My blog

Category: Adventures

  • Honoring the Fallen

    On a quiet drive on our way back to Germany, we passed through the French countryside and found ourselves at the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery. It is the resting place of more than 14,000 U.S. soldiers who gave their lives during World War I. Nestled far from major cities, the cemetery was both isolated and serene, its location a reminder of the forgotten corners of history where bravery was spent.

    Though remote, we weren’t alone. French families and fellow Americans were also paying their respects, a poignant sign that the sacrifice of these men still resonates across generations and borders.

    Inside the chapel, I signed the register and read heartfelt entries, especially those written by French visitors—many of them deeply moving, filled with gratitude and reverence.

    The cemetery itself is peaceful. Four symmetrical rectangles of headstones stretch across manicured lawns, each marker bearing the name, rank, and origin of the fallen. Some bear only the inscription “Known but to God.” The presence of both crosses and Stars of David speaks to the diversity of the young lives lost.

    There is a tranquility to this place. A solemn hush. A deep respect. It is a sacred space not just of remembrance, but of gratitude—for lives laid down so others might live free.

  • Honoring the Fallen

    On a quiet drive on our way back to Germany, we passed through the French countryside and found ourselves at the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery. It is the resting place of more than 14,000 U.S. soldiers who gave their lives during World War I. Nestled far from major cities, the cemetery was both isolated and serene, its location a reminder of the forgotten corners of history where bravery was spent.

    Though remote, we weren’t alone. French families and fellow Americans were also paying their respects, a poignant sign that the sacrifice of these men still resonates across generations and borders.

    Inside the chapel, I signed the register and read heartfelt entries, especially those written by French visitors—many of them deeply moving, filled with gratitude and reverence.

    The cemetery itself is peaceful. Four symmetrical rectangles of headstones stretch across manicured lawns, each marker bearing the name, rank, and origin of the fallen. Some bear only the inscription “Known but to God.” The presence of both crosses and Stars of David speaks to the diversity of the young lives lost.

    There is a tranquility to this place. A solemn hush. A deep respect. It is a sacred space not just of remembrance, but of gratitude—for lives laid down so others might live free.

  • Berlin’s History at Every Turn

    Traveling from Stuttgart to Berlin took some time, and by the time we arrived at our hotel—located just outside the city—it was already late on a Saturday night. One of the first things we noticed was the convenience of purchasing train and bus tickets directly from the hotel’s front desk. It cost an extra euro, but the ease of access, along with the maps provided by the clerk, made it well worth it!

    A Glimpse into Berlin’s History

    While waiting for the bus the next morning, I read up on Berlin’s history and was surprised to learn that the city dates back to the 1300s. Originally two Slavic settlements on opposite sides of the River Spree, Berlin became a thriving trade hub in 1307. By 1486, it had become the royal seat, and from 1642 onward, each ruling prince contributed to its growth. By the late 1700s, the city’s population had doubled, establishing Berlin as a major center for the German textile industry, particularly in silk and cotton manufacturing.

    Navigating the City

    We boarded Bus #623, which had a helpful closed-captioned screen displaying the date, time, and upcoming stops—especially useful since I couldn’t understand a word the announcer was saying! Our stop was right across from the train station, and with perfect timing, our next train arrived just five minutes later.

    Arriving downtown, we set off in search of city tour bus tickets, but deciphering the map was a challenge. The streets were nearly empty due to the rain, and though we had an umbrella, I was wearing just a lightweight sweater. My husband, the wiser of the two, had brought a hoodie. We eventually found an Italian bistro with open doors, but despite my ability to speak Italian, the employee there didn’t. So, we kept walking.

    Finally, we found the ticket office for the hop-on, hop-off city tour bus. However, the clerk was new and unsure of where the first stop was. He studied a map and pointed us in the right direction—so off we went.

    A Somber Reminder of History

    As we waited for the bus, I took a photo of the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, built in 1895. Badly bombed during World War II, it has been left in its damaged state as a poignant reminder of the destruction of war. A modern tower was later constructed beside it.

    Standing there, I couldn’t help but feel a certain eeriness. Maybe it was all the war movies my dad watched when I was growing up, maybe it was the somber weather, or perhaps it was the weight of history surrounding us.

    Our tour had 15 stops, but we planned to visit only five—focusing on sites that most interested us. One of the most striking locations was the Berlin Wall, or rather, what little remains of it today. Once stretching over 100 miles with watchtowers every so often, the wall stood at about 13 feet high, separating families and friends for 40 years. Though much of the “dead zone” has been rebuilt, a preserved section remains as a memorial to the more than 70 people who died trying to escape.

    I snapped a photo through the bus window, rain blurring the image—a fitting symbol of the tragic past that still lingers in Berlin’s streets.

    Have You Explored Berlin?

    Berlin is a city where history and modern life intertwine in fascinating ways. Whether you’re drawn to its rich past, vibrant culture, or iconic landmarks, there’s something for everyone. Have you visited Berlin before? What historical site or experience left the biggest impression on you? Share your thoughts in the comments below—I’d love to hear about your adventures!

    If you’re planning a trip, stay tuned for Part 2, where I’ll dive into the must-see stops from our city tour. And if you enjoyed this post, don’t forget to subscribe for more travel stories and tips!

  • Discovering Triberg, Gemany:

    A Magical Day in Triberg!

    Have you ever wanted to visit a place but had no idea how to get there? That was us as we set out for an adventure in Germany’s Black Forest. We had a GPS but no set destination—just a desire to explore.

    After some quick research, I found that Triberg, a charming town in the heart of the Black Forest, was famous for three things: its stunning waterfalls, handmade cuckoo clocks, and the legendary Black Forest cake. That was all the motivation we needed!

    Our drive from our apartment near Stuttgart took about an hour and a half (a late start didn’t help). Without a concrete plan, we parked on a quiet street and made our first stop—cake! The café where we had our first taste of authentic Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte has since closed, but rest assured, this decadent treat is easy to find in Triberg.

    If you’ve only had Black Forest cake in the U.S., you’re in for a surprise. The German version varies by region, with some recipes including cherry schnapps (Kirschwasser) and others keeping it alcohol-free. My favorite version, more like a pie than a cake, came from that now-closed café.

    As we enjoyed our treat, we noticed people in elaborate costumes—we suspect they were part of a symphony performance at the convention center near the restaurant. If only we’d known in advance!

    Afterward, we drove past a stunning Gothic church and parked near Triberg’s famous waterfall. At 163 meters (534 feet), it’s the tallest in Germany. Two bridges cross the falls, but hiking to the top wasn’t for me—I have a healthy fear of heights! My husband made it to the first bridge (shown here) but opted out of the second, a rope bridge. I didn’t blame him!

    Next, we set out in search of a handmade cuckoo clock. With so many shops to choose from, we settled on one known for its handcrafted pieces. The craftsmanship was stunning! We splurged on a clock—not the priciest, but a treasured keepsake that still hangs in our home today. Some of the clocks cost thousands of euros!

    Before dinner, we explored a small local museum, which turned out to be a delightful surprise. It featured Triberg’s history, sparkling crystal collections from local mines, and a working miniature train tracing the Black Forest’s railway routes. For half a euro, we watched the tiny trains in action—like kids at heart! The museum also had displays of traditional Black Forest attire, including the region’s famous hats, some even adorned with fruit.

    Dinner was a mix of tradition and adventure. My husband indulged in his favorite—venison (wildebeest)—while I played it safe with schnitzel. The alternative, pigs’ knuckles, wasn’t even a consideration! To my surprise, the schnitzel was excellent.

    The Black Forest earns its name from the dense tree coverage, which allows little sunlight to filter through. At dusk, the trees appear almost black—a hauntingly beautiful sight.

    We had an unforgettable day in Triberg, filled with discovery, culture, and delicious food. I’d return in a heartbeat! Have you ever visited a place expecting it to be “just okay,” only to be completely wowed? Share your experiences in the comments.

  • Prague Adventure: Part 3

    Prague is a city where history whispers from every cobblestone, where the past and present intertwine in unexpected ways. On our self-guided (and somewhat ambitious) walking tour, we uncovered stories of wonder, tragedy, and irony in three unforgettable places: the Astronomical Clock, the Jewish Quarter, and the Museum of Communism.

    The Astronomical Clock: A Timepiece with a Dark Past

    Nestled in Prague’s Old Town, the Astronomical Clock is an engineering marvel and a storyteller of its own. Just two blocks from our hotel, it was astounding to realize how far we had walked in our eager exploration.

    Built in 1410 by clockmaker Mikuláš of Kadaň and astronomer Jan Šindel, the clock is renowned not only for its intricate design but also for the gruesome legend that accompanies it. As the story goes, the Prague council feared that the master clockmaker might replicate his masterpiece elsewhere. To ensure exclusivity, they gouged out his eyes, rendering him unable to create another. In his final act of defiance, he supposedly sabotaged his own work, stopping the clock for nearly a century.

    At the foot of the clock, 27 crosses mark the site where noblemen were executed after the Battle of White Mountain in 1621. It’s said to bring bad luck to step on them. We made sure not to—out of respect more than superstition.

    The Jewish Quarter: A Haunting Legacy

    No part of Prague stirred deeper emotion than the Jewish Quarter. Established in the 13th century as a ghetto, it confined Jewish residents for over 500 years before they were granted the right to live elsewhere. Walking its streets, we couldn’t escape the somber weight of history, especially knowing what lay ahead for Jewish families during World War II.

    Time was against us, and we could only glimpse a fraction of its history. The Jewish Cemetery alone left a lasting impression—12,000 gravestones crammed into less than 2.5 acres, with the remains of over 100,000 souls layered up to 12 deep. It was a sight both haunting and humbling.

    Next to the cemetery, we visited a museum displaying artwork by children from the Holocaust. Their drawings, frozen in time, carried the sorrow and fear of a generation lost. The weight of it stayed with us long after we left.

    The Museum of Communism: Irony at Its Finest

    Reaching the Museum of Communism required walking through an unexpected gateway—McDonald’s. The irony wasn’t lost on us.

    Inside, stark rooms displayed remnants of a regime that sought to suppress individualism—old typewriters, rigid wooden chairs, and artifacts of a controlled society. The contrast between the oppressive past and the bustling capitalist reality just outside its doors was striking.

    Reflections on Prague’s Past and Present

    Prague is a city of contradictions: beauty and brutality, triumph and tragedy, freedom and control. It’s a place where the past is never far from the present, reminding us to honor history’s lessons.

    Have you ever been to Prague? What part of its history left the biggest impression on you? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

  • Prague Adventure: Part 3

    Prague is a city where history whispers from every cobblestone, where the past and present intertwine in unexpected ways. On our self-guided (and somewhat ambitious) walking tour, we uncovered stories of wonder, tragedy, and irony in three unforgettable places: the Astronomical Clock, the Jewish Quarter, and the Museum of Communism.

    The Astronomical Clock: A Timepiece with a Dark Past

    Nestled in Prague’s Old Town, the Astronomical Clock is an engineering marvel and a storyteller of its own. Just two blocks from our hotel, it was astounding to realize how far we had walked in our eager exploration.

    Built in 1410 by clockmaker Mikuláš of Kadaň and astronomer Jan Šindel, the clock is renowned not only for its intricate design but also for the gruesome legend that accompanies it. As the story goes, the Prague council feared that the master clockmaker might replicate his masterpiece elsewhere. To ensure exclusivity, they gouged out his eyes, rendering him unable to create another. In his final act of defiance, he supposedly sabotaged his own work, stopping the clock for nearly a century.

    At the foot of the clock, 27 crosses mark the site where noblemen were executed after the Battle of White Mountain in 1621. It’s said to bring bad luck to step on them. We made sure not to—out of respect more than superstition.

    The Jewish Quarter: A Haunting Legacy

    No part of Prague stirred deeper emotion than the Jewish Quarter. Established in the 13th century as a ghetto, it confined Jewish residents for over 500 years before they were granted the right to live elsewhere. Walking its streets, we couldn’t escape the somber weight of history, especially knowing what lay ahead for Jewish families during World War II.

    Time was against us, and we could only glimpse a fraction of its history. The Jewish Cemetery alone left a lasting impression—12,000 gravestones crammed into less than 2.5 acres, with the remains of over 100,000 souls layered up to 12 deep. It was a sight both haunting and humbling.

    Next to the cemetery, we visited a museum displaying artwork by children from the Holocaust. Their drawings, frozen in time, carried the sorrow and fear of a generation lost. The weight of it stayed with us long after we left.

    The Museum of Communism: Irony at Its Finest

    Reaching the Museum of Communism required walking through an unexpected gateway—McDonald’s. The irony wasn’t lost on us.

    Inside, stark rooms displayed remnants of a regime that sought to suppress individualism—old typewriters, rigid wooden chairs, and artifacts of a controlled society. The contrast between the oppressive past and the bustling capitalist reality just outside its doors was striking.

    Reflections on Prague’s Past and Present

    Prague is a city of contradictions: beauty and brutality, triumph and tragedy, freedom and control. It’s a place where the past is never far from the present, reminding us to honor history’s lessons.

    Have you ever been to Prague? What part of its history left the biggest impression on you? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

  • Prague Adventure-Part 2:

    Being in a city that my daughter said was her favorite in all of Europe encouraged us to visit, so you can imagine how every sight, every person, every building inspired our interest. Prague, if you get the chance, is a must see city!

    We decided to take a six hour tour of Prague. Part of it was a walking tour, part of it was by tram and part of it was on a boat with lunch included. Because we knew we would be walking a lot, we decided to park our car where we started the tour In Wencelaus Square. We were fortunate that it was a terrific day. Sunny but not too warm!

    Imagine our surprise when a colorful brigade of vintage American cars in pristine condition paraded into the square. Apparently, they were used to take visitors on tours of the city. That’s what we should have done.

    But, finding where the tour started and how to buy the tickets was a challenge. The pamphlet said to look for the person with the yellow umbrella in Wencelas Square. Pretty vague if you ask me. Especially since there were quite a few of those yellow umbrellas poking up above the different crowds of people.

    The tour was an overview of the city and would serve us well so that we could decide where we wanted to spend our second day in a little more depth. We looked and found a lady with a yellow umbrella, and she directed us to a place across the boulevard to buy the tickets. We had time since the tour didn’t start until 10:30 and it was only a little after 10. After buying our tickets we walked back across the street to the center of the boulevard. While waiting, we talked with a mother and daughter who were visiting Prague.

    Our tour guide, Nina, was fantastic. She not only spoke excellent English, she had a terrific sense of humor and was very knowledgeable about her city.  She told us the story of  King Wencelas who is the Patron Saint of the Czech people.  We know King Wencelas from our beloved Christmas Carol, Good King Wencelas.

    What was interesting was that the Czech people had never heard of one of our beloved Christmas Carols!  The words were written by John Mason Neale and published in 1853. The music originated in Finland 300 years earlier. The Christmas carol is unusual as there is no reference in the lyrics to the nativity.

    King Wenceslas was the king of Bohemia in the 10th century. He was a devout Catholic and was assassinated by his brother Boleslaw and his supporters. Wenceslas was raised as a Christian by his paternal grandmother while Boleslaw was raised as a pagan by his mother. Wencelas’ Saint’s Day is September 28th. St. Stephen’s feast day was celebrated on the 26th of December which is probably why the song is sung as a Christmas carol.

    The day went from bad to worse because we assumed (wrongly, of course) that we’d spend one third of the time on each activity listed in the pamphlet.  The boat ride lasted about a half hour, and lunch an hour (which was fun). The tram lasted about twenty minutes. The rest of the time we were on foot. By the time we got to the castle we could barely walk. We were not prepared to walk as much as we did.

    So, if you travel to any European city, wear the most comfortable walking shoes you have so as not to aggravate your feet on those marathon tours.  Opt for the hop-on, hop-off bus tours if the city has them. We used them in many European cities and would use them again because we found it easier to get around. Unfortunately, at the time we lived in Germany, Prague did not have them… but they do now.

    In the end, we had to take a tram back to the starting point because, unknown to us, the tour ended at the castle. We had to find our way back on our own which was a shock, and another lesson learned.

    Thankfully, there was a person on the tram who spoke Italian and directed us to which trams we had to take to get back to our car in Wenceslas Square.

    By the time we got back to our hotel, our feet had taken a beating. Not even Advil helped. All in all, while our feet hurt, we were grateful to have visited Prague.

    And we learned a valuable lesson: don’t take a walking tour or any kind of tour without asking specific questions!

    Would we go back again? In a heartbeat… only the next time we’ll use different transportation and ask more questions.

    Have you ever a travel mishap while on vacation? Share your experience below.

  • Prague Adventure-Part 2:

    Being in a city that my daughter said was her favorite in all of Europe encouraged us to visit, so you can imagine how every sight, every person, every building inspired our interest. Prague, if you get the chance, is a must see city!

    We decided to take a six hour tour of Prague. Part of it was a walking tour, part of it was by tram and part of it was on a boat with lunch included. Because we knew we would be walking a lot, we decided to park our car where we started the tour In Wencelaus Square. We were fortunate that it was a terrific day. Sunny but not too warm!

    Imagine our surprise when a colorful brigade of vintage American cars in pristine condition paraded into the square. Apparently, they were used to take visitors on tours of the city. That’s what we should have done.

    But, finding where the tour started and how to buy the tickets was a challenge. The pamphlet said to look for the person with the yellow umbrella in Wencelas Square. Pretty vague if you ask me. Especially since there were quite a few of those yellow umbrellas poking up above the different crowds of people.

    The tour was an overview of the city and would serve us well so that we could decide where we wanted to spend our second day in a little more depth. We looked and found a lady with a yellow umbrella, and she directed us to a place across the boulevard to buy the tickets. We had time since the tour didn’t start until 10:30 and it was only a little after 10. After buying our tickets we walked back across the street to the center of the boulevard. While waiting, we talked with a mother and daughter who were visiting Prague.

    Our tour guide, Nina, was fantastic. She not only spoke excellent English, she had a terrific sense of humor and was very knowledgeable about her city.  She told us the story of  King Wencelas who is the Patron Saint of the Czech people.  We know King Wencelas from our beloved Christmas Carol, Good King Wencelas.

    What was interesting was that the Czech people had never heard of one of our beloved Christmas Carols!  The words were written by John Mason Neale and published in 1853. The music originated in Finland 300 years earlier. The Christmas carol is unusual as there is no reference in the lyrics to the nativity.

    King Wenceslas was the king of Bohemia in the 10th century. He was a devout Catholic and was assassinated by his brother Boleslaw and his supporters. Wenceslas was raised as a Christian by his paternal grandmother while Boleslaw was raised as a pagan by his mother. Wencelas’ Saint’s Day is September 28th. St. Stephen’s feast day was celebrated on the 26th of December which is probably why the song is sung as a Christmas carol.

    The day went from bad to worse because we assumed (wrongly, of course) that we’d spend one third of the time on each activity listed in the pamphlet.  The boat ride lasted about a half hour, and lunch an hour (which was fun). The tram lasted about twenty minutes. The rest of the time we were on foot. By the time we got to the castle we could barely walk. We were not prepared to walk as much as we did.

    So, if you travel to any European city, wear the most comfortable walking shoes you have so as not to aggravate your feet on those marathon tours.  Opt for the hop-on, hop-off bus tours if the city has them. We used them in many European cities and would use them again because we found it easier to get around. Unfortunately, at the time we lived in Germany, Prague did not have them… but they do now.

    In the end, we had to take a tram back to the starting point because, unknown to us, the tour ended at the castle. We had to find our way back on our own which was a shock, and another lesson learned.

    Thankfully, there was a person on the tram who spoke Italian and directed us to which trams we had to take to get back to our car in Wenceslas Square.

    By the time we got back to our hotel, our feet had taken a beating. Not even Advil helped. All in all, while our feet hurt, we were grateful to have visited Prague.

    And we learned a valuable lesson: don’t take a walking tour or any kind of tour without asking specific questions!

    Would we go back again? In a heartbeat… only the next time we’ll use different transportation and ask more questions.

    Have you ever a travel mishap while on vacation? Share your experience below.

  • Spa Day…

    Since we got up late that Sunday morning, so we had our church services in our Plieningen apartment. We listened to worship music and three messages: two by our old pastor at Calvary Chapel and one by a pastor from a church in Vacaville, California. Afterward, we prayed for our country, friends, and family.

    After church, we had lunch and then went to a spa in Beuren, which was about thirty kilometers away from where we lived.

    It was a unique and interesting experience. We found the place with no trouble thanks to Julie (our English GPS) but we had difficulty finding a parking place. Once again, I forgot to bring my camera, so I have scanned and uploaded some photos from their brochure (I want to apologize up front for them). Since the spa was open until 10pm we had a lot of time, even though we never arrived there until about 2pm.

    It was definitely a LOT larger than I expected.

    We paid for our tickets 10 Euro (about $15) for four hours for both of us. That would be more than enough time for us. It was very inexpensive compared to the spas in Northern California. The clerk asked us if we wanted to go into the clothed area or the nude area. What? It was a nude spa? I laughed and said, “No way! Thank you anyway.”

    After going through a turnstile using our tickets as a key to get in, we were escorted to a locker by a young man who spoke English. The locker room was co-ed but there were male and female showers. The locker had a key that was plastic and attached to a plastic wrist band. We were told to store our things in the locker and take the key with us. In order to get the key out, we had to use our ticket to release it.

    After finding two changing rooms (one for me and one for my husband), we moved toward the bathrooms to shower before going into the spa. I want to describe that changing room because it was so unusual. They were in long rows and there were two doors going into a singular, tiny cubicle. There was a bar that extended the length of the changing room and it was the mechanism by which both doors would lock. It was difficult to get that bar to lock both doors, but I wasn’t taking any chances that someone might walk in while I was changing into my bathing suit!

    We separated to go to our respective shower rooms, then we emerged into a huge area where there were cubes in the walls for towels, sunglasses and tanning lotions. There were flip-flops everywhere! There were three pools inside and three pools outside. It was an overcast day, and it wasn’t hot, but we would explore the outdoor pools later.

    After looking around and stowing our towels in one of the many cubes on the wall, we realized every interior pool was a different size and had different temperatures. The first one we went into was too cold. So we went to another one that was warmer. We didn’t realize it, but it was a highly monitored spa and there were tons of people. We stayed there for a bit but decided we wanted to explore more of the spa. I will elaborate on this pool later in the blog. We decided to find the sauna.

    What struck me the most was the number of people and the different kinds of people. There were children splashing around in the pools, next to young lovers cuddling. There were the elderly along with middle-aged, and those with infirmities (metal crutches were propped next to the pools). What was even more interesting was that there were women who clearly should not have been wearing bikinis, but they were. No one thought this was out of the ordinary and no one laughed or made fun of them. That was refreshing to see.

    After walking outside and into another building, we were now in a grotto-like cave. There were stalactites on the ceiling and there was an area where people were sitting on rock like benches. In another area of the grotto, there were showers.

    Since we could not read any of the signs (they were in German, of course), we decided to try the different rooms. The first room was what I would call the “salt” room. We walked in and it was cloudy and warm and smelled and tasted very salty. We sat on the bottom row of the three-tiered, ceramic-tiled seating area. There was a clock on the wall, and we stayed in there for some fifteen minutes or so. My entire body felt salty.

    We went onto the next room which was the “real” sauna. It was 60 degrees centigrade which roughly translates into 140 degrees. It was hot in there. Again, we sat on the first tier of the three-tiered, ceramic-tiled seating areas. It was difficult to breathe but we stayed (and sweat) in there for about fifteen minutes.

    Then we decided we needed to shower off the salt and the heat and went into the shower area, which also was in a grotto-like environment. The shower stalls were positioned in a semi-circular manner with one large one in the middle with a half wall surrounding it. That one was the one to look out for. It spilled huge amounts of ice-cold water onto the person who was under it. And while we searched for a warm water shower, we were splashed with that ice cold water on several occasions.

    After showering, we decided to check out the outdoor pools. It appeared the first one was not heated. That was not for me, at least not on that day. We went to the second one and gingerly stepped down on the stainless steel steps. As soon as we hit the bottom of the steps, we were immediately swept into a current running around the closest end of the pool. There was a circular area people were hanging on to…after going around the circular area we ended up towards the middle of the pool, but it was difficult not being drawn into that current again. We used the stainless steel handrails to guide us along the edge so we could get to the steps to get out. Even this pool was not hot enough, not to mention having to fight that current.

    The next pool was about 42 degrees Celsius which is about 107 degrees Fahrenheit. Now that was more like it. It was spa, of course, but no jets. It was a stainless steel, round pool and could hold about twenty-five people There were seats along the perimeter. We sat there and did some people watching. There were people from all nations: USA, France, Turkey, Italy and of course, Germany.

    It was time for us to get out and I wanted to go back to the first pool we were in. That pool had jets that we did not get to experience. We realized when we got out the first time, we were in there that it was a very controlled pool in that the jets which were for different parts of the body were along the perimeter of the pool. People lined up to the stairs and waited in line. There was a large timer on the wall above the waterfall at the end of the pool that could be seen from anywhere in the pool.

    How it worked was that the timer was set for 30 seconds. Every time the timer hit zero, the people moved to the next set of jets. Leave it to the Germans to be orderly even when they are in the spa. It worked though, and everyone gets a chance to use the various jets. From jets for your feet to jets for your shoulders and back. It was wonderful. I was totally looking forward to being under the waterfall but for some reason, when I got there, it wouldn’t work. I was bummed about that. Oh well. Perhaps next time.

    We walked around the spa for a bit and realized they have a cafe, tanning beds, a work- out area and you could get a massage. It was a terrific place, and according to Brigit (the woman who was doing physical therapy on my husband), it’s the best place around.

    My husband was not all that impressed because the spas were not hot enough (except the one outside) for him. And what he really didn’t like was the number of people who were there. He thought it was going to be a natural spa, not man made. I suppose if one goes on a Sunday, it is expected there will be tons of people. I had to wonder how many people went during the week?

    We retraced our steps, showered, and got dressed.

    Ted lost his ticket, and he didn’t realize he needed it to leave the locker room. That must be the way they monitor how long one is in the spa. Anyway, I went to the counter and begged the clerk to allow him to leave.

    The ride home was uneventful. At that point we were very hungry and decided to have pizza at Mama Maria’s across the street from where we lived.

    After eating, we realized it was time to do the weekly chore of laundry. It was getting increasingly difficult to find the motivation to gather up the clothes and take them to get washed on base. Add to that, laundry is my very least favorite chore to do, and it’s even more of a struggle when we have to lug the laundry to and fro. We had to get a washer and dryer fairly soon.

    Have you ever been to a spa such as this? I will never forget it, that’s for sure.

     

     

     

     

  • Spa Day…

    Since we got up late that Sunday morning, so we had our church services in our Plieningen apartment. We listened to worship music and three messages: two by our old pastor at Calvary Chapel and one by a pastor from a church in Vacaville, California. Afterward, we prayed for our country, friends, and family.

    After church, we had lunch and then went to a spa in Beuren, which was about thirty kilometers away from where we lived.

    It was a unique and interesting experience. We found the place with no trouble thanks to Julie (our English GPS) but we had difficulty finding a parking place. Once again, I forgot to bring my camera, so I have scanned and uploaded some photos from their brochure (I want to apologize up front for them). Since the spa was open until 10pm we had a lot of time, even though we never arrived there until about 2pm.

    It was definitely a LOT larger than I expected.

    We paid for our tickets 10 Euro (about $15) for four hours for both of us. That would be more than enough time for us. It was very inexpensive compared to the spas in Northern California. The clerk asked us if we wanted to go into the clothed area or the nude area. What? It was a nude spa? I laughed and said, “No way! Thank you anyway.”

    After going through a turnstile using our tickets as a key to get in, we were escorted to a locker by a young man who spoke English. The locker room was co-ed but there were male and female showers. The locker had a key that was plastic and attached to a plastic wrist band. We were told to store our things in the locker and take the key with us. In order to get the key out, we had to use our ticket to release it.

    After finding two changing rooms (one for me and one for my husband), we moved toward the bathrooms to shower before going into the spa. I want to describe that changing room because it was so unusual. They were in long rows and there were two doors going into a singular, tiny cubicle. There was a bar that extended the length of the changing room and it was the mechanism by which both doors would lock. It was difficult to get that bar to lock both doors, but I wasn’t taking any chances that someone might walk in while I was changing into my bathing suit!

    We separated to go to our respective shower rooms, then we emerged into a huge area where there were cubes in the walls for towels, sunglasses and tanning lotions. There were flip-flops everywhere! There were three pools inside and three pools outside. It was an overcast day, and it wasn’t hot, but we would explore the outdoor pools later.

    After looking around and stowing our towels in one of the many cubes on the wall, we realized every interior pool was a different size and had different temperatures. The first one we went into was too cold. So we went to another one that was warmer. We didn’t realize it, but it was a highly monitored spa and there were tons of people. We stayed there for a bit but decided we wanted to explore more of the spa. I will elaborate on this pool later in the blog. We decided to find the sauna.

    What struck me the most was the number of people and the different kinds of people. There were children splashing around in the pools, next to young lovers cuddling. There were the elderly along with middle-aged, and those with infirmities (metal crutches were propped next to the pools). What was even more interesting was that there were women who clearly should not have been wearing bikinis, but they were. No one thought this was out of the ordinary and no one laughed or made fun of them. That was refreshing to see.

    After walking outside and into another building, we were now in a grotto-like cave. There were stalactites on the ceiling and there was an area where people were sitting on rock like benches. In another area of the grotto, there were showers.

    Since we could not read any of the signs (they were in German, of course), we decided to try the different rooms. The first room was what I would call the “salt” room. We walked in and it was cloudy and warm and smelled and tasted very salty. We sat on the bottom row of the three-tiered, ceramic-tiled seating area. There was a clock on the wall, and we stayed in there for some fifteen minutes or so. My entire body felt salty.

    We went onto the next room which was the “real” sauna. It was 60 degrees centigrade which roughly translates into 140 degrees. It was hot in there. Again, we sat on the first tier of the three-tiered, ceramic-tiled seating areas. It was difficult to breathe but we stayed (and sweat) in there for about fifteen minutes.

    Then we decided we needed to shower off the salt and the heat and went into the shower area, which also was in a grotto-like environment. The shower stalls were positioned in a semi-circular manner with one large one in the middle with a half wall surrounding it. That one was the one to look out for. It spilled huge amounts of ice-cold water onto the person who was under it. And while we searched for a warm water shower, we were splashed with that ice cold water on several occasions.

    After showering, we decided to check out the outdoor pools. It appeared the first one was not heated. That was not for me, at least not on that day. We went to the second one and gingerly stepped down on the stainless steel steps. As soon as we hit the bottom of the steps, we were immediately swept into a current running around the closest end of the pool. There was a circular area people were hanging on to…after going around the circular area we ended up towards the middle of the pool, but it was difficult not being drawn into that current again. We used the stainless steel handrails to guide us along the edge so we could get to the steps to get out. Even this pool was not hot enough, not to mention having to fight that current.

    The next pool was about 42 degrees Celsius which is about 107 degrees Fahrenheit. Now that was more like it. It was spa, of course, but no jets. It was a stainless steel, round pool and could hold about twenty-five people There were seats along the perimeter. We sat there and did some people watching. There were people from all nations: USA, France, Turkey, Italy and of course, Germany.

    It was time for us to get out and I wanted to go back to the first pool we were in. That pool had jets that we did not get to experience. We realized when we got out the first time, we were in there that it was a very controlled pool in that the jets which were for different parts of the body were along the perimeter of the pool. People lined up to the stairs and waited in line. There was a large timer on the wall above the waterfall at the end of the pool that could be seen from anywhere in the pool.

    How it worked was that the timer was set for 30 seconds. Every time the timer hit zero, the people moved to the next set of jets. Leave it to the Germans to be orderly even when they are in the spa. It worked though, and everyone gets a chance to use the various jets. From jets for your feet to jets for your shoulders and back. It was wonderful. I was totally looking forward to being under the waterfall but for some reason, when I got there, it wouldn’t work. I was bummed about that. Oh well. Perhaps next time.

    We walked around the spa for a bit and realized they have a cafe, tanning beds, a work- out area and you could get a massage. It was a terrific place, and according to Brigit (the woman who was doing physical therapy on my husband), it’s the best place around.

    My husband was not all that impressed because the spas were not hot enough (except the one outside) for him. And what he really didn’t like was the number of people who were there. He thought it was going to be a natural spa, not man made. I suppose if one goes on a Sunday, it is expected there will be tons of people. I had to wonder how many people went during the week?

    We retraced our steps, showered, and got dressed.

    Ted lost his ticket, and he didn’t realize he needed it to leave the locker room. That must be the way they monitor how long one is in the spa. Anyway, I went to the counter and begged the clerk to allow him to leave.

    The ride home was uneventful. At that point we were very hungry and decided to have pizza at Mama Maria’s across the street from where we lived.

    After eating, we realized it was time to do the weekly chore of laundry. It was getting increasingly difficult to find the motivation to gather up the clothes and take them to get washed on base. Add to that, laundry is my very least favorite chore to do, and it’s even more of a struggle when we have to lug the laundry to and fro. We had to get a washer and dryer fairly soon.

    Have you ever been to a spa such as this? I will never forget it, that’s for sure.