Americans, Americans!!!!

Americans, Americans everywhere!!! This is the theme from our weekend.

It's a bit of a long story, BUT! We met some Americans in our German class (I may have mentioned before them obtaining us Clif bars from the army base). During one of our classes we went around describing our professions. I said I was a tax consultant. This guy from class (Zeyn) told one of his friends (Jeff) that he knows an American who does taxes. Apparently Jeff was upset that he owed so much money in tax for 2006 and wanted to know why. It just so happens that Jeff works for SAIC, and knew Nate already!!! So, this whole strange loop was closed up. [I'll be looking over his tax returns for a bag of Doritos and a few filets from the American grocery store on base!!!]

Jeff contacted Nate on Friday and said that he and a bunch of his friends (including Zeyn from class, and his wife Tammy) were going to the Hamburger Fischmarkt (fish market from the town of Hamburg) that is going on right now in downtown Stuttgart. So, Nate and I joined them for a night of fun. We got there a little early and circled around, eying all of the delicious looking fish. I got a little plate of fried shrimp, Nate picked up some mushrooms sauteed in a cheesy-creme sauce. We then grabbed a plate of fried fisch of some sort with fried potatoes. I think you are catching the theme of the evening. Afterwards we grabbed strawberries and ice-cream and met up with Zehn, Tammy, and their friends. Of course, it was largely military people and some other contractors working in Stuttgart. So, we chatted, enjoyed a few glasses of Pils, and in general enjoyed speaking English for the rest of the night.

Throughout the course of the night we met a guy named Chris, and two of his friends Scott and Mike. Chris invited us over to his place on Saturday for a barbecue. How could we refuse?!!!

On Saturday we built the final kleiderschrank for our bedroom (whew!!!!!!!!!) and then I met up with Cris (Nate's female coworker) to go and get a pedicure. It was relaxing and fun, and now my feet look quite lovely!!! I rushed back home, prepared some broccoli and cauliflower and then we took the S-bahn over to Chris' place in Feuerbach. He has one of those apartments that are at the top of the building with a walk-out balcony. Sooooo nice! And, of course, he has a lovely Weber grill.

We snacked on peanuts, chips, and other lovely American delicacies before enjoying hamburgers, pork, and chicken hot off the grill. Pork and beans have never tasted better ! After enjoying some after-dinner grappa (I'm probably spelling that wrong, but it's the Italian after-dinner drink) and mulled wine, we headed to the Ludwigsburg palace for a classical feuerwerk-fest. Translated... sitting out of the lawns of a palace, watching beautiful fireworks that correlated directly with the classical music being played from speakers situated around the lawn. It was truly amazing. [This is a picture of the Ludwigsburg palace --- it is the oldest Baroque palace in Germany.]



Today we don't have much planned. We went from having no friends, to having lots to do on a weekend and I think that has shocked our systems considerably!!! So today it's just organizing up the apartment and relaxing. Funny, but now that sounds so nice!!!