Germany- The Beginning

Note: Hubby wrote this post.

Finally arrived in Germany after a long and very uncomfortable flight. The flight was 11hrs long from Japan to Amsterdam in which the seats were not big at all for an airbus. Our flight to Australia was roomy, but on this flight not only were the seats smaller they stuck us in the middle so I was literally stuck with my knees to the chair in front. So we then arrived at our final destination Stuttgart and were picked up by our amigo Efrain.

Germany is great and we are finally getting the winter we never had back home. We are staying in a town called Hofingen about 20 minutes from Stuttgart. Our first day we slept in due to jet-lag and hung around the house watching shows on MTV that we needed to catch up on. The day after we headed down town where we walked the shops and ate some food. That same night we ended up to a huge festival for the night. Plenty of drunken photos to come but let me just say DAMNNN!! The beer here is cheaper than water, and during festival time they up the alcohol level in the beers. Each beer is 1 liter in size and filled with pure German beer which equals a hell of time! We started out buying one beer each (there were a total of 6 of us there) and I was the first to pound the first complete beer. After we all ordered our second round we headed from the outside to inside under the tents where Efrain's boss was. You see with these festivals you must pre-order or reserve a table under the tent which is where the real party goes on. They stand and dance on the tables, live bands play and everyone is just on the same page of getting tanked. With our second beer almost gone at that point anyone you talk to begins to simply refill your cup for free. I believe I was able to put down 4 full mugs (1 liter each) of beer, which I guess since we have been drinking so much beer on this trip, I built the tolerance up. 7 Hours later we went back to the train station to get back to Hofingen for the night. The trains are very convenient seeing that everyone was tanked and could not drive. It seemed like everyone going back home was tanked. We had a hell of a night.

Note: Wifey finishing the post because hubby is tired...lol

Today we went to Efrain's sons baseball game and then to a barbeque at their friend's house. Funny thing is that the wife only spoke spanish and german and the husband only spoke German and English. The whole night we were all conversating in the three languages since we along with our friend don't know how to speak German. The German hospitality proved to be one of a kind. They made sure we had plenty of beer and food. We started off eating the traditional Bratwurst with potatoes and bread. Then we ate plenty of meat along with more potatoes. The hosts were feeding us all night and we ended the night drinking some Champagne and eating chips and cheese dip. Conversation was funny as hell even though we had the three languages going on there. Needless to say we had another great night and Germany is proving to be a place we really love.

Some things to note:

1. Danke= Thank you
2. Kramer is a popular German last name and we are seeing it everywhere....too funny.
3. Almost everyone we have come in contact with can speak enough English to understand us.
4. The street lights go from red to yellow to green instead of just red to green like back in the States.
5. Here in Germany as a male you are required to go to the Army for at least 9 months.
6. Work hours are 35 hrs a week and you get 30 days of vacation.
7. In some towns the government pays you automatically about 400 euros for nothing and provides you with an apartment. We were told it is to not have poor people on the streets.
8. They have plenty of beer gardens here (like pubs back home) where you drink plenty of German beers and get the best schnitzel and bratwurst around.

DANKE!

These pics can get emotional! Hiroshima!

This is the shrine area where all the ashes are!

The remains from a bike of a 3 year old.

Replica of actual size of bomb.

This pics was taken seconds after the blast.

This pic was taken seconds after the blast.

After the explosuion.

The only building to stand after the bomb.

This a replica of the japanese community before the bomb.

This is a small scale view of the community before the bomb.

The time of the explosion.

Ｔｈｅ　ｐｅａｃｅ　ｍｅｍｏｒｉａｌ　ｍｕｓｅｕｍ．

Ｓｕｐｐｏｒｔｉｎｇ　ｔｈｅ　ｐｅａｃｅ　ｍｅｍｏｒｉａｌ　ｍｅｓｓａｇｅ．

Ｐｅａｃｅ　ｍｅｍｏｒｉａｌ．

Ｔｈｅ　ｃｈｉｌｄｒｅｎｓ　ｍｅｍｏｒｉａｌ．

Ａ－ｂｏｍｂ　ｄｏｍｅ　ｓｉｔｅ　ｆｒｏｍ　ａ　ｄｉｓｔａｎｃｅ．

Ａｆｔｅｒ　ｔｈｅ　ｂｏｍｂｉｎｇ　ｎｅｗｓｐａｐｅｒ　ｐｈｏｔｏ．

Ｔｏｄａｙｓ　ｖｉｅｗ．

Ｔｈｅ　Ａ－ｂｏｍｂ　ｄｏｍｅ　ｓｉｔｅ　ｔｏｄａｙ．

Ｔｈｅ　Ｄｏｍｅ　ｓｉｔｅ　ｔｏｄａｙ．

Ｔｈｅ　Ａ　ｂｏｍｂ　ｄｏｍｅ　ｓｉｔｅ　ｂｅｆｏｒｅ　ｔｈｅ　ｂｏｍｂｉｎｇ．

Ｈｉｒｏｓｈｉｍａ （very sorry about the format, using a Japanese keyboard)

Ｗｅｌｌ　ｗｅ　ｔｈｏｕｇｈｔ　ｉｔ　ｗｏｕｌｄ　ｂｅ　ａｐｐｒｏｐｒｉａｔｅ　ｔｏ　ｌｅｔ　Ｈｉｒｏｓｈｉｍａ　ｈａｖｅ　ｉｔｓ　ｏｗｎ　ｐｏｓｔ．　Ａｓ　ｙｏｕ　ｋｎｏｗ　ｔｈｅ　ＵＳ　ｗａｓ　ｔｈｅ　ｆｉｒｓｔ　ａｎｄ　ｏｎｌｙ　ｃｏｕｎｔｒｙ　ｔｏ　ｕｓｅ　ａ　
ｎｕｃｌｅａｒ　ｗｅａｐｏｎ　ｏｎ　Ａｕｇｕｓｔ　６ｔｈ　ａｎｄ　９ｔｈ　1945　ｗｈｉｃｈ　ｔｏｏｋ　ｔｈｅ　ｌｉｖｅｓ　ｏｆ　ｏｖｅｒ　２００，０００　ｐｅｏｐｌｅ　ｉｎｃｌｕｄｉｎｇ　ｏｆ　ｃｏｕｒｓｅ　Ｊａｐａｎｅｓｅ，　Ｃｈｉｎｅｓｅ，　Ｋｏｒｅａｎ　ａｎｄ　ｅｖｅｎ　ＵＳ　ＰＯＡ’ｓ．　Ｓｏ　ｙｅｓｔｅｒｄａｙ　ｗａｓ　ａ　ｖｅｒｙ　ｐｏｗｅｒｆｕｌ　ｄａｙ　ｔｏ　ｓａｙ
ｔｈｅ　ｌｅａｓｔ．　

Ｗｅ　ｈｅａｄｅｄ　ｔｏ　Ｈｉｒｓｏｓｈｉｍａ　ｖｉａ　ｔｈｅ　Ｓｈｉｎｋａｎｓｅｎ　ｗｈｉｃｈ　ｔｏｏｋ　ａｂｏｕｔ　１　
１／２　ｈｏｕｒｓ　ｆｒｏｍ　Ｏｓａｋａ．　Ｗｅ　ｔｈｅｎ　ｔｏｏｋ　ａ　ｄｉｆｆｅｒｅｎｔ　ｋｉｎｄ　ｏｆ　ｔｒａｉｎ　ｔｈａｔ　
ｔｏｏｋ　ｏｎｌｙ　ｃｏｉｎｓ　ｔｏ　ｇｅｔ　ｔｏ　ｔｈｅ　Ａ－ｂｏｍｂ　Ｄｏｍｅ　ｓｉｔｅ．　Ｗｅ　ｔｏｏｋ　ａ　ｆｅｗ　
ｍｏｍｅｎｔｓ　ｔｏ　ｒｅａｌｌｙ　ｔａｋｅ　ｉｎ　ｔｈｅ　ｓｉｔｅ　ａｎｄ　ｉｔ　ｗａｓ　ｊｕｓｔ　ｓａｄ　ａｎｄ　ａｍａｚｉｎｇ　
ａｔ　ｔｈｅ　ｓａｍｅ　ｔｉｍｅ．　Ａｍａｚｉｎｇ　ｂｅｃａｕｓｅ　ｔｈｅ　Ｊａｐａｎｅｓｅ　ｈａｖｅ　ｂｅｅｎ　ａｂｌｅ　ｔｏ　ｋｅｅｐ　ｔｈｉｓ　ｂｕｉｌｄｉｎｇ　ｔｈｅ　ｗａｙ　ｉｔ　ｗａｓ　ｓｉｎｃｅ　ｔｈｅ　ｂｏｍｂｉｎｇ　ａｎｄ　ｔｏ　ｊｕｓｔ　ｔｈｅ　ｂｒｉｃｋｓ　ｓｔｉｌｌ　ｌａｙｉｎｇ　ｔｈｅｒｅ　ａｓ　ｔｈｅｙ　ｄｉｄ　ｉｎ　1945　ｗａｓ　ｑｕｉｔｅ　ｐｏｗｅｒｆｕｌ．　Ａｆｔｅｒ　ｔｈｉｓ　ｗｅ　ｈｅａｄｅｄ　ｔｈｒｏｕｇｈ　ｔｈｅ　Ｈｉｒｏｓｈｉｍａ　ｐｅａｃｅ　ｍｅｍｏｒｉａｌ　ｐａｒｋ　ｗｈｉｃｈ　ｗａｓ　ａｌｓｏ　ａ　ｖｅｒｙ　ｔｏｕｃｈｉｎｇ　ｅｘｐｅｒｉｅｎｃｅ．．Ｔｈｅｒｅ　ｗａｓ　ａ　ｐｅａｃｅ　ｍｅｍｏｒｉａｌ　ｆｏｒ　ｔｈｅ
ｃｈｉｌｄｒｅｎ　ｏｆ　ｔｈｅ　ｂｏｍｂｉｎｇ　ａｓ　ｗｅｌｌ　ａｓ　ｆｏｒ　ｔｈｅ　ｓｔｕｄｅｎｔｓ．　Ｔｈｅｒｅ　ｗａｓ　ａ
ａｌｓｏ　ａ　ｓｉｔｅ　ｗｈｅｒｅ　ｔｈｅ　ａｓｈｅｓ　ｏｆ　ｏｖｅｒ　70，０００　ｐｅｏｐｌｅ　ｌａｙ．　

Ｔｈｅ　Ｈｉｒｏｓｈｉｍａ　Ｐｅａｃｅ　Ｍｅｍｏｒｉａｌ　ｍｕｓｕｅｍ　ｗｈｉｃｈ　ｄｏｃｕｍｅｎｔｓ　ｔｈｅ　ｂｏｍｂｉｎｇ　ａｎｄ　ｉｔｓ　ａｆｔｅｒｍａｔｈ　ｗａｓ　ｈｅａｒｔｗｒｅｎｃｈｉｎｇ．　Ｔｈｅ　ｍｕｓｅｕｍ　ｓｈｏｗｓ　ｓｃａｌｅ
ｍｏｄｅｌｓ　ｏｆ　ｂｅｆｏｒｅ　ａｎｄ　ａｆｔｅｒ　ｔｈｅ　ｂｏｍｂｉｎｇ　ａｌｏｎｇ　ｗｉｔｈ　ｐｉｃｔｕｒｅｓ　ｔｈａｔ　ｗｅｒｅ　ｔａｋｅｎ　ｏｆ　ｔｈｅ　ｐｅｏｐｌｅ　ｓｈｏｒｔｌｙ　ａｆｔｅｒ　ａｎｄ　ｔｈｉｎｇｓ　ｔｈａｔ　ｗｅｒｅ　ｌｅｆｔ　ｂｅｈｉｎｄ　ａｆｔｅｒ　ｔｈｅ　ｂｏｍｂｉｎｇ　ｓｕｃｈ　ａｓ　ｃｌｏｔｈｅｓ，　ｆｉｎｇｅｒｎａｉｌｓ，　ｓｋｉｎ，　ｐｕｒｓｅｓ，　ｇｌａｓｓｅｓ，　
ｍｏｎｅｙ，　ａｎｄ　ｓｏ　ｍｕｃｈ　ｍｏｒｅ．　Ｈｏｌｄｉｎｇ　ｂａｃｋ　ｔｈｅ　ｔｅａｒｓ　ｗａｓ　ｈａｒｄ
ｂｅｃａｕｓｅ　ｔｈｅ　ｍｕｓｅｕｍ　ｄｅｐｉｃｔｓ　ｗｈａｔ　ｈａｐｐｅｎｅｄ　ｓｏ　ｖｉｖｉｄｌｙ．　Ｗｅ　ｃｏｕｌｄｎ’ｔ
ｂｅｌｉｅｖｅ　ｗｈａｔ　ｗｅ　ｗｅｒｅ　ｓｅｅｉｎｇ．　Ｔｈｅ　ｉｎｈａｍｕｎｉｔｙ　ｏｆ　ｉｔ　ａｌｌ　ｗａｓ　ｊｕｓｔ　ａｌｌ　ｔｏｏ　ｍｕｃｈ　ａｎｄ　ａｌｌ　ｔｏｏ　ｒｅａｌ．　Ｓｅｅｉｎｇ　ｔｈｅ　ｍｅｌｔｅｄ　ｔｒｉｃｙｃｌｅ　ｏｆ　ａ　ｔｈｒｅｅ　ｙｅａｒ　ｏｌｄ　ｗａｓ　ｏｎｅ　ｏｆ　ｔｈｅ　ｈａｒｄｅｓｔ　ｔｈｉｎｇｓ　ｔｈａｔ　ｗａｓ　ｓｅｅｎ　ａｔ　ｔｈｅ　ｍｕｓｅｕｍ．　Ａｔ　ｔｈｅ　ｅｎｄ　ｔｈｅｒｅ　ｗａｓ　ａｌｓｏ　ｖｉｄｅｏ　ｏｆ　ｓｕｒｖｉｖｏｒｓ　ｔｈａｔ　ｔｏｌｄ　ｔｈｅｉｒ　ｓｔｏｒｉｅｓ．　



Ａｌｔｈｏｕｇｈ　ｖｅｒｙ　ｓａｄ，　ｖｉｓｉｔｉｎｇ　ｔｈｉｓ　ｍｕｓｅｕｍ　ｉｓ　ｓｏｍｅｔｈｉｎｇ　ｗｅ　ｒｅｃｏｍｍｅｎｄ　
ｔｏ　ｅｖｅｒｙｏｎｅ．　Ｉｔ　ｗａｓ　ｅｄｕｃａｔｉｏｎａｌ，　ｐｏｗｅｒｆｕｌ，　ａｎｄ　ｓｈｏｗｉｎｇ　ｔｈｅ　ｒｅｃｏｖｅｒｙ　ｏｆ　ｔｈｅ　Ｊａｐａｎｅｓｅ　ｐｅｏｐｌｅ　ｗａｓ　ｕｐｌｉｆｔｉｎｇ．　

Ｊａｐａｎ ｉｎ ｐｉｃｓ ｐａｒｔ ＩＶ！

Ｂｏｂｂｙ’ｓ　Ｔａｔ！

Ｈｉｒｏｓｈｉｍａ　ｃａｓｔｌｅ．

Ｔａｍｉｋａ　ｉｎ　ｆｒｏｎｔ　ｏｆ　Ｈｉｒｏｓｈｉｍａ　Ｃａｓｔｌｅ．

Ａｎｏｔｈｅｒ　ｐｉｃ　ｏｆ　ｏｕｒ　ｆｅａｓｔ！


Tamika after a long day! NEED　ＦＯＯＤ　ＮＯＷ！

Ｂｏｂｂｙ　ｅａｔｉｎｇ　ｏｕｒ　ｆｅａｓｔ！　

The Yen. Sorry you are only seeing about ＄１５０Us dollars though!

Its that　time　again　everyone,　and　it　is　ya　boy　here　with　the　updates.　Well　let　me　get　right　into　about　Kobe. WOW!　We met　up　with　our　new　friend　Loic,　who　when　you　read　this　thank　you　very　much　once　again.　He　was　an awesome guy as well as his friends who were locals.

We started　off　about 6pm by　walking　around　the　Kobe,　area　which　has　various　architecture　throughout　the　city　resembling parts of Europe and Japan. From there we made our way to the 7pm reservation for our taste of authentic Kobe beef. A little background about the Kobe beef, first of all the cows are fed beer and massaged as they grow. The biggest difference is that the fat on this beef is actually part of the meat itself unlike our beef at home. The chef prepared the meal right in front of our table. The meal included fresh garlic slices which were then grilled into chips, tofu, potatoes, mushrooms, zucchini, salad, soup, and finally the Kobe beef. Everything was delicious even the mushrooms which I do not like; however, I must specifically tell you about the Kobe beef.

The Kobe beef I did not believe prior to going would differ from our beef at home by much. I mean come on beef is beef………WRONG! This beef literally melted in your mouth. You can easily cut it with a fork. When you place the beef in your mouth just pressing your tongue towards the roof of your mouth starts allowing the meat to dissolve. The meat itself was a consistency almost of a warm moist brownie. The flavor of the beef plain without any sauce, salt or pepper is just as amazing. Now for the fat of the meat you could almost not tell the difference between the meat and the fat because it was that good! This Kobe beef is worth it if you ever come across the chance to try an authentic piece I can only try to describe this but even that just is not enough!

From dinner we headed off to bar hop and see how the locals did it. Our first bar had normal western R&B/hip hop music, but was very small like 15x15. The crowd was good and had more tourists than locals. About 45mins into it a live band came to perform. Shortly after that we headed to a different bar with more locals where we had a drink as we waited on Loic`s friends. When his friends arrived, we then left to go to another location were we could all fit at a table. After great conversation with great people we headed back to the station. Again, Loic and his friends were awesome people to hang out with. His friends looked up our train for us, walked us up to the gate to make sure we went where we needed to. All I can say is thanks!

Now the next day we woke up and did not make it to Universal Studios. We may make an attempt tomorrow but we were told the one in the U.S. is far better so we figured passing on it. The good news about that is I finally found a plate of big servings! We went to a restaurant by the internet cafe were I ordered fried rice with beef. The meal and I were destined to find each other because one, I do not like corn and all the fried rice here has corn…not this one! Then I thought it was just plain beef…not this one it came with a glazed sauce almost like from my favorite Chinese meal general tso`s chicken. Finally it came in a huge bowl where I actually had to push the last few bites down, I guess from eating so little my stomach shrunk, but it was so good to be full for once!

Tomorrow we head over to Hiroshima for the day…..so more comments to follow most likely after we have departed from this great country.

PS-I wanted to add that to date this trip has been amazing with my wife by my side. Many would think there at some point we would be fighting or arguing with spending every waking and sleeping for that matter moment together, but not here. I always tell her she is my everything and this trip is just allowing actions to show it more and more…..I love you babe!

PS-S- Just so you all know there is a bet going on between my cupcake John, and my munchkin Ely that I can not last the entire trip without shaving my head or my face. For those who may not know going past a week without shaving my balding head is rough; however, I am approaching the 1 month mark. So to my 2 little Chiquita’s daddy not letting up yet! lol





Additional things to note:



1. Locals use san at the end of your name as a sign of respect. So last night we were Bobby-san and Tamika-san.

2. Karaoke is huge over here and Loic told us that its pretty cheap and fun to go to with a group of friends.