We left Alsace early in the morning, hearing the morning clock bells at 7. They chime like any normal clock, seven times for the hour but then after a pause they just go crazy and don't stop ringing for about 5 minutes, as if they are yelling GET UP! You're burning daylight!
With a boulangerie breakfast in the car (I had a delicious apple tarte) we headed out of France and back into Germany. In Tribourg, of the Black Forest, we took an easy hike up to see a waterfall, the tallest in Germany: not tall as in one single cascade that is tall, but it starts higher in the mountain. It was very nice to do a simple hike, as if we were home in the sierras, and the waterfall was simply lovely. Now, we did remark that the forest felt like the sierras but it certainly was hard to forget that we are almost half the world away.
Since we were in the area, we had to buy a Swabian cuckoo clock from the House of a Thousand Clocks.
My parents are completely opposite shoppers. It is hilariously embarrassing. Mom had found three that she liked and could choose from and then she easily decided which one she liked the most and I liked it too. But dad CANNOT make speedy decisions. He is a perfectionist (and that is a good thing) but I was chuckling with the man helping us. The really cool one which my dad would have lived to have (but it wouldn't be what my mom wants) was a make your own clock kit. I even loved the rustic look it had. Instead dad convinced my mom against the 'just pretty' clock she and I liked and they chose another one she has found that was the more popular/classic 'house' clock. It's not awful, but I would have never chosen it. It's ok- it's their clock.
On our way out of the little town we had to buy a slice of Black Forest cake, of course! I didn't even make the connection until dad mentioned that we needed to get cake. It was a surprise that caused much laughter when my mom took the first bite an said, 'oh boy- there is rum in this.' Obviously it is mostly cooked out but it was pretty funny. I didn't care for the cake at all so I let my parents devour it.
In Friedrichshafen we visited a large museum about the Hindenburg zeppelin. Though originally I didn't think I would be that interested, there were some things that did really catch my attention, like a science section that explained some interesting principles of the zeppelin's flight. During a more artsy part of the exhibit there were things that reminded me of two tv shows, Fringe and Doctor Who because in both, there are alternate universes where Zeppelins are the common form of transportation and so the skies are full of them. I realized that our world might be different if the Hindenburg hadn't gone down in such a terrifying blaze. How funny that those two shows, and probably some others, chose that event to make changes in their alternate universe.
Anyways- forgive my geeky tangent.
My silly father likes Whopper Wednesday and he discovered that there was a Burger King in the city. So he had to go. It's silly. I'd much rather have a kebab! I decided that whopper Wednesday no longer exists. From now on it is cafe Monday, kebab Tuesday, kebab Wednesday, kebab Thursday, fondue Friday, Schnitzel Saturday, and Sacred Sunday.
But back to the story. I waited while they got food from Burger King, hoping we'd find something for me later. They DID get me some chicken nuggets which came with a delicious curry sauce- interesting idea Germany.
We went to a lake front park where people swim and we stuck our feet in the water and took a nap on the grass. It was heavenly.
To get to our new place for the night we took a ferry across the lake, seeing the sun set beautifully and crossing into SWITZERLAND!! I'm home! We were just sleeping there- my real return to the country will be at the end of our trip, but it still gave me a thrill to see a Migros, a Coop, Torino chocolate and MOVENPICK ice cream!!! I can't tell you how good it is- it has to be experienced.
Getting to our apartment was a hassle. We never met the host. He left us keys at one address a block up the street from where we were staying: which was, btw, on the 4th floor (technically the 5) in a strange loft with other rooms for rent and a shared bathroom. I thought it was an adventure! There is nothing wrong with that- but my mom was not impressed. We wanted to do laundry, but figuring out a German washing machine was tough. My dad wanted to figure everything out and my mom was just ready to press the go. It would have been picture or video worthy to see three American adults hovered over this machine.
So we woke up in France, toured in Germany and went to be in Switzerland. Not bad.
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