Hello Friends! Let's talk about Wednesday. My first big goal yesterday was to get in a run and go through all of my music for the rehearsal I'll have today (Thursday). Knowing it would be rather tricky to reorient myself if I became too turned around, I studied the map very carefully before leaving and even took a photo of it with my phone and out the door I went. I gave myself a strict 45 minute window and talked through every turn I made so that I'd better remember my location. Huge success. I ran from my house past the Ludwigsburg schloss past campus and in Favoritepark. The park is well shaded and has a paved path that runs through it to a castle (not to be confused with the palace across the street). I didn't find much for restrooms but I'm reasonably certain they are there somewhere. I did observe lots of old guys with their buddies just out on a slow, casual stroll.
Favorite Park Castle
Deer living in the park
The path between the castle and the palace
Following my run, I was eager to share my discoveries with Roni. I went home and we decided to go see the Ludwigsburg schloss after I took a quick shower. I wasn't able to take photos inside but I'll pull some off the website to share here. We took the English tour (of course) and found it to be an exquisite tour. The guide gave us many details about the art and artifacts present in the palace. At one point he opened up a bunch of the doors and we could see down the hallway (the short way of the palace) for 160 yards. There are two churches, an opera house, a ballroom, and a recital hall among the many other rooms. The recital hall had a pretty new looking Steinway (not antique, not German) but he explained that people regularly use that hall for performances (mystery solved).
Opera Hall
Marble Ballroom
Ludwigsburg schloss from the air
The palace was a great tour and well worth the time and admission (it was only 7€ each, so not bad for a 90 minute tour). If you go, remember that you can't take pictures inside and that if you bring a backpack or bag, you'll have to check it in a locker or wear it around your belly.
The last victory yesterday was ordering pizza. This was nothing if not a multicultural activity. About 4 doors down from us, we have a pizza delivery shop. We opted for take-out and so I marched myself down there with a list of what we each wanted on our pizza. The shop is run by some people whom, I believe, are from the middle East somewhere (possibly Turkey?). The official signs in the shop were in German but the notes to employees were in what looked to be Arabic. In the smoky dining area, at the under-renovation-bar, I gave the guy my order and he told me to come back in 10 minutes. I came back in 12 and they weren't quite ready. I wasn't really in a hurry so I sat at the table and waited and about 5 minutes the chef came out with my pizzas. We got them home and they were what we ordered. I think this is a win. Each day is getting easier in dealing with the culture differences between the US and Germany.
After some practicing in the evening, I enjoyed my first German beer in Germany. The quaff of the day was the Bayreuther Hell. As you would expect, light and summer-y. I can see why they would drink these in a 1 liter mug. It sorta reminded me of a Coors but with more flavor but not quite as much as some of the microbrews we would get back in Durango. I'm no beer expert so I just enjoy one at the end of a successful day. Cheers!
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