Sunday, March 01, 2009

MY HEAD IS SPINNING ! ! !


Roger and I are home after 5 days away immersing ourselves in German learning. We left home at 8.35am on Tuesday 24 February and headed for the train which took us to the end of our line - Zell. We then took a Bus about 15 km's to the small town of Utzenfeld in the Black Forrest. The bus stop was right outside The King's School of Languages. Allen Broome said hi and then sent us, along with our bags to 7a Wiesentalstrasse which is were we stayed for the 4 nights we were away. It was a family owned Pension (Bed and Breakfast), only 1 bedroom so it was good to have the run of the cellar to ourselves!
Top picture is of our hosts sunroom and then the views from this room. There was plenty of snow around and we really had to be careful when we were out walking because of the ice on the road and footpath. Utzenfeld is a very small village but is on the main route to a very popular snowfield called Feldberg (I think this would be about 1/2 hr Bus ride from Utzenfled).
On an early morning walk before our lessons! It really was COLD. And yes, we did have a small snow fight, but it's just not the same without the kids!
We had to find places to eat out each night. Here we are at Gasthaus Adler in Schnau. We were able to walk to this village, 4 km's away.
It is a very traditional Hotel, and also very friendly.
Here we are with our wonderful teachers Allen and Annette Broome. They are originally from Manchester, England but have spent 37 of their 39 years married in Brussels and then Utzenfeld.
Roger and Allen hard at work!!!!!

At least I have a pencil in my hand!

Roger had lessons for 3 hours each day with Allen and I had 2 hours a day with Annette. Allen and Annette catered the lessons for our individual learning which we both appreciated. Roger has gone ahead in leaps and bounds with his German speaking and I have realised how much I don't know and that it is just going to be DISCIPLINE that keeps me on the right track. I will need to do work each day on my German if I am going to benefit from this time away.

Tuesday night Allen and Annette invited us to their home in Aiten for Dinner. Wednesday night we invited ourselves to our good friend Johnny's (in Zell) for dinner. Thursday night we went to Gasthaus Adler and then because we both finished our lessons at 12 noon on Friday we caught the Bus to Zell and went to one of our favourite Gasthauses, The Lowen (The Lion). They have a delicious 'special of the day' and being Friday it was fish!

We arrived home at 3pm and now the hard work begins!

2 comments:

Joce said...

"We were able to walk to this village" You two are amazing (&/or crazy) 8km in the cold and dark snow for dinner... better you than I! (and all us kids agreed that you are crazy) ;) xo

Gaynor said...

Well, aren't you lovely (and concerned as well)!! ACTUALLY, we didn't walk home, we caught the bus. Yes, sometimes we are stupid and a bit adventuous, but not when there is BLACK ice about.
Love you, Your Mum xx