Almost Settled In

We have been living in Buxtehude for nearly a month and are almost settled in. The most important things have been done around the house, but we still have some small projects to complete, like putting up lamps and shelves and organizing the kids' rooms.

Matthias is enjoying his job and his business travel plans are starting to pick up. Each week, he will be gone for two or three days at a time and that is something Emil and I will have to get used to.

As for myself, things are moving along as fast as I can complete them, but it's getting harder to do anything, now that I'm getting towards the end of my pregnancy. I'm 36 weeks along and this kid can come out anytime between now and the middle of August. As a matter of fact, I should pack a suitcase, program the number of a taxi into my cell phone, and make arrangements for someone to watch Emil when I need to go to the hospital. Yikes ... time is moving fast.

As for Buxtehude, I'm having mixed feelings about the town. I just need to give it more time for it to grow on me. I really miss Regensburg and all my friends there. Also, Buxtehude doesn't have the same beauty and charm as Regensburg. I have been so busy with the house and my 1 year old, that I don't have the energy to venture out to the downtown area on a daily basis like a did in Regensburg. I think it'll come in due time.

Well, I just wanted to give a quick update for those who are following the blog. I apologize for not posting any pictures but I don't know where the chargers and USB cables are for our cameras, so I haven't been able to download any pictures (we have lots of them to share).

Anyhow, till next time.

R&M

Buxtehude

When we started doing research on where to live in Hamburg, my MIL had suggested Buxtehude. I found some information on the internet and instantly fell in love with what I read. I was very eager to visit the city and experience it first-hand for myself, so we planned a weekend trip for the end of February.

Matthias and I found it to be a very charming town, considering that it was a rainy a day, but we both agreed that it would never have the same elegance, richness and beauty as Regensburg. But it was perfect for raising a family. Here are some of the pictures that we took.

Local restaurant that's on our list to try. My MIL raved about it.

A small canal runs through the city center (Altstadt).

There is plenty of shopping and restaurants for the tourist.

One of the main streets with the Rathaus at the end of the block.

The Rathaus

Typical architecture in the downtown area. Some buildings date back to the 1500's.

St. Petri Church

Just behind the church is the Primus Weinbar Restaurant.
Buxtehude has a wine festival each year, but dates are not known at the moment.

Buxtehude is known as "The Fairytale Capital" of the world. The Grimm Brothers wrote many tales situated in Buxtehude, like "The Hare and the Hedgehog" (and many others that I'm not familiar with yet). There are some people who actually believe that Buxtehude doesn't really exist at all. Hence, the German proverb "... nach Buxtehude jagen", which means sending someone too far.

We'll post information and pictures on this site as we discover more things about Buxtehude. So check back in from time to time. You can read more about Buxtehude here (English), and if you're fluent in German, you can check out their official website here (German only).

Take care,

R&M

We Found a House in Buxtehude!

ORIGINAL POST: May 5, 2009

It's funny how once you start having kids, you think about more what is best for your family rather than what you like. That was the case on Monday when we decided on which house to live in. 

We really liked the first house we saw on Saturday. It was spacious, the rent was in the right range, and the availability of the house suited our needs. The landlord and neighbours were also very friendly. The only thing my husband didn't like about the house was the location (which I didn't mind so much). The house was close to the downtown area and a bus route near by. However, the house was situated on a busy main street and my husband's main concern was that something could happen to one of the kids if they ran out to the road. The landlord was very accommodating and said that a gate can be put up so the kids wouldn't get out of the yard. This sold us on the house and we told him that we were interested, but we still needed to look at a few more houses in Buxtehude before making a final decision. We would give him an answer by Monday. 

We looked at two more houses on Monday. The first one was about 10 minutes outside of Buxtehude in a town called Aspensen. The first thing we didn't like about it was the long drive from my MIL's place, which took almost an hour. This also meant that it would be a long drive for my husband into work.  The house was also under construction so we weren't able to see the whole thing. We also wouldn't be able to move in until September 1st, which is a bit late, since we're looking to move in on August 1st. The only things we liked was that it was a quiet area and the lot was a good size for kids to run around and play. We also checked the bus route and it only had 3 buses during the day going into Buxtehude. We're trying to avoid the cost of another vehicle and the bus schedule just didn't cut it. Unfortunately, we had to turn this house down, and the first house we looked at on Saturday still looked promising ... until we saw third house.

The third house we looked at was in a quiet neighbourhood in Buxtehude, just minutes from the downtown area and about 10 minutes from the train station . Even though the house was still under construction, we were able to see the whole thing. I personally didn't care for the layout (I thought it was boring) but it had everything a growing family would need ... three bedrooms, a finished attic (maybe the kids' playroom), a large laundry room, a huge lot for the kids to run around, etc. Some of the other "selling features" the agent told us were that it is VERY close to downtown, shopping is readily accessible, there is a day care just 100 meters from the house, the neighbourhood is multicultural, and my husband could carpool to work with other people in the area. I really liked the fact that the area is multicultural (which meant English speaking families), and my husband loved the fact that he could carpool with others to work, which was only a 15 minute drive. The only thing we didn't like was that the rent was 120 Euros more than we wanted to spend, but when you look at it in the long run, it is still cheaper than buying a car. We told the agent we were really interested and that we would get back to him later in the day.

In the opening paragraph I mentioned that once you have kids, you think about what is best for them and not for yourself. This was the case in our decision making. I really wanted the house that we had seen on Saturday because I just loved the layout and the fact that it was spacious was also a plus for a growing family. However, my husband was right about the high traffic. I don't want to put my kids in any danger. My husband thought that the last house we saw was the ideal one for us ... and I reluctantly agreed. Matthias called the agent and told him that we wanted it and the rest of the day I spent wondering if we made the right choice. After sleeping on it one night, the next day I realized that it was. I was thankful that we had found a roof over our heads.

There were other things that we checked out like the hospital that I'll be giving birth at. We really liked the facility and the nurses also speak English if I don't understand something in German. I don't feel nervous anymore about where we are going to live and where am I going to give birth. We really accomplished a lot this past weekend and a lot of the stress is gone. I must say that everyone in Buxtehude seems to have a friendly nature about them and they seem to be more open to welcoming foreigners. I think we'll be just fine.

Take care,

Rosa

We Made It Safely to Hamburg

ORIGINAL POST: May 1, 2009

We arrived yesterday around 4:00pm after being in the car for 7.5 hours. We actually had a pleasant trip with not that much traffic and Emil slept for most of the way. However, by the time we arrived at my MIL's, we were hungry and in desperate need of stretching out our legs. My MIL had made some white asparagus soup and after we ate, we went out for a long walk. By 9:00pm we were all in bed.

Today is a holiday in Germany - Tag der Arbeit. This is when all workers have a day off work. This is equivalent to Labour Day (also known as International Worker's Day) and is celebrated around the world but it is rarely celebrated in the US and Canada. The celebration of Labour Day has its origins in the Eight-hour day movement, which advocated eight hours for work, eight hours for recreation, and eight hours for rest.

In order to celebrate the holiday, we decided to take a long walk along the river and found a cozy spot where we had our picnic. Then we laid in the grass, enjoyed the sun, and watched the passersby and bikers. It was such a beautiful, sunny day. It was nice to forget about the purpose of our trip for several hours, which brings me to the next topic - house hunting.

Tomorrow is the big day where we start looking for a house. We only have one lined up but I hope it will meet our requirements. The ad sounds perfect ... the house was built in 2006, it is 137 square meters (almost 1500 square feet) and it has a huge back yard for the kids to run around and play. It has more features and square footage than our current apartment in Regensburg. If we both like it then we will reserve it on the spot. We will still look at the ones we have lined up for Monday, but these houses are going fast and nothing new has come up (even though the agent said that there would be new listings). An Italian proverb comes to mind here that my mom used to say ... chi dorme non prende pesci ... he who sleeps will not catch any fish. I'm wondering if we waited to long before coming up here ...

Anyway, I will keep you posted as to what happens tomorrow. I hope everything will turn out. I wish you all a good day und bis später.

Rosa

New Changes Coming Our Way

ORIGINAL POST: April 28, 2009

Change is good. It makes life more interesting and you're not in the same old boring routine. Over the next three or four months, there will be a lot of changes in our lives. For starters, my husband found a new job in Hamburg and we are planning to move there at the end of July. This weekend we're driving to Hamburg to start looking at houses and apartments (rent only), so hopefully, we're able to find something decent that meets our needs.

Our area of interest is Buxtehude, a quaint little town just outside of Hamburg, south of the Este River. We've been checking immobilienscout24.de almost on a daily basis and making appointments with agents to look at houses during our visit next week. So far we have 3 confirmed viewings and two tentative ones. It may not seem like much, but the agents have told my husband that there should be new listings coming up at the beginning of May.

Our apartment is also listed on Immo but the photos don't do the apartment any justice. It's a gorgeous two-floor apartment, with lots of wood trim and flooring and LOADS of sunshine. We're situated right on the Danube and only a few minutes from the downtown area. If you're interested in taking a peek, here is the link, but keep in mind that once the apartment is rented out, the link won't be available any more. UPDATE: the link didn't work. Go to immobilienscout24.de and copy and paste 50013162 into the Scout ID field.

There are always advantages and disadvantages to moving to a different city. The great thing about moving to Hamburg is that my MIL is there and we can see each other more often (and yes, I get along with her wonderfully).  She will be able to spend more time with her grandkid(s), and my husband and I can occasionally go out on a date as well. Another great advantage is that we are closer to my husband's family who live on the beautiful island of Rügen. We would be able to visit them more often rather than just once a year.

However, as I said before, there are some disadvantages to moving to Hamburg. For the most part, we will miss all our friends in Regensburg who have become like family to us. They have really enriched our lives since we moved here 2.5 years ago. Another disadvantage is that I won't get to see my family in Milano as often as I would like to, but I could always fly out to see them rather than driving or taking a train. However, the worst disappointment for my husband is that he won't be able to spontaneously go paragliding for a weekend in Austria when he wishes to. Now he will have to do some preplanning. :-o

With the baby due in August, we're hoping that everything (or at least the important things) gets done by the end of July. To help speed up the process, we're going to hire a moving company to pack all our belongings and bring it to Hamburg. That will definitely save lots of time and is one thing less to worry about. I don't think I would want to pack a household being 8 months pregnant! As stressed out as I am, I should count my blessings, too. :-)

Speaking of blessings, last week I had an ultrasound done and we found out that we're expecting another boy! For some reason I felt that I was having a girl, but the ultrasound proved me otherwise. My husband was grinning from ear to ear when he found out. He was hoping for a boy and I was hoping for a girl. The most important thing is that the baby is healthy. At least I don't have to worry about new clothes (hehehe). I already have everything I need for a boy. :-)

I haven't really talked too much about my pregnancy on my blog. That's because I have been having such a wonderful pregnancy that sometimes I forget that I am pregnant! The baby kicks from time to time to let me know he is still there. I have been so relaxed with this pregnancy that I honestly don't know which week I'm really in! However, what I do know is that the baby is due in August and when contractions kick in then it's time to go to the hospital! 

I remember with my first pregnancy, I had registered myself on babycenter.com and some other websites in order to stay up-to-date with how the baby was developing on a weekly basis. Now, I rely on my monthly doctor visits to make sure that the baby is fine. I honestly, don't understand everything the doctor says in German, but when I hear "sein Herz ist kräftig" (his heart is strong) and I see him moving in the monitor, then I know everything is fine. 

Between the stress of the move and having a baby, my husband and I are both excited about the changes. I'll blog about our adventures to Hamburg, so check in from time to time to see how we're doing. 

Take care,

Rosa

American Ruins (returning to Detroit)

Haven't posted for a while, thanks to Junior keeping us busy.  

Anyway, we introduced Junior to friends and family back in Ontario, and I spent a day sightseeing in downtown Detroit.

This area has a special charme - a mix of old glory and modern depression, misery and richness. Hard to describe. Feels a bit like Indiana Jones discovering some old palaces, covered with dirt and dust. 

Many of the high-rise buildings are vacant, often only the first floors occupied. 
The closer you get to these buildings the more depressing it gets.

It's fascinating and depressing to see how a city can change within only 100 years - let's hope it doesn't take another 100 before better times return....

All the best...Matthias

Herrenchiemsee

Fama Fountain and Garden Facade

The first weekend in October we decided to go to the Island of Herrenchiemsee for the day. It rained on and off throughout the day, but we were able to walk around in between the rainfalls. It was a two hour drive from Regensburg and we caught the boat to the island from Prien Am Chiemsee. For the ferry times and prices click here (ALL LINKS ARE IN ENGLISH).

Fama Fountain and Garden Facade

Ludwig II purchased the island in 1873 and 5 years later started building the Herrenchiemsee Castle to resemble the Versailles Castle in France. After his untimely death at the age of 40, many rooms in the castle remained unfinished to this day. We initially purchased the tour in German but were able to exchange it for the English one. Our tour guide, Martina, spoke perfect English. Once the tour began, we weren't allowed to take photos.

Royal Palace of Herrenchiemsee

Ludwig II had built 3 castles and Herrenchiemsee was more expensive than the other two combined. The tour began at the grand entrance and the remainder was all on the upper level. We brought our stroller along and just asked one of the people in the group if they could help us bring the stroller up (and then down) the stairs. People were happy to help.

Monastery Courtyard

After the tour, we strolled over to the monastery and found it to be a quaint museum. On the main floor you had the former library, a "modern" kitchen of its time, and pictures that described Germany's Constitution of 1948 after WWII.

Former library

The Grand Hall

Look closely and you can see two rainbows.

By the end of the day we were tired from all the walking, but the excitement didn't end there. When we took the boat back to Prien, there were two full rainbows that we saw on the lake. Just about anyone with a camera was taking pictures. The photos above are some of the ones that Matthias took.

We decided to stop in Rosemheim for a traditional Bavarian dinner. We were hoping to see an old city center but were a bit disappointed when we only saw shops. It would be a great place to go shopping for the day or weekend.

We were happy to get home. Nothing is more comfortable than your own bed.

Cheers,

Rosa

PS: For additional castles to visit in Bayern click here and for shopping click here.