April 3rd-8th, 2014
3rd- Today after a very long day at work, even
longer for Heavens, we got ready and drove to our hostel in Leipzig the Space
Hostel. We checked in and relaxed while we waited, even took a little nap. Then
went to the airport to pick up Laura!! We were so excited each time someone
walked through the gate, Heavens had a sign and finally there she was!! YAY!!!
Then we all went back to the hostel and hung out talking and being excited she
was here!!!
4th- Today we got up early and ate breakfast at
the hostel before checking out and heading into town. We parked the car and then ventured into the
city. We walked around a bit looking for a church and finally found the Bach
museum and church. This is where Bach played, but only after two other people
rejected the offer. We looked inside the
church although I did not find it that pretty looking, especially the ceiling.
After we walked around, we tried to find the Stasi museum but we ended up
walking in the wrong direction. A nice man on a bike stopped us and gave us
directions. We finally found the museum but in the end it wasn’t really worth
it as everything was in Germany and we didn’t feel like paying for the English
audio so we looked around quickly, used the toilet and left. We decided to go
to another museum- Zeitgeschichtliches Forum which sounded cool and had an
American Way themed expo going on. Again
we got lost lol. A nice woman stopped us and helped us find our way whilst also
giving us some tips on the city. She was from Devon so that was cool. We got to
the museum and it was very cool. America stuff everywhere ande information on
how West Germany was helped by the US after the war. We travelled through the
different time periods seeing things that were common then. Then we went to see
the rest of the museum and saw the original checkpoint Charlie sign and Heavens
and I even got to listen to a lovely video in Germany from the German man who
did not listen when I said we only spoke English! Lol. It was however very funny!
Next we went to the little alley way the woman suggested for lunch and went to
an Irish pub, of course I had Guinness. Then we found Nickolach kirch- Nicholas
church which had a beautiful ceiling. It was really pretty inside and we really
enjoyed this church. After the church we picked up the car and drove to the
Volkerschlachtdenkmal. This monument was built after a battle to show victory
and is absolutely huge. We basically ran to it because Heavens had to pee and
after took some pictures. We didn’t go up it because it was quite a lot of
stairs and we were tired. Also it is kind of a dreary place to be, it did not
feel very happy so we didn’t stay long. Then we drove home and changed before
heading out to Glauchau for the Sternen Nacht- or starry night festival where
the shops were open late and there was music and food. We just walked around a
bit and did some shopping then headed home for pizza, wine and a movie- Crazy
Stupid Love. All in all it was a great first day with Laura and we really
enjoyed hanging out with her.
5th- today we got up early for breakfast made by
Heavens then got ready to go to Lichtenstein for Mini World! It was really cool
as we saw all the monumental sights from the big cities around the world…and
tiny cities in Germany, all miniaturized. We saw things like the Eiffel Tower,
Munich Airport, Taj Mahal, the Jesus from Rio, etc. It was cool but we thought
we would be there all day and we were only there about an hour and a half, so
it was okay. Cool to see once. After we went back to Meerane and went to the
hot chocolate café to have a hot chocolate and lunch. We relaxed there chatting
a bit then went home to watch Pitch Perfect before getting ready to go to the
American Diner for dinner with Annette and Manu. We ate good food and had
drinks and chatted for a long time. It was really nice and we had a great time.
6th- Today we got up for breakfast then drove to
Frankfurt to check into our Hotel Europa. It was very posh. Luckily they found
us a parking space and then we checked into our room which was fancy. Although
a bit weird as there were stickers on the window of the bathroom but it didn’t
cover the entire window so from your bed you could see into the shower in the
bathroom. Meaning you could see who was showering. So we had to make a
make-shift towel curtain. Then we walked into town to the National History
Museum. We got the English audio guide and started at the top with the mammals
and birds. Next we went to sea life and insects (although I skipped the spider
room). Almost all of the animals were once alive and now taxidermies. This was
a bit weird and I didn’t like it very much. Finally we went to the dinosaur and
large animal room which was cool seeing the dinosaur bones put together.
Overall it was an okay museum but I prefer to see my animals alive. I did learn
some interesting facts though on my guide. After the museum we walked to the tram
stop to go on the Ebbelwei express tram. This tram was very colourful and took
you around the city whilst giving you apple wine (made in Frankfurt) and
pretzels. It was actually really cool. We saw things we probably wouldn’t have
seen otherwise, we got to eat and drink, and it was really relaxing. We really
enjoyed it, especially the lady dancing to the music of the tram! Once our tram
ride was over we walked along the street and found an Italian restaurant for
dinner. Then we went back to the hotel to shower, relax, and play monopoly deal
before bed.
7th- What a day! Heavens and I got up really
early so that I could take her to her medical appointment for her green card.
We got ready and went for our free breakfast at the hotel…like I said posh!
Then I drove her to the place and we waited for it to open. After I dropped her
off, the fun began lol. On my way back I kept getting lost with all the weird
streets. Then I thought I was parking near our hotel (which later found out I
had if I had gone the other way) but instead wound up by the train station. So
on my walk back I found Nutella in my hair from breakfast. I waited for the
elevator and said hi to the woman who came out. Once in I was looking in the
mirror to make sure there was no more food in my hair and when the doors opened
I saw the same woman who had just gotten off and I was wondering how she
managed to get to the fifth floor so quickly when she told me I had gone to the
kitchen! Oh boy lol so I finally got back to our room and Laura was awake. She
told me she got up and was looking out the window and a man half naked was
looking out his window and they saw each other. Then twice more as she looked
out he was there lol. Then we went to have breakfast then checked out of our
hotel and put our bags in the car. Then we walked to the souvenir shop which
was closed so we walked along the street looking at all the shops then walked back
and the shop was open and we got some souvenirs but they didn’t have any badges
for Heavens and so Laura and I decided to try to find another shop. We looked
and looked and looked and couldn’t find any souvenir shops, although we did
find a very angry woman shouting in the street for a long time. Heavens
finished with her medical so she was going to walk to meet us as we were ten
minutes away from the car. On the way we stopped to get her a Starbucks and
when we got the train station she was not there. She had gotten lost and almost
a half hour later finally showed up, very upset as well. Not good. We then
drove to Eisnach to the Wartburg Castle. We parked and walked up the steep
steps to the top. It was beautiful. Not only was the castle beautiful but also
the view. We decided not to go inside the castle but we looked around outside
and found a tower you could go up for .50p. So cheap. So we walked up and
looked at the view from up there. Once finished we walked back down and drove
into town to find a place to eat lunch. We found this little restaurant with
amazing food. Then we drove home and
watched Sinister and Dinner for Schmucks whilst eating a German dinner-
bratwurst and sauerkraut. Then we ate our cakes from the hot chocolate café and
went to bed.
8th- Today was a day of mixed emotions. We
started the day with breakfast then we drove to Leipzig zoo. We walked around
looking at all the different animals. First we saw the birds and fish. The fish
were really cool there were some parts you could look through a magnifying
glass to see them up close and the fish liked to follow us in the tank. There
were even fish you could pet! Heavens got to see the sea horses up close. Then
we went to Gowandaland which was all enclosed but looked like a green house. We
went on the boat trip first which at first was really scary because it was like
a ride and all dark but then it got really cool with holograms and waterfalls.
It was one of my favourite parts, all relaxing and we even saw roaming monkeys!
Then we went to see the animals inside the land like the leopards, monkeys, and
my favourite the orang-utans. They were really cute, playing with each other
and even doing a maze for food! Then we went up the high ropes bridges to see
everything from high up which was cool but very scary as the bridges swayed so
I didn’t like it very much. We even got really close to one of the little
monkeys. Then we went to see the Elephants which were so cute! Laura loved
them! One even did a little dance for us! And if you lived across from the zoo
you could look out your window and see them! Heavens loved all the Buddha’s.
Then we got to my favourite part- the giraffes!!! YAY!! They were so cute and
in with the zebras which was cool! They had tons of space to run around! And we
decided this is probably where we will have our dinner in May. Which is so
cool! Next we saw the rhinos and meerkats, then the otters which make a creepy
cat like noise that I had no idea they did that! We stopped to have lunch along
the way and when we finished seeing everything we decided to go back to the
sloths as when we first went there we couldn’t see them. We went back and again
we couldn’t see them but there was a zoo keeper in with them so when she came
out Heavens asked where they were and if we would be able to see them. She said
they were hiding in the trees but in an hour would be feeding time so we
decided to go have ice cream and look at the gift shop before heading back.
When we got back we were in luck because the two sloths slowly but surely decided
to climb down the trees into perfect view! One even going into a box to sleep!
AWWW!! Heavens was in love! We stayed watching them for a while and then headed
into town for a dinner and to talk with Laura before taking here to the airport
to see her off. It was sad saying goodbye but we know we will see her soon! We
are so thankful for her coming to visit us and we had an amazing time!
Until next time,
¬D¬
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