OMG! That has to be the funnest iPod ever!

(she says in her very best valley girl accent)

The "fruits" of our labor

After a healthy nap, and a few decadent hours reading, I couldn't help
myself... Had to see how the launch turned out.

Hello kanye legal line! Ha. At least the album art didn't change
again. Ok, I know, very much not funny for those involved. Apologies.
Hope y'all can take a nap day soon.

Note to self:
1/3 of the way around the world turns out to be a healthy distance
from the madness.

Time for a nap.

The little Peugot and I made it back to the hotel, I settled down with
a beer to send off emails from the day... And in am off for a little
nap. :)

Awh, nap. Shutting down... ZzzzzzzzzzzZ

Countryside

Driving through the countryside

Did a little loop north to a little town between two lakes, Plon. By
the time I got there, it was setting just how tired my brain was.
Reading signs and adjusting to village speed limits took their toll. I
kept pullung off to the side to let cars pass because i was being such
a grandma driver! I was sleepy, and need to shut off for a bit.

Summer has come and gone on the Baltic sea

First destination was a little beach town north of Lübeck called
Travemünde. Followed signs to parking for the "strand" (beach). Walked
about 5 min and ended up on the beach boardwalk. It was just shy of a
ghost town this time of year, but I could tell that it is quite the
happening place in the summer!

Walked for a bit, then sat down, and managed to get myself a beer and
some lunch (previous blog entry)... Then hit the road again.

Truly on my own for a bit, I have this compulsion to keep moving, but
my body and brain are quite exhausted. Compulsion won out... Turned
the car north, and took a little drive through the countryside.

Take me outta the city!

Girl wonder hits the road solo

Dropped Jana off at the train station around 1pm, set the GPS to get
me back to the highway, and I was off on my own. It was a little
hectic at first (seeing as I had driven on the wrong side of the road
in front of the train station, with polezi behind me right before
dropping Jana off. Oopse.).

I am so thankful that the Sussman's trusted me with the GPS, it is
comforting, but distracting at the same time. First 20 min driving
alone was a bit frazzling, paying attention to signs, traffic, n
trying to figure out where to go, speed limits, and if the GPS was
sending me in the right direction?! Ugh. Not relaxing at all.

I switched to map only mode, and relaxed into trusting that wherever I
ended up would be fine.

Yea! Managed to feed myself... In german

Eine Bier, pommes frittes und Bratwurst bitte. Danke.
Ummm... I don't understand what you just said in return. Ok, I'll just
pay you while we both nod and smile. Danke.

Next up, finding a bathroom?!

Bizarre marzipan treats...

Pigs feet and bratwurst in marzipan anyone??? Ha.

The home of marzipan!

Lübeck is known as being the home of the delicious treat marzipan....
So of course Jana and I did some shopping!!

Love the point of interest plaques all Over lubeck!

Me and the little devil outside st. Mary's church

There is a story bout this little guy being quite the party animal!

Lübeck

Day 5 - touristas hit the streets

Arriving in Lübeck... Parked the car, and we have a few hours to tour
around before Jana has to catch her train home.

Welcome to Lübeck!

Main gate to the City - Holstentor

Deutsch (amendment)

Ok. So Jana would also like me to fess up to the fact that the
remainder of my pocket list of german words consists mainly of the
various kinds of "fleisch" (or meats) I might find on a menu.
Important, no?!

Johnkim... I think you should reconsider coming. By time you get here,
I will be a pro at ordering. Ha.

Deutsch

Jana is off for a message, n I am relaxing over a cup if tea with my
travel books. She is leaving to head back to Nuremberg tomorrow
(stupid work!), and I'll be left to fend for myself for a few days.
I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a bit nervous, but the time will be
good for me to truly decompress, and rely on my own abilities to
communicate.

I studied german for three years in high school, and I am impressed at
how much is still floating around in this brain of mine, but it is
also quite jumbled. Listening to full conversations, I am pretty lost
in the full combinations of sentences, but can usually figure out the
gist of what is being discussed if I pay attention. it is fun to have
a basic clue, but found it is also pretty exhausting on the brain to
work so hard to process.

I am curious about putting myself to the test in the next few days to
use a little german. I try it now and then (ordering coffee, beer,
etc), and am fine with the most BASIC exchange... But never fail, I am
lost when follow up conversation is presented, and just about everyone
switches to English to speak with me. Much appreciated, but in a sick
sense, a little disappointing that I don't have to try harder.

Jana has been wonderfully patient doing a lot of talking, and
answering my questions about what word mean (when I forget them a
minute later!), or to translate what someone said. I have been writing
a few basics down, and have a little list in my pocket.

-"please repeat slowly": didn't understand you the first time, I'm
sure it'll make more sense slowly?! Ha. :P

We'll see how it goes in the next few days! Yikes. Pretty sure I can
find a toilet, and have enough words to feed myself, so you have
nothing to worry about... But it could be sheer amusement getting the
rental car back to the airport!

Day in neustadt and pletzerhaken

After all the traveling around in the past few days, my brain has
gotten saturated already. Today was good and mellow. After checking
out the beach and kite surf place, we jumped into the car, and drove
back to the little town of neustadt (5min away). We got the car
parked, and headed towards the town center when it began to rain.
Thinking it would be light rain, we soldiered on. As soon as we were
far enough from the car, it started pouring. Of course. Popped in and
out of a few shops, grabbed coffee, a few munchies at the grocery
store... We were going to bail and head back to the hotel to chill,
but the rain stopped, so we walked around a little more and found a
place along the water for a beer and dinner. Under an awening for a
lovely sunset, we sat out a second rainstorm before hearing back.
Weather seem to change often, but at least it clears pretty quickly.

Jana's traditional "hamburg" (the town, not the burger) dinner...

Hash made with beet juice, fried egg, pickled herring, beets, and a
pickle.

Not the first thing on the menu that jumped out at me, but not such a
bad combo...