Adventures of NaDave: Dave Germany: 90-98 (Halfway & Heidelberg)

After a trip of a lifetime to Lithuania, I had the next weekend off. And to be expected after a trip like that, I came down with a cold. On Friday I had a massive headache, so I spent most of the weekend sleeping, relaxing, and getting healthy. I knew summer would be ending soon, so I enjoyed a few slow-paced bike rides, and planned for my final solo trip of summer. Next weekend I would be heading to Heidelberg and Kaiserslautern to visit some friends.

But during the week I also officially celebrated the half-way point of my internship. August 25 made it 3 months. Now some might say "already, wow that was fast". But this has not been an easy 3 months, to say the least! Also on that Wednesday, I was healthy again, and joined the adidas cycling group for a ride. They depart every Wed at 6pm for a 2-2.5 hour ride. It was probably my last chance to join them, so I said, heck lets do it. And as to be expected at a major sports company, it was an intense 45 mile ride around the area, but I hung on. I came home with a rejuvenated feel that maybe these next 3 months would be different.

On Friday August 28, I left from work with a full backpack as usual. This time was a little different as I took the bus, and not the train. It took 3 hours to get to Heidelberg, but it was a straight shot. I was nervous about the bus, but it was clean, safe, and much cheaper than the train! I arrived at 8pm, and a friend from Southern (Irene Gorman) was there to welcome me. Irene graduated in 2012 and now works as a chemist at BASF.

We met her husband Brian & some local friends at a restaurant for dinner. Everyone was from America, so the conversation was very easy. I shared stories about my first 3 months, and everyone shared stories too. We were constantly laughing. We then headed back to Irene's apartment, where I'd be staying. I would see them again on Sunday, but I would be leaving early on Saturday to meet up with an old High School swimming friend (Sergeant David Patterson).

Saturday morning I walked around the very romantic Heidelberg (as it is called). It is known for its old castle (what a surprise, a castle in Germany??) and also for its University. 55 Nobel Prize winners have some history with Heidelberg Univ. Einstein taught there, the guy that the Bunson Burner is named after taught there. Even the bicycle was invented nearby. Lots of scientific history for the area.

I walked all around the city, then headed to the train station for the 11am train to Kaiserslautern. Kaiserslautern is the largest US base outside of America, and has 1000s of Americans stationed in Southwest Germany. I arrived at 1pm, and David was there to pick me up with his car. Big hugs & laughs! I hadn't seen him since probably 2003, and it was great to see an old friend. We rode around together, as he showed me the town the best he could. David & his family had arrived into Germany just 3 months ago, so he was new just like me. It was neat to see the base, and we even went into a few stores. Wow, it was so different. It basically felt like America. It was Americans walking around everywhere, and US groceries in the stores. It was this bubble in Germany.

We got back to his apartment, and stayed there the rest of the day with his family. We cooked, ate, and chatted a ton. David had been deployed in Afghanistan & been stationed in Korea (where he met his Filipino wife), Hawaii, and Louisiana...so I asked him all about his travels. Equally I told him all about Carnegie Mellon, my PhD Degree, and Australia. For two Grandville boys, we were both traveling the world and doing pretty good. We played a Filipino version of Rummy with his wife to end the evening, and then we all headed to bed. Another great day.

I had to catch an early train, which was no problem in a military family. I took the 730am train back to Irene & Brian's place. We were headed to the Deutsche WeinStrasse (German Wine Road) festival, where they shut down the road, only on this day, to just bicycles. We hopped on the train, and I have no never seen so many bikes on public transit. It was crazy. We hopped off, and joined a bigger group of Ex-Pats who were also doing the festival. The roads were packed were 1000s of cyclists, and the idea was to ride 15 km of the WeinStrasse, then get on a train to head home. It was an blue sky day, and we cruised around through vineyards, small towns, and cobble stone roads. We had lots of the WeinSchorle (wine with bubbly water) but I had to hold back, since I was catching a 630pm bus back to Nuremberg.

I could have stayed there all day, but said my goodbyes around 4pm to ensure I would catch a train on time, to then catch the bus home. I made all my connections, and locked up Irene's bike at the Heidelberg train station. I passed out on the bus ride home (prolly bc of all the sun & wine!) & I made it back to Herzo late, but was safe sound. Another weekend of great weather, made connections, and great stories.

What a great August. Trips to Amsterdam, Lithuania & now Heidelberg. But some of the best parts are coming next. I will be meeting my parents in Poland on Thursday September 10, as we visit Krakow, Prague, Nuremberg & Berlin. Then we'll say goodbye on Sept 20, as they head to Athens, and I head home. The next weekend after that I'm thinking of heading to Oktoberfest in Munich, and then I get to fly home to Mississippi to see Nadine! September will be an awesome month, to be capped with seeing my girl after 5 months! And watching her become Dr Lippa!