Happenings in Wolfsburg

As usual, life has been very busy for the two of us: school, traveling, playing in the city's music school orchestra, and just being normal 20-somethings.  This week is also going to be full since we have our second big concert of the school year.  The school choir, the project choir (led by one of our colleagues), and the orchestra will be performing Thursday evening.  It's hard to believe that we've made it this far!

I've started the first blog about our spring break tour of the Rhine Valley from March, but putting it all together is going to take a bit of time -- especially with all the other things going on.  So, hold tight -- the photos and stories are coming.  Instead, here's a little look at some of our encounters closer to home.

A couple Fridays ago was an absolutely gorgeous day.  We went downtown after school to pick up train tickets for an upcoming trip in May and ended up with some time between then and the start of our orchestra rehearsal.  We decided to walk up the city center and to the mall for an after-school treat in the sunshine.  As we made our way through the pedestrian area we ran into many of our students also out enjoying the sun.

We also saw these guys having some fun in the sun.

Apparently there are a few sets out all summer and you just need to obtain the key from city hall to play.

In the mall, Mike decided to get a very typical German snack -- a bratwurst with bread.  

For a country that eats so much bratwurst and other sausages, we cannot figure out for the life of us why they don't make bread that holds the entire sausage.  I guess hot dog buns are an "American" thing.  

Another thing we find interesting about Germany is the different kinds of stores they have in malls.  Sure, there are the typical clothing, books, and shoe stores.  And I do think it makes sense that there is a specialty wine store in the mall since coffee and tea places exist.  However, I think that grocery stores inside the mall is strange.  Weirder yet, though, is this butcher/meat counter at the place where we got Mike's bratwurst.

Around the corner from the Wurst-Basar is our favorite ice cream place in Wolfsburg.

 

  

There are lots of Italian ice cream shops (as well as restaurants) in Wolfsburg because of a large population of Italian immigrants.  Our favorite place for just a cone of soft, delicious ice cream, however, is the little kiosk in the mall.  The stuff is almost like gelato, but better.  It's just a touch heavier than gelato, but not at all like thick, rich American ice cream.  So good, and reasonably priced, too!

One last difference that we've noticed living here is how much Germans love their dogs.  Or more accurately, we've noticed that Germans take their dogs everywhere, because you see them everywhere.  On the bus, on the train, in the mall, at a café... you name it, they're there.  I only bring it up because I have a picture of a dog we've seen a few times on the street for Kim.  It's not from this particular Friday, but it works.  

Look!  A lion dog!

(Okay, so it's not that close, but it was weird sneaking a picture of someone's dog on the street.)