The Black Forest

The Zaisers share a holiday house in the Black Forest with their family and we went there for Easter. The drive there was along the Autobarn for the first half then along narrow winding roads for the second half. I was expecting it to be dense forest most of the way to their house, but there are many open spaces throughout the areas of Pine Trees.
The house is very old and quite big, the ceilings are low, the passages narrow and the rooms relatively small. It is heated using a wood fire that can heat the two mai rooms very  effectively and the rest of the house a little bit. They also have general heating for the rest of the house in winter.

The old Black Forest house, it is really built for snow.

The view looking out of the front windows

Easter was pretty similar to Australia, just with a bigger and better easter egg hunt. I probably ate way too much chocolate that weekend for not being on the bike! We went for a walk, rock hopping up a really green mossy river then through the countryside to grren fields at the top of a knoll. Jakob'sfamily have this tradition where you take hard boiled eggs with you and see who can get their egg the furthest without breaking it - you can take many small throws if you have the patience. I think I came fourth. Then we ate what was left off the eggs on top of a hill looking towards the Swiss Alps (unfortunately it was cloudy so there was no Alps to see). The rest of the day was spent playing table soccer and relaxing.
It is soo green and lucious in the Black Forest and also all over Germany. I wish we had that colour in Australia. But then it rains more over here, I don't think I would be willing to sacrifice my bike riding ;)

I knew that I wanted to write a blog even before I came to Germany but I have been a Little unorganised and only got around to it now. I will start from the beginning.

In 2012 my sister Rosie came to Germany for an exchange. We came over afterwards as a family and met up to visit Italy, France, Germany and also Switzerland. I knew at this time that I wanted to do an exchange and Beatrice (a German teacher at Orana who organised Rosie's exchange) knew a family friend of hers that also wanted to come over to Australia on an exchange. Since we were in Europe we decided to meet them so we would both know each other.

That is the main reason why it wasn't too awkward or a complete suprise when we met Jakob in Sydney airport - even though it had been two years.


Jump three months ahead and to the start of my stay in Germany:

Everything was new, but mainly everyone speaking German left me a bit confused. I have to say that I was really lucky to have Jakob translating a bit for me, though also a bit unlucky because he still automatically speaks a bit of English to me . But one of the best things of the first day was driving down the Autobahn at 160km/h. I think when I get back to Australia, it will feel like we are crawling along the highway.

My room is right at the top of the house with a nice view into their garden and out accross the German houses. The first two pictures are drawings of my room and the third is looking out of my window:

On the third day I had settled in a bit more and Jakob suggested we go the Porsche or the Mercedes Museums (both companies are based in Stuttgart, close to where I am staying). I chose the Porsche. The museum not only houses some of the worlds best Auto engineering feats but also has the coolest architecture I have ever seen



Inside was even better, there were so many cars; right back from the very original Porsche's, the Le Mans racing beasts to todays sports cars

Porsche 911 GT2

Porsche Boxster

All the -trophies that Porsche have won.

Porsche Carrera GT

Porsche Carrera GT

Porsche Carrera GT

I also saw a Porsche 918 Spyder accross the road at the Porsche shop but forgot to take a photo - it is, in my opinion one of the best looking Porsches out.

The Porsche Museum was by far the best museum that I have ever visited, and I plan on going back again when I have the chance.