April 29, 2011

Storytellers Blog Hop: April

Hey hey hey, it is that time again. Storytellers Blog Hop is back again. And holy cow, so is the end of the month? April, what April!?

You know what, I am OK with that. Bring on May. Because May means I am back in Tex-Ass. Yes, Friday is our last full day in Germany and we are headed home first thing on Saturday.

I always think of Sandy when I say Tex-Ass, guess I'm 5 years old! (source)

Our bags are packed, the winter stuff is stored, and I am actually looking forward to a long plane ride home! What is wrong with me?! haha

But, until then, I am happy to host the Storytellers Blog Hop!

If you linked up last time, thanks for coming back! If you are new, I'll give you the quick run down.

I like to think that this hop is somewhat unique from all the others out there. One that caters to blogs that tell stories, and have actual real content. It doesn't matter whether the 'stories' are fact or fiction, told with words or pictures, consist of ramblings or thought out chapters, or lighthearted or serious. This hop is for real bloggers with real stories. No advertising, give aways, reviews or coupon sites.

MOST IMPORTANTLY you don't have to write anything special for the hop. Just link up your blog and let it be who it is!






Your blog is your story, so let it shine!
And spread the love if know of some blogs that need to be linked up here!

Only. One. Rule. Please, no sites that specialize in ads, coupons, giveaways, etc. There are many blog hops just for you, but today, this hop isn't one of them. Sorry guys.

Other than that, there are no rules, no 'follow' musts, only an easy outlet to stumble upon new and interesting blogs.

If you have the time this weekend, explore some of the great reads below. A new-to-you, good blog is just a click away.

I doubt you will regret it :)



April 28, 2011

Short and Sweet: Storytellers Tomorrow!!

Well, it seems that a lot of ya'll really, really liked the butt wipes from yesterday. Maybe I will have to buy an extra pack or two and put them in an extra special German Care Package Giveaway I am working on. 

I figured that since I am leaving Germany for the summer that I would bring a little bit of Deutschland back with me. And share it with a lucky reader! So you will have to be on the look out for that in the next week or two!

In the past few weeks I have gotten some extra special love from a few of my awesome readers. I feel really bad that it has taken me this long to say a very heartfelt thank you! Or wait, still here in Germany. Make that a Danke Schön!

Just imagine Ferris singing it to you! (source)

 So Danke Schön to:

Bernie at One Mixed Bag: If you don't know Bernie, you should. What a great blog and blogger!

Mollie at Ok in Uk: Mollie cracked me up from day one. Plus, she will be in London for the Royal Wedding!

Katie at Chicken Noodle Gravy: Katie is so sweet and I love reading her every post. Not to mention she is one fantastic cook and writer.

Traveling Wife ;) at Life of a Traveling Wife: Her adventures with her and her 'little beaner' and husband as they experience hockey life in the UK.

Madison at All Around Autism: Madison shares her experiences related to autism, and spotlights her thoughts on different issues.

Nobu at A Clueless Soul: A kindhearted blogger, busy with exams at the moment, I believe :)

Ash at Carpe Diem: An awesome hockey lady also traveling around Europe. I love that there is a fun blogging group of us out there!

Jackie at Ropcorn.com. Always a fun read about her and her pretty pup in Sweden

Kristina at A Perfect Dose of Life: Kristina does a great job writing about the daily adventures of her and her husband.

Jessi at The Juici Life: Who is so random and funny and I enjoy every post. And so should you :)

So I think that covers everyone. At least I hope so! Thanks so much again ya'll. Really appreciate it all!

The baby goatie has once again found a way out of his pen and keeps coming over to the patio door to look in on the apartment.

I think he knows something is up and that we are leaving soon :(

"But I's going to miss you lady!"

I keep telling the hubs that I am really going to miss the goaties (and I have a feeling they will miss all the treats I sneak them). They are just too entertaining!

So, maybe not so short and sweet after all. 

But I wanted to remind you all that tomorrow and Saturday is the Storytellers Blog Hop!!! Be there, or be square. Oh yeah, I went there. 


See you on Friday!!

April 27, 2011

You Can Kiss My....

Well hey there! Happy Hump Day :) 

I am a little extra excited today since we finally have our flights booked for home. We will be stateside on Saturday, which means we have been busting our butt getting all packed up these last few days. It is an annoying chore, but if it means going home, then I don't mind it one little bit!

So, while I was gathering a few things for the trip home, I can across this last little German gem. I always like to have wet wipes when traveling. Airplane air and surfaces tend to gross me out. 

Weird, right!? Yuck.

I keep these bad boys on hand to wipe my face and hands. I like to call it giving yourself a hooker bath. What?! Hookers can take baths too, after all. Haha.

But, they seem to have a different idea of what wet wipes are used for here in Germany. At least this one company does. Check out these pictures and see if you get the same meaning that I did. 

The package reads "Have You Been Kissed Today?"

Like seriously, is that necessary?!
Yeah, apparently, these little things are used for wiping ass right before you pucker up to kiss it. 

I'm sorry. I love my husband, but there is no amount of baby wipes (or bleach or alcohol for that matter) that would make me want to kiss his crack. Sorry babe, not happening. 

Thought that was too funny not to share. 

BTW, I completely have forgotten to say something earlier, but the Storytellers Blog Hop is THIS WEEKEND!!! 

It feels like forever since the last one, but this is the last weekend of the month. 

To recap, if you are new to the hop, here is the run down:


Link to any post you would like. You don't have to come up with a 'story', you don't have to do anything special, you just link up your blog and be you.  
Your blog is your story, so let it shine!

Only. One. Rule. Please, no sites that specialize in ads, coupons, giveaways, etc. There are many blog hops just for you, but today, this hop isn't one of them. Sorry guys.

Other than that, there are no rules, no 'follow' musts, only an easy outlet to stumble upon new and interesting blogs.

Hope to see you there this weekend! The hop will be open all day Friday and Saturday (April 29th and 30th. 

Have a great day!! 

And remember, wipe that crack before you give it a big ol' smack. So gross, haha.

April 25, 2011

I'm Alive!

Wow, I am some how still alive after this weekend. What a party it has been!

I have to give it to these guys though. After the long season, they deserve every little moment to release all the stress that built up during the playoffs. It might take a full week to blow off all the steam.

I can't even pretend that I can keep up with these crazies. But it is sure fun to try!



I think the hubs is drowning. You can't win the cup and not not drink out of the pokal. Wait, did that make sense?!


Real quick, I'll take you back to Thursday evening.

I was actually pretty composed at the game. I think I was too worked up, nervous and stressed out to show much emotion.

It was a do-or-die kind of game. Granted, the team was up 2-0 in the series, so they technically had a little bit of wiggle room. But if they had lost on Thursday, I doubt they could have pulled off another win on the road, and they would up in the 5th game this evening. Not cool. Would not have been cool.

So, they game got underway and it was a back-and-forth, all-over-the-ice kind of game from the moment the puck dropped.

And it didn't seem that luck was on our side. There were so many chances in the first and second period, but somehow the puck was just not bouncing in.

And then other team struck first. Blech. Only 7 minutes into the game, they scored while we had a power play. Big no-no. Scheiße.

The rest of the 1st period and the entire 2nd saw the score stay at 0-1. Not going to lie, both teams had several chances but nothing was happening. It was a true battle out there.

Then, right before the 3rd period, as the guys are making their way out of the dressing room and onto the ice, the hubs catches my eye (I mean, we sit front row, it is almost hard not to make eye contact).

I nod my head at him, in a 'let's go, you can do this' kind of way. He looks at me and mouths "We got this." No ifs, ands or butts about it. Just confident, cool and collected. I say back "I know, I know". And from that point on, I just knew they were going to somehow or another pull out this win.

So, the 3rd period started and I think my heart was in my stomach the whole time. I was trying to will the win as best as I could.

And wouldn't ya freakin' know....they tied the score at 1-1 with less than 6 minutes left in the game!!! Holy cow, makes me excited just typing that.
What a shot! (source)
The whole crowd knew that the boys had at least one more goal left in them. And with 2.5 minutes left, the puck once again found the back of the net and the deal was sealed. They won the game 2-1.

There is something so special about this team. As the hubs put it in words yesterday "It must have just sucked to play our team!". Which has to be true. It didn't matter how the whole game went, they would always eek out a win. Always. Ridiculous.

As you can tell, I am so proud of the hubs and of this team. It was a great season, and even better championship run, and because of all of this, Ravensburg will hold a pretty special place in my heart.

Party it up, Ravi! (source)
Last year for us was a really tough hockey year. Too many details to go into, but trust me when I say that it was not fun. So this year was just what we both needed to restore our faith in hockey abroad.

If you are interested, you can jump to a highlight video of the last game. If you can ignore the German, I think you will have a good idea of what all is going on. 

Oh, and fast forward to about 50 seconds left in the video and you'll see a handsome man kissing on the cup, lol.

Looks like we will be headed back stateside on Saturday (whoohooowhooowhooo, happy dance to the extreme). So until then, we will be packing, partying, and enjoying the last few days in Germany. 

Celebrating on the ice after the win
I should be around this week. I feel I have a lot to catch up with in bloggyland.  

Thanks so much for all your sweet words of congratulations. They really do mean so much to me and the hubs :)

April 22, 2011

Frackin' Friday - Jawohl!

Hey blogging lovelies :)

Hope you had a great week and are winding it down nicely on thie beautiful Friday. 

Well at least it is beautiful here!
 
Getting a late start today. My head is a little more than fuzzy from last night. Hope this post makes sense, haha. 

So, let's get on with it. 

Today's Frackin' Friday word is not a German curse word. It is more an exclamation of joy or delight. I thought I would change gears on you for today. Don't worry, I have a good excuse. 


Jawohl!
(pronounced: Ya-vohl)
It's along the lines of an emphatic "Yes Sir", "Yes Indeed" or "Right On". You get the idea.

So no, sorry, no bad connotation with this one. But nonetheless fun to say!

Still confused?! Here, I will use it in a sentence for you. 


 "The team won the championship last night, jaowhl!!"

Effing right guys!!!

YOU BETTER BELIEVE THEY DID!!! 

The hubs' team actually did it. The Ravensburg Towerstars are the Meisters of the league. Congrats you guys!

I'll have to tell you all about the finals in an upcoming post. Crazy!

Can't wait to see how big of a gongshow the next few days will be. I'll be around...eventually. 

Hope you aren't just having a Good Friday, but a Great Friday!


April 21, 2011

I'm Freakin' Out Man

"You are freakin' out...maaan"

Lots of fun things to tell ya'll. Of course none of them coming at you today.

No, not just yet anyways. But man, has the material for good blog posts been rolling in!

Let's just say I have a knot on my head to go with the story. Intriguing, no?!

In due time, in due time.

Today, my time online has been put to better use. I started looking up relaxation and stress-relieving techniques. Something to calm the anxiety during the games. 

Yeah right.

So I thought I'd share some of techniques that I came across online
(and also why I think they are bullshit :))

Tips to Relieve Stress:

- Meditation: Adopting meditating techniques like yoga and tai-chi have proved to be very beneficial to people. Meditating for some time, everyday, leads to general peace and helps to curb anxiety and panic.

Um, I'm sorry. I think I might get more pissed at myself if I took even 30 minutes every day to hum on the carpet. I could be doing more important things...like making margaritas to help curb the stress. 

Get off your bum and make me a drink! (source)

- Focus on deep, rhythmic breath: Altering your breathing instantly alters your mental, physical and emotional state!

Again, no. Trust me, it feels way better to hold your breath. You may even feel a little light headed after a while. You'll be thankful for this free high.

- Limit the intake of beverages and strong stimulants: Cut out anything containing alcohol and caffeine, as these substances can worsen anxiety symptoms.

Ha, you're joking, right?!

- Talk to others: Connecting with a friend or family member and sharing your anxieties can be a great way to get insight, advice and to alleviate some of your stress.
 
I am not sure that they want to hear all the thoughts in my mind at that moment. Best keep it to myself.

- De-stress with a soothing bath: Take a hot bath with essential oils and water. Or go in for aromatherapy.

Yeah, that is what I need. To be nervous and smelling like some hippie. 

Someone might want to check on this lady, I think she died. (source)
- Count to 10: Sometimes anxiety can take over and make you feel out of control. Take back control by counting to ten.

In German or English?? Either way, I don't think it will help. Except for maybe in Japanese. Their numbers sound fun!

"ichi, ni, san, shi, go, roku, shichi, hachi, ku, juu"



So yeah, don't know if these are going to do anything for me. So I made up my own.

Lindsey's simple and easy solutions to dealing with anxiety and stress!

I think all of these are waaay more helpful:

- Drink: ...lots. Caffine, alcohol, Nyquil. whatever floats your boat. The larger the quantity, the better off you will feel. 

- Rock back and forth in your seat: hey, it is less crazy looking than talking and yelling at yourself. Maybe.

Hey, it helped this lady, and it can help YOU! (source)


- After giving it some thought, do count to 10....in Japanese. The louder the better.

- Use those fun 'Noise Sticks': They are great way to let out some of that built up anger by whacking those visiting fans that sit behind you at the game. They'll understand.

I think I can inflict some minor damage with these bad boys (source)


- Skip the soothing music and jam out: I like to pump it up to none other than Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch. You feeling those "Good Vibrations". You better believe I am!

Peace out bloggyland, and have a good Thursday. Oh, and if you could pick one of these good luck gestures for me and do them around 8pm Central European Time, that would be great. You rock!

Frackin' Friday tomorrow, and let's hope it is a good one :)

April 19, 2011

What is luck?!

What is luck....

'baby don't hurt me, don't hurt me, no more...'

(Ok, not the words, but good luck getting that out of your head all day!)

Luck is something that most of us might talk about on a day to day basis without giving it much thought. You might wish someone 'good luck' as they start a challenging task. You probably call someone 'lucky' as they narrowly escape an accident or find a quarter on the ground. Or you might press your own luck and buy a lottery ticket.

Some of the many, many lucky symbols (source)
The term 'luck' is something that we are surrounded by everyday. But I want to know what it really means to you.

So, what do you think 'luck' is?
(answer, but come back, there is more below! :))




www.skinnyscoop.com

 (OR you can jump here for a sec and take the poll)

The reason luck has really been on my mind lately is because of these danged ongoing hockey playoffs. We talk a lot about luck during this time of the year. The hubs will say "wish me luck" or even better "sell your soul to the devil so we can win", which is another way of him saying 'bring us luck', haha.

The people who own the restaurant down the street told us that they do a prayer and a special rosary bead ritual before every game to help the guys. I am dead serious, and so were they!

Yes, I realize this is more a religious ritual than superstitious ritual, but nonetheless, it is done to help bring luck and success to the team.

But by no means is this post about the difference or relation between religion and luck.

Not getting into that :)

Anyways, I did wanted to share a few lucky symbols and hand gestures people around the world do to help bring them good fortune.

I could go on and on about the different symbols of luck throughout the world. From Elephants in India to Pigs in Germany, there really were just too many to name.

But I did find some interesting hand gestures that people do in different countries to help bring good luck to them and others.

And no, none of them listed flipping the bird as good luck! ha.

In English speaking countries, as most of you know, the common hand gesture for luck is the two crossed fingers, usually the index and middle finger.

It is even the symbol of the national UK Lottery. Seems appropriate! 
You are going to need all the luck you can get with those odds! (source)

I always found it odd that it was both a symbol of luck and one of telling a lie or breaking a promise. You have seen it in countless cheesy movies. The villain promises to keep a secret all the while crossing his fingers behind his back.

**But here in Germany, as well as other countries in Europe (i.e. Slovakia, Serbia, Czech Republic, Poland) they do something a little different. They daumen drücken, or press their thumbs.

This is done by bending your thumb into a closed fist.


Hey, whatever will help, right?! (source)

Some Germans swear to only do one hand like this, and some do both. I really kind of like this one. When I am stressing at a game, it kind of relieves some of the pressure by pressing on the thumb!

**I came across another hand sign that's done for good luck and to ward off the evil eye. This one comes from the Italian culture.

You extend your pinkie and index finger while keeping the others folded back. Supposedly it is to ward off an evil spirit that someone has cast on you.

No, sorry University of Texas fans, they aren't supporting the Longhorns, they are doing for their luck and health.

Go UT!? No, go away evil eye! (source)

**While this next hand sign has a variety of meanings, even sexual connotations, in some parts of the modern day world, it can still be a sign of luck.

It is refereed to as The Fig, and it is formed when the hand makes a fist with the thumb between the index and middle fingers. Or, as I like to refer to it as, the "I Got Your Nose" hand sign.

Yeah, see, after saying that you know exactly what I am talking about!

Come on, everyone had a lame Uncle who would do this trick (source)

In ancient Greece and Rome it was used as a positive gesture to ward off the evil eye and promote luck and fertility. From what I have read, the symbol is still depicted in carved images in Portugal and Brazil for good luck talismans.

**And my favorite. While not exactly a hand gesture, the figurine is making a lucky gesture that is often misunderstood in the Western world.

The Maneki Neko

Well hello there! (source)

Love this cute little 'waving' kitty. Often seen in windows of Japanese restaurants, Maneki Neko is believed to bring good luck to the owner.

BUT this feline isn't waving, it is beckoning. Which is why it's name is literally "Beckoning Cat". The Japanese beckon people by holding up the hand, palm outwards, and curling the fingers repeatedly up and down. It is their version of our 'come hither' one finger curl in we do.

So the cat isn't waving to customers as they come in, but rather beckoning customers in. Hence bringing guest, money and good fortune and luck to the owner.

And he is just so darn cute while doing so!

So, while I find a way - and enough hands - to do all of the symbols at once for the game tonight, you tell me what you do to bring good luck!

April 18, 2011

Safety First, Naked Trampolining Second

Hey Monday!

Hey Bloggyland :)

(and for those Arrested Development lovers, Hey Brother!)

I am working on a fun post for tomorrow, linking up with The Skinny Scoop for a change of pace. Should be interesting!

But until then, thought I would share some funny German pictures with you. Never a lack of those. Ever.

The family who owns the apartment we live decided it was spring enough to reassemble the trampoline and stick it back in the front yard. Guess it just felt like jumping weather. 


And I thought it would be rude to not try out their craftsmanship. So I decided to go for a quick jump. 

What!? There was no age limit.

But there was this warning....

Zoom in on this madness
I bet you were not aware that jumping on the trampoline in Germany:

A. might leave you decapitated

and/or

B. is not allowed to be done naked, at least with a partner.

I mean, that is what I got from this warning.

And I am all for trampoline safety. When I was about 8 or 9 my cousin was pressuring me teaching me to flip on the trampoline. I landed on my head and although nothing turned out to be wrong, I got a fun ambulance ride out of it all. Ahhh, fun family memories.

But maybe a good warning can be conveyed without the use of a severed head.

Or maybe it needs to be there. So if it does, then let's spice it up and really make it noticeable. 



There, that's better. 

You see children, jumping on the trampoline can be fun and absolutely terrifying, all at the same time!

Hey, stay safe out there :)

April 16, 2011

Texa On The IR List

Beware of the touchpad.

I have never liked the built in mouse on my laptop. You would think after 4 years (oh geez, how has this thing not dead yet?!) of owning my MacBook, I would have remedied that. But no, I have just grown accustomed to using it.

Although while doing so, and especially when I am designing things on the computer, I tend to strain my pointer finger on my right hand and with a heavy press and an awkward wrist position, it somehow does my bidding.

That is until it started to hurt a few weeks ago. I still blame it more on our horrible couch we have here. Not only is it puke orange, but it is also back-breaking uncomfortable. Germany has horribly stiff couches, but that is a topic for another time. 

NOT OUR COUCH, but our couch in Germany makes this couch look pretty (source)

I tend to blame most anything on this couch. Bad weather, then it's the couch's fault. The guys lose a game, it is the couch's fault. But this time, it really is it's fault. It makes me type and hold the computer at a weird angle. 

So, as I blogged and blogged away, I somehow managed to strain my pointer finger and now at the bottom of my finger, where it meets the palm, I have a growing ganglion cyst. First and last time I will use that word, I mean, really, how gross does that sound?! They are sometime referred to as a Bible cyst, because the old-timey remedy was to smash it with a Bible. Yeah, that is not happening.

Ew, literally almost gagged when I googled pictures of it. Don't do it, unless you want to re-taste your lunch.

Basically, it is just a pea sized lump under the skin, can't see it, only feel it. It's mildly annoying, not really painful, but will probably continue to grow and grow, alien style. I am hoping it will just go away. And if not, then, gasp, might have to get it surgically removed. Ouch.

Pretty much exactly what is will turn out to look like. 
Except on my finger. And a 1,000 times smaller.
So yeah. The hubs in busting his butt in playoffs and I am the one on the injured list. But, not to worry my dear readers, I will troop on. Because I am just that tough :)

Stupid couch.

And to something else completely unrelated...for all you pie chart lovers out there :)

So people here stop me all the time on the street and ask me "Hey Lindsey, your blog, how do you do it?! How does it all come together??"

Which I find strange because:

A). the Germans can all of a sudden speak perfect English. 

And B). I don't ever walk around in the streets here.

So OK, it was for sake of this story. No one asks me that, outside of my head at least. But I thought it was worth designing a little graph to show all of you why my blog it somewhat successful. (My words, not yours.)

Well, I don't have a job right now, other than battling Deutsch, which is a doozie in its own right. So it leaves me lots of time to blog, blog hop, blog stalk, and look up any and everything in the universe.
Yep, folks, that is all it takes. So really, if you too want to be successful, I suggest you march into your boss' office first thing Monday morning and tell them you are focusing on more important things in life and can no longer work for them. I think it will go over smoothly. And hey, in 5 or 10 years, you might actually make some money on blogging. Maybe. Probably not though :)

Dang, I should have also included my ability to type with more than 2 fingers and form semi comprehensible sentences.

Ehhh, that isn't really a requirement. Spel Czech is overraited.

April 15, 2011

Frackin' Friday - Oh Mist!

Not only is today another Frackin' Friday, but it is also my 100th post!!

Which kind of makes me sound like a slacker since I started this blog over two and a half years ago. If you are lucky, you might find a really old post in the LinkWithin widget below.

The first year I blogged (does 7 posts count as blogging?!) it was really just to have an account about our place, the town we lived in, and a few adventures here and there. There wasn't much commentary on the lifestyle or funny things going on. And I am not even sure anyone read it :)

It wasn't until this past December that I logged back into my account and decided to start up again. I was ready to share more of our adventures abroad. And I think the timing couldn't have been more perfect.

I am thankful for this awesome community that I proudly call myself a member of. And I am thankful to all my supporters (you aren't just readers or followers in my book). You guys rock!! And after the shiztastic day I had yesterday, really, not worth mentioning, I knew I could count on more than a few of you to make me smile and to make me laugh.

So thank you for making these first 100 posts awesome. Can't wait to share a 1,000 more with ya'll!

Ok, enough sentimental stuff. Wipe away those tears, I know, not a dry eye left in the house. And get ready for another awesome German cuss word!!!

Today's pick, and I have no idea why I waited this long to do this one:

Mist
(yep, just like the English word 'mist')
It is used like: "Crap!" or "Shoot!" or "Damn!"

And it gets even better when you start to think of all the products in the English speaking world that include to word 'Mist'.
According to review sites, this movie wasn't really all that crappy :)
(source)


Agreed, Sierra Crap would be a better name for this sugary mix.
Is this stuff even still around!? (source)


Oh, she is misting all over her face. How embarrassing!
(source)

There are just so many for this one! 
You might say 'Mist' as you are told you have to go on the Maid of the Mist cruise. 
Might say it when you see what cool ponchos you get to wear on the boat. 
And might be thinking  'Oh Mist' when you realize those stylish raincoats did nothing to protect you against Niagara Falls.
 
Niagara Falls' own Maid of the Mist (source)

Well there you go, add it to your rapidly growing list of German cuss words you can use in just about any situation.

If you missed any of them, you can check them out here.

As for tomorrow, I am looking forward to telling ya'll about my blogging injury. Oh yeah, its real. And I also have a funny graph to explain to everyone why my blog has been somewhat successful :)

Have a great Friday ya'll!!

April 13, 2011

Raving About Ravensburg

If you had to envision a quaint little German city, what would you come up with?

Would it include a castle? Or a medieval city center?

Would the town be nestled by the Alps? Or maybe along a winding, quiet river?

Would it also included cafe-lined, cobble stone streets meandering within a stone wall hundreds of years old?

Pretty spot on, don't ya think?! (source)
If that is what would have envisioned, then you just accurately described the town of Ravensburg, Germany. Our home away from home during the 2010-11 hockey season. 

Ravensburg is a town in Upper Swabia in Southern Germany. It is in close approximation to Lake Constance (Bodensee), the third largest lake in Europe, sits at the northern foot of the Alps. 

We are waaaay down there!
From Ravensburg, both Austria and Switzerland are less than one hour away. Munich is a short two hour drive. And the Alsace region of France is around three hours away. 

Pretty close to, well, just about everything! Sorry, I know this image isn't great, but you get the idea :)
Needless to say there is lots to do around this beautiful area of Germany. Not to mention, it has some of the warmest weather in the whole country. Really, who can beat that!?!

Anyone who has been to Germany, or Europe for that matter, knows that there are some towns here and there this picturesque. But for the most part, the country is made up of a lot of modern, hustle and bustle cities just like back at home in North America.

The first two years in Germany, we lived in a 'modern' city like that. And although it had everything we needed, it was missing that German charm that we knew certain cities had.

We didn't really get the full taste of how beautiful towns could be until we were lucky enough to live down here in the south. 

One of the towers of the city (source)
While it is not the biggest city, its population is around 50,000, it has everything we could need. Well, maybe except for a Zara, but I guess I will live :)

The city itself has a rich cultural background. The town was first mentioned in 1088 and quickly became an important center because of its location. It was literally in the crossroads of an important trade route, which solidified it as a useful area for merchants and artisans during the Middle Ages.

With a decline in the local economy after the 1500s, the town didn't grow as large as you might expect a major trading center to. But this helped preserve the town in its current medieval state. And it got lucky during WWII as well. Many other medieval towns in Germany, especially those in Northern/Western Germany were destroyed because of bombing raids. Ravensburg held no strategic relevance, so it was spared from any damage.

So now, this 'klein aber fein" (small but fine) town, is really known for its three town gates and over 10 towers remaining from the medieval fortification. 

Looking down over the town (source)
You might have also recognized the name from the Ravensburger game company. Ravensburger AG is an international company known for its board games, puzzles and children's books. And I especially like that Tekrum, a popular pastry and chocolate factory, is located in the town. That means I can visit their outlet store whenever I want, lol.

The Ravensburger company assembling the world largest jigsaw puzzle for its 125th anniversary (source)
And there are many other factories and manufacturing plants in the area. This area is known for low unemployment and a high quality of life.

Oh, and did I mention there is a hockey team here too?! Weird, guess I must have forgotten that tid bit :)

Yes, the hubs plays for the Ravensburg Towerstars

So yeah, that's basically it. There is your mini tour of Ravensburg. I hope you liked your arm chair trip. As you can probably tell, we have really enjoyed our time here this season :)

And if you ever find yourself wandering around in Swabia, you gotta stop by. With so much to do and see, you won't be disappointed!