little apartment Germany

fallingwater, flowingstream

2007-10-18T04:57:00.000+02:00

The favorite sister and I took a spontaneous road trip on Sunday to Pennsylvania. Ever seen a house built on a waterfall? If not, then you probably haven't visited Frank Lloyd Wright's famous Fallingwater. The house was built in 1935 for the Kaufman family, although we've given some real thought to moving in. If you're ever in the area, be sure to visit and see the beautiful piece of architecture for yourself. Take the tour (skip the food).

While you're in the area, you should also check out the falls at Laurel Highlands. The view is beautiful and makes for a good family picture.

fall into fractals

2007-10-14T00:05:00.000+02:00

When I'm not taking photographs or entertaining myself with music, I like to experiment with fractal art. What exactly is a fractal and how is it made? This type of art form typically offers the artist minimal control over in terms of anticipating and shaping its form and structure, as the fractal is created through mathematical algorithms and patterns. However, the infinite complexity of these patterns (especially when combined with different color schemes and gradients) is truly something to be admired.

Learn more here.
See more below.

These are fractals that I have created in my spare time.

space vine

smoke

snowflake
just as water crystallizes

midnight in the woods
the appearance of shapes, patterns, and shadows when adrenaline, fear, and imagination intersect

pocket watch

Thanks for viewing. Feel free to browse through my fractal gallery.

what did one pepper say to the other pepper?

2007-10-03T03:20:00.000+02:00

you're hot.

The flower experiment

2007-09-28T03:00:00.000+02:00

There was much celebration at our last BBQ. I think the pictures speak for themselves.

Back to the fields.

2007-09-24T23:45:00.000+02:00

Home, home on the range.

If all the clicking and flashing of the digital camera aren't enough, I think my trigger finger is quickly developing arthritis. Here are a few pictures taken on a piece of the Manassas battlefield.

Olympus E-510

2007-09-18T00:03:00.000+02:00

After much consideration and a great deal of research, I've decided to make the leap and purchase a new camera. I bought the Olympus E-510, double lens kit. Luckily, I managed to get a good deal with Best Buy and received double Reward points with the purchase of the camera and three accessories. To complete the set, I grabbed an extra battery, a camera bag, and a 2 gig ultra fast memory card. Here are some samples, taken around my house at Virginia.

Blog of the Day Award

2007-08-17T22:54:00.000+02:00

WOW! What an honor!

Thank you for your recommendations. Look for another update soon as I venture to Wilhelma, one of Europe's most beautiful zoos! Please continue to leave your comments, I love to hear from you.

Thanks again!

Jackie

Killesberg Park

2007-08-11T15:50:00.000+02:00

The sun decided to come out for me a little this morning after a week of rain, so I thought I'd stroll through Killesberg Park. I started out from the house and walked ten minutes through a small, hidden path that takes you to the park.

The park is located directly behind the Killesberg Messe, which is used as a place for exhibitions for large audiences. The Ubahn is located here as well in case anyone prefers to use public transportation. I went the back way and visited the animals first. The animal area is quiet and calm, in comparison to most zoo attractions. You can feed and pet the animals through the wooden fence, and there is a variety to see; donkeys, ponies, goats, llamas, and pigs. Nearby, there is a quiet lake with flamingos,and ducks that enjoy bathing around the fountain.

(this tree is my favorite in the whole park)

I had an instant connection with two of the animals. The first was the white goat. I was wearing a green t-shirt, so maybe he just thought I looked like food and decided to approach me. The other was a pony named Jana (pronounced "Yana"). I fed her some grass and rubbed her nose for a few minutes. When I started to leave, she began to follow me around the fence. She had a very peaceful look about her, but I imagine she just wanted some company.

(Jana)

I passed a small playground for kids that had a zipwire line. It was tempting not to try it out for myself, but I figured I wouldn't interrupt the long line of kids anxiously waiting to ride it. You sit down on a circle tied to a rope and then leap off the edge. When you hit the end of the line, it jerks you hard in the other direction and you start to slide back towards the starting point. Two people decided to go at the same time in this photo.

The park is known for its beautiful gardens. In September, you can actually come and take some of the flowers home with you. (Don't quote me, I heard through someone else. However, the local newspaper will usually have a statement about this in case you're interested.)

I decided to drop three euros on some lunch and ordered a plate of currywurst. It was fast and quick, and I was able to enjoy a nice view of the garden area as I ate.

After lunch, I thought it was time to climb the tower for a better view of the park. This is a really cool (and free) attraction. As I was climbing, I noticed that each step had a sponsor or dedication. The view from the top was beautiful, and I was able to catch the park train as it rounded a corner of the park.

There is a fountain area near the Messe where you can go and wash off if you're hot. I stood in front of it and let the wind do the rest. On the way back, I noticed a small memorial for those that had died in the Holocaust. I was told that this was only one of many memorials that you could find as you headed towards Munchen (Munich) to the south.

I intend to go back again for some pictures. I'm especially looking forward to the winter, as I'm sure it's beautiful there when snow has fallen. Check back for more updates, or visit my flickr to see more photographs!

My Flickr Site

Ulllllm...

2007-07-29T14:02:00.000+02:00

Ulm, Germany is the birth place of Albert Einstein and home of the tallest church in the world; the Munster Cathedral. Rising to a whopping 530 feet high, let me tell you (let my LEGS tell you), it's quite an impressive building. You start out on the bottom floor where you can view the main cathedral area, including a memorial trail you can follow along the floor, a candle lighting circle, a prayer room, and the main services area (the stained glass windows were truly breathtaking). Then you enter a tiny cement spiral stairway, big enough only for two people at any point, and you climb straight up to the main platform. There are a few smaller platforms at the lower levels for you to stop and take a break, as it's an exhausting feat. The climb is not recommended for anyone with claustrophobia, as many times you have to climb over a group of people who are pressed against the wall and taking a break.

Once you get to the main top floor, you can walk around and take pictures. There is, however, an optional platform that you can climb to. The steeple stairway is smaller than the main stairway and is a two-way lane; meaning you have people coming up and down in the same stairwell. It's quite a squeeze to get through at some points, but the view is worth it. The very top is also extremely limited in moving space and relies on the group present in when/where you move or leave, so we stayed and took pictures until everyone began to climb back down.

view from top

We managed to get around some of the back cobble streets, where we found a small tea shop and some beautiful scenery. We even managed to find pieces of the wall, which was built to surround Ulm. The city itself is situated on the Danube river and we found some magnificent views as we followed the wall.

The library is located in a central area of the city and looks like a fortress of glass. The stairs wind in a large circle throughout the library, and just outside the building you can find cafes and bistros with umbrellas, tables, and chairs for dining.

Jen and I had lunch after our 530 foot climb (quite literally!) at a restaurant outside by a fountain. We shared a small stack of ribs, a salad, and a baked potato. Afterwards, we walked around, browsed through some shops, and finished the day with an italian ice cream. I also ended up buying a handmade basket from one of the dealers outside the cathedral during the market sale.

I recommend visiting Ulm if you're ever in Germany. If you plan to climb the cathedral stairs, make sure you're in shape and prepared for tight, closed in spaces! Those aside, the hike is worth the effort.

Naturally, when Jenny and I got home we purchased some fruit, sushi, and bread from the local grocery store. We had our fruit salad on the balcony and watched the sunset over Feuerbach.

for more pictures, please visit my flickr site.

wow.. it's a GTX3Z4500 triple s lutz deluxe limited edition car, or something

2007-07-04T22:32:00.000+02:00

Some photos from our trip to the Mercedes-Benz Museum. Brian fell in love, Gigi snapped a million pictures, and I used adjectives for the cars, like "red" and "the shiny one" and "the one with the cool doors".

After you purchase your ticket for the museum, they give you an audio device and then launch you up to the 8th floor in a spaceship. Or something like it, at least. Whenever you want to hear information about a model or exhibit, you'd just aim your device at the circle and press the button. They also had movies and moving pictures, so you could listen to those, as well.

When we were done at the museum, Gigi decided to make us some dinner. We drove downtown Feuerbach, in which I got turned around several times on the little windy streets. After a stop at the grocery mart and a few horn exchanges, we went back to the house to eat. We had a turkish meal called schwarmi (sp?), and then proceeded to crash at our quarters.

(this was Gigi's meal. he likes to stack his fries in the middle)

Happy Fourth of July, everyone!

Dinner in France

2007-07-04T21:27:00.000+02:00

Gigi and I decided to have dinner in France on Tuesday evening just for kicks. The following day was the 4th of July, so we would be able to stay out a little later than usual. It took about two hours to get there, mostly due to some traffic around construction areas along the way. I opted to drive since Gigi drove last time. If I hadn't overcome my "small-lane" phobia yet, I sure did fix it along the way. There's nothing like riding next to a semi when the lanes are half the size you're used to and construction barriers kick in.

We got to Strasbourg around 8:00 pm or so and found a parking spot next to the University. We walked along and crossed the river Ill until we found a little city square.

When we found a couple of menus on the street, we decided to go to Au Dophin (the dolphin). They had several entrees and specialties you could order, but we wanted to try one of the set three-course meals that they recommended. The one we chose was called The Terror menu, although the Pirate menu was very tempting. Believe it or not, I was relieved to see that they had German subscript under each menu item. I was able to read and understand some of what I saw, but when it came to French, I had no idea. Gigi said he had studied French for several years, so I told him that he could order for me. As soon as the waitress came to take our order, both of us stared blankly at her for a moment until Gigi finally said "water," and proceeded to order in English. Haha!!

Both of us had the soup of the day even though we had no idea what it was. We wanted to try something authentic since we were there only for the night. It turned out to be a really good (and really green) potato and asparagus soup. For the main dish, I had a steak with mushrooms, potatoes and cheese, and vegetables. Gigi ordered the pork roast with veggies and noodles. When we were finished, we ordered the tart for dessert, but it turned out there was only one left. He gave it to me and instead of choosing ice cream, Gigi ordered the cheese. The moment that plate came out, I about passed out in my chair from just the smell of it. We were laughing so hard, I had to keep my napkin over my nose because I felt my stomach turning each time Gigi took a bite. I tried a little piece because I figured I might as well, but I wasn't a fan. He enjoyed it, but had to acquire a taste for it which he had done awhile back.

After dinner, we took some pictures of the cathedral. The windows and lights were set on different colors and timers, and made for some great pictures. There were quite a few people on the streets enjoying themselves and watching the display.

We had a hard time finding the correct direction to go on the highway, only because the cities listed were the same as the ones we were moving towards when we drove to Strasbourg. The navigation system only seems to work for Germany unless you install a different CD, which we didn't have. After a little effort, we figured out where to go and made it home around 1:30 am.

Deutschland... Austria... whatever!

2007-07-01T10:13:00.000+02:00

Yesterday was quite an adventure!! Gigi, Brian, and I decided to go view Ludwig's castles in Bavaria. Here is a recap of our travels.

Schloss Linderhof

We left from our apartments at the SI Centrum around 9:00 am or so. We drove a couple of hours through Munchen (Munich) until we got to Garmisch. From there, we navigated our way to Schloss Linderhof. The tallest mountain Germany, Zugspitze, can be seen from these photos, but the clouds are covering its peak.

We stopped at a restaurant on the side of the highway. Contrary to the U.S and all the fast food, they offer a real nice meal at the rest areas. The three of us had soup and split a plate of schwinebroten und kartoffel (pork and potatoes).

When we got to the castle, I happened to overhear a couple talking in American English. The guy was trying to take his wife's picture by the castle, so I offered to take one of them together. Just out of curiosity, I asked where they were from. They told me they were from St. Louis and had a niece that was attending Mizzou in Columbia! The guy was wearing a red budweiser shirt, which I hadn't really even noticed until after they mentioned it. The woman told me that she did some sort of marketing for the hospital in St. Louis and seemed exceptionally proud of me for also choosing marketing as my major. The two of them had been there for two weeks and were leaving the next day. What a small world!

Austria

Once we finished taking pictures at Schloss Linderhof, we asked the guy at the Parking area which way to turn to get to the other castle. He told us to go right, so we turned and looked for signs. A few miles later, we saw a sign that said we were leaving Deutschland and entering Austria! We were so confused but we noticed that the city of Reutte, which we saw on the map earlier, was just south of Schwangau where the next castle was. We trucked on through and decided to stop and take a picture. Here you can see Lake Plansee. The water was so clear and beautiful, it was absolutely breathtaking. Bikers were passing often on the road, so I tried to catch one with my camera.

Schloss Neuschwanstein

Once we made it to Reutte, we followed the signs back to Deutschland. When we saw another sign for the castle, we got back on route and found our way. This castle is the one that Disney used when modeling their logo. When you arrive, you have the option of hiking up to the castle or taking a horse and carriage. We took a steep, 35 minute trail to the Marienbrucke. This is a bridge that overlooks the Neuschwanstein castle. It was quite a difficult hike, but the view was worth it. We took one more trail to get to the actual castle and took some pictures of the outside.

you can see the bridge we were standing on in this last picture.

Unterammergau

After a couple of hours at the Neuschwanstein, we decided to stop by a co-worker's house to say hello and drop off some gummy bears for his son. In order to avoid the expensive tourist trap, we found a local restaurant called the Gletscherspalte and had dinner. After our meal, the three of us each had a piece of the most delicious apfel strudel. It was the perfect ending for such a long day.

By then it was 9:30 pm, so we headed back to Stuttgart. We used the GPS in the car to guide us, but ended up taking two very strange shortcuts. Both of them took us off the main road and through a one-way farmer lane. Our car was turning on all the automatic lights outside of the farm houses as we passed, it was really scary! When we made our way back to the autobahn, we hit a stau (traffic jam). At that point, Brian and I were half passed out in the car and Gigi was kind enough to get us through and back home. We were in the stau for an hour or so and made it home around 1:00 am.

All in all, it was a great adventure. I hope to have more pictures soon as taken by Gigi, but feel free to visit my flickr site. You can see more there! "Click me for more!"

World's First TV Tower

2007-06-27T22:57:00.001+02:00

I've taken the liberty of stealing some of Gigi's photos. Mwuhahaha! He's an excellent photographer and a wonderful web designer, so please stop by his site sometime and take a look. Photos From Europe

The TV Tower seen here is the first in the world. When we took the elevator up, it counted the distance to the platform (150 meters!!) Gigi went the day before and then we went during the evening after his visit. We were fortunate enough to watch a storm in the distance from the tower, and while we had several chances to take some pictures of the lightning, it was too difficult to catch on the camera we had. I made sure to purchase and create a penny from the machine for a keepsake.

P.S. I love reading all your comments! I read and enjoy each and every single one, so thank you for taking the time to write! :)

Germa"ne-mo"

2007-06-27T20:56:00.000+02:00

Quick update!

Been pretty busy at work, but I had time to upload a few pictures from the weekend. They're random, but I hope you enjoy.

Yes, I've found the German equivalent of Nemo. He was hiding at the pet store.

Taken from the road. Pretty typical.

Here's a couple of Ralphie, Rick and Deb's little terror. I mean, terrier. (he's actually quite sweet)

And finally, a panoramic of the view from my apartment.

BBQ

2007-06-25T18:42:00.000+02:00

We had a BBQ at Rick and Deb's on Sunday. Half the crew consisted of co-workers and colleagues, and the rest were friends of the family. Here are some pictures from the party (courtesy of Gigi).

House and view

Ready to eat

Bea and Jens

Ivan, Matt, myself, Evan (and Brody, the rascal) Kevin, Brian

Post Dinner Jam Session

dinner in the backyard

2007-06-21T20:52:00.001+02:00

Things are going really well. I just got back from dinner with two of my co-workers, one of which just arrived today. We ate at a little Irish bar and grill in the hotel area just below our apartments. Here are some pictures of our 'backyard' dining area.

Another highlight for the day was our drive to the office. I'm now very confident and comfortable driving back and forth between our apartments and the office. The GPS system in our car (a Mercedes, might I mention) is now programmed for our apartment. This has relieved much of my anxiety about driving and getting lost.

Here are some more pictures from the apartment window.

(Brian. People do crazy things when they're hungry and jet lagged!)

I'll have a few more pictures soon from our trip to the TV Tower. Check back later for those!

day one

2007-06-18T20:06:00.000+02:00

My first day back at the office was great. I was especially very happy to see all of my old colleagues. A couple of us went out to eat lunch at a little German restaurant just across the street from our office. I had salat mit puten und mineralvassen (salad with grilled turkey and mineral water. Sorry if my German is still off. I'm making an effort!)

After work, my co-worker and I went to Kaufland's for some groceries. I spent 25 Euros on basics; milk, bread, lunch meat, sugar, etc.

There's a gas station just next to our apartment area that sells most common household items, as well. I'll probably venture out a little more within the next few days.

willkommen!

2007-06-16T20:06:00.000+02:00

This is my new blog for my stay in Stuttgart, Germany. Hope you enjoy it!

I arrived in Germany today around 11 am, although only half of my luggage made it to the finish line. Unfortunately, I had most of my business and work attire in the lost half, but I'm optimistic that it'll come in tonight or tomorrow. I've already experienced my first fire alarm here at my place, which I had accidentally thought to be a very obnoxious telephone at first.

Here are some pictures of my apartment. The first set is of the main living and sleeping area.

This is the kitchen.

Here are a couple featuring the windows and the view. As you may know, mostly everything is cooled through windows as opposed to air conditioning.

That's all for now! Thanks for reading!