Train food

When hunger presses, and home seems far away and the 10 minute train trip feels like it will last one hour, it's necessary to distract one's stomach with a little something!

Like plain Chinese noodles...

or smoked salmon wraps...

or Chinese noodles with vegetables...

Ulm's festivities 2014

This year we were not so lucky with the weather during the city's festivities weekend. Well, Friday and Saturday (18th and 19th of July) the weather was great, but on Monday it was raining and actually cold and we didn't go to the Nabada (you can see photos from last year's Nabada here).
Anyway, if I had to choose between good weather for the Lichterserenade or the Nabada, I would definitely choose the serenade so I might say that I was lucky, although all the people who wait almost all year for the Nabada would not agree with me...

Saturday was great. It was a great night, with great weather, and we stayed out until way past our bed time! First we had dinner at a Mexican restaurant overlooking the Donau, then we watched the Lichterserenade and finally we ended the night having a drink with some colleagues.

Here are a few photos of this year's Lichterserenade.

A Sunday afternoon by der Donau

Ulmer Weihnachtsmarkt

Christmas Markets are a big tradition in Germany and are held in many cities, towns or villages all over the country. Some last for almost a month while others last only for a few days or weekends.

Ulm's Christmas Market (Weihnachtsmarkt) is held at the Münsterplatz and starts at the end of November and ends a few days before Christmas.
The entire square is filled with little wooden houses that sell a little of everything, from Christmas tree decorations, wooden toys or lambskin shoes and clothing to chocolates and sweeties and typical German food and drinks.

As my school is right next to the square I was able to visit it during the week when there were no big crowds but on weekends it was full of people!

We went on a Friday but we didn't manage to stay there for long - though long enough for Mike to eat two wurst with bread and drink a mug of glühwein - because it was about -3° at 5 o'clock in the afternoon and too crowded.
We went back the following Saturday and properly enjoyed the markt, despite the snow that fell all morning!

photo from here

photo from here

photo from here

Walking about #2

For the November long weekend's walk we toured Blaustein's nordic walk trails. There are apparently two trails, one is 12 kms and the other is 4 kms. We did a little bit of both trails between Herrlingen and Weidach.

Actually, if we want to, in a five minute walk we're in the middle of the forest, with only nature's noises as company. I have to say that, so far, this is THE biggest reason why I love it her.
Even when I walk to the train station, to catch the train or bus to Ulm, there are days when all I hear is the crows and the wind. It actually makes it easier to bear the cold! (I'm already feeling like: "this is too cold and HOW AM I GOING TO GET THROUGH WINTER!!")

Walking about #1

We have started going for walks every weekend. We wait for the rain to stop and then we walk about Herrlingen or Blaustein.
Two weekends ago we decided to see how long it takes to get to the Science Park, where Michael works.