Frohe Ostern!

Happy Easter to everyone! I have arrived in Germany and I am spending the Easter weekend with Gabi and Wolfgang, my relatives in Ruelzheim. I had an amazing time in Austria and am already enjoying myself in Germany.

My last day in Salzburg was great - I did exactly what I previously blogged about. I went on the Sound of Music Tour then spent the afternoon walking around the city seeing all the locations of the film that we were not able to go to on the tour (time restraints and the fact that we could easily go on our own). It was such a warm day and I walked around in a traditional looking top (I broke down and bought an Austrian shirt - I had to look the part!). I got a bit of heat exhaustion and dehydration but I loved Salzburg!

It was another long day of travel to get to Mannheim where Gabi picked me up, but since then I have totally relaxed. I feel at home and content with spending time with loved ones. Plus, we have been busy. I went to the Rhine river for a walk and then out for dinner. Tomorrow, we will go to the Technik Museum to see thousands of planes, trains, and automobiles. Wolfgang also wants to take me to see the World´s biggest Cuckoo clock in the Black Forest. That should be fabulous. In there, I will aslo spend time with family and of course eat some home cooked meals!

It has been tough to try to regain my Greman language skills as I have not spoken German since my Oma died in 2001. But slowly, words are becoming clearer and I am getting a little more confident (so what if I make mistakes - they will get the jist of what I am saying!).

I am at the midway point and feel good. I am ready for another two months of travel in Europe. But at times, I don´t feel very adventurous or brave. In Ljubljana, I spent time with Tom and Alex, two English boys, who are working their way around the Mediterranean. To me, that is adventurous and brave. They are travelling to countries I am too scared to go to (Eastern Europe, Turkey, Middle East, Northern Africa) and their confidence was so amazing. I look at them and other people I have met who are either moving over to Europe on Work Visas or going to remote locations and I completely admire them. My little 4 month jaunt in Western Europe seems so mild compared to their travels. But I wish them all the best and completely admire their strength and courage.

So, happy Easter everyone and eat enough chocolate eggs for me!

Love, Lisa