I was told that everything takes longer in Germany and you really have to plan your days/weeks. I was good with that. You all know that I'm nothing if not a planner/organizer. We all know I can make an itinerary for anything. I just didn't realize the extent of the slow down until I got here. Here's a peek.
1. We finally got our ATM card and I figured I should go get some cash so I did a search as to where all the ATMs were so that I could stop by one and get some cash. Most places here don't take credit cards so you need to have cash available at all times. I went on Deutsche Banks website, did an ATM search and it came back with just 1 listing in Bad Homburg. Knowing that there are ATMs on every corner, WaWa or gas station I knew this certainly must be incorrect. Nope...that's it. All the banks are downtown and you need to plan a stop at least once a week and don't even think there's a drive through or a place where you just pull your car up, jump out and do your business. You must park in one of the three parking garages, take the elevator to the top floor, walk to the pedestrian zone and go inside the bank. I now carry cash in my wallet and rob Greg's every time he comes home.
2. Everything is closed on Sundays except restaurants. No grocery stores, no malls not even a 7-11 for emergency milk purchases. As many of you know Greg doesn't like to run short of anything so a list of all possible consumable items must be made on Friday because there is no Tanner's open at 8:00 a.m. on Sunday should he decide he needs bacon with his breakfast. I've had to warn him that even though it may be on the list that doesn't mean the store is going to have it. Everything is very fresh here and they don't use preservatives like we use so there is only a finite amount of goods put out at the store so when it's gone you must choose something else. Yesterday I went to the store and they were out of eggs. Eggs aren't refrigerated here (it's okay, they aren't refrigerated inside the chicken either) so I stood in front of the empty shelf for at least a minute staring at the place they were last week wondering if I was in the wrong place, but the shelf was labeled eggs, there just weren't any. It's hard to believe but I will make note on future itinerarys that there may need to be a back up option for grocery shopping.
3. No drawer of "To Go Menus" anymore. You must go in, sit down and enjoy a leisurely meal. When you make a reservation for dinner it's expected that you will be at the table all night. This is forced patience and relaxation for my poor husband. He really liked the California way of having dinner where you could be in and out in less than an hour. So I've really become a lady of leisure. It's not my fault. It's just the German way. I'm just doing what I can to fit in. An appertif before lunch, lunch, and then a leisurely coffee afterwards. Lunch could take a few hours. Not to worry, I've planned my days accordingly.
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