Volksfest ...

I have fallen way behind with updating this thing. Mostly it is due to us not doing much (still saving for Berlin), and we have been dealing with a crazed-teething/sick baby. Since I updated last, the Volksfest has come and gone. It was pretty awesome, and we managed to go a few times - mostly for the food and beer.

   Strangest thing by far is the fish on the stick. I'm still not sure how this is consumed, and I'm not sure I want to know.

This is the world's largest mobile log ride. I passed on riding this death-trap. 

On the first weekend of the Volksfest, Vic and I went out for a night while a lovely babysitter stayed with Eli.  After watching the Germany vs. Portugal soccer game and having a few beers at our favorite spot, Brazil, we headed over to ride some rides. Now, either Vic and I are getting old, and had one too many beers ... or Germany has different standards on how fast their carnival rides can go. We were both so dizzy and sick by the end of the night. 

Side note on our favorite spot to eat. It is called Brazil, but they serve German and Mexican food, and play reggae music. Confused? So are we ... 

This ride was my favorite, and not a vomit-inducing one. 

Same ride, but from inside our neighborhood. Another side note ... this is the security-detail to get into Askren Manor .... talk about a gated-community, huh?

This was the particular ride that almost killed us. It was a spinning-whirling nightmare that seemed like it was never going to end. You can't tell from the picture, but the ride was decorated with Michael Jackson (sporting the red leather jacket and sparkly glove, before he turned white), and the Gremlins. Several other rides had similar themes, one with Mr. T, Alf, and David Hasselhoff as Knightrider ... it was almost like they salvaged all of their rides from an old 80's American carnival. 

Huge ferris wheel .. it was really pretty at night. 

On the second weekend, we went during the day to enjoy a couple drinks and some German food. The beers were a meal in themselves ...

We are guessing these massive mugs are about three pints of beer. 

It took us so long to drink the beers, that Eli fell asleep. 

Eli is currently teething, and it is not a pleasurable experience for anyone involved. We went though two particularly rough days ... and sleepless nights. He is still a little fussy, and very drooly, but seems to be a little more comfortable. 

This is his pissed off face ... not in the mood for pictures! 

A peaceful moment. Please note the burp cloth ... he's still obsessed, and won't sleep without one. 

Starting to feel a little better. He loves to be propped up on the couch while Vic is on the computer ... he's always very curious as to what daddy is doing ... 

Eli seems to have outgrown his swing ... so we invested in this cool-looking jump seat. He still isn't tall enough to bounce, but he will sit in it and watch Baby Einstein. 

That's about the extent of excitement going on over here. My dad and Reagan come in about 3 weeks, so I have been researching and planning our trip. We have three day trips planned while they are in Schweinfurt, and then three days in Berlin ... very busy, but it will be a lot of fun!