Last night after a dinner of real brockwurst sausage, we took a trip into Baden Baden. There, we went to an indoor thermal swimming pool which is the modern version of a Roman bathhouse. Essentially, it is a spa with water. The inside had a Roman style dome. There were rooms with humid air, salty air and dry hair. There were three pools of different temperatures with neck massages, back massages and body massages...all with water. There were hot tubs and whirl pools. There was also a really hot pool with a cold pool next to it. You spent thirty seconds and then you alternated. The water wasn't regular water. It had a slight amount of salt in it which exfoliated your skin. It was nice to relax there.
After the swimming pool, we walked around the small city. The shops that lined that streets were all closed but it is a German custom to window shop so we walked around and observed the expensive items in the windows. Normally this would be done with ice cream. During our walk we saw a rich man's casino where the rich Russian population of the city gamble and where international business meetings are held. Next we saw a piece of real Roman architecture: an old building where one would get their water. We don't have anything that old in America.
Today we went to the French city of Strasbourg. This city houses the parliament of Europe and is a well known city in Europe. The city doesn't look like any American city like New York or Chicago or Buffalo. The buildings are small and old with a couple modern buildings. 
We started off in the mall there and then began to walk the streets of the cities. There were shops and street entertainers. There was a flea market. 
The most breathtaking sight of the city however was the Cathedral of Notre Dame of Strasbourg or, in French, Cathédrale Notre Dame de Strasbourg. When I went to New York City in May, I thought that St. Patrick's Cathedral was beautiful but it can't even compare to the one I saw today. This one was made of traditional dark stone and towered high above everything else. Every pillar, column and wall was covered in an intricate design, pattern or picture. There wasn't a single window that wasn't covered in stained glass that was so rich and dark in color that no light entered the Cathedral. In the back there was a huge clock that told the phase of the moon, astrological sign and time. Even this was painted beautifully. I couldn't believe my eyes.
It hit me the other day that people are allowed to smoke in buildings.
There is barely any humidity.
There is a canal with locks by the house where I am staying.
The Stop signs here say "Stop" because stop means stop in German.
Germany has M&Ms, Twix and Snickers.
They have Holiday Inn.
Deer crossings? More like boar crossings. Last night there were wild boar on the road.
Taxes are built into prices so what you see on the tag is how much you pay.
Movie titles are translated into German but don't always translate back as the same title.
Cars park on the sidewalk in towns and cities.
Instead of $1 or $2 bills in Euros, you get coins.
The license plates are long and narrow. On the left side there is a small plane of blue with the symbol of the European union and a small letter representing the country you are from.
American songs are sometimes redone in German.
They have an equal amount of escalators with stairs and with just a straight belt.
Dogs are allowed in malls.
Want to see more pictures? Check my facebook album "Germany!"
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