This Is The Way I Live

In the past weeks I have been busy with new German organizational tasks, like registering as a resident, getting a visa, opening a bank account, getting a cell phone, etc., as well as getting used to my new school routine. I receive a new schedule every four weeks so that every class in the school will eventually get to have contact with the new and exciting native speaker. (They stay in class cores with the same students until their last year of school, which I think would get quite boring, but it is easy for the teachers). The children are fantastic, though--generally well-behaved and interested in all things USA. The election is the hot topic of the moment, and everyone here is crossing their fingers and wishing they could vote.

I have finally collected enough photos to provide a decent overview of Tauberbischofsheim. But first, a brief lesson (I can't help it. It's my job now):
Tauberbischofsheim is situated in a valley (Liebliches Taubertal) between two small mountain ranges that run down to the Alps. The Tauber River runs through the center of town, which now boasts about 13,000 residents. The area was first described by the now Saint Lioba in the 9th century, but was first truly settled by a bishop and his followers in the 13th century. Despite the relatively massive church, it is still in the middle of nowhere. As mentioned earlier, Tauberbischofsheim is most well-known for the German Olympic Fencing Training Center. The next village over, which is actually considered a section of Tauberbischofsheim, is home to a small brewery that happened to produce the gold-medal winning pilsner at the World Beer Championships in 2008. And while you will never be able to find Distelhäuser Pils at Copps or Giant Eagle, I can pick up a six-pack of half-liters at just about anyplace with a cash register for €4,50.

Now, please enjoy this virtual tour of my new hometown:

One can enter the town by car or bus by the bridge over the Tauber

Or at the train station, from which trains travel to five other towns

The entrance to the main shopping street that runs through the center of town

Walking down the pedestrian street...

Entering the central Marktplatz

The town hall in the Marktplatz

The bells actually ring every day

Continuing through the Marktplatz on the pedestrian street...

The pedestrian shopping street opens up into Sonnenplatz at the other end

The castle (built not as a fortification but as a place of centralized government business)

Built in 1270

There are also several other small churches and chapels

The old town gate

A World War I memorial

The pool where I got to show off a little bit before it got cold

The grocery store near my apartment

The creepy tunnel to the "other" side of town

If you come to visit I will explain the "other" side

Yes, we have one! (p.s. the gas is indeed 1.35, but that is in euros and is per liter)

Europe loves fountains

This is the largest wine-producing area of the country, and some people have mini-vinyards right at home

The canal that runs through the town to the Tauber

And the ducks that inhabit it

Instead of each home in the city having a garden, residents can rent small plots of land just outside of the town to grow vegetables and flowers, which combats sprawl quite well

The Tauberbischofsheim skyline

And that's it.