The Best Of Europe: favorite moments and memories-I

It’s certainly not possible to count all the memories I have from my travels in Europe but over the next couple weeks I’d like to share a few at the top of my best memories list. Please, send us your tales too!

My first snow in Tuebingen, Germany.

Growing up in Southern California, snow was not much of a factor in my life. So, when I woke up on that morning in November 2004 to find a nice blanket of white snow covering the ground a feeling stirred inside me that I had never experienced. Awe, nervousness, excitement and wonder all seemed to be battling for my attention. I threw on my coat, doubled up my socks (I had yet to buy shoes that were any good at keeping my feet dry) and set out into the center of old town.

      The bus ride down the hill from Waldhauser Ost seemed treacherous. The road was slippery, the decent, steep and my faith in the German bus driver, unfailing. The automated Bus stop in front of Waldhauser Ost, Tuebingen stop announcements came across the speakers almost daring me to disembark. “Stadtgraben”, “Nonnenhause” “Neckarbrucke” “Friedrichstrasse”, “Omni bus bahnhoff, Hauptbahnhoff”.
     After reaching the main bus station I hopped off and began my walk.   I had already lived here for months, but as I made my way through the city, over wet and icy cobblestones I was taken back at just how dangerous it was to walk around in these conditions. Alas, I did not slip, fall or stumble. What I did was enjoy the city, Germany, Europe… in a way I had yet to do.
      I never even considered that falling snow isn’t all that pleasant when it hits your eye but the tiny twinges of “pain” are indelibly etched into my mind. As are the ducks walking over a half frozen Ducks on Tuebingen's frozen lake lake, the snow man which I can only imagine was made with the early morning excitement of children, and the chimney smoke from rooftops that signaled a warmer but not quite as memorable setting.
     Of course this was the first snow of a rather cold winter but it was that first chilly morning which ended in wet socks, a runny nose and a new appreciation of, or should I say love affair with a Europe that many forget to consider in their travels.