Leaving Heidelberg

Today was our last day here in Heidelberg. My work is over and so we are leaving tomorrow morning to travel to Munich.

The last couple of days have been fun. We went to dinner the other night with that couple we met this week. We ate outside in a courtyard in the Altstadt where the kids could run around a little and play. Typically there would have been no cars in such a place but over here it seems like anywhere that is not blocked off by 3 foot high cement walls, is fair game to a car, so we had to keep an eye on them. While they were playing a group of Indian tourists went walking by and apparently thought our kids were locals or maybe gods of some sort. They stopped and started to take pictures of them, much to the distress of Naomi, who was a little freaked out by the situation. Mindy grabbed Naomi away and has since taught her to enhance their picture by "giving them the bird" if the same situation happens again. Now I know how the Amish feel whenever I go down there and basically chase them down in their buggies and try to get a "head-shot" for the photo album.

Today was my last day at work so it was busy trying to wrap everything up and say goodbye to everyone. I have enjoyed the 3 weeks here, in fact the door is open for possible future trips if my schedule allows.

Mindy took the kids to a playground today. There was a fountain with rocks and other water play type things. The kids stripped down to their underwear and had a great time playing with the other buck naked German kids.

Tonight we went on a cruise on the Nekar river. The boat was solar powered and it was strange not to hear the sound of a motor as we were sailing along. It was a good way to end our time here. The boat was announced as the "biggest solar boat in the state", which was quite a dubious achievement I think. Dinner was at McDonalds where the kids got their 3rd German speaking Shrek figure. Apparently German teenagers hang out around McDonalds as well, the main difference was that they all had 6 packs of beer and were drinking.

After a full day, the kids crashed in bed and hopefully will be ready to hit to road to Munich tomorrow morning.