A trip downtown...

Since we haven't really had time yet, we decided that we would go into Schweinfurt. Mark has already been, so he kind of knew a bit about it. We went and parked in the parking garage (you pay to park) and then walked around. There are all sorts of neat little shops downtown- several coffee/tea places, and several "random crap" shops (as I call them)- they kind of remind me of Dollar General or Family Dollar....but offer different things? One of the places we went into even sold wine.

The first place that Mark wanted to take me into was a tea shop that sold loose teas (I love tea). It was so nice in there, and the man who worked spoke very good english. He had a wall of shelves that held bags of loose teas of all kinds- I settled for a mint one- as there are some that you aren't supposed to drink while you are pregnant, and all the indredients were in German (of course). I am very excited to try some other ones though- it smelled so nice. He also had an assortment of chocolates and treats, as well as tea pots, cups, and tins (to store the tea in so they don't go stale). I got a tin with owls on it (just FYI lol). Here is a picture of the store...

We also ended up walking into a sweets shop, where they had a pretty good selection of truffles filled with different things (with with alcohol and without). Mark bought one (though I don't remember what kind). We also saw, what I thought, was a "variety pack" of jams. They lady came and explained to us that it was honey from different parts- there was one that was from wildflowers, one that looked like it had a honeysuckle on it (though she didn't understand honeysuckle), one from the forest, and 2 other ones with pictures of flowers- no clue one what kind though. I am thinking I might go back some time and get it...I think that would be a neat thing to try.

We went into a neat "office supply" store- it had different kinds of pens and pencils, wrapping papers (by the sheet- very neat stuff!), childrens books, stationary, and other little things. One of the things that "I" personally laughed at (ok, Mark laughed at it too...) was this notebook. Either we are pervs or it really is funny...or both. I find it funny because I am just not sure that we could have a folder like this (pictured below) in the States...because other people would laugh too....anyway, you judge for yourself...

The last place we went into was another tea place...that also sold coffee and candy. As soon as we walked in the lady spoke to us (in German)....everyone that worked in the stores were very nice to us. We explained to her that we didn't understand German, and she told us she spoke a little English, but not very well (she did fine!). We were looking around and in the front of the store were 2 tea pots. She asked us if we liked tea, and told us if we wanted we could try the teas in the pots- that is what they were there for. Mark chose one in a clear pot with a tea light under it. He poured just the smallest amount in the bottom of the cup and then smelled it and said "it smells like something...I don't know what though...", so I smelled it. It smelled (literally) like buttered popcorn. Mark tasted it and then I did the same...and it kind of tasted like buttered popcorn (shocked me so much that I swallowed wrong and started choking...I am so smooth....lol) As it turns out, the tea was NOT popcorn flavored, it was coconut and apple (I think apple anyway, the lady wasn't exactly sure, but she said coconut and apple). They had large grains of brown sugar in a bowl to sweeten it- we bought a small bag of the brown sugar crystals and a small bag of the white sugar crystals.

That really sums up our town trip- although I did take more pictures (of course). One thing I notices was all the cigarette machines (like on every corner...) Cigarettes are very expensive here though- 5 Euros a pack (right now 1 Euro is 1.36). They also have cigarette adverts everywhere! Here is what the cigarette machines look like-

I will post these pictures, and the rest of the ones I took while we were down town on facebook- it takes soooo long to post them here!

Mark and I also went to Kinder Land (a toy store), which is closer to base. They had a neat selection of stuff in there- and next to it was a store that had a duck on the sign...so I thought it would be a cool store (obviously ducks mean cool stores...) I was a little wrong. It was kind of like a mixture of Pier 1 and the home section of Walmart...I wasn't very impressed. Then we went to a Bio Market (an organic grocery store). I thought it was VERY neat in there- not sure how Mark felt about it...he never seems as excited about things as I am. They had all sorts of things in there, including a bakery and a fresh cheese section (we didn't get any cheese...as I cannot eat anything "cool" until after Roy is born...*sigh*). I am looking forward to trying "gross" German cheeses though :)

I have also decided to try "new" things whenever I can...so I have started with "normal" things that I can get at the commessary. I am working my way through their selection of yogurts (which have been in the discount cooler for no more than 50 cents a container- most of them are 25 cents!) I have liked what I have tried so far. I did tell Mark that when he wanted brats at the house, we would not be buying Hillshire, we would get the real stuff...I can't justify moving to Germany to eat stuff I can get in the States! I also tried blood orange juice today...not too bad- like tart orange juice.

And here are some things I noticed today while I was out:

1. The library bathroom was the dirtiest bathroom we have been in yet (but maybe it just hadn't been cleaned yet, nothing against them!)
2. German kids are allowed to walk around by themselves WAY more than I would be comfortable...riding bikes alone along busy roads, walking around town alone, etc....
3. Mullets are not just in the States...we saw a little boy in Kinder Land with a mullet...and if there had been any way to take a picture without him (or his big scary dad) knowing, I would have done it...it was great!
4. Germany smelled "normal" today...no eggs or chewing tobacco.

Make sure to look at my pics on facebook to see the rest of the ones I took today! :)