Ja, ja.

The train ride into Reutlingen was one of the more challenging I have had in a while because I was coming into a little town. So there were few English speakers to help and not all the stops were posted, but I arrived to Uncle Stefan with no problems and minimal stress on my part. I have really gotten the hang of this train thing.

Stefan whisked me away to meet Moni at their favorite restaurant, which has a gorgeous view from the porch. I had delicious Craotian food, because I am not going to make it into that country. And I simply must eat cuisine from all of Europe before I go back to the states.

Stefan and Moni have been so good to me, I just want to tattoo "Danke!" onto my forehead so they know how grateful I am. They have a lovely home, and set up a room for me complete with towels, a phone with flat-rate to the US, a computer, "Do Not Disturb" signs, and a Cosmo magizine telling me how to have great sex. They must think I need to have more fun on this trip. Moni is one of the best women I have ever known. She snatches my laundry, tells me I am "hardly welcome" (when she means heartily) in her home, and treats me like a daughter. I feel so loved and so at home and I liebe liebe liebe them.

Yesterday Stefan made eggs (medium boiled in a machine that is made for only that purpose, how cool is that?), bought bread, and fish. You eat the eggs out of the shell and the fish on the bread and it is delicious. Jenns Oma and Opa cooked like this for breakfast, but I had forgotten how good it was. Ich liebe Deutschland. The deutch also have so many contraptions. In addition to the egg boiler, they have things to tear the top of the eggs. One is a weight that you drop on top of a semi-sphere, one is a knife, and one is a tool that Stefan calls a "woman tool" because it makes men cringe to see it.

Stefan took me on a motorcycle tour of the area, and it rained a little, but was never really uncomfortable. We went to the Lichtenstein castle, but were 10 minutes late. So we had a cappicino and enjoyed the view at the restaurant. Then we had dinner, spargel (asperagus), potatoes, fried eggs (placed on top) and sauce. Delish. Then we went into the city and enjoyed the open air concerts. Saturdays the shops stay open late and everyone in the city comes to stroll around, eat sugar-coated almonds and other goodies from the sales-carts, see everyone else, and some people actually shop. Moni likes a store called "Haus" which they say has nothing you actually NEED, like most stores in America. The band, The Friendly Elf, was quite good and we rocked out. Apparently about 80% of Deutsch bands sing in English. But they greet the crowd in Deutsch. But tell them to clap in English. Once I know German, I wonder if I will be able to distinguish the two or if I wont even think about it.

Today I will have another German breakfast, perhaps motorbike with Stefan to a cave, or Tubelingen, and then leave my new family and head to Hiedleberg. It will break my little Deutsch girl heart, but the trip must go on!

Kiß kiß kiß