Germany - Part 1 (of who knows how many)

I decided to split up my blogging about Germany into more than one entry.  It takes awhile to make blog posts, at least it does for me.  So with that being said, let's get right into it. 

I bought a new 16gb memory card especially for my trip and this was the first photo I took - Jacky in the apartment having some relaxation time...such a sweet little face:

We got back to the apartment from the airport, I settled my things in, and Kate, Jack and I went to the Biomarkt (a natural food store nearby).  We felt like baking so we decided to make a dessert for their neighbors!  They don't have sweet desserts in Germany like we have in the U.S. so we decided on these cookie dough cheesecake bars.  Here is a photo of the ones we made:

Those things are killer and people go crazy for them.  I made them once before and took them to work.  There was not even a crumb left at the end of the work day.  So, put the recipe on your list of "something to bring to the next potluck".  Trust me. 

We ventured to downtown Regensburg for a bit where I took these (shadow of clock tower on the walkway there):

We went up in the tower (even though it was roped off inside...we're rebellious) and I took a few from up there, including this one below where the shutters look like barber poles (or candy canes).  Kate told me that during the Christmas season they decorate this building as an advent calendar!

There's the clock tower.  I was shooting through those little windows you see above where the clock is.  The man playing the violin was a nice touch to the atmosphere.  He wasn't wearing gloves.  Either he's really used to the brutal cold or he just doesn't care.  Props to him. 

After a few hours in the downtown area, we went back to the apartment.  The lighting in Kate and Josh's place is amazing.  In fact, of all the scenic shots I took while out and about during the trip, this image was one of my favorites and was taken right in their apartment.  This is an example of one of the most wonderful things about photography for me personally.  Something from every day life, flowers on a table with the light coming in from the window.  I'm in love: 

So cute:

Kate and I went to a quaint little restaurant where I had my first Dunkels beer in Germany (so good!) along with some wiener schnitzel:

I could not eat all of that schnitzel, which says something because those who know me, know I can usually put some food down. 

I had been enjoying the local sights and spending time with Kate and little Jack.  We had a Jude Law movie marathon one day which was super fun and relaxing (and easy on the eyes!).  Josh had been out of town but was back that Sunday so when he got home, Kate and I prepared to leave for our girls trip, just the two of us, to Garmisch!  Monday morning we took the train down.  Katie and Josh had told me about how people in Germany stare and I didn't experience it until we got on the train.  I'm not sure if people there just don't know that staring is rude, or if they just don't care.  But they definitely do it, and for a prolonged time!  Kate challenged me to have a stare down with a local German person but I never did get the chance after we were on the train that day. 

We stayed at the Edelweiss Lodge and it was just lovely.  A lot of cross country skiiers around, so I'd look out the window from time to time and see one.  This was the view from our room:

We took a taxi and headed to see the Zugspitze.  I took these when we got out of the taxi, before buying our tickets to get to the top:

Then we got on the cable car to head to the top!  I had not been in a cable car until that moment and it was awesome!  I took these shots on the way up, through the cable car glass.  It was wild being in a small glass box coasting your way to 9,000+ feet...with only the glass and metal you're standing on separating you from the outside.  You can see the cloudy fog and snowy trees and for the record, I've never felt such cold as I did in Germany.  Living in Maryland, we have 4 distinctive seasons and have had some rough winters.  But this was seriously cold.  Especially when we got to the top.  Although I do understand that this was unseasonably cold weather for them.  Apparently I brought the cold with me to Germany.

Trees:

So with that, I'm going to leave you here for the time being!  The next series will be from the top of the Zugspitze and more from the quaint town of Garmisch. 

Please stay tuned and thanks for taking the time to look at my photos!