Monday, May 9, 2011

Germany-Take 2

Not long ago, Ryan and I decided that we were in desperate need of a vacation OUT of the Middle East.  Since one of our goals during this time to save as much money as possible, many of the places we wanted to go were a little pricier than we wanted.  Even though we have been here recently, Germany fit the bill-easy, inexpensive, and the perfect change of pace. 

Our flight to Ramstein Air Base from Turkey was pleasantly uneventful, given we have a 2 year old.  You never know what you will get with the rotator in terms of customer service and timeliness, but everything was smooth.  We got a sweet rental car (BMW 5-series) and a cheap room on base. 

After checking in and settling down, we went to dinner and the B/X.  I know, sounds like a pretty boring evening.  But when you live in the Middle East, dinner at an American restaurant (Macaroni Grill) is pretty special.  I can't describe how nice it felt.  The B/X here is HUGE.  I'm talking about twice the size of a Wal-Mart with a car dealership, a spa, a Basset/Broyhill gallery, and a TON of other things.  I have to admit, I felt a little bitter.  Our B/X is about a fourth of the size of a Wal-Mart with about a tenth of the selection.  Coming here makes one acutely aware with just how rough an assignment to Turkey is in terms of amenities.  But I have to remember that no amount of grumbling will change my circumstances, so I just need to roll with it......

Moving on now.  This place is just a breath of fresh air.  It feels exactly like home.  It looks much like home.  Whenever I am here, I just feel renewed and refreshed.  More to come in the days ahead about some fun day trips that we are taking.  Stay tuned!

Auf Wiedersehen!!

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