Searching for Rapunzel

 We arrived in Frankfurt, Germany on Friday morning at about 5:30 a.m.  The flight from Lagos was a little  very rough since Elizabeth really didn't sleep at all....like her dad, she needs a flat bed to sleep in.:)  We did arrive in almost one piece, though:)

First stop was to change over some money for euros so I could go out and spend some, right Guy!!!???:)

 Per Jeremy's orders, the next stop was McDonald's for some french fries. They didn't have any french fries that early, but he did end up liking the pan cakes with the syrup baked right in.:)

 We got our rental car to head to Rothenburg and were barely able to get the trunk to close ( I am not kidding!!)  We brought a few extra bags to fill up to bring with us back to Lagos, but we could barely fit the bags we had packed already into the car.  I think Elizabeth had had it with the car when she couldn't stretch out her legs in the back seat because the kids were packed in so tight with all the luggage. She yelled, "I don't like this car!!! It isn't a nice car!" Keep in mind that we rented a BMW!!!:)
I had to get a picture of this sign.  It means "exit" in German...but it makes me think of something else. I know...I do have some immature moments.:)

Not sure what this sign says, but I thought it was pretty.:)

There were so many of these little towns in the hills as we drove to Rothenburg.  The pictures I took really don't do them justice, but I thought I would try to show a few.:)

 Getting closer to Rothenburg...

 I guess when you see the German flag, you know you are in Germany.:)

 We did make it to Rothenburg.:)  Guy planned our entire German trip...well, really all of our trips.  He decided that we should visit this town because according to his travel guru, Rick Steves, it is the
"best preserved medieval town in Germany".  "Rot" means "red" in German and "burg" originally meant "shelter", and later it came to mean "castle" and in English it came to mean "town".  So, I am guessing the name means "Red Town"? Whatever the name means,  I would have to say that this town is exactly what I had pictured in my head of what Germany would look like when I did come to visit.:)

 This is a tower along the city wall.  In the medieval times, the wall was used to keep enemies out and it was manned at all hours of the day and night by soldiers and look -outs to make sure the village would not be attacked.
Of course, Jeremy and Elizabeth weren't too interested in that. They were more interested in seeing if they could find Rapunzel!! Yes, we looked it up, and Rapunzel is a German fairy tale.  Since the movie "Tangled" came out, they were so excited to know we were coming to Germany in hopes of seeing her somewhere.:)  As soon as they saw this tower, both of them were asking," Is Rapunzel up there???"

Jeremy: I think she's in this one!!! ( about Rapunzel)

 We were making our way to our hotel when we stopped outside the city wall to look down into the green area below.  That area was the moat which surrounded the city as another way to keep enemies from invading.

Elizabeth: " No, Jeremy, she's up there!!!"

Walking to the hotel through the streets of Rothenburg.:)

Are you seeing a theme with the architecture in Rothenburg? There are towers everywhere!!!  The kids were going crazy trying to decide where Rapunzel may be.:)

We arrived at our Hotel, the Goldene Rose which was established in 1778....it still amazes me how things in Europe are so much older than things in the U.S.

After checking into the hotel, it was time to go and find something to eat for lunch...

This store had so many cute Christmas things in it....to me, all of the things I saw in the window symbolize Germany.:)

Jeremy just thought this was "Too cool!"

Ok, so I am in Germany, and I thought. "What better way to celebrate my first day in Germany than with eating a huge sausage and boiled potatoes and ......saurkraut."  I had never eaten saurkraut before, but it had been offered to me many many times while I was growing up from all of my German heritage relatives.  Well, I am pleased to say that I did have it, and it was actually pretty tasty...who knew??!!!

After a big fat nap, we went out again and this time walked along the city wall.  It was built about 500 years ago and was restored a few years ago.  I can tell you that it is such a surreal feeling to be walking along that wall and know that watch men and soldiers did the same thing hundreds of years ago...

This was a small window where soldiers could shoot their arrows at the enemies without being out in the open...

This is the walk way used to walk along the backside of the wall...

Here are a few pictures of what you can see along the walk on the wall.

Okay, four towers in this picture....I'll give you one guess about what the kids said.:)

Jeremy thought he would try out what it would feel like to look out the window where the soldiers would shoot their arrows...

Here is another picture of the wall and the area that used to be the moat surrounding the city...

Here we are smiling after another great meal of schnitzel, pomme fritz, potato pancakes, and lamb shank...delicious!!!:)

On the way back to the hotel, Guy found a sign that was advertising a castle for sale....I think I'm worth it...it is only 1,450,000 euros!!!!:)

Walking through Rothenburg at night made me feel like I was walking through those winter villages that people collect and display at Christmastime....I loved it!!

The green building is where we ate lunch.:)
I really didn't know it was possible to have that many sausages in one place!!!  Our first day in Germany was so much fun, the food, the scenery and the people were so great! So, we didn't see Rapunzel but we saw things today that you can really only experience in person. I am so excited to see what we'll discover here tomorrow...maybe we'll even find Rapunzel:)

Guten Tag!!

Guten Tag means "Hello" (formally) in German and
Hallo! ( Yes, I did spell that right...just practicing the little bit of German I know before we head to Germany today..."hallo" is "hello" in German.)

Before I write the rest of this post, I want to wish all of you a very Happy Easter!! ( a little bit early):)

Today is the day we are headed out on the 4 p.m. bus to the Lagos airport ( which is always an adventure...you never really know how long you will be on that bus) A few weeks ago I heard, the bus ride took four and a half hours!!! I will definitely have to decrease my water intake before that bus ride! I think a pull up will be a good idea for Lizzy.:) I LOVE to be able to travel outside of Lagos, but I HATE being at the airport for so long before our flight. Our flight doesn't take off until 10:30 , but we have to leave here so early because of traffic and because of security...it is just not safe to travel out to the airport later in the night. So, we get to hang out ( with the kids) for hours before the plane takes off.:) Throw that in with the fact that almost every expat in Lagos is leaving today because school is out for spring break and because the presidential elections are happening on Saturday...that airport will be absolutely CRAZY!!!!! I will feel so much better once we are on the airplane and in the air. ( Funny, how a 6 hour overnight plane ride with two kids seems relaxing to me now.:) I guess that is what living in Lagos does to you.:) I used to be scared of flying with both kids on a 3 and a half hour flight from Houston to San Francisco to see my parents! Times have certainly changed!!)

You would think I would be a professional packer by now and have everything ready to go a few days before hand...WRONG!!!! It is still hard to pack. Throw in the fact that I have to pull out all the "warm" clothes that we will need in Germany. Going through them and seeing what still fits (for the kids and myself!) and what doesn't takes so long, too. So far, this is my progress....

And you can't forget the malaria survival kit. If any of us comes down with malaria- like symptoms...we can test ourselves and begin treatment. It's a very good idea to bring this with us since most of the places we travel ( outside of Africa) don't specialize in malaria treatment.:)

Even though, it is a little stressful to pack and actually get to the airport....It is totally worth it to go and experience another part of the world we have not been to!:) We are so excited to explore Germany and see some friends we haven't seen in a long time!!! We are so looking forward to spending a little time with them.:) I will post on the blog while we are gone when I can...but won't be a "regular" on here until after April 25 when we return.:) Again, I wish all of you a very Happy Easter!! I am looking forward to sharing our adventures in Germany with all of you!!! With hat I will say, " Tchuss!" ( Good bye in German):)

Exhausted

I think this picture pretty much sums up how I have been feeling these last few days...pure exhaustion. I don't know if it the worrying about my mom ( she is okay after her last surgery....but I always worry about her recovery), getting tired of being stuck in Lagos traffic or the packing that never seems to end for our upcoming trip to Germany....but I am feeling a real lack of energy these past few days. I am really looking forward to our trip out on Thursday to feel a little more....rejuvenated.:) Sorry this post is short and sweet, but I think I need to get myself to bed.:) O da aaro!

Second Try

Today is the second try for the state assembly elections here in Nigeria. Last week, the election was cancelled because there were not enough ballots distributed at the polling stations, and this week, as of yesterday, there are still about 6 states that will not be voting for the state assembly today. However, the rest of the country should be...at least I think they are!:) We'll find out later today.:) We are locked in today because the government has declared it a " no movement day" except for those who are going to vote. It is such a strange sound ( or , rather, a lack of sound) to be in Lagos and not hear a single horn honking outside the compound....
Some of the families on the compound thought we would have the kids go on an egg hunt to occupy some of the time the kids were locked in the compound. They had a great time looking everywhere on the playground for the eggs.:)

Of course , their favorite part of the hunt was actually getting to sit down and open up the eggs to find their treasures.:) It was fun to see the kids having a great time getting ready for the Easter Holiday. I know we are in a different country...but it is always nice when you can also have the old familiar feeling of things you did before you moved there.:)

The Little Things

Living in another country can be hard sometimes for many different reasons. Sometimes it' s the distance; sometimes it's the frustration of not being able to do things the way you are used to; sometimes it's trying to communicate; and sometimes, it just comes down to not having the things around you that you really like and make you comfortable. Thank goodness, our family has found a few things here in Nigeria that really make us feel better even when we are far away from home.:)

When I take the kids outside to play, they love to get the leaves from the elephant ear plant and use them as umbrellas to play pretend. They do this all the time, but yesterday was the first picture I took of Jeremy with a leaf.:)
Another "little thing" the kids love to do when we go down to the playground on the compound is walk around the coconut trees and look for "baby" coconuts which may have fallen. Don't ask me why, but this is one of those things that really makes them happy.:) ( I am sure that tune will take a drastic turn in the opposite direction if any of those coconuts actually fall on their heads!)
For me, I have found a place here on Victoria Island which sells chocolate croissants ( imported from France) which they bake fresh in their oven here ( for only 150 naira!!!). ( And, if I want, I can buy the croissants (or any french bread dough they sell), bring it home and freeze it and bake it whenever I want!!! And, they also sell great French wine!!!! L'epicerie is another one of those "hidden gems" I have discovered here in Lagos....and the only one so far which has combined my love of french baked goods along with great wine!!! Yeah...this is one of those "little things" for me that helps make me feel better while I am living here.:)
And for Guy, the Apple TV is his thing.:) When he can watch his seasons of "Deadliest Catch" and "Top Gear"...he is pretty happy. I also have to say that the Apple TV has definitely helped to make it feel a little more connected back home:)

I guess no matter where you live, you always have the things you know you like. It is a good feeling, though, to know that you can always find little things to make you happy no matter where you are.:)

Normal

Tonight, I was packing Jeremy's lunch for tomorrow and as I was putting a Capri Sun into his lunch box, I looked at it again and thought to myself, "Wow! Things have really changed since I got here...this Capri Sun looks normal to me now." I thought I would take a picture of it for all my friends back in the U.S. Just in case you wanted to know how to write Capri Sonne in Arabic...here it is.:) Capri Sun is something you can find here on a regular basis...which is a big help when you have kids who love to drink it.:)

After I packed Jeremy's lunch, I started thinking of all the things that seem normal to me now after living here for almost two years. Today, the kids' school was cancelled because the Nigerian government couldn't decide until late last night that the state assembly elections wouldn't be held until Tuesday, April 26 ( and that isn't certain yet). But, I wasn't surprised that we wouldn't know until the last minute. The school decided to make a decision last night before the government came out with their decision. They assumed that the election would be today. ( Which is what everyone else in Nigeria was expecting , also.) I guess I have just accepted that as normal.

Is it normal to have a year's worth of laundry detergent in your kitchen? For me, it has become a normal part of my life. I have to say I go into a bit of a panic when we reach that point in the year when I have only two gigantic boxes of tide left...

Is it normal to have a storage room with a year's supply of toothpaste, deodorant, vitamins, and birthday presents among other things? ( I really don't think I can go back to not having a storage room with all these toiletries wherever we live...it is like having your own pharmacy right in your house.)

Is it normal for your five year old to come home and ask why he sees people begging in the streets everywhere?

Is it normal for people to ask you for money just because your skin is lighter than theirs?

Is it normal for people on your compound to know where you are all the time? After all their home is your home, too.:)

Is it normal to take your daughter to the clinic and have everything stop( Yes, doctors stopped seeing their patients) and have everyone ( doctors, nurses, and patients) go into the waiting room to take a quiz about lifestyle choices? Yes, the waiting room was full of sick people! This took 50 minutes of consulting time in the clinic.

Is it normal to go to the fabric market with a security guard with a gun?

Is it normal for your child to identify the children in his class with the flag from their country?

Maybe normal happens wherever you are...I guess people can get used to things after they have been somewhere a while. These things are the "new normal" for me, and I have to say they are the furthest thing from the normal which was my life two years ago. I guess life is about adapting to the changes that come your way. After all, life is always changing, and that is one thing we can always count on. I just have to wonder what my "normal" will be in a few more years.:)

Lock Down

Yesterday was the first of three election days which will be held in Nigeria. The elections take place every four years (democratic elections??) Yesterday was a "no movement day" which means that people were only allowed out on the streets if they were going to vote from 8 a.m.- 4 p.m.). In order to vote, a person has to line up and "sign in" ( from 8-12p.m.) and show I.D. to prove they are who they say they are. Then, after 12 p.m. they can vote. So, since we aren't Nigerian citizens, we weren't going to be off the compound...which could make for a very long day.:)

But, we came up with a few things to keep us busy.:)
Thank goodness I found some Rice Krispies at the new grocery store here and I happened to have some pink and white marshmallows which I never used from Elizabeth's party. Put that all together with a few M&M's and you have some Rice Krsipie Easter egg treats!:)
Just in case you didn't believe me...we were definitely on lock down....the front gate to the compound was padlocked...
It was really weird how quiet it was .There was a minumum number of security guards on the compound yesterday..
And, these benches...well, let's just say they are normally full of drivers waiting around...but they weren't there either...
Here is a picture from the balcony off the kitchen. The only people out were the ones going to their polling place.
We got together with some other little ones on our compound and had the kids stay busy with a few Easter Crafts.:)
As long as I could keep them busy with their hands....then, maybe their hands wouldn't start hitting each other.:)
Let's just say..the kids loved the eggs!:) So, until next Saturday when I'll need to think of something else to keep them busy when we won't be able to leave the compound!!

Oh wait!!! you didn't think it really went that smoothly with the election yesterday , do you??!!!

Oh no!!!! the state assembly elections did start yesterday, but there weren't enough ballot sheets for all the polling stations. Some Nigerians were able to cast their votes...but not everyone had a ballot. So, the elections yesterday were cancelled in the afternoon...after everyone had already been on lock down. So, now there is talk about the state assembly elections taking place tomorrow instead...but of course, like most things in Nigeria...we won't know anything until the last minute....stay tuned...we might be on "lock down" again tomorrow!