In Germany

Hello to all. This post is going to take me an hour to type with the new strange keyboard. So many things are in different places. I am typing from the hotel business center. Two computers, and it's a fight to get in here.

Our flight was great. No delays, etc. We did nearly miss our flight from Frankfurt to Stuttgart, as I actually listened to this guy in line who said there was a 'secret' way from one terminal to the next. There wasn't. Nate's coworker picked us up from the airport around 8:30am, and drove us out to one of the army bases for Nate to get his passes necessarz to get on the base, log into the new network, etc. She (Jill) took us through the army store. It was exactly like a small Walmart or Target. All of the U.S. products, etc. I was laughing the whole way through. Truly just like living in America!! Except that Nate and I don't have access because we are not military. Oh well, I guess we will survive!!!

We ate a strudel at a little German bakery in side the base. Yum!!! Funny point: the U.S. bases are guarded by Germans. Hmmmm.... seems a bit strange for security.

We then were dropped off a the hotel. It is a really nice hotel. Nicer than what we wanted, but a car show in downtown Stuttgart didn't give us many options. So here we are, staying about 15 minutes from the center of town(by metro) in a very nice hotel. After checking in, we needed to go get a "bio metric" picture of me for our residence permit so we started strolling around. The picture must be taken with no smile and your glasses off. Needless to say, I looked hideous. A whole day of travelling with out a face wash, and my eyes look tired and bloodshot.

Back to the hotel for a meeting with the woman getting us our work permit. Then back out. We got a pass for the metro and headed downtown. Our first stop was the local community college. I found out about the classes they offer. I have to go to a proficiencz test on Monday, and then can sign up for classes. Then we bought a monthly pass for the metro (called the S bahn), and started strolling around the pedestrian only zone in the downtown region. We went in and out of cell phone stores, looking for the best deal. Still unconvinced, Nate is planning to ask his coworkers about it today. We then stopped in at a little Italian restaurant called "Leondardo" and ordered a tomato salad and a pizza. Oh and of course a glass of wine and a beer!!! The waiter spoke Italian and German, so Nate spoke to him in Spanish and we got along just fine!!!

Back to the hotel, and it was only 4:00. We could hardly keep our eyes open. So we watched two episodes of the West Wing and then at 6:45 fell asleep. We both woke up at 2am, wide awake, but fell back asleep until 8am. Nate left for work about an hour ago, and I am planning to venture out and find some food. I really wish I spoke more German. This should be interesting!!!