WerdehausenAdventures

Parking Disc

Parking, particularly parking in city centers, is an ongoing challenge. Between our rental car being a small boat, the tiny tiny size of most parking places, and a general distaste for paying to park, and a complete inability to read the street signs regulating parking, it often causes stress.

We did notice by watching other vehicles that sometimes a car had a little blue device displayed in the windshield. Luckily, wifey is nosey and had seen that same device in our rental tucked away and pulled it out.

After a bit of research (to which I'm linking here because I use this blog as a reference point for things I used to know and have forgotten), this allows for free parking in certain areas for up to a particular length of time. Sadly, we still must read the posted signs to know which areas and for how long.

Update:

The picture below shows 30-minute parking with a parking disk between the hours of 9 am and 6 pm. Included in English, this parking is only for people visiting the nearby tourist information center.

This parking sign shows that Monday-Friday 7 am through 7 pm this lot allows 1-hour parking with a parking disk.

We < 3 Windows

For anyone who doesn't know us in real life, Hubby is an engineer and certainly has the mind for being on! One thing we have noticed and admired about the local architecture is the windows and corresponding shades.

First, the windows open in two different ways.

An online vendor selling a similar product.

Here is one of our hotel windows tilted open at the top. As best I can tell this allows some airflow but is still relatively closed.

And the same window fully closed:

And last, the same window opened. You should be able to notice that here it is swung open similar to a door.

In addition to the multiple ways to open the windows, on the outside are metal shutters controlled by a strap just inside each window.

the strap, just next to the window.

to move the strap, you press down on the metal lever, allowing it to move freely and raise or lower the external shade.

when lowered, this metal shade looks like this (our neighbor really likes theirs closed) and does an AMAZING job of blocking out nearly all light).

Wifey learns Radiators

Disclaimer - this blog post is solely from the point of view of wifey.

I grew up and live in the world of central heating and air. Ya know where you choose a temperature you'd like your home to be and then magic elves blow the needed hot or cold air through vents throughout the home to make that happen. This is now how our hotel's system works.

Our hotel room has 3 radiators which heat the space. Which now has me questioning what happens in summer ... but that is a blog for another trip.

Radiator

'thermostat' dial? Which has a range of 1-5.

opposite window unit

and view from the top

So for everyone, like myself, who are not experienced with these devices .... the radiators generate heat and become hot. Which, similar to a hot oven that will heat up your kitchen or home just by virtue of being present. When we first arrived and turned the dials up to what we assumed was warmer, I was concerned that the system was never "kicking on" because I couldn't hear the air blowing. Well ... it turns out that's now how it works :)

In addition to these two units in our bedroom, there is a separate, smaller unit in the bathroom which is great for heating up that small area to shower etc. For a one-room area, these seem ideal, however, if trying to regulate the temperature in an entire home ... I'm grateful for central heating and air.

Hotel - Landstuhl

We are staying at the Schloss-Hotel Landstuhl. Schloss is a german word for "Castle" and our hotel is located very close to the local castle. This hotel was founded in 1935 up a winding winding road.

If you blink you'll miss the sign telling you to turn onto a road that is otherwise EASILY missed ....

See that little footpath between the yellow and the white buildings? Yeah, that's a two lane road. With multiple switchbacks. FUN!

Emerging out the other side of the "road", you are greeted with this impressive sight in the middle of no-where.

The room decor is clearly indicative of the early 1990's renovation.

Separate mattress' in one bed ... may be
the greatest invention i've every seen.

Balcony ... le sigh

And of course, for thoroughness ... the bathroom!

McCafe and other caffeinated endeavors.

Dear Americans - McDonalds Germany is taking this whole "McCafe" thing to a new level! Inside of our local Micky D's, about half of the store is partitioned off and set up as a nice coffee shop. There are two counters for placing your order ... one "normal" McDonalds and the other "McCafe" which is practically Starbucks.

Mocha Frape

Various fancy desserts for sale at ... McDonalds

The espresso machines - McCafe

The "cafe" section of the restaurant.

Long before reaching our relatively citified (well enough to have a McDonalds) destination, we found coffee at a grocery store as follows:

Canned Coffee & Milk & Sweetener - so sorta like a canned latte.

Do note ... wifey prefers the White Leonardo Iced she found at Sander's Cafe downtown to all this McCafe and grocery store canned business ... mostly for the ambiance! :)

Excited Wifey:

Work Day

While hubby worked today, Wifey spent the morning in bed watching youtube! Shout out to Bill Vicars. LOVE his videos!

After a quick lunch of amazing leftover pizza and a brownie, she decided she needed to venture out to a little soap shop she'd found the day before ... sadly it is the rainy season in Western Germany ... leading to this fashion event ...

After about a peasant, although rainy 650 meters walk, wifey enjoyed some shopping (and buying :))

How awesome is this:

After finishing up her shopping, wifey noticed that the rain had picked up quite a bit and she needed to pull out her umbrella. Before she had done so, the shop owner offered on she had at the door. Of course, I declined, but so appreciated the sentiment.