Loraine's Adventures in Photobombing

We've accomplished one of the two things we came here to do.  And in doing it, Loraine managed to get into a piece of the action.

Greetings from Saarbrucken, where we'll be camped out for the next six days.  Not to rub it in to anyone back home, but it's supposed to be sunny & in the 70s here the next few days.

Well, okay, maybe we're rubbing it in just a little.

8-)

Today was quite a fun day, with two very big exceptions, both of which are, in a very strange way, related to this picture of the pedestrian area of Saarbrucken--

It's a great old town, filled with pedestrian walkways and narrow one way streets.  The problem is they seem to be working on every single one way street in the old town, which made getting to our hotel quite the adventure.  It was so much of an adventure that it took us over an hour of dodging detours, traffic snarl-ups because of the detours, and one way streets that wouldn't allow you to go the correct way to get to our hotel.

After that hour-plus, we finally made it, and we now know which way to turn and which way not to turn to get back.  Still, we've decided that after today we're just gonna leave the the car in the hotel's parking garage tomorrow and walk everywhere.

We deserve that.

The other issue of frustration had to do with pictures.  I took some amazing shots with my big camera today, but for whatever reason my Chromebook (which I've used on several trips over here in the past) won't transfer any pictures off of my Nikon.  So until I figure out the issue (or until I get home) you don't get to see most of what I'm taking.

Luckily, though, the phone I'm using has a fair quality camera on it.  So thankfully there's a backup plan.

As I said, one of the two main reason we came to Germany was to see their local 3 Liga team, 1. FC Saarbrucken, practice, because you can do that here.  So we went, and it was quite interesting.  I can't share the pictures because, you know, my Chromebook's being weird, but you know who DOES have a picture I can share?  The team itself, with one very familiar face photo bombing the whole thing--

Photo courtesy 1. FC Saarbrucken Instagram page

That's Loraine in the stands, and that's Tim Civeja, her favorite player on the team, in the middle of the shot, with his long hair flying as he runs.  Needless to say, Loraine was in a bit of heaven during that hour and a half.

It was sweet.

It was also cool seeing professionals up close.  Loraine and I like to kick a ball around, but to see a training session was quite impressive--

They're training again tomorrow before heading to Heidelberg for a match Sunday, so guess where we'll be bright and early?

8-)

Other than what I've described, we spent a big chunk of the day walking around and exploring the place.  Most of those pictures were taken with my big camera, but I can share a few cool things, including Saarbrucken's Rathaus (their city hall)--

And yes, that IS made of sandstone.  There's also the usual patches of very artistic graffiti you find in every major German city--

And our hotel is right across the street from Saarbrucken's Staatstheater, where tonight, believe it or not, is opening night for a very big show--

That's what the Germans call "The Life of Brian".  And if we'd known, we would have bought tickets for opening night!

Finally, here's your wall of chocolate for the day--

And, lest you think I'm kidding about the strange kinds of chocolate you can get over here let me present...

Chocolate Cat Tongues--

Germany.  The land of one way streets, photo-bombs, and chocolate cat tongues.  It's a cool place.

(jimkoskimqt@gmail.com)