I’ve been in Germany for about three weeks now; only two more weeks until the family arrive. (Actually be the time this is published, I will have been here three weeks because I just found this in my Drafts folder 🤣)
I’ve been super busy at work getting transitioned into my new role but have managed to squeeze in a couple more things I need to check off the to-do list.
After passing my driver’s test, I got my driver’s license! Actually I got a temp one and I need to wait 6-8 weeks for the actual one to come in the mail. Then I got a new car!
I also signed the lease on our house and we are scheduled to move in on June 28th, about two weeks after Matt and the kids arrive. I also set up our bank accounts, one on base and one German one, and did a little exploring around the area.
During the first weekend, I walked around Böblingen, which is the town we are going to be living in. During World War II, there was a German airfield and Panzer Kaserne (which is an American base now, but was German), so it was heavily bombed by the allies towards the end of the war. There are small parts of it that still have the rustic, half-timbered look, but it is mixed in with a lot of post-war architecture.
There is a lake in the middle of the town where everyone seems to hang out on the weekends. There are lots of restaurants and cafes that we are looking forward to trying.
During my second weekend, I went into Stuttgart to check out market day on Saturday. It was a gorgeous day and also the first market day in seven months due to coronavirus so it was packed.
On Sunday, I walked around Sindelfingen, which is Böblingen’s neighboring town. It was super cute, but also a ghost town because it was Sunday.
Sunday’s are family days here. Almost everything is closed with the exception of some restaurants. People are out riding bikes or walking with their families but the centers of towns are completely empty, which makes it pretty creepy for walking around on your own.
Sunday evening I went to friends’ house for dinner out in Grafenau. The dinner and company was amazing and I got to check out the fields of gold behind her house. I can definitely understand why they call it “The Malibu of Stuttgart.” Can’t wait until we can host them when we are in our new house.
Gilcrests Abroad 