Final Adventures of the Blue Jean Muses

       Super-cool Darmstadt Mosaic

      It's been a long time since we've written, I know, and I apologize.  By the end of our trip, internet was rare, and time was even more rare.  Now however, I would like to officially update everyone on the rest of our trip. 



Moments after the man imitated a chameleon catchng a fly

     We left Marburg bright and early, and took a train to Darmstadt, where our cousin Irene lives.  Ready to crash, we hugged Irene, loaded the car, and listened as Irene told us of all the places she wanted us to see, and as soon as we had put our luggage in Irene's appartment, set off for a nice walk through Darmstadt.  In World War II this city was completely destroyed by bombs which means that for a European city it is very new looking.  Irene took us to some stores that sold Gluten free products, but we didn't buy much (actually, we didn't buy anything but Dark Chocolate, Haribo, and Gluten/Lactose-free Nutella stuff!), and also to a couple of shops to look for gifts for Isabella's family (and one awesome Soccer calender for Isabella).  We also stopped in a lovely garden which use to be part of a palace, but now is just a beautiful place with an extensive book exchanging room.  Having finally achieved this, we headed home so that Irene could go to work, and we could crash without our super energetic/fit cousin knowing that we were ready to drop!  On our way back through town, we had a funny incident where the three of us went into a department store to try and find a restroom, only to become incredibly confused.  The sign said that the restrooms were on the second floor, but when we arrived on the second floor, there were no restrooms!  So we tried the next floor, but no sucess.  After wandering about for quite a while, going up and down the department store, we eventually asked for assistance and we were politely informed that each floor had a half floor, so when we thought we were on the second floor, we were really on the 1 1/2 floor! 
 

         Keeping our eyes open just long enough for Irene to head off to work, we took turns crashing on the sofa while Isabella began the long process of packing everything back up, while we "traded" space in her bags (giving her some of our gifts and Nutella, along with the unnecessary clothing, chocolate, and paintings to deliver) while we took most of her leftover bars.  While Isabella was occupied, and after we took some long naps, I fried up some fallalfels that Irene had bought for us (and we won't talk about how I also fried Irene's spatula accidentally).  

       When Irene returned, we all went out on a walk through Darmstadt, going from the center of town (where Isabella almost got hit by the mayor on his bicycle), to a small Russian Orthodox Chapel (the only one built on Russian soil--yes, they trucked it in--outside of Russia), and then way out towards the former Duke of Hesse's massive gardens, where we all tried to balance on the low metal railing, visited the graves of the Duke's deceased family (most of them died in a plane crash), and wandered about the rose garden.  Then Irene took us too a farm which is also a resteraunt, and quite the hotspot in the summer, before we walked home in the dark. 

       The next day, July 31st, was Isabella's very last day in  Germany.  Schade.  After a beautiful breakfast on Irene's incredibly small porch, we hopped in the car, and began the trek to Frankfurt.  Once at the airport Isabella checked in and reserved her seat,  and then we stopped at some shops in a last attempt to find some Haribo Frosche (Haribo Frogs) for Isabella to take home.  Thankfully we found some, and after stuffing them in a bag, we made our way to Isabella's gate, where, unable to go in, we said our goodbyes and gave Isabella, whom we had managed to suck into the Harry Potter series, the second Harry Potter for the ride home, while she gave us the most clever and amusing thank-you card I have ever read. 

        From there, Johanna and I went with Irene to a Hessian village, which is actually a village which is made up of old houses, which are collected, and moved into this village.  It is quite extensive and very fasinating as there are employies there who will happily answer any questions you have about their work, or anything else involving the old village. Not only that, but there are gardens, animals and workshops too!  After walking about quite a bit, making friends with a donkey, and watching a man in a motorcycle helmet stalking an errant chicken, we returned home, made pasta and an amazing veggitable stir fry, talked, and then Irene and I raced to the Eis (Ice cream) shop (I won!), got our Eis, and enjoyed the cool night air. 
           The next day, with the Fellowship of the Blue Jean Muses disbanded, Johanna and I headed on to the Netherlands for the final leg of our "solo" (sans-choir) trip.  More on that in the next post.

Sincerely,
Isabella, Johanna, and Anneliese