Scott and I were talking over dinner one evening this past week, and the accountant in him came out when he started putting some numbers to our experiences. So, in his honor, let me "hit" you with some numbers...
Days left before we are home: 2
Days spent in Europe: 105 days
Countries visited: 5 (Germany, Italy, France, Austria, Czech Republic)
Biergartens visited: 24
Oktoberfest visits: 4 for Carrie, 6 for Scott, 2 for Colin on Family Days
First's for Colin: too many to count! (But, they include his first taxi cab, domestic & international flights, subway and tram rides, so many museums, biergartens, lakes, foods, learning German....)
Places we had been previously that we revisited: 3 (Cinque Terre, Italy; Salzburg, Austria; and Munich, Germany)
New cities/towns/villages visited: 25 (maybe some quick stops we forgot?)
Innsbruck, Bad Ischal & Hallstatt, Austria
In Germany: Tegernsee, Kaufbauren, Fussen (Hohenschwangau & Neuschwanstein Castles)
Kloster Andechs & Ammersee (1 hour outside Munich), Bamberg, Berlin, Nuremburg, Berchtesgaden (Eagle's Nest), Stambergersee, Freiburg & Black Forest, Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Pfaffenhofen, Regensberg.
Strassbourg, Colmar, & Obernai, France.
Prague, Czech Republic
Modes of transit used: plane, train, boat, subway, tram, funicular, taxi, bicycle, feet, sommerrodelbahn
Debt we racked up...undisclosed! But don't worry, CPA Scott has a plan and a spreadsheet to quickly pay it all off ;)
Items lost: 9 (Scott's brand new shorts (see Cinque Terre post!), Colin's hand me down shorts, Vera Bradley reusable shopper bag, $2 Old Navy flip flops, 2 pairs nice silver earrings, Thomas the Train & Spencer the Fast Engine toys, Colin's $5 Toy Story sunglasses, Colin's fleece jacket)
As one of Scott's coworkers asked me (thanks for the deep thoughts, Peter Röder!), what would I take back in my heart from our time in Germany? So, Scott and I started talking about how we'd answer that. It's really Bavarian, not necessarily German, culture that we've immersed ourselves in for the past three months, and there's definitely a difference. We definitely will take with us a renewed sense of adventure and desire to commune with nature...ask any Bavarian what they did over the weekend, and you'll likely get an answer like, I went for a hike/bike/walk/run/climb/swim/something active outside. (Most) Bavarians also love their biergartens and gemütliche (cozy, communal vibe found in the biergarten with friends, family & good bier)....but it's really that I think they take time and make a priority to meet up with family and friends and spend quality time with the people they love and like the most. We do this too, and although it's true Germans are a very hard-working people, they really seem to put a priority on relationships and really seem to have a much better balance with work and the things that are most important. Material "stuff" also seems to take a back seat to people, relationships, and experiences that are good for the body and soul...for the majority of people I pass each day on the subway and street, clothes, accessories, etc are more about function and utility than impressing anyone. This has been very good for me the past three months. Don't get me wrong, the business men and women are usually impeccably groomed and dressed and there are plenty of chic-y-meeky (hoity-toity) people to be found in Munich, but the masses are just sort of average dressed, usually in flat shoes, jeans, shirt, jacket and scarf-wearing people.
We will also take home a brain and heart full of amazing memories, and we are a changed family in many ways, all for the better.
We can't wait to see our family and friends and sleep in our own comfy beds!
The last load of laundry is done and drying on the rack, then suitcases will be ready to sat on and zipped closed. Borrowed things have been returned. Last trip to the V-Markt for juice and snacks for the plane ride home is done! German bank account will be closed tomorrow. Thank you gifts have been given and some surprises received. The last group work lunch was today for Scott, and Colin and I went along. Favorite platzes, gardens, restaurants, markets have been visited. Colin has played at all his favorite spielplatzes one last time this week. Only one more package to shipped off tomorrow, then we leave on Saturday morning at Dark:30.
I've gotten so behind in my posts due to having an amazing time being tour guide and hosting friends and my sister who visited us during the Oktoberfest the past two weeks, and we've just been enjoying the gorgeous weather the past week. Stay tuned as I relive memories and post more pictures during October of all the adventures we had in July and August!
Auf Wiedersehen, Y'all!
