Well, I did not just disappear into the land of pretzels. I simply landed there without internet access and as a result I have dolefully neglected this correspondence. And as I result, I have far, far too much to tell. In short, I wish you all could just come and see this all with me. We have space! Today we have two Finnish students staying with us-- one is auditioning at the Music School where Sebastian studies. 

Rather than trying to catch you up with everything (which seems a very daunting task, I'm not going to lie), I will try to set the story such that you can follow in the future. 

Freiburg is beautiful. And we live in the most enviable part: Herdern, home to classy seniors and a few lucky students who rent rooms from them. We are on the third floor in a spacious two-bedroom apartment. There is lots of light and the only thing I could think of to complain about was the light teal carpet that covers practically everything. That is to say, it is very nearly perfect. 

Across the street is a protestant church with an excellent organist and an accomplished choir that I can hear practicing on Monday nights. Beside the church is a beautiful old cemetery with benches and enormous trees. In "Innenstadt" Herdern, there is an organic grocery store, a good meat shop, bakery, very expensive grocery store, bike shop... All beautifully cute. 

And down the street is the Stadtgarten which is always full of people and seems to be bursting with roses. Yesterday Sebastian and I went and watched baby ducks paddle around in the wee pond. From the Stadtgarten one can take a bridge that connects with the path (or network thereof) on the Schlossberg, the big hill/mountain (what is the definition anyway??) that overlooks the city. 

To get to Sebastian's school you must go a little while along the Dreisam River. In fact the path goes along quite far and I have taken to running it nearly every day in some capacity. 

The Schwabentor which is the old brick arch that marks the opening of the city and the mostly car-free zone. Here the Munster Cathedral reigns, visible from nearly everywhere is the city. It is beautiful, but the city is so keen to preserve it that they have covered is with wire and other protective ugliness. 

In the square there is a daily market full of vegetables, cheeses, meats... Everything you could think of. Unfortunately there has been quite a veggie scare going on here so we haven't indulged as mush as we might have in the fresh and easily local produce. 

Also neat is Augustiner Platz. We have gone a couple of times in the evening when it is beautiful out and the square in full of people hanging out and enjoying the atmosphere. Some have guitars or other instruments, some have beer or wine... Everyone clearly feels welcome perhaps because with such a group there is a comfortable anonymity. 

Of course I could go on and on and on. I was often told that we had chosen to live in the most beautiful city on Germany. I don't considered myself educated enough to make that call. But it is marvelous and I am so please that we are bit by bit coming to know it as a home. 

And may I again extend my invitation: please, please come visit. Good things are most certainly better shared!