First week in Germany!

Its been roughly a week since my last post, and what a long, crazy, insane, interesting week it was!  When we boarded the airplane in DC I was excited to see so much room in the cabin with huge seats, for what seemed like the entire plane.  As we started looking for our seats we noticed that the seats in the back got a lot-and I mean a lot-smaller.  When we found our seats I thought to myself, this is going to be one loooonnnnggggg flight.  Sitting in the middle seat with my knees pressed against the seat in front of me with my lower back pressing against the back of my seat I thought, I will never make it though this flight.  After a few hours I somehow found a way to fall asleep, which made the trip go much faster!  As the plane descended, Julie and I leaned out the window to watch the sun rise and see the "new" landscape we would be living in.  My first thought was that the pilot had tricked us-that we'd been circling Ohio all night, and were now landing in Kentucky. It's pretty unbelievable that western Germany looks a lot like Ohio and Kentucky!  Doesn't feel like we moved!

That first day was one crazy day-epic.  Our ride picked us up movie-style (Julie's name on a piece of paper after baggage claim), and took us straight to one of the many military bases in the area.  There, we had to go though a bunch of logistical things which meant going from one base to another to be able to get to where we had hotel reservations.  Once we got our room Julie and I ate and finally went to bed 14 hours after landing in Germany!

The second day felt a lot better. After actually getting some sleep we had another long day of logistical shit.  Once we finished all of that it was time to rent a car to tide us over while we wait for our Element to get here.  We pull up to the rental agency and the first thing out of Julie's mouth was "I want that one" pointing at the smallest, ugliest car I will ever set my eyes on.  We stepped inside, and the salesman asked us what we wanted-something small? Something fast? Perhaps a convertible?! Julie grinned and said, "yes, we want the Fiat!"  I asked her if she was sure because it has a manual transmission which neither of us knew how to drive.  She didn't care so we decided to go for it and see what happens.  She wanted me to try and drive it back which is exactly what I did, TRY!  I got the car in reverse okay and then put it in first, Stall, I think I stalled 20 different times.  I'm sure the salesman was inside laughing his ass off and thinking what dumb Americans!  At some point I some how got the car moving and we were on our way-or so I thought!  I realized at the last round about that I should have turned there and not here.  Now on a road I had no idea where it went and no where to turn around, if I even could turn around, I was starting to regret our decision in getting this car.  Julie sees a parking lot at one point and so I had to just bee line straight for it.  There I tried to turn around, "STALL"!!!!!  Another 20 STALLS later Julie speaks up, "let me try".  She gets in the driver seat and BOOM right into first gear no problem!  Frustrated I had to match her if not one up her!  I finally get it into first gear and then I had to try again and again and again.  I thought okay I can get us back to our room.  To get back on base, we have to go through a check point.  At this check point there were a lot of cars which meant a lot of STALLING!!!!  At least most everyone around that noticed thought it was funny and they just laughed, as did all the guards.  Finally at the room we were relieved but both thinking now what, driving this car is going to be hell on wheels!

After eating some dinner and relaxing I told Julie we need to practice driving that heap of trash out there.  We finally get back at it and I have to say I sucked at driving that little crap car, but Julie was killin it in the parking lot.  At one point we were doing our little lap around the parking lot when a cop came over to where we were and parked and just watch us for an hour or so.  After what felt like hours Julie and I decided to call it quits and head in for the night.

Wednesday was an uneventful day, just a bunch of logistics.  But Thursday was a bit more fun.  We headed to the local climbing gym, www.RockTown.eu hoping to climb and meet some locals to get the info on the local outdoor seen.  Driving there I think I only stalled the car 5 or 6 times, PSYCHED!  This gym is something to think of when you watch the Vail Teva Mountain World Cup.  The walls seem to have been built to imitate competition walls.  A lot of different angles and features with a ton of jumping between holds.  When I say jumping I mean JUMPING!  All four points of contact flying through the air from one hold to another.  I've never climbed in a gym with so many problems like these.  I have to say today (Saturday) was our second time there and I am feeling pretty sore.  Maybe this new way of climbing will help my outdoor climbing, I guess time will tell.

Hopefully the next time I post there will be some actual climbing to talk about!