Hi Everyone! It has almost been a year since my last post. I did not post anything from my last work trip to Germany as I had no internet, anywhere. However, on this trip, I have it everywhere! How did I ever manage without it?

So here I am, in a little area called Lienfelden-Echterdingen. Try saying that five-times fast. I am staying in a friend's lovely home with a wild garden for the month of August while she and her family visit friends in the states. Then, I expect to reside in a small, short term stay apartment, without a garden.

I have returned to Germany for another work project. This time, it is for the corporate side, not the truck division in which I am associated back home. This project compared, to my first, is completely different. In fact, this experience is not even similar. I am in the city, for the most part, where I was in the country the last time. I am living alone, not with "host parents" and driving a new Mercedes A Class vs a Ford Kuga. This is experience almost feels as though I never left home--some parts of it even look like Portland.

I arrived less than a week ago, rented my car and drove myself to my friend's house. I got around without a single issue and drove as if I never left. My friend's husband and son greeted me at the door holding their dog back from a front door escape. Sammy, a giant Vizla, is what my brother calls a real dog, compared to my two furry beasts back home. Their home is older, built in the 1960's, and resembles a series of stacked little boxes. There is a cellar with an original coal room, main floor with french doors to the garden, second floor with bathroom and separate toilet room plus two bedrooms, then the top floor is my box/bedroom. Winding wooden staircases connect floor to floor. Lugging 70 lb suitcases up these two flights is not easy! Hey, don't give me any crap about how much I took this time. A girl needs shoe options you know!

There is no AC here. Nothing. Only place I have it is in my car. We don't have it at work, at home or in the stores. This past week was about 90-100 each day with massive thunder storms at night. The humidity was crazy bad. I maintained my hot and bitchy level to not offend my generous hosts but deep down, I was miserable. I did buy a fan, one of those really simple oscillating ones, for about $100...no kidding. It is going to work with me on Friday and I am bringing it home with me for another hot, hot weekend.

As for weekend travel, I don't have anything planned yet. Everywhere I really want to go is just too bloody hot. I am not doing Italy in August again. I have done it three times in August and you would think I would learn! Well, third times a charm I suppose and so I am avoiding Italy...at least for this month. I am looking at going to Vienna and Prague. Ireland is a definite and perhaps London this time. I must pay a visit to the royal munchkin, you know!

This is about it for now. More to come as soon as I can get out and shoot some real photos!

Daniel and Kersten Bjick--son and husband of my friend/hostess, Martina. 

Traffic on my way home Monday night. Looks like Portland, huh?