know your limits.

If you are doing prepaid, you can sometimes earn free text messaging.  Because I uploaded 50 euro at one time once, I earned 5,000 free text messages....obviously, I was never able to use them all up!

Even though I purchased our first prepaid phone thru the PX, our second one I ordered on Amazon.de for around 6 euro and had delivered to our German address.  It was actually a nice Nokia, bright red, AND it came unlocked.  After it arrived, I had to put in some codes from an email they sent me to get it working and with the starter 5 euro worth of minutes to boot (so I guess the phone itself was only 1 Euro)!  The great thing about this phone is that I was able to use it in Belgium right away after we moved.  I just put in a Belgian SIM card from one of the providers here.

Keep your documentation that comes with your prepaid phone.  Most prepaid phones ask you for your PIN when you turn it back on after having it off.  Enter the wrong PIN 3x, and you'll have to enter a PUK code, which is also in your documentation.  It is a longer number.  Keep these numbers away from your phone in case you lose it (so no one else can turn it on or off and use it)!  If you lose both numbers, you can try to contact your provider, but they really have no way of knowing if you are the true owner of the phone, so you may be SOL on getting it working again, unless they allow you to register it with them by sending in proof of ownership (and a copy of your passport).  Guard these numbers...memorize your PIN at the very least!!!!

You can change your language to English with all the providers.  All messages will probably be in German at first.  If you have trouble understanding, go to your provider's store, and they will help you do that.  Most if not all reps speak English.

Once you have a locked prepaid phone for two years, you are released from having it locked and can unlock it.  As I said, I was able to take our Vodafone prepaid phones, unlock them and use Belgian SIM cards in them.  The SIM cards do not cost extra when you buy prepaid minutes.  For example, you pay 10 euro for a SIM card, and that 10 euro counts against your minutes.  It is the same in Germany.  You unlock your Vodafone handy, as an example, by typing *#06# into your mobile phone.  A number will come up, which is your IMEI (identification #) for your particular phone.  Take this number and go to this site.  Type in the IMEI # on the site and the next page will give you your unlock code.  Then, take your new SIM card, whether from the same provider, a different provider in Germany or one in another country, and pop that in behind the battery.  When you turn your cell phone back on, it'll first ask for your PIN.  Put in the PIN for the new card.  Then it will ask for your unlock code.  Put that in, and your handy is automatically unlocked.  Now you can change your SIM card at will.  Let's say you plan to stay in Italy for a few months.  Go ahead and get an Italian SIM card and pop it in.  No new unlocking is needed.  Just be sure to give your family and friends your new phone number.  Each SIM card comes with its own phone number.  If you have another handy provider, and want to find the instructions online, type in "handy, entsperren, and name of provider".

Updates:  For some brand name handys such as Nokia and Sony, there is an extra step you have to do to unlock your phone - Sony Ericcson handys will have a screen come up, something to the effect of "please insert the correct SIM card", to get out of that screen press the back button, then **, then back button again.  This will give you a new screen, choose the first network choice, then enter your unlock code.  This should unlock it.

With a Nokia handy, after you put in the new SIM card and new PIN, you must type in #pw+________________#  .  The underlined portion is where you will add the unlock code you received.

Other brand name phones may have additional requirements.  If your unlock code does not immediately work by itself, then do a Google search for the brand name of your phone and "unlock".  Many UK websites have video tutorials and instructions I noticed, showing the extra keys that must be typed in.

Once we arrived in Belgium, I had two extra basic Vodafone generic handys that I had purchased from a neighbor and that I only had the PINs for and no PUK codes.  One I unlocked just fine.  The other, we accidentally entered the old PIN wrong 3x, so we were permanently locked out with no PUK code!  I emailed Vodafone and within a day, they asked me for a copy of my passport and had me fill out a form "proving" that I was the true owner of the phone (they took my word for it really).  Once I did that, they emailed me my PUK code, and I was able to unlock it.

And those are certainly the highlights!  If you have any more tips to add, please add them below!

Your Own Personal City Guide

Having worked in the tour industry over here, I can see how expensive tourguides can be for those ubiquitous city tours. In my last job, we paid anywhere from 40 to 200 Euro to pay a guide for 1-2 hours for a nice little tour through their city or town. What if you, as an average tourist, had this luxury (without the great expense)...in your pocket no less.

On my own travels, I will frequently look for audioguides I can download to my mp3 player. Any mp3 player will do, although I am still partial to my Zune player. Google the name of the city and "mp3" or "audioguide" or try some of these sites below:

• iAudioguide

• Paris Audioguides

I've also found that my Garmin Navigation device will let me download Points of Interest (POIs) along with photos of sites you are passing and the corresponding audio. Neat stuff. You can find some below:

• GeoTours Xchange
  

Alternatively, many of the more tourist-visited cities have regular tours throughout the day, that either meet at their tourist bureau, their main train station or some other central location. These can really be lowcost at around 5 euro per head. Google the name of the city and "tourist" to find their tourist bureau website, and then follow the links for "individual tours" or "city tours". Typically you show up at certain times of day at a designated location and then pay your guide after the tour is over.

Which city tour has been your favorite and where have you found lowcost tours?

Help! I am moving overseas and have some questions!

Ah, the PCS season is upon us yet again this year! It caught me completely by surprise until I saw a half dozen moving trucks on my street all in the space of a week. My kids are also lamenting the loss of some of their friends. I've also cooked a meal or two, played taxi service and watched a few pets to help out where I could. Isn't it nice how, in a military community, you can rely on others to help out? I've also noticed my inbox is more full than usual, all with questions on peoples' upcoming moves. Please be sure to read my moving articles, as I do answer a lot of your questions there. The two questions I received today are listed below - involving traveling with multiple children and learning the host language after arrival.

Question:

Hi, My husband has been stationed in Hohenfels Germany, he's already there, and I will be flying over with my 2 sons (3 & 1 yr old) by myself. I've read as many tips from everywhere as I can but when it comes to requesting my tickets from TMO - I was wondering if you can tell me what to expect. Can I request a bulk head row? Can I ask for certain flying times? I thought if I could fly out of the international airport at night, it might go better for my kids. Is there anything I should know about flying by myself? Have you done it? I have a dozen questions and no one to ask. Like - Can I take a double stroller? How many carry ons do I get? How many pieces of luggage? HOW AM I GOING TO GO TO THE BATHROOM ON AN AIRPLANE WITH 2 SMALL BOYS!!!??? I've never used one of those cart things, how would I go about asking for one? I read somewhere you can sometimes get a bassinett for the plane ride? Have you heard of that?

Answer:

I have flown with two little ones. I took a stroller with the babycarrier/carseat for the little one. For the older one, I had a boosterseat (airplane approved) which I had in a huge diaperbag with supplies for both. I checked the older one's carseat at the front and got it before we got in the car at our destination. I then also had a backpack for myself and a frontpack baby carrier to carry the little one when my arms got tired and for when I wanted to load up the stroller with my bags. The stroller you can take all the way to the plane. You can gate check it, which means you'll get it back immediately after you arrive at your destination as you walk off the plane.

As far as on the plane, the flight attendants are very helpful if you have to use the bathroom. They always wanted to come by and hold the baby and the little one stayed in his seat with no issues when I flew. I just had his favorite things in his diaper bag...and this was before portable DVDs...didn't need them. The droning sounds of the plane are soothing and as long as the kids don't have ear problems, they should be fine. When you hear a screaming baby on the plane, it is almost always their ears and the pressure....do a google search for relief as it involves hot water and cups to relieve the pressure...sucking helps too, so pacifiers, bottles, breastfeeding, whatever it takes. Mine are 20 months apart, and I flew when the little one was 4 months old.

When you make your travel arrangements, ask about the bassinet. I am not familiar with them myself. Typically airlines keep the bulkhead seats to sell last, as this gives the airline and the flight attendants some flexibility in seating and helps when you have someone who needs more room or whatever. Go ahead and request the bulkhead, considering your situation, they might give it to you. Oh, one thing I almost forgot, at least from the East Coast, overseas flights leave in the early evening, so it fits in with what you are requesting.

You're not going to see those luggage carts until you get to baggage claim. Most have a money slot (so have quarters and 1 euro pieces with you as I have heard a quarter can be used instead of a 1 euro piece)...and then you return them to get your money back (German grocery stores do this with their carts too...the US should do it and maybe there wouldn't be carts all over the parking lots).

I would get one of the skycaps to bring your luggage to the check in. I hope I answered most of your questions.


Question:

My husband and I are from Puerto Rico and he just got his assigment to move in work in Baumholder Germany. Us being from PR and you must know this is a total change for us.

I'm worried about a few things already but I'll be checking some stuff out using your blog information. My husband sent me a program to start learning German, but I find it a little difficult to understand and I read in some part of your blog about German classes. Is this available on Baumholder base for the spouses?

Answer:

You should find that your base has both conversational German classes (typically run by the inprocessing center or the USO or some other entity) and then "real" German classes at the college level which you'll find at the education center. These are more intensive (you learn all the rules, etc) and cost more. The conversational should not cost more than 100 euro per 5 week term.

I think it's great that you'll be learning German. Many don't even bother as English is widely spoken, but it always shows class when you at least try to learn the language of your host language and you'll find the Germans respect you more for it.

Thanks again for your questions and enjoy your weekend!

My Two Cents on Edelweiss Lodge and Resort in Garmisch

I promised to review the Edelweiss Lodge and Resort in Garmisch so here I am following through on at least one promise I made recently....or actually awhile ago...sorry. I have only stayed at the resort twice and was a day visitor once. Here are my impressions:

The resort is inside a secure compound with gateguards. This is a plus if you are of a more cautious nature, although I can tell you, I've never had any fear staying anywhere in Germany on the economy. I've stayed numerous times in small hotels and bed & breakfasts and felt safe there as well.

As you drive up, it is an impressive place...and large. I believe it has around 300 rooms. The first time we visited, it was during a four day holiday weekend during the holidays. Yes, it was beautiful walking into the foyer and breathing in the high mountain lodge atmosphere. That lasted all of two seconds before the first posse of kids cut me off in the large foyer. The place was hoppin'....with no parents in sight anywhere. Packs of kids, as young as four years old, ran around "loose" all around the resort, up and down the elevators and running and yelling through the halls. We only came by to have a meal at their Marketplace buffet area and to use the pool, which I think had a $10 fee for non-guests.

The pool was packed to the gills....as was the hot tub....kids everywhere. The rules say, no children in the pool area without a parent, but I'm not sure if this was followed on this visit. We did eat at the buffet, where there were overturned bowls, spilled food and a general array of messiness. It's no wonder my entire family got really sick the next day. This was the only meal that all of us partook in, so it was obviously suspect. The quality of the food was also suspect in that it was overcooked, watery and not fresh.

My second trip to Edelweiss Resort was with the boys to attend a conference. They price the rooms according to your sponsor's rank. I am thinking we paid around $125 a night, strictly for a room. We went during the week and found the atmosphere totally different than during our last visit. It was relaxed and somewhat peaceful. We must've had a handicapped room, as the floor space in the room (with two queen size beds) and the roomy bathroom was enough to conduct an Olympic gymnastic floor routine. We were also towards the back of the lodge, down one of the shorter hallways that ended in a dead end, so almost no foot traffic outside our door.

We only ate breakfast in the Marketplace, which was fine and lots of typical breakfast buffet choices. It was much more orderly than the last visit, and no, we did not get sick. We did eat dinner the night before at Zuggy's Base Camp, which was typical burgers and accoutrements fare. My 11 year old remarked that the portions could've been larger. I was never asked how my burger should come, ie well done, rare, etc....so it came about as well done as it could be.

The pool also was much quieter, and now that I was here a bit longer, I could tell the resort was starting to show some wear around the edges. Alas, I think it has taken some abuse just from the sheer volumes of visitors and will need some refurbishing soon.

Our third visit, was as a family of four. We attended a reintegration weekend of two overnights and a marriage seminar given by our unit chaplain. This was at no cost to us. Our children were also able to come and participated in some of the kids' activities and had a great time with some of their friends. This time, we had two rooms, each with two queen-size beds. The kids of course loved this...on second thought...my husband and I did too. Even though we didn't get adjoining rooms, they were right across the hall, and we did brief them on emergency situations and such and told them not to hang over the balcony and create a scene.

Since the Marketplace was included for all our meals, we decided to give it another chance. We did have a larger crowd than when I came with the kids, but it was not nearly as bad as the holiday season....still bearable. The hot tub was closed for a day and a half due to repairs, but they must've fixed it as it was open our last night there. The lodge also enforced the "no kids in the hot tub after 8:30 pm" rule, which was nice. I was amazed at how many little kids were still whoopin' and hollerin' in the pool right before closing at 10pm.

Oh, the Marketplace...they tried really hard with a Bavarian night with sauerkraut and wursts along with pork roast and some other fare, but they really shined the next night with the prime rib. It was very good. So I'm guessing it depends on which headchef is on duty that day. The second night, it seemed they were more attentive with the food being put out and the presentation of all the dishes, both hot and cold. As I said, high marks for the second night and as a highlight, and as a bonus, no one in my family got sick.

Our room location though was very bad...it was down the third leg of a very long hallway...not quite at a dead end, but it was still been on a major approach path. I am amazed at parents who allow their children to run up and down the hall after 10pm at night....no manners or supervision yet again. It's a good thing we hadn't planned on sleeping for awhile just yet.

All in all....yes, it's a nice place to stay, but it's not all what it's cracked up to be. As I said, I've stayed in nice bed and breakfasts all throughout Garmisch and Partenkirchen at half the price. I still love the German continental breakfasts with the boiled eggs and fresh rolls, meats, cheeses and jams. We stayed in one last year, where everything was homemade and the chickens were right outside our window in the grassy field next door.

I have a friend who swears by the Familotel Leiner in Garmisch. It is part of a national chain, but each hotel isprivately owned and all focus on families with small children. My friend (with four kids) was amazed at all the high chairs, strollers, sleds and things they had for her use. Her bill, much cheaper than ours, even included breakfast and dinner. Dinner was such a nice experience for her, as they had a playroom for the kids, right off the dining room, and they didn't have to worry about fussy kids...for once, she was actually able to enjoy dinner. The rooms had adjoining bathrooms, and the kids had a separate bedroom. They took VAT forms as well. I always take one along when I travel and am never shy when I make a major purchase or pay for a hotel room. You'd be surprised at how many do take the VAT and are familiar with it.

So, that sums it up. Yes, if you can get in, go for the Edelweiss. Do realize that at many times a year, getting a reservation is almost impossible. Follow their guidelines on their site and know that for the holidays, they do use a lottery system now. Stay away on those four day holiday weekends and during the December and January holidays, especially if you don't like screaming kids. Don't discount the many bed and breakfasts, and give them a chance. We still like them, especially when we are traveling with our dog...forbidden at Edelweiss Resort. Remember, you can still enjoy the resort and amenities, even if you are not a guest.

If you have any things to add, please do so below.

No Waiting Outside for Dogs in Germany

Our dog absolutely loves it over here. In fact, I think he believes he's even more of a person than what he thought back home. Whenever we go out on the economy, he gets to go along. It's no wonder we see dogs everywhere. Did you know it's illegal to leave a dog alone at home for even just a few hours and God forbid you ever tie up your dog outside?! That would warrant a visit by the Polizei!

And with that, here is my incomplete list of where I've seen dogs and their owners in my journey throughout Germany, where I probably normally would not expect to see a doggie in a similar place in the US:

• the local mall - yes, doggie shops with me in the stores, and then when we take a break at the cafe, he lies at my feet
• any good restaurant - all good doggies are allowed here...no begging and stay under the table
• the hardware store
• the clothing store
• the Rothenburg Crime Museum - yes, I was surprised to see one here too
• the subway and the train - yep, they're allowed, at least in Germany
• many, many small B&Bs and hotels - the only place that wouldn't allow our dog was the American Edelweiss Resort in Garmisch
• the flowershop

Where have you see dogs in Germany?

Buyer Beware in Germany - Contracts

PCS Season is right around the corner. At least 75% of you who are moving back to the States this year will be going through the motions this summer. Hey, I got time, right? Wrong! The Germans look at contracts a whole heck of a lot different than we do in the States. Here are some things you should be thinking about now.

Germany is a land of order, and with that, you must cancel your contracts in writing. Most services and companies require you to do this at least three months out. Check your bills now. See what you are paying automatically, ie what is being taken out of your account every month, every quarter, or in the case of ADAC (the German version of AAA), once a year. See what else is going out every month and make a list of names and phone numbers you'll have to call.

Many of these services have forms you can fill out and fax in or mail in. Find out what they are now by calling or writing them. Call them and say you are moving in five months and for them to send you the forms or ask what you need to do. If you get something and can't read it, stop by your local Army Community Service, as they typically have someone on staff who can read German and can translate for you on the spot.

Here are some of the bills you may have:

• Electric
• Heating
• Water
• Landline Phone
• Cell/mobile phone
• ADAC
• in country car insurance
• TV or satellite service
• Internet
• Rental contract

Please be sure though you stop by the housing office before you send anything into your landlord. You want to make sure that you are indeed leaving, because if you turn in your termination notice, and then later you don't move, the law will be on your landlord's side, and you maybe be forced to move. Be cautious with that one.

If you know of any other contracts or things you may have to cancel, please post them here.

Things about Neuschwanstein I Didn't Know and Other Visiting Tidbits

We did end up going to Neuschwanstein and its "sister" castle, Hohenschwangau this week. Here, the weather is piss poor, muddy and cold too...not fun holiday weather. Down in Schwangau, where these castles are located, there was still snow, it was sunny with breathtaking views and snow glistening off the castles and dusting the trees and surrounding forest...what a sight! And all only two hours from where we are stationed. It really makes me realize we should make the effort to get out more. While at the castles, I did learn a few fun facts. I'm also glad we prepped ahead and planned our journey and reserved tickets ahead of time. It made the day much more enjoyable and I can honestly say it was stress free!

We planned ahead by picking a day where it wouldn't be as crowded as usual. The ticket office phone center (yes, they do speak English) was able to help me pick the best day to visit. I also was able to reserve our tickets online for a small fee. When we arrived, I breezed past the throngs of people waiting in line and picked up our tickets....all in a timespan of 15 minutes from parking to getting on the footpath to our first stop, Schloss Hohenschwangau, the Mad King Ludwig's boyhood home.

To recap:

• Pick a day that historically, is not as busy as others (which can be difficult at these two castles, two of the most treasured German points of interest). Yes, we had crowds but nothing like it would've been on an overloaded day. There is a new tour going thru Neuschwanstein EVERY FIVE MINUTES (who was the genius who made that run so efficiently I wonder?). Also make sure you check their website for their holiday schedule and any other special events that may draw huge crowds or close the castles.
• Check the weather report online. We didn't mind that it would be cold, but I think we would've minded wet and cold. If you are a diehard, you may benefit though from bad weather...smaller crowds I would think. Many of the crowds on this fine December day were taking a break from their daily skiing.
  
• If you have a GPS, go ahead and program it in. Also check that your car is in working order, and if it's winter, be sure you have "winter items" in your car. We made the mistake of not checking the washer fluid beforehand....ooops.
• Follow this checklist before any major outing. You'll thank yourself later for it.
• Pack a lunch. Most likely, you'll arrive around lunchtime, and we were able to leisurely eat while we waited for our tour time at the first castle.

They run the tours like absolute clockwork. When you reserve your tickets online, you also reserve your tour language and time you'd like to tour. The latest you can pick up your tickets before your tourtime, is one hour before, so be sure to plan enough time to drive down, get parking and walk up to the ticket center, where you pick up those tickets (and pay for them). We were running about 20 minutes behind schedule, but our reservation that we downloaded from the internet had a handy phone number you could call to change your tour times....no problem at all.

Once we arrived, we parked in one of the lower parking lots. You do pay a small fee. If you stop at the bathroom by those lots, be sure you have some Euro, as a visit costs ,50 cent a pop. Bypass all these souvenier shops. If you must have something, buy trinkets directly at either of the castle giftshops...you'll save about 10-20% off the price. I was surprised to see they didn't have any of their Christmas items on sale....at any of the stores. If you park in the upper lots closer to the castles, you'll end up paying more and have to navigate around the throngs of people who ignore you as you try to drive by them or have to contend with horses and wagons and big tour buses.

Many tourists come just to visit Neuschwanstein, so the crowds at Hohenschwangau are thin. If you buy tickets for both castles, a package deal, they route you thru Hohenschwangau first. Be prepared for lots of walking of steps and of course the road or trails up to Neuschwanstein. I don't know what the Italian family was thinking, pushing their 90 year old grandmother up to Neuschwanstein. I know each tour had tons of steps within each castle.....if you have trouble with stairs, call the ticket office and ask about wheelchair accessible tours. Perhaps there is another option for those not able to walk. I seriously hope so for poor grandma.

Yes, there were horse drawn wagons...no, not carriages...taking people up to Neuschwanstein, for a fee. Feel free to wait....a LONG TIME to get on one. We just hoofed it on our own. It's a leisurely walk along a paved road to the top. There are also numerous trails through the woods, which were all closed due to the snow and ice. Even the Marienbruecke was closed. This spot offers some fabulous views of Neuschwanstein. The buses that typically run up to Neuschwanstein were also not running, as the roads were a bit too icy going up. The walk takes about 30 minutes at a leisurely pace, and should be your first choice.

Now for a few bits of information my kids enjoyed hearing on the tours (have the kids up bully their way up front to be near the tourguide and hear what is being said):

• King Ludwig's brother, who should have inherited the throne, Otto was his name....turned mad, ie crazy at the age of 24. Wonder if that had any bearing on what they said about Ludwig?
  
• King Ludwig's mother married his father at the young age of 16. Both parents had their own floors at Hohenschwangau castle and the kids were relagated to a building just outside the main building. So much for family togetherness.
• One of the parents' wedding gifts, from over 150 royal Bavarian families, was a battle ax and shield...how romantic and newlywed-oriented.
• There is a loaf of bread on display under glass in Hohenschwangau that is well over 100 years old.
• King Ludwig did have wedding plans but chickened out a few days before the event with no explanation.
• King Ludwig's father Maximillian had a brother who became the King of Greece. This is why the Greek flag has the Bavarian colors of blue and white.
• King Ludwig overextended his finances to a point of being heavily in debt and before the bank could gain control of all his castles and assets, the Bavarian State had him declared crazy so they instead could gain control of everything. Without this move, Neuschwanstein may not have been a public treasure.
• The last surviving relative of Hohenschwangau died in 1912, and the next year, the first tour was conducted. Since Neuschwanstein belonged to King Ludwig and not other family members, his castle was opened up to the public much earlier.

Have you been to either of these two castles? Do you have any tips to share?

Giddy with Ornaments

So I went to the Weihnachtsmarket this weekend, aka the Christmas Market...now I remember why I love Germany. There is just something different over here when you stroll by the stalls, filled to the rafters with all kinds of goodies to eat and drink, traditional Gluehwein but also beer, wine and other liquid pleasures....not to mention Lebkuchen, Nuernberger little wursts, the ubiquitous crepes filled with everything under the sun and then some....and who can forget all the German pastries and cookies...and this time around, we stumbled upon a traveling Finnish section and indulged in elkburgers and smoked salmon...is this the life or what? The day was clear, bright and crisp...a traditional German day at the market with people bundled up but enjoying themselves. But food aside, I was on a mission...to find a traditional German Christmas ornament.

Tonight I am having the battalion ladies over for an ornament exchange. BTW, this is a low frills but entertaining and fun event. I like to do one every year. It's less labor intensive than a cookie exchange, and if you have everyone bring a dessert or appetizer...which also means minimal work for them...and you...usually....all you have to do is clean the house a bit and send out email invites...easy, right? Plus, it's nice to get to know more of the ladies in your unit, who may not otherwise come to the FRG meetings. It looks like we'll have a nice turn out, and one of our ladies already told me she was going to bring some special eggnog....uh oh.

So, let me end here...so I can finish cleaning the house. Luckily, I chose to put up Christmas decorations last weekend....still no tree...but the rest of it should make up for it. Oh, and my ornament...I found a beautiful handblown glass ornament, painted with a typical German winter scene....hope I can keep my hands off it long enough to give it away....sigh.

There's Nothing Like a German Christmas Market to Start Off the Season

It's almost the season. I've seen a Christmas tree or two in the stores already, but that is nothing compared to walking through a German Christmas Market. I love Christmas markets! Many open up this week. And we have all kinds here...from the small 20 vendor markets in a little village tucked in the hills, to the world famous Nuernberger Weihnachtsmarkt and everything in between. Not only do you find all kinds of authentic food vendors, but it is the season of Gluehwein on cold winter nights...and days...and unique Christmas gifts, wooden handcrafted items, Christmas ornaments and decorations and even the German version of "as seen on TV" items. The Christmas Market is a great place for a family outing, and every year we are in Germany, I find myself scouting out new ones. Now you can find them all in one place.

See Weihnachtsmarkt Deutschland for a list of ALL the German markets. Many even have their own websites. Before you go, you can find their operating days and hours, any outside entertainment and festivities as well as vendor information. Be sure to check it out.

Which market is your favorite?

A Little Piece of Heaven at Burg Hohenzollern

Today we dusted off the cobwebs from our hiking boots. We had a little slice of heaven today at Burg Hohenzollern! It's a fortress, perched high up on a hill in the Schwaebische Alb, near the Black Forest. We had weather in the 60s, and the leaves were changing into their bright colors of fiery red, burnt orange and bright yellow. I knew if we didn't go this weekend, we would miss these wonders of nature...and coming from Florida, believe it or not, where it got boring seeing the same thing...day in and day out....all throughout the year, this was a very welcome treat!

If you are going to make the trip....start out early in the day. We arrived around 10am, and there was already a line of about 70 people to get inside the fortress. Of course, you have to either walk up from one of the parking areas....2 Euros please to park.....or ride one of the buses that bullies its way around the hairpin turns, leaving you a little green around the gills at the top, as well as a pocketbook a few Euros lighter. We chose to ride up and walk down...which gives you the best of both worlds...a quick trip to the top to get in before the crowds...and a nice invigorating walk, albeit downhill, but still refreshing enough to get somewhat of a workout and to enjoy the magnificant views.

If you are interested in the history of the castle, please look here. We did go ahead and get the 3 Euro booklet that not only gives the history but gives a good overview of the tour of the inside. We realized....later...that there are only two English-speaking tours a day...ours was at 2pm, and we accidentally stood in lines of two German-speaking tours, so inquire where and when, so you don't waste any time.


Also, bring your own snacks, drinks and some water. There is a little imbiss stand up there, but the choices are pretty much limited to a wurst w/roll or a portion of french fries, or pommes. There is a restaurant inside, but i didn't even want to look and see what those prices would be. The gift shop also has standard fare, so bring along some of those little knights and horses for the kids, or anything related to castles and knights to keep the little ones engaged. They did have some interesting little kids' costumes, with real leather and very nicely made, but at 79 Euros...no thank-you...I didn't care my son suddenly wanted to be a knight for Halloween. We settled on a wooden sword for 5 Euro and a pencil sharpener in the shape of a knight...I guess they make pencil sharpeners out of anything.

I think the tour through the inside was well worth it. There were only about eight rooms or so to see, and surprisingly enough, in this particular fortress, the longest anyone actually lived in it...the current model that was completed in the mid-1800s...was five months. Does that remind you of another castle down South? I say the tour was worth it, because of the very last room...the former kitchen that now houses the Treasury. We saw lots of swords, armor, jewels and things from the royal household, including the Prussian crown and the dress worn by Queen Louisa when she went to beg Napoleon to spare her people...it didn't work unfortunately. This was the highlight of the kids' trip. They in particular liked looking at the King's uniform with the bullet hole through the chest. Why didn't he die? Cause the snuff box in his pocket saved his life....all on display for us to see. The kids also got a kick out of the story of the thief who came in and caused a real ruckus in the 1950s...how dare he smash the snuffboxes to smithereens, thinking if he smashed all those jewels up, no one would recognize them when he tried to pawn them on...well, they did.

Oh, and if you have a doggie, they can come along too. They just won't be able to go into the guided interior rooms tour. There is actually a doggie hitching post area with some water bowls, and they encourage well behaved doggies to have a rest while their owners go on the tour..how's that for dog lovers?

All in all, a wonderful and fun day. Definitely a five star visit for our family:-)) What trips have you recently enjoyed?

The Bag Craze

If you've spent any amount of time in Germany, you know the bag craze. There is a bag, purse, box or container for everything. You see them everyday...the little old ladies walking down the streets with bags on wheels, bigger than themselves, dragging their daily purchases behind them. Germany is basically a society with very little wasteful plastic bags and a place where people shop almost daily for their groceries. My God, if you want a bag in a store, they will provide them...but you'll have to pay extra for it. We could learn something here. I know in the States, some of the bigger chains, such as Walmart, are jumping on the bandwagon and are providing these cloth recylable bags. Even the commissary and PX have gotten into the game. But what if you think these bags are ugly? What if you don't want to carry a traditional wicker basket, such as many of the Germans do. Do something different and be the first on your block (unless you are already in Germany and have seen these)....

When I first came to Germany, I noticed these canvas high-tech looking colorful baskets that collapsed when not in use. You could store one under the seat of your car or in your trunk, laid flat and then pop it up when you needed it. They look very fashionable, come in a variety of colors and can even be purchased with a lid, so not everyone can peek inside to see what you bought. I started seeing more and more young German women with these things and many Americans over here have taken the plunge as well.

I was at the annual Ramstein Air Base Bazaar over the weekend. They had about 140 vendors with all kinds of pottery (yes, I saw two booths of Polish pottery), linens, leather bags, shoes, rugs, antique and new furniture....all the things you expect to see at a bazaar. I also saw a small display of these collapsible bags and finally figured out that only one company makes these, Reisenthel. They were priced at $49.95. Gee, that's a lot for a shopping bag...but it is very sturdy...and does collapse in such a neat way...I DO want one. But I held off. I was proud of myself. I had planned to check German eBay and online. Much to my surprise, they were selling like hotcakes on German eBay...wait, surprise is the wrong word....disappointed and crestfallen is more like it. I looked around online some more...it was the same price at many online German stores when I included the postage. I was beginning to feel sorry I didn't buy one to begin with, until I found ReusableBags. What a neat site, not only did they have these Carryall Bags I was interested in, but also lots of other neat things. I ended up buying the wrap and mat sandwich thing, cause I always did hate wasting all those plastic sandwich bags for the kids lunches and mine. I used my advice here and also got 20% off with the coupon code. That brought my new shopping bag to just under $32. Isn't it much more fun to get something at a good price than to pay top dollar for it?

Does anyone else use these market bags? Are you happy with it? Do you use recycleable shopping bags? How do you feel about plastic bags? To be honest, the only reason I even take some home from the comissary and PX is because they do make great dog poopy bags..but that's another story for another day.

German Toilets and the Display Shelf

Did you know American toilets use anywhere from two to three gallons of water for each flush? Do you know how much a gallon is? Do you realize that is a few bathtubs full at the end of the week depending on how many are in your family! That's nuts! No wonder Americans are known as the resource wasters of the world...and rightly so. Now here in Germany, you gotta love the ingenious way they are designed to save water. I am equally impressed with the industrial strength vacuum that accompanies every flush. But the one thing I am having the hardest time dealing with and teaching our children, is the added work of the display shelf.

There just is no other way to describe it. Almost every German toilet has a bend in the porcelain, where "things" can get "caught up", leaving a little bit behind if you know what I mean. And it's right there for all the world who uses your toilet to see. If my little ones could only throw down a perfectly square piece of kleenex, the toilet would at least look clean, after every time they have to do their duty.

But my older one insists that a "pre-flush" will do the trick. Well, why don't you do it then? He is all talk. I could just see him and his friends discussing German bathroom issues on the playground at school. Anyway, I have decided that THEY will clean their own toilet the next time. Maybe then they'll be more inclined to be a little neater. Are girls any neater with this kind of thing?

For those of you in Germany, what other quirky things have you seen?

Things to Buy BEFORE Moving/PCSing Overseas

It goes against the grain. When moving overseas, you should be getting rid of things, not buying more stuff! Well, I wish I had bought more stuff. I realized this the first day I walked into our PX and was faced with empty shelves, or the store clerk saying, "We don't carry that". I even tried a few German stores, but either the price chased me out the door, or they just didn't have it either. So now what? What gets to me the most right now, is our stupid cat, tracking litter and filth up and down the hallway. We are on our second litterbox....and have again struck out. Only a top entry litterbox will do for him apparently and much to my dismay, every store that sells these Clevercat litterboxes in the States does not ship to the APO because of its large size. I thought about trying the ShipitAPO.com service, but the litterbox is already oversize and items shipped through them must still follow the USPS guidelines. But, this is only an example of one of the many things I wish I had brought over. Here are some more.

• Our bed. Not the mattresses but the actual bedframe. We got rid of our rickety one right before we moved and thought we would look for one here. One, the German beds are a different size. Two, our selection at our PX furniture store is VERY limited and VERY pricey for beds.
• Little replacement doodads, clips and hardware. Yes, the PX has the basic supply of nails, screws and such. I've even had success at the German hardware store with some things. But try finding those special clips for my sideboard and entertainment center over here.
• Sheets, comforters and blankets. If your old ones are raggedy, then plan to buy these on sale before you move. Again, the PX is overpriced with such things and rarely do they go on sale, and I just hate paying all those shipping costs when I don't need to. I won't even begin to go into the poor selection of choices either.
  
• Any special pet products you may need. Here they are either not available at the PX or too expensive on the German economy. If your pet takes a prescription, try to get as much of it filled before you come. The onpost vet has very limited space, and you can forget it if your pet has an emergency. Ours books appointments two months out and first come first served. If you need to go to a German vet, you will pay through the nose. Yet another thing to budget for if you are bringing a pet overseas.
  
• Your favorite 110v appliance. The PX has a limited supply, and depending on the size and weight of your item, should you buy it while over here, it may be too cost prohibitive to ship or be over the USPS requirements for size and/or weight.

I'd say half of our neighbors traveled over here like minimalists. Most of their things are in storage. Many of them wish most of their things were not in storage. I got rid of all our kids' old bedroom furniture, and thought we would have a shopping spree at IKEA...but up til now, I've only had to buy them a workstation-desktype contraption. The furniture you can borrow from the government, at least where I am, is newer, lighter wood and IKEA-like, so it fit in perfectly with their decor. The only old piece of 1950s dark-wood furniture we have is our loaner coffee table, and it seems to fit in just fine with our antiques. For those living off-post, the biggest furniture hurdle seems to be no closet space. German closets are not built in with the house....neither is the kitchen...but that is another story for another day.

Anyway, those are the hightlights anyway...if I had to do things differently, that's my list. You learn from your experiences...and every one else's if you can.

What do you wish you had brought with you?

Cheap Eats on the German Economy

I had my first rude awakening when we paid for our first German meal. We had a few schnitzels, fries, okay a couple of good German beers and walked out 80 Euro poorer. That's about $115 dollars folks. We had to find a cheaper way of eating, especially knowing we'd be in the hotel for at least a month.

We've been here for just over a month now....we still don't have our stuff, but at least we moved up in the world and just got our stairwell apartment with borrowed government furniture and a loaner trunk full of kitchen supplies from the ACS lending closet. I have perfected about five meals I can cook that only require minimal utensils, a few pots and some salt and pepper. I refuse to buy more spices with my extensive collection on the way. That's how I ended up with three containers of paprika in the first place.

But I'm jumping ahead. While in the fancy Marriot Hotel, we did have a small refrigerator, where we dutifully moved out all the overpriced minibar minis, and put in our own stash of snacks, juice and milk. The "growing-boys-always-hungry" ate a lot of cereal in those four weeks. For lunch....easy...we ate German rolls with butter, meats and cheeses and some fruit and chips. For dinner, sometimes the same and sometimes a restaurant meal.

Restaurant meals were costing us anywhere from the Euro equivalant of $80-120 for a family of four. That's a big ouch in the wallet. We were visiting the ATM more often than I would've liked....but mom, we love schnitzel and a Swaebisch specialty called Maultaschen....and even Schweinehaxen (pork knuckes)...strange fare they never would've eaten in the US! So what's a mom to do with two very growing boys....eerrr actually three including DH....who liked their meat?

After two weeks of snooping around the economy with my frugal glasses on, I finally found some cheap eats that didn't mean a trip to the on-post bowling alley to eat greasy hamburgers or chicken strips or a visit to the Popeye's at the AAFES food court, plus these choices were a lot healthier for us anyway. Granted, these eating establishments are in the Stuttgart area, but there are similar choices all throughout Germany, you just have to know where to look.

Be sure to try these options...and yes, a lot of these I found just by following where the older crowds went to eat...it's just like in the States...the retired folks know where to get the most bang for their buck or should I say Euro.

• The local Donerkebab Stand. You see them everywhere. Ask the hotel where your nearest one is. You can get a Gyro or kebab, spit roasted meat...yes it's greasy....but they add tons of fresh veggies and tatziki sauce. Get it all with a drink for about $5.

• Your nearest IKEA store. Yes, this is the same Swedish furniture and household store they have in the States. Go upstairs to their sit-down restaurant and get a nice cafeteria-style meal with a salad and drink (free refills) for a family of four only paying 20 to 30 Euro! You can guess we came here often.

• The ubiquitous REAL Superstore. This is the German version of Wal-mart and this is why Wal-mart was dead in the water before they ever tried to take over Germany...yes, they tried. All REAL stores have a nice cafeteria with regional specialties, and you can get a nice schnitzel meal for about 8 Euro. Many of the other mega superstores also have cafeterias. REAL just happens to have a stronghold in our area, so we go there often.
  

• The cafeteria on the second floor of Sindelfingen's BreuningerLand. I absolutely love the industrial architecture in this place! They have all the food stations laid out, where you can really see what's on the menu. They have the best salads, with ingredients you don't see in the States, plus stirfry sections where you pick out what you want grilled in the wok and get your fare freshly prepared, right in front of you. I had a huge meal that I shared with my two boys one afternoon for about 6 Euros. There are Breuningerlands throughout Germany.
  

• Werner's Biergarten. This place happens to be in Sindelfingen, but many German locales have such a place. It is kind of like a greasy spoon where you order and then go get your goodies at a pick up window when your order is called, but they did have some fresh stuff, and since it was summertime, it was nice to sit out in their Biergarten (of course the beer flows freely). My Frikadelle (meatpatty) with potato salad and a drink was about 6 Euro.

• A local Volksmarch. Read more about the favorite German pasttime of Volksmarching in every Thursday's issue of the Stars and Stripes newspaper. There you'll find out where all the Volksmarches are for that upcoming weekend. You walk a designated route (5 to 20km) at your own pace, and get a prize at the end. You can also join the IVV and collect points and kilometers (this has become a real family outing for us). The best part is the local ladies who cook up a storm of vittles that is both inexpensive and filling. You can many times enjoy this feast with a local oompah band and hobknobbing opportunities with the locals. I've paid as little as 4 Euro for a plate of homemade potato salad, two slices of pork roast with gravy and a crisp green salad.

• The latest local Fest. The Germans have a Fest for anything and everything...better excuse to relax, kick back and have a beer than just sitting around at home. On any given week, there is at least one Fest in a 50 mile radius of where you are in Germany. Check your local USO or Thursday's Stars and Stripes again for Fests in your area. We went to the Hamburger Fischfest in downtown Stuttgart, and it was almost criminal, the plates full of fresh fish from Hamburg that we ingested for pennies on the dollar.
  

• The Le Rose Restaurant on Patch Barracks. This is an old stand-by for us. The Italian food is inexpensive compared to what you would pay on the economy for something similar, plus it is very close and convenient.

• The top floor restaurant of the chain department stores. Next time you are downtown, instead of stopping in a restaurant, go to the top floor of one of the major department stores. You'll be pleasantly surprised to find a fairly inexpensive cafeteria-style restaurant. Even if we don't eat lunch here, we like to pop in and have dessert once in awhile.

Do you have any cheap eats?