Sonntag, Oktober 09, 2005
I see London, I see France...
...Heather's not wearing underpants!
After a leisurely morning around the house, the family (minus Henrik who was out with friends) took Tara and I to this local lake (a 'new' lake for them) and this awesome Biergarten called the 'Seehaus' (Lake House). I have claimed this Biergarten mine--everyone needs their 'home turf.' (This means if you are coming to visit me--Nick!!--you are going here!) It is within biking distance (well, technically 'everything in Hannover' is within biking distance...just depends on the distance, but this is reasonable biking distance) and it is supercute. Ina compares it to the biergartens on the side of the alps--it looked like a little Bavarian hut. It had indoor and outdoor seating, upstairs and downstairs, and little fires to light (which means it must be open in winter, right?). We sat outside and enjoyed the sun (the weather has been unGermanlike--absolutely gorgeous!) and scenery. Lars decided that anyone who went in the lake would get 5euro...
After our snack, we walked around the lake to these big gravel piles (Hannover has so many little lakes because they dig them up for gravel). We played around, running up and down the piles... it was cool. Then I decided to go in the lake--nekkid. I made sure I wasn't breaking any indecent exposure laws, and got to teach the family that in English we call this 'skinny dipping.' They taught me that in addition to its liberal nakedness laws, Germany is one of two countries (goooo Jamaica) where having sex in public is legal. (hhmmmm, noted for future reference) I stripped down (Lars politely averted his eyes while Ina exclaimed, 'I can't believe you are American!!') and dashed in. Brrrrr..... but refreshing! After I reemerged (Lars again politely looking the other way) and redressed, Kathi & I tossed stones in the water.
We went home and went out to the porch to enjoy the sun. Ina gathered up spoons and ice cream and we all dug in. So fun. As the afternoon wore on, Tara and I excused ourselves to return to her family. I was spending the night at her place because she had to babysit. On the way to her house we bought wine & chocolate to create the perfect 'Girls' Night.' After the kids went to bed we watched Dirty Dancing, downed a bottle or so of wine, gnoshed on chocolate and pumpkin soup, and bonded. It was great.
Sunday was a peaceful, uneventful day. Tara and I woke up and grabbed breakfast; we stopped for coffee (me) and ice cream (her) before I caught the bus home to finish my syllabus!! My course looks like it will be interesting--fun and challenging to teach--I am pumped!
<3<3
After a leisurely morning around the house, the family (minus Henrik who was out with friends) took Tara and I to this local lake (a 'new' lake for them) and this awesome Biergarten called the 'Seehaus' (Lake House). I have claimed this Biergarten mine--everyone needs their 'home turf.' (This means if you are coming to visit me--Nick!!--you are going here!) It is within biking distance (well, technically 'everything in Hannover' is within biking distance...just depends on the distance, but this is reasonable biking distance) and it is supercute. Ina compares it to the biergartens on the side of the alps--it looked like a little Bavarian hut. It had indoor and outdoor seating, upstairs and downstairs, and little fires to light (which means it must be open in winter, right?). We sat outside and enjoyed the sun (the weather has been unGermanlike--absolutely gorgeous!) and scenery. Lars decided that anyone who went in the lake would get 5euro...
After our snack, we walked around the lake to these big gravel piles (Hannover has so many little lakes because they dig them up for gravel). We played around, running up and down the piles... it was cool. Then I decided to go in the lake--nekkid. I made sure I wasn't breaking any indecent exposure laws, and got to teach the family that in English we call this 'skinny dipping.' They taught me that in addition to its liberal nakedness laws, Germany is one of two countries (goooo Jamaica) where having sex in public is legal. (hhmmmm, noted for future reference) I stripped down (Lars politely averted his eyes while Ina exclaimed, 'I can't believe you are American!!') and dashed in. Brrrrr..... but refreshing! After I reemerged (Lars again politely looking the other way) and redressed, Kathi & I tossed stones in the water.
We went home and went out to the porch to enjoy the sun. Ina gathered up spoons and ice cream and we all dug in. So fun. As the afternoon wore on, Tara and I excused ourselves to return to her family. I was spending the night at her place because she had to babysit. On the way to her house we bought wine & chocolate to create the perfect 'Girls' Night.' After the kids went to bed we watched Dirty Dancing, downed a bottle or so of wine, gnoshed on chocolate and pumpkin soup, and bonded. It was great.
Sunday was a peaceful, uneventful day. Tara and I woke up and grabbed breakfast; we stopped for coffee (me) and ice cream (her) before I caught the bus home to finish my syllabus!! My course looks like it will be interesting--fun and challenging to teach--I am pumped!
<3<3
# posted by Heather @ 11:12 PM 
