Optometry Conference In Garmisch

Garmisch is a beautiful Alpine town in the very southern part of Germany, which is normally a ski town.  There is a U.S. military resort, Edelweiss Lodge, there where we attended a Europe-wide Army optometry conference.  4 nights in a beautiful town in the Alps is not too shabby! 



Emily as we arrive at the Garmisch train station.



So funny story:  So Emily and I took separate faster trains by ourselves since we had a Eurail pass and it cost us nothing extra so we arrived before the other externs.  Emily and the other externs had rented a house in town and I decided to stay at Edelweiss by myself for a few nights because I wanted to get away from some of the maddness and have a quiet place to study for boards for a few nights.  So at the train station we separate to check-in to our places.  As we go to separate cabs an American man in his mid-40s approaches me, he asks if I'm going to the American resort and if I just want to share a cab.  I agree since he's obviously military and I'm thinking he looks really familiar.  I assume he is one of the other optometrists I met a few days prior at our presentations in Heidelberg.  He asks which part of the conference I'm going to and I say optometry, he says the same, when I go to introduce myself he says "I know, you work in my building."  At this moment I realize he is the Colonel med group commander of our clinic, and I looked like an idiot.  He was actually really nice and laughed it off as a apologized and turned beat red from embarrassment!  In my defense he was wearing glasses and civilian clothes and works on a different floor in the building, if he is not wearing a uniform with his name and a little eagle on it, I just can't recognize him.  Obviously, I felt like an idiot!

Walking down the street of the resort.

Walking into town.

Emily and I ate at a Tex Mex cantina in town that night.  The next few days we spent at the conference, which was actually really interesting.  Got to meet some nice people. 

View from my hotel room!

Looking down at the Edelweiss lobby.

The house the other externs rented, it was pretty awesome!!  5 bedrooms!  I spent the last night here!

The externs at a German restaurant the last night!

The morning before we left we hiked through the gorge.

Hiking through the gorge!

The crew (minus Andrea) wondering around.

At the Olympic Stadium where they held the 1934 (i think) winter olympics!

Obviously I did not take a lot of pics at the conference, but I swear we attended!!!

I think Heidelberg is my new favorite town in Germany!

Heidelberg is a beautiful city on a river and happens to be the location of a large U.S. Army base and the headquarters of the U.S. Army in Europe.  Since their are several optometry externs at a variety of bases in Europe they thought it would be a good idea if we all got together and gave case/topic presentation to each other.  I'm not going to lie, I was kinda of bitter, since I've already done a grand rounds presentation, I really didn't feel the need to do a second one, but whatever. 

So the whole gang including Major Eddis, his wife, and baby Charlotte headed to Heidelberg on a Thursday afternoon.  We got a hotel right in the center of town on the main square which was perfect since it was close to everything!!!  Since we had an odd number I got a single room (sadly this made me super excited)! 

I can see the other externs from my room!

Walking along the bridge!

We explored the town some together by walking along the bridge, eating crepes, and having a few German beers.  This town is a university town which means it has tons of great cafes, bars, and restaurants.  So we explored several places that evening!  My favorite was a little German place we ate dinner with mostly locals and a man playing modern songs on piano!  We called it a night relatively early since we were suppose to do our presentation the next day.



Heidelberg Castle



The next morning was another goregous crisp fall day.  I headed out on my own to explore for about an hour after breakfast and really fell in love with the town.  Great shops, cute streets, and lots to look at.  Since it was a Friday and we didn't have work the next day, I asked the front desk if my single room was avaiable that night, and I decided I would stay an extra night so I could explore more the next day.  All of the other interns had travel plans or didn't have a train pass, so they made plans to ride back to Schweinfurt with Major Eddis.

We did the presentation.  Mine was on "Properly Diagnosing Normal Tension Glaucoma"  (ZZZzzzzzzz.).  It went fine.  It was cool meeting about 7 other Army optometrists from around Germany and chatting with them.  After the presenations I caught a ride back into town and did some shopping!  Let me tell you, this town has some great shopping!  Don't worry about the economy of Heidelberg this year, I took care of that!

The group walking along the main shopping street Thursday night.

Another cute square in the town!

As with most towns in Germany it felt totally safe.  Sadly I feel safer walking the streets of Heidelberg after dark by myself than going to the Walgreens by my house in Houston at 10 am on a Tuesday.  Even though there were lots of people out and about I decided to grab some food and head back to my hotel room pretty early to chill out of the night.

Up at the castle.

The next morning I couldn't believe it...another BEAUTIFUL fall day!!!!  After breakfast I decided to hike up to the castle.  I didn't know exactly where to go, but I could see the castle on the hill so I started walking that way up a TON of stairs.  After I got to the top and bought my entrance ticket they asked if I took the fenicular up (unfortunately, I didn't know that was an option, ooops!).  Castle was very cool!  Great views and lots of Japanese tourists to watch. 

After the castle I walked back into town and did some more walking and shopping around town.  I got things like Christmas decorations and beer steins as gifts, so that was fun.

Most gorgeous fall day ever!

more of the castle

On my cab ride back to the train station that afternoon I had a very interesting cab driver.  When he realized I was American he asked if I wanted to sit up front so we could chat.  I thought this was weird, but I decided it was fine.  He turned out to be a really nice man (he was old, don't worry!).  He was saying that he learned perfect English because growing up he lived in an apartment complex with all American Army families since his parents managed the complex that catered to Americans.  He was telling me about Heidelberg during the war and how people from Heidelberg don't like to admit it, but they are very proud that the U.S. Army chose their town for their headquarters.  So I thought that was interesting.  Of course I didn't tell him I was associated with the military, but when he asked where I was from I told him Texas and he got very excited and showed me how he was wearing American made cowboy boots.  Funny guy. 

Love the smell of chestnuts roasting!

I was actually in Heidelberg for a night when I did my EuroTrip after college graduation, but I was tired that day so it didn't stick out in my mind as such a great city!  This time was a totally different story!  Great town to walk around, cool castle, amazing shopping and restaurants, and several very friendly people.  I think I have a new favorite town in Germany!!!

Looking down at the city from the castle!

Sarah: "I've been keeping up with your blog? Have you?"

Ok, so I can take a hint.  I'm not so good at blogging.  Sorry, out trying to live life, not type about it, just kidding!  No after I'm done with this post I think the world will understand why I haven't been blogging!  In the last 16 days I've gone to Heidelberg for a work presentation, Garmisch for an optometry conference, Prague, and Barcelona...plus, I've worked some in there!  Anyway, everything is good I got 2 weeks left here. 

So I'm looking back through the blog and I realized I never talked about Oktoberfest, the Wine Fest/exploring Rhine River area, or Switzerland.  So I'll try to post some pics of those events as well in future blogs.  I think for the next two weeks we will just be staying locally since we have boards coming up and have already spent enough money!

The other interns are on a quarter system, so they left on Thursday morning.  It's weird being here now without them, things are very quiet.  As a going away festivity (for all of us) Major Eddis and another guy at the clinic arranged for us to have dinner in the old castle thing about 30 minutes away.  It was cool, about 20 people from the clinic came so we had a private room, it looked like a wine cellar with a fire place.  Good beer and German food on wooden plates, so it was a good night!

The 5 interns!

The office!  Minus Sgt Macomber.

After the dinner I went with out Red Cross volunteer, Danielle, to the base gym because a bunch of guys were coming home from a year long deployment to Afganistan and getting to see their families for the first time in a long time.   Since it was about 11pm the night before Veterans Day, I thought this was pretty cool.  Even though I didn't know anyone coming back it was neat to watch everyones reactions/emotions.  Yay for America!

The Parents Visit Schweinfurt!



Should you trust a hospital with this in front?



So my parents came to visit me (and to see some more Europe) the first 10 days in October.  I was excited to show them Schweinfurt and some of Bavaria.  After following my careful directions on taking the train they arrived in Schweinfurt on a Saturday afternoon.  I took Dad for a walk around Schweinfurt and he really seemed to like the town.  We then all went out to the Brauhaus for a traditional German dinner of Schnitzel, pommes frites, and bier (basically fried pork, french fries, and beer).  The next 24 hours became a little bit dramatic with mom taking a trip to the German hospital and having a little surgery...but no worries, everyone was fine and 24 hours later we were all sitting outside in the main square of Schweinfurt having a nice dinner together!

Main square in Schweinfut.  Brauhaus on back right.



Rathaus (town hall) in Bamberg.



On Monday I took them by the clinic, showed them around the post (including my hovel of a barracks room I currently call home).  We then took a 30 minutes train to Bamberg.  It was a gorgeous day and Bamberg is a really cute town!  With the drama of the weekend, I didn't have a chance to do much research in preparing for the Bamberg trip.  Luckily it is a really cute town so we were able to fill a half a day eating lunch and just exploring.  Mom was a trooper, though I think we wore her out a bit! 

That night, after getting back to Schweinfurt, Emily joined us and we tried out an Italian restaurant for dinner.  Also had delicious food!  The next day the parents left Schweinfurt and headed down to Munich/Salzburg.  I'll later blog on my next weekend with the parents when we went to Switzerland!

Dad and I in Bamberg on his birthday!

River in Bamberg

Parents exploring the rose garden in Bamberg

Old roof in Bamberg

Old church in Bamberg

Stockholm Weekend!

So because the French are lazy and it would be way to difficult to work 35 hour work weeks until age 62 they are striking, rioting, and running out of gas.  Which makes trains and all other public transportation impossible to predict.  Meaning we had to cancel our 3 day weekend trip to Paris!  Boooo!  I never liked the French anyway!  Maybe we should have let the Germans take over afterall, they probably would have been a much more productive society, just kidding!!!

Anyway, so I think I'm going to hang out in Schweinfurt this weekend and catch up on sleep and my ridiculously stupid/pointless project my preceptor doctor is making us do.  I've already done my Grand Rounds presentation, why do I have to do another one just so you can prove to the other Army doctors that your externs do work??  Seriously, it's pointless and not required by my school or any other externship sites by my school.  I'm not a fan!  Anyway, off the soap box....  (P.S. I don't care if he reads this, but we aren't friends, so he won't.).

So since I'm not galavanting around Europe I have some time to blog. 

I'm going to go backwards in time from my most recent trip.  So last weekend I went to Stockholm, Sweden to visit the 3 other UHCO girls who are doing their externship up there.  It was such a great weekend!

UHCO girls in Stockholm!!!

I flew in Friday evening, and Michelle and her boyfriend Phillip were nice enough to meet me at the airport and take me into the city.  We got all situated and headed out to a bar to meet Leigha, Carla, and Chad (all people I knew in Houston).  Fun night at the bar hanging out with some people from home! 

Michelle was nice enough to be my hostess/tour guide for the whole weekend!  Everyone was also really great with meeting up and hanging out with me too!!!


Big fish at the market!



We got up late Saturday morning and headed out to a local indoor market for what they told me were the best Swedish meatballs and lindenberry (maybe that's the wrong name) sauce!  It's one place that only makes them on Saturdays.  They were not lying!  That may have been the best lunch I've had in Europe!!! Delicious!  The market was also pretty cool, saw lots of freshley killed game and of course GIANT fresh fish!

Really cool market!  I always love a market!

It was a beautiful day...brisk (about 38-40 degrees)...but clear blue sky!  So we proceded to walk around the old town and around the water front.  Since Stockholm is something like 13 islands, there is a lot of water, and boats!  It was a great day for walking, so we did A LOT of it!  After a little coffee break (the Swedes like those), Michelle and I did a boat tour around the city.  This was a really cool way to see Stockholm, and I'm really greatful she did it with me!!!

Leigha and I outside the palace!

Michelle and I on the boat tour!

Sign with my name on it!!!

That night the whole group (Me, Michelle, Phillip, Leigha, Carla, and Chad) went out to dinner at a really good Italian restaurant!  Once again, had another wonderful meal in Stockholm!  I was not disappointed with the food at this place! 

The whole crew at dinner Saturday night!

After dinner we went to Phillip's apartment where he ordered ESPN so we could watch American football!  Michelle is from Nebraska, and since Nebraska was playing Texas, we had to watch it!  It was really great just to relax and be normal watching American football (even though it was at a German's apartment in Stockholm Sweden, it felt very American!).  If you notice I now refer to it as "American football", because here if you just say "football" they will of course think soccer, since that is everyone's obsession!

Vasa Ship

Michelle firing the canon!

On Sunday morning, Michelle, Phillip and I went to the Vasa Museum.  The Vasa was a big warship built in the 1600s which capsized and sank 20 minutes into it's maiden voyage in the waters around Stockholm.  It apparently was forgotten about until the 1960s when they found it again and pulled it up in 1 piece (engineering marvel!).  Since the Baltic sea has a lower salt content than other oceans and is cooler, the bugs that normally eat the wood don't live their, so the ship was amazingly preserved.  They built an entire museum around it, which was actually quite cool!  I wasn't sure how interesting it would be, but it really really was!!!



View from boat!





At Noon outside the market!  Noon!  Notice where the sun!



After the museum it was time for me to head back to the airport to catch my flight to Frankfurt to go home.  Stockholm was an amazing city!  Very clean and beautiful.  I mean, they're as socialist as they come, but for a weekend, it was a wonderful place to visit!!!  My friends, especially Michelle and Phillip, went above and beyond showing me around the city, and I know they are all what made it a great weekend!!!