Farewell to the squirrel that sits before the German Bank.

Where to begin ...

My last post was a quick scatterbrained announcement that I was alive ... and via comments I realized I didn't make anything clear.

For starters, yes, I found Danielle. 'A man named Oliver' turned out to be her adorable 25-year old cousin, and he actually found me (sleepwalking through the airport, trying to speak German) and directed me to Danielle's gate. This was the beginning of him taking care of us. He's like our little German Angel sent to protect us. Friend, tour guide, translator, travel agent and body guard. (Dad, are you paying him?)

We have been staying at his parent's house (Danielle's Aunt and Uncle), and they are the happiest, sweetest couple, and just absolutely spoil us. We spent the week exploring the city of Mannheim, Germany, and trying to master enough German to get by. I learned 'thank you' (Danke, pronounced dawn-kay) and kept accidentally saying 'donkey' out of habit. We also spent one night in Darmstadt, at Oli's apartment. It was coincidentally the weekend of a huge annual fair that takes over the town, and we got to partake in the festivities with all the locals. Live music, carnival rides, food stands, games ... the works. We spent the 4th of July on the American Army Base, and that was a huge festival too.

I am already attached to sparkling water, fresh loaves of bread, and drinking tea at all hours of the day. I didn't know that they listen to all our music that we have back home, which is fun because Danielle and I can dance and sing along like pros. (We have already heard Poker Face a few hundred times, it's strangely comforting)

One minor setback. A rash that developed on my arms (which I initially wrote off as a reaction to the dirty 7-dollar blanket I bought) developed into full blown allergies, complete with sneezing fits and a constant burning and itching in my nose. Just as I was about to scratch my nose off, Oli figured out what it was (I've never suffered allergies, and didn't realize what was happening) and went and bought me pills, which have helped immensely. Danielle's Uncle asked me about my symptoms, listened carefully, then said "You drink six beers. You be fine." Oh, I will miss him.

Tomorrow we take the train to Paris, France. I am a little nervous to move forward without our German protectant, but he has work. (Danielle and I forget these things) Our friend Allison is flying in from New York to meet us, and the three of us have six days together. We are titling this chapter 'Donkeys Unite.'

PLEASE NOTE: Danielle and I don't fly to Pamplona until the 13th, so if you see any headlines in the next week about Americans getting trampled, rest assured that I am safe and alive in Paris.