Two More Days

So I might have gotten a little too eager to join the “great calf muscles club.” I am feeling muscles I haven’t used in years! Kick boxing and Pilates have let me down… granted it has been a while since I did either of them on a truly regular basis, but good grief, I thought I was in at least a little better shape than this with all the heavy lifting and furious whisking I try to do at work and school! In three months time I should be in such good shape that I’ll be able to do P90X without any problems… theeeeennnn agaaaaaiiiiiiin, maybe not… he he he. J

Today I was able to borrow a hotel bicycle. It’s been a while since I’ve been on one and I certainly didn’t float gracefully about the countryside like the locals do. (Allow me to mention here once again their amazing calf muscles) Up, down, up, and down again on the roads. I didn’t want to go too far just in case I ended up directionally confused or at the bottom of a really steep hill that I’d need to go back up. My German phrase book can only help so much, and apparently my 5 minute call home yesterday used up the minutes I had on my phone… so no calling the hotel kitchen for directional help. The sun was out and there was a pleasant breeze.  I rode around for a while passing by people saying, “hallo,” nodding my head, and looking like I knew what they said happily back to me. One great thing about this area is the random spots with benches. When you think you can’t pedal an inch more a bench appears and you can finally rest your weary legs. I stopped often but not just because of my legs but because my lack of bicycle “masterage,” makes it really hard to look around and stay on the trail. I’m still in the “awe” stage trying to taking in as much as I can and going fast on the path and looking around just isn’t smart for me to do yet!

The woods remind me so much of Finland and being here reminds me how much I’ve missed that place.  I love the pine and birch trees and the specific sounds and smells you can only get from them. You can’t be stressed out if you just stop in the middle of a trail. Yes, random people go by but once they are out of sight they are pretty much out of hearing too. Sound is muffled and softened and soon it’s just you again. The main difference between here and Finland is the hotter temperatures and the lack of lakes. But I am not in Finland I am in German and very happy to be here… maybe/hopefully in the next big trip over the ocean I’ll get to go a few countries north.

After a few hours of careful biking, I found a lovely, shaded spot to stop and read a book. I am sooooooo going back there. Listening to opera (Yes, opera! Nothing else seemed to suit the occasion… Arias and the Alps!), reading, eating more of those delightful mango gummies, and enjoying the Alps as my television – Oh… do be jealous. One perk of this spot was that while sitting there, I saw a 65-70(?) year old frau with fuchsia hair. So not only do I see myself coming home with some amazing calf muscles but also the perfect shade of fuchsia hair!!!! (I can see my mommy’s cringing face as she reads this!!!!!!). It was brilliant especially when it was hit with the right amount of sun shine! I have been looking and for the right shade at Target, Walgreens, and was just about so desperate as to try to mix up my own concoction at a Sally’s, but this woman… her hair was perfectionJ .

As most of you know I am not really a huge talker. Oh, I can talk too, but there are times and days that I actually really like just sitting, listening, and observing my surroundings without saying a peep until necessary. So far this has been a good trait to have here since that is all I have been able to really do. The people here are really sweet and helpful, but their English is very limited. Not having regular conversations with people is making these blogs a bit longer, so sorry if I blab on for too long, but for now this blog is my main outlet when I have met my listening and observing quota for the day. Hopefully when the other American gets here on Tuesday I won’t be quite so wordy. So good luck reading feel free to stop at any time, Especially since I have no idea how many days I have till I can actually post them!

Time to stretch and walk up and down a hill for dinner and you can now breathe sigh of relief to see I have finally reach the end of today’s edition J