Schneetag! (A German Sledding Adventure)

Wintersportzentrum Erbeskopf

the view from the top:  yup, it was a nice hike up!

Rodeln im Schnee!  As if skiing in the Alps wasn't enough, the freshly fallen snow sent us on a journey to find a good sledding hill.  Found a Wintersportzplatz website (auf Deutsch only) and a 2006 article online about the place.  It's definitely a little known Winterpark area to the average American tourist, as the location was practically secret, the signage was minimal and everyone spoke German, except for the ski-rental guy!  

I couldn't find GPS coordinates for it, although GPS "Heather" (as we call her) sent us on a beautiful storybook drive over the river, thru the hills to a cow pasture about an hour away.  (The farmer gazed curiously then went about his work.)  We even stumbled upon a "fun & love hotel....thought I might ask for directions until I realized what it really was...try explaining that to 3 boys...

Running low on diesel, we found the Esso,  asked for directions and in a fabulous German-only conversation, I managed to get directions.  We had actually driven past it earlier, but again, the signs didn't say anything about "Wintersportzplatz"--the ski/sled area wasn't visible from the road.  The signs: "Hunsrückhaus" really???? not even one Wintersportz sign.

15€ later, we rented 3 sleds (Rodeln) for 2 hours.  According to the English article, there was a tow bar to get you up the mountain to sled.  Not so much the case anymore, but we (I) needed the workout anyway!  We had a fabulous time tromping up and sledding/falling back down.  Z and I rode together and upon putting the brakes on (my feet) the sled went one direction, we went the other and as we stood up, we watched the sled continue its descent without us. Poor Z tried to run and catch it --at the bottom of the hill!  A (our nearly 6ft tall bubba, now affectionately referred to as "Klaus" by his father) discovered that sleds are easier to ride on when you're younger/shorter!  N (our daredevil) flew down the slopes, trudged right up again and didn't want to leave.  (there was a shorter "bunny" hill for sledding as well, with a few interesting bumps that sent the kids flying thru the air!)

adventure park swing near the ropes course

The hill was hardly busy, although the ski area was a bit more crowded.  Looked like a great place for beginners to ski, although waiting for the lift looked liked it was time consuming.  There are no all day passes there, instead you buy a punch card (10 or 20 rides).  Equipment rental was available, but it looked like most people brought their own.  You could bring your own sled as well.  A food hut and warming area was there as well.  For those not interested in sledding/skiing, a nature preserve museum, cross country and nordic trails could keep you busy for awhile.  Bring your German dictionary so you can understand the trail maps.

This place looked like a fabulous spring/summer adventure park with a ropes course through the forest.  The boys are definitely interested in coming back here!

Tschuss!
Linda

Location:  http://www.erbeskopf.de/tourismus-kultur/wintersportzentrum-erbeskopf.html

Head towards Trier on the A62; take the Birkenfeld exit to B269 follow this priority road thru Birkenfeld and on thru the village of Ellenberg (heading towards Mörbach).  Left onto L-164 towards Deuselbach.  Then watch for a sign/flags at the entrance on your left, about 3km down the road.

Try it Thursdays...

Try-it Thursday is my attempt to encourage the boys to try something new and is secretly my desire to homeschool them!  Try-it Thursday (named by Z) really seems to apply to just about everyday here in Germany, lately.

TRY-IT THURSDAY:

We ran down to the train station in our little village with just enough time to figure out the ticket machine and wait for the 16:06 train to Kaiserslautern.  A couple of 10yo German girls were waiting as well and so, in honor of "Try-it Thursday, "  I asked them if they spoke English and if they knew where we should get off the train in K-town!  They giggled and pretended they really didn't know anything, but I did manage to get a few words out of them and we all chuckled!  (I can only imagine what they were really saying about us!!)

So, we got on the train and rode it to the Haupbahnhof, the main station.  We were all amazed:  trains "so clean you can eat off the floor, Mommy!"  Yup.  We are definitely NOT in America. 

At the station, we found the information desk clerk who gave us a map of downtown Kaiserslautern.  We headed over to the ticket office as I had mistakenly purchased 2 adult tickets at the kiosk.  Turns out (and I still have no idea why) I only needed a ticket for myself --the boys were free.  So, the nice German ticket lady refunded my money, gave me a return ticket and sent us off to explore.  The key to "Try-it Thursday" is to not be afraid to ask!

We were in search of the toy store, but darn if we couldn't find it anywhere (didn't really ask--oops!  didn't really want to know?!)  We walked around for an hour -it was getting really dark-but it was a lot of fun!  We found a Natural Food Store and couldn't get rid of this overzealous English speaking German woman --she even called her husband, Bernard, and made him talk to me so I could ask all my "new to Germany" questions!  When she offered to drive us to the Globus, N suggested we get out of there, and quick!  (Of all the times to need the 2 yo meltdown --THAT would've been it!)

It's amazing what you can find when you're really not looking:

 the Pfaff sewing store (and the guy there was happy to help me with my American machine when it finally arrives!)
Mambo --a bed, bath and beyond type store! and of course, another bratwurst shop!

Back at the station we were a little confused about which train to get on, but made a good guess and asked a fellow rider if the train to Lauterecken would get us to Hirschhorn ---he was right!  Home safe and sound!

Fast train!  Happy Passengers!

Top 6 things I wish I’d known BEFORE....

Top 6 things I wish I’d known BEFORE....

We’ve been in Germany now for 10 days and I’ve been making lists in my head for all the things I would do better next PCS...something I’ve always done, but never bothered to write down...until now.  I figure if I can pay it forward to someone else, my lessons will have been well learned...  

Ours was a rather unique PCS situation as M was given unaccompanied orders and arrived  July 2012.  We drowned our sorrows in Ohio thanks to the comfort of good friends while we waited for paperwork to work thru the system.  (That’s a whole ‘nother story for another day.)  Anyway, because he was already here, he found a house and we shipped him some less than desirable (*cheap*) kitchen items as I knew he would never really use them, a few blankets, sheets, pillows, and towels!  Even with M already comfortable with the way things go in Germany, there were still a few things I wish I’d known BEFORE I left Ohio!  (And yes, dear hubby, I’m sure you might have said something along the way, but in my crazy pack out during the holidays I only remembered things I thought were important!)  

  1.  Moving PETS:  read the AF website info, then contact your closest USDA office  for up to date info regarding animal transport to any EU country.  http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/animals/animal_exports_pets.shtml  They had the CORRECT paperwork!  Over the Christmas holiday, our vet filled out paperwork twice (and we paid for twice) we drove the paperwork to the USDA office (for us 2 hours away) in a snowstorm (8 inches!) to get it all certified ($77).   The USDA doesn’t do mail, email or fax for these certificates.  You can likely avoid the USDA if your vet has appropriate certification --best to double check! Remember you  only have 10 days for the certificates to clear customs, so there’s no getting around this step ahead of time. 

2.  PETS at the AIRPORT:  ASK the rotator airline agent about sedation when you check in your luggage!  We thought they were taking the pets right away (6 hours pre-lift-off).  Not the case:  we sedated them at 11am, then checked in and they said “keep your pets with you until 4pm.”  If you’ve EVER tried to take a sedated dog out to pee, you’ve never lived.  CAUTION:  don’t sedate until they say they are ready! 

On the sedation note, would it be too awful to suggest a package of pediatric Benadryl travel sized individual doses tucked in your purse for the PCSing family with the screaming 3 year old on the flight????  Obviously they FORGOT to bring their own!  Had it been my child, I would’ve loved the gentle offer about 3 hours into the flight!

3. MAIL important items  you may need right away for your house via PRIORITY mail to your APO address!  These are the things that won’t fit in your luggage at the last minute (luckily we had one whole suitcase reserved for pillows and bedsheets):   
*toys! (in our case, Legos) 
*kitchen knives --even 1 of my favorites would be nice right now... 
*bath towels (1 per person works, however, an extra 1 would be welcomed!)
*school supplies (you know, everything they need that you spent a fortune on in Sept)
I mailed 7 packages regular mail:  1 box of Christmas gifts postmarked 13 December; the other 6 boxes, including 1 priority box: 27 December.  We’ve been to the post EVERY day since we arrived and last Monday we were thrilled to get a box!  Would it be the one full of the much anticipated Christmas LEGOS?  NOPE --this box (priority labeled) contained mom’s music and organ shoes.  Talk about disappointment.

BTW, it’s 9 January and we are STILL waiting...

4.  ENGLISH SUBTITLES?  NOPE!   Everything is written in German:  the dishwasher, the washing machine, the vacuum cleaner instructions, the train ticket kiosk....I LOVE Germany and all, but really wish I’d taken the time to learn more language BEFORE I got here.  (I know, there’s only so much one can do in one’s busy life, but this one should’ve been more of a priority!)   Just be prepared to be confused and carry your pocket dictionary with you!  

Click. Print. Go!  They make it sound so easy!

5.  STUDY for the driver’s license test!   Even though it’s a no-fail CBT test now --you’ll feel so much smarter when you can walk out of the testing room BEFORE your husband comes to pick you up!  (btw, M told me to study before I left Ohio, and I didn’t.)  Took me 90 minutes....the middle section was hard!     http://www.usareurpracticetest.com

6.  CELL PHONES:  Here’s what I’ve learned about PHONES.  The best place to purchase a phone plan is OFF BASE at Deutsche telekom (T-mobile) if you want a decent rate and plan.  Just keep driving to different stores until you find a clerk with reasonable English speaking skills.  Trust me, you want to understand these contracts!!!    Here’s why:  The fine print in all German phone plans (cell, internet, land lines)  automatically renew at the end of 24 months! YOU have to ask WHEN the renewal date is --it could be month 18 and if you miss it, well, you’re out of luck getting out of your contract if you move at month 36!  You have to cancel your contract IN WRITING, via snail mail before that auto renew date.  Put that date in your smart phone, for sure!!!!

TCHUSS!  (a friendly "bye" in Germany!)

Linda

Beginnings....

long flight = really quiet car!

I’m a mom of 3 boys and recently moved to Germany to join my Air Force husband.  All these new changes equal an opportunity to re-evaluate how I go about life now that I’m not busy working full time and single parenting!  The blog will incorporate ideas from my "new job” as full time mom, or as they call me, 
“Team Leader!”

Goals for 2013:

• Teach the family about German traditions so that they may fully appreciate and understand the people around them.  Share our discoveries with others!
• 
  
•  Make European travel to places near and far fun and interesting to our teenage and elementary aged boys.  Their father has a great idea to travel to the places from the video games they love! 

• Discover the Julia Child within me and cook healthy meals in my tiny little German kitchen.  The goal is to become a wholly organic-non-processed food family.  (a lofty goal, but nonetheless worthy of pursuing!)

• Share interesting crafty tidbits and ideas as I endeavor to finish old scrapbooks and quilting projects --that is, when my overseas household goods arrive!

I hope you’ll join me on my journey and enjoy reading along!

Auf Wiedersehen!

Linda