Thai :(

For dinner tonight, we ate with friends at Khao Thai Cuisine.  Wifey has been sick for the past several days and that peaked tonight.  And she hates Thai.  

Husband ordered food:

Wifey had the kids chicken strips and fried rice. 

Don't worry - tomorrow (cause we can either see the future or we blog a few days late :)) wifey will have hubby buy her some good meds from the local american store and she'll be close to as good as new!

Trier

Before work today we enjoyed a quick, rainy field trip to Trier, DE.  For a period of time, Trier was the capital of Roman Empire.  Of note, one city gate remains from that time period: The Black Gate.  This part of the old city wall remains because for a period it was converted to and incorporated into a Monastery.  The most noteworthy part of this site was remembering Pastor Randy describe the city gates during Biblical times as centers of meeting and commerce. It was in the city gate that Boaz confronted the alternate kinsman redeemer and eventually took responsibility for Naomi and Ruth.  Rahab's home was part of a city wall.  These were massive buildings! 

Near the Black Gate we boarded a double-Decker buss for a city tour.  It was nice to be out of the rain; and we enjoyed the English language narration via headset! 

The first stop where we exited the bus was at the local Colosseum.  While we know this will not compare to the Colosseum we anticipate visiting next week ;) it was till quite an architectural marvel.  We walked around, under, and on top of this outdoor amphitheater.  

We even 'visited' the handy vomitorium! This may or may not have been where Romans would vomit to make room for more feasting.  Hunger Games memories, anyone? 

Another stop along our tour-route was at the top of a hill-top vineyard.  It provided stunning views of the city. 

A couple quick "rainy-day" pictures just for fun! 

Just before heading back 'home' to work, we had a quick lunch at the Ristorante Pizzeria San Marco.  It was so-so.  

During our lunch, we ate food (Pizza, jager art schnitzel, Lasagna, whatever Hubby Ordered)

And for dessert, Ice Cream Spaghetti and Coffee Ice Cream. 

Döner

Döner is a term for a type of meat originating from Turkey/the Ottoman Empire.  The meat is seasoned and stacked/smooshed together on a pole into the shape of an upside down cone.  It is then put in front of a vertical heat source and cooked while spinning in circles.  

 As the outer layer is done, it is shaved off and served. 

 The most common way that we've seen Döner served is in a bread pocket along with some veggies and a spicy sauce.  

 The most common way that we've seen Döner served is in a bread pocket along with some veggies and a spicy sauce.  Wifey's research shows this is actually a pretty German version of Döner.  A related dish is the Greek gyro which is more popular in the USA.  While technically Döner refers to the meat which has been cooked as described above, in common use, folks refer to the fast-food dish (meat in bread pocket with veggies and sauce) as Döner.  Kinda like how hamburger is both the ground up meat as well as the finished sandwich on bread with toppings.  

raw Döner in NOLA, USA

Lunch Hour Surprise!

Hubby surprised Wifey today with a lunch outing.  First we stopped at Sanders Cafe for a Leonardo!  We've tried to relive this tradition a couple of evenings this trip without success (Unity Day and then Sunday).

After Sanders we made a quick stop by the once a quarter Farmers Market in Ramstein.  We saw signs for this event a couple of days ago, and Wifey (who is a Farmers Market seller back at home) has been looking forward to attending.  The rain had her convinced it wasn't going to happen (seriously, who wants to walk a kilometer and a half in the rain?  Not this girl)

Funnel Cakes

We did not partake, however got a kick out of this milk vending machine!  

Alpacas and alpaca wool products at the market! 

This man carves logs with a chain saw.  You can barely see him at work under the green tent, with an example of his art in the foreground of the below picture.  WOW!

Also of interest - fish cooking over a fire. Each slanted piece of wood has a fish somehow attached to the underside cooking away.

The highlight of the market for Wifey was the one soap vendor:

We purchased some Apple soap and some Aleppo Soap.  We loved chatting with the soap maker who is a also a dual-professional!  Can't wait to try these soaps!

Frontline Community Church in the Rain

Today was our second visit to Frontline Community Church.  Prepare yourself now for a pictureless blog post.  We went to the 8:30 service this morning before Hubby went to work and it rained on the drive there. It rained when we parked and as we walked into the church building.  We could hear it raining through the service.  It rained all the way home and was raining when Hubby left for work.  So, yeah, photos were not on the priority; staying dry was.

Frontline is an English Language congregation about a mile and a half from the Hotel Circle Inn.  Frontline's beliefs are linked here.  Culturally it is a pretty good fit for a church home away from home.  Today's sermon was part of a new series on spiritual warfare.  Unedited notes are below:

Stranger things - spiritual warfare. 

Ephesians 2:10 - you're a child of God called to do good works.
Chapter 6 - but there's going to be some resistance.
6:11 - armor of god
Sometimes what is behind our problems is a present darkness.
Paul tells us to hold firm and fight.
The spiritual battle takes place in the mind.
Place - the only thing these spiritual forces can use is your mind. But the mind controls the life. That's all they need.
Timing - these spiritual forces let no crisis go to waste. They will wait until you are vulnerable and lodge lies in you.
Power - as you replay the lie, it is empowered by your agreement.
Who's voice is loudest in your mind?
How we fight?  We recognize the lie. Recognize what's a truth from god. Fight to agree with God.
Romans 12:1-2 renew your mind. Fill it with the thoughts of God.
Colossians 3. - bible should be really familiar to us.
Every time you expose a lie that is in your mind, these spiritual forces lose their influence over you.
John 8:31 - abide in gods word. 

Royalty Soaps and Benji's Burrito

What better way to pass the time on a cold and rainy Saturday than watching Royalty Soaps videos on YouTube!?  Hubby has never been so glad to be working long hours :) 

We planned for dinner at Zym Remigiusland, however after driving out to Altenglan, they were booked for the night.  Serves us right for stopping by on a Saturday night.  We were able to book a reservation for Sunday night so we'll try again tomorrow.  

On our way back to Ramstein, Hubby suggested we could eat at Benji's Burrito; a new-to-us restaurant in Landstuhl that we had driven past the day before.  Wifey was ALL ABOUT that.  Seriously, why is there a Döner restaurant on every corner and no Mexican food here? Benji Burrito is basically a Chipotle or Freebirds type restaurant.  Wifey had the chicken burrito bowl and then we walked across the street to New York Doner for Hubby's 6th Döner.  He has branched out some and is now ordering Döner Burritos and Döner Pizzas.  We've figured out that Döner shops are like Mexican restaurants at home - the same 10 ingredients packaged up in different ways.  

YUMMYYY!!!

Not Pictured - the 6th Döner.  

A Beautiful Home

Wifey passed this beautiful home while out walking this morning!  The fall leaves just "make" the picture in our opinion. America - you need to up your architecture game.