Pictures from beautiful Germany!

Guten Tag friends and family around the world!

Thank you for being patient with our updates on our blogspot, and email/ phone contact. Zev and I are still searching for a place to live, but are enjoying exploring this beautiful city in the meantime. We have become some public transport-loving-folk!! The S-Bahn/ U-Bahn system (trains and streetcars) ROCKS here. Very safe, prompt and clean. We are very blessed to be involved in a culture immersion course this week where we have been learning basic words in German, as well as how to read a menu etc. One of our instructors was a young girl during World War II and had some amazing stories to share about her experiences living in Stuttgart during the war. Zev and I are enrolling in a German language class to learn German- we will be going to class twice a week so hopefully we will be up to speed by the time our guests come to visit! Last week we took (and passed!!) our German driving test. It was actually rather challenging as we had to remember the German road signs (in German!!) as well as some very detailed and unusual road rules! We are just awaiting arrival of our vehicle which was shipped over from the States so we can test drive it on the Autobahn. Last night we went out to dinner to a typical Swabian Gasthof (German Guesthouse/ Restaurant) and tried some of the local cuisine including Spatzle (German pasta) with this delicious wild mushroom sauce.....yum! This Friday we have actually decided to move out of our hotel and into this beautiful little Gasthof until we find a house to rent, just so that we can make some home cooked meals and enjoy somewhat "normal" life again. Although we love our travels and explorations, living out of a suitcase does get old after a while!! Luckily though, the local area has lots of well paved paths and trails through the forest (the Black Forest is very near!) so we have been running and walking as much as we can to work off this great German food! Tomorrow we head downtown for a field trip on how to use the public transportation system here (which is EXCELLENT but you MUST get the right ticket- very important to follow the rules!!) It just so happens that tomorrow is also the beginning of Stuttgart's Winefest- one of many festivals that will be held here until Christmas time (apparently the Christmas markets are truly beautiful). Zev and I discovered the Marketplatz and Markethall on the weekend- it was a total gourmet/ foodies delight with a whole plaza devoted to flowers, a whole plaza devoted to fresh vegetables, and a whole covered plaza devoted to deli meats and cheeses and breads. The setting was just beautiful too- surrounded by the Old Castle in downtown Stuttgart. We enjoyed trying unusual things such as dates stuffed with marzipan or wrapped in prosciutto or stuffed with walnuts, as well as gourmet cheese from around the world. Zev loved the miniature salami sausages that were spicy (and rather garlicky too!) The bread here is so fresh and delicious- we wish we could send you all some to try! You will just have to come and visit. Anyway, please enjoy the pictures and keep in touch! Love Zev and Fi xoxoxo