New apartment-

Things have been a little busy here the last week or so. We finally moved to our new apartment, which we have for the next twelve months. Twice as much room as the old place (three bedrooms!), on campus (5 minute commute, meet family for lunch), and cheaper too. It is amazing how much crap you can collect in just a couple of months. Good thing we have a new car, otherwise we would be schlepping stuff on the bus+subway forever.

This new apartment is in a building built on campus specifically for visiting professors, the Gastdozentenhaus (Guest Docent House). Apparently they spent a lot of money on the building, which won architectural awards. It looks like something from the 70s, but it was built in the mid-90s. Very nice overall, but there are a couple of issues.

First, the floor tile is troublesome. It has big holes, maybe 2-3 inches long and half an inch deep. It looks like they had cheep stone that fell apart in places. Apparently, they paid a ton of money for this stuff! You can't get the holes clean, no matter how much you try. It feels like living on dirt floor. So we bought some cheap carpets to put down all through the place.

Second, the appliances. We ended up getting a dishwasher and washing machine. Add to that the ice machine and toaster oven from the last place, and we have a few items to get rid of next year when we leave. I assume we can sell everything for something next summer.

They do have solid free internet, so streaming stuff from the states is fine. We got a wireless router so I can blog/work in bed while the spouse watches the olympics.

The place has sliding wooden window shades instead of the metal roll-down shutters we had at the last place. The windows tilt and open (to the floor) and thankfully they put gates up so the kids can't easily fall out.

They have a nice kid playground in the courtyard. Apparently, the (award winning) architects sued to not have the playground added. There are a ton of other little kids in this building, so the kids are making friends.

We got annual passes to Legoland, only an hour away. We have been twice. Plus we tood a drive in the Schwartzwald and stopped in Freudenstadt and Alpirsbach, home of Alpirsbacher Kloisterbrau. We were at the wrong time for a brewery tour (German only) so we toured the monestary instead.

Tonight: Weihenstephaner Hefe Weissbier, from the oldest brewery in the world. Very tasty. Somwhat more complex than most wheat beers.

Schneider Weisse, another solid wheat beer. Nothing surprising.

Brauhaus Urtyp, Wüzige Bier. I don't know what this Urtyp or Wüzige stuff is, but it is not good.

Schöfferhofer Grapefruit Hefewizen. Interesting and fruity. Radler is Lemonade + Beer, this is grapefruity delicious.

Flensbuger Pilsener. Not bad, interesting bottle.

Plus some various Paulaner and Erdingers I have had before.