Every day this week I have been able to take advantage of the beautiful outdoors! In the morning, I walk 30 minutes to the IES and pass 4 schools (2 kindergartens, a primary school, and secondary school). Depending on the time I leave, the children are either walking with their parents or playing recess. It’s exciting for me to see the children play and ride their bikes!
After classes, I take a short nap and then go for a run. There are two great places to go that are near my dorm.
I love running around the Burgerhaus Seepark, especially near 17:30 pm when the sun sets.
Burgerhaus Seepark has a beautiful lake, green soccer field, outdoor café, viewing posts, and floating bridge. You’ll always find people there walking, jogging, or riding bikes.
The Dreisam River is another place I love to run. It’s a straight stretch to France, only 16.5 km from the border! I enjoy the outdoors, just as much as the people of Freiburg, Germany. They are all very active.
Friday (because a class was cancelled and I had free time), I went shopping at the large department store, Galleria Kaufhof, in the city center. There, I bought a sports watch and tennis shoes. Thank you Mamma and Daddy for the Valentine’s Day present! I’m getting my use out of them both! Afterwards, I walked around the Munster Square.
Monday through Saturday between 9:00 and 14:00, the Munster Square is a busy place, full of activity! There is a wonderful outdoor market with stuffed red peppers, savory vegetable quiches, gorgeous floral arrangements, grand cheese selections, homemade wines, open-air sausage stands, and more! I only wish I hadn’t eaten beforehand and left my camera! I know I will go back to buy local produce, herbs, and dessert. It was a spectacular sight!
To top off the end of my week, IES planned a day in the Alps! We left before 6:00 am for Grindelwald, Switzerland. The 3½-hour bus ride there was well worth the trip.
I had a phenomenal time sledding and hiking! I know most people ski in the Alps, but I not an advanced skier-- I haven’t mastered the bunny slopes of Sugar Mountain, North Carolina. So, I took advantage of the other opportunities the Alps had to offer, sledding and hiking.
Grindelwald, Switzerland has the longest sledding route of the world, 15 km. It is about a 45-minute run from the top to the bottom of the mountain--- absolutely incredible, fun, exhausting, and exhilarating!
The scenic views were extraordinary- I couldn’t stop smiling!
After our sled run and hike to the bottom of the mountainside, we found a great place to eat. The small café and bakery served us cheese fondue, a Swiss specialty. Mmm it was good! I brought back to Frieburg with me some Swiss chocolates to savor over a few days (it is going to take a lot of will power).
It was spectacular to be there, in the Alps. I enjoyed every minute!
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