Lisa
Moderator
- Location
- Alberta, Canada
I feel your pain, Emily. It’s the lack of colour that gets to me after awhile. Months of it. It was so nice to get away for a couple weeks and see some green and flowers. Back to the deep freeze now though...
The Labraventures of Carbón, Spanish (ex-) foster dog extraordinaire
- Thread starter Emily_Babbelhund
- Start date
- Location
- Andorra and Spain
I actually like the lack of colour; it's like living in a black and white film
Although we (normally) get lots and lots of bluebird days - Soldeu means "Sun God" in Catalan and we average 300 sunny days a year. There's nothing as blue as a clear sky in the mountains.
Emily_Babbelhund
Mama Red HOT Pepper
- Location
- Regensburg, Germany
Yes, that's the best description! It's amazing how all the color is just GONE. It IS very beautiful so maybe it is more the lack of sun than anything that is getting me down. And trees. I really don't like trees.I actually like the lack of colour; it's like living in a black and white film
I'm just whingey because normally I'd be in Spain this time of year and it would be spring already. Though last year we had 8 straight weeks of rain followed by nearly a month of levante (strong dusty wind from Africa) so spring in southern Spain comes with it's own challenges!
Hey, no Polar Vortex here and at least until Wednesday I've got a very nice apartment to hide out in, so I need to stuff my whinge. I think maybe all the various uncertainties (accommodation, visa status, work, taxes) and worry about Carbon is getting to me. Plus this time of year (Dec - Feb) is always a bit hard for me for whatever reason.
Anyway, the snow IS pretty, we have clear skies today and maybe the snow plows will get here before I have to hike down the hill to get to Carbon's vet appointment!
Emily_Babbelhund
Mama Red HOT Pepper
- Location
- Regensburg, Germany
Carbon and I moved again today. Sigh. Goodbye massive white sofa and equally massive tub in the snowy countryside and hello Regensburg's smallest (and most expensive) studio apartment in the modern 'chic' part of town.
It's very stylishly decorated but completely impractical. You can tell that whomever kitted it out has never stayed here a single night. Lovely @RosieC and her amazing host skills would be aghast: no functional table, dishes too high to reach, a washing machine but no drying rack, no areas for storage anywhere, out of date wifi password, one towel for my two week stay. I spent the first hour rearranging all the furniture and stringing extension cords (I travel with my own) everywhere. And the bathroom, though spotlessly clean like the rest of the place, inexplicably smells of rotten cabbage.
In what seems to be a good resume of the hipster beautiful uselessness, the salt and pepper grinders are battery powered and light up when you press the top button to grind. I held the salt grinder over my ready meal veggie lasagne dinner: the light came on, salt spewed out and then the battery fell into my meal. It was that kind of day.
Oh, but I actually forgot the best part - and by 'best' I mean that without irony. Because I was homeless and had to hang out in the car with Carbon for five hours between check out this morning and check in this afternoon, we hit up McDonald's again. Of course I HATE the place but Carbon lives for the fries and I love Carbon, so we must go.
The fries, however, were not the best part of the day. The McDonald's in Pentling (basically a truck stop outside of Regensburg) not only has a HUGE banner outside proclaiming it to be a "Dog Friendly Restaurant" but it HAS IT'S OWN DOG PARK. Just when I was ready to ring Germany's neck if it was a person, it goes and does something AWESOME (that 'awesome' is for you @Beanwood ) like a dog park at the McDonald's. Whoever thought that up...I salute you. As does Carbon. A place that combines delicious fries along with weeing where hundreds of other dogs have weed? That warms a Spanish gentleman dogs heart.
Hopefully I'll learn to appreciate the apartment's beauty over function style and at least be able to liberate my car from the parking garage tomorrow. Tonight we have severe black ice - what happens when it rains at -4C apparently - and the slope into the underground car park was a sheet of ice. I got in before it froze, but there was no going out again after nightfall. So we're hostage until late morning and then it's off to see what sort of neighbourhood we've landed in.
Everything's better as long as Owen Horse and Bunny are on board for a cuddle...
After 68 square meters last week, this is now our whole apartment (minus the kitchenette in the entry hall and the bathroom):
It's very stylishly decorated but completely impractical. You can tell that whomever kitted it out has never stayed here a single night. Lovely @RosieC and her amazing host skills would be aghast: no functional table, dishes too high to reach, a washing machine but no drying rack, no areas for storage anywhere, out of date wifi password, one towel for my two week stay. I spent the first hour rearranging all the furniture and stringing extension cords (I travel with my own) everywhere. And the bathroom, though spotlessly clean like the rest of the place, inexplicably smells of rotten cabbage.
In what seems to be a good resume of the hipster beautiful uselessness, the salt and pepper grinders are battery powered and light up when you press the top button to grind. I held the salt grinder over my ready meal veggie lasagne dinner: the light came on, salt spewed out and then the battery fell into my meal. It was that kind of day.
Oh, but I actually forgot the best part - and by 'best' I mean that without irony. Because I was homeless and had to hang out in the car with Carbon for five hours between check out this morning and check in this afternoon, we hit up McDonald's again. Of course I HATE the place but Carbon lives for the fries and I love Carbon, so we must go.
The fries, however, were not the best part of the day. The McDonald's in Pentling (basically a truck stop outside of Regensburg) not only has a HUGE banner outside proclaiming it to be a "Dog Friendly Restaurant" but it HAS IT'S OWN DOG PARK. Just when I was ready to ring Germany's neck if it was a person, it goes and does something AWESOME (that 'awesome' is for you @Beanwood ) like a dog park at the McDonald's. Whoever thought that up...I salute you. As does Carbon. A place that combines delicious fries along with weeing where hundreds of other dogs have weed? That warms a Spanish gentleman dogs heart.
Hopefully I'll learn to appreciate the apartment's beauty over function style and at least be able to liberate my car from the parking garage tomorrow. Tonight we have severe black ice - what happens when it rains at -4C apparently - and the slope into the underground car park was a sheet of ice. I got in before it froze, but there was no going out again after nightfall. So we're hostage until late morning and then it's off to see what sort of neighbourhood we've landed in.
Everything's better as long as Owen Horse and Bunny are on board for a cuddle...
After 68 square meters last week, this is now our whole apartment (minus the kitchenette in the entry hall and the bathroom):
- Location
- Malvern Worcestershire
That is just a bit wee to say the least 
However, Carbon looks very comfortable 
However, Carbon looks very comfortable - Location
- Buckinghamshire UK
Carbon is so well traveled he can sleep anywhere!
Emily_Babbelhund
Mama Red HOT Pepper
- Location
- Regensburg, Germany
However, Carbon looks very comfortable
The secret is lots of pillows and all his babies on the bed with him. Then he's good to go anywhere.
Well, not one of YOUR cats, that's for sure.
Awesomely awesome.That is AWESOME!
Emily_Babbelhund
Mama Red HOT Pepper
- Location
- Regensburg, Germany
I need to go back. Yesterday it was - like every other thing around here - covered with snow. It was funny, as I'd been to that McDonald's once before and hadn't noticed the huge 'dog friendly' and 'visit our dog park!' signs. I had noticed the dogs going into the restaurant, though.
Mmm...why do I have a hard time referring to McD's as a 'restaurant'? Just seems wrong somehow.
- Location
- Wellington, NZ
Well at least you've got good company in your microsuperimpractical studio! Are you there for long?
A Macca's with a dog park?! I'm in awe!
A Macca's with a dog park?! I'm in awe!
Definitely!Mmm...why do I have a hard time referring to McD's as a 'restaurant'? Just seems wrong somehow.
Emily_Babbelhund
Mama Red HOT Pepper
- Location
- Regensburg, Germany
We're here for 13 nights. I might see if I can't jump ship a bit sooner if I can find something else My brain is conforming to the space today better than yesterday, though. It's always an adjustment going from a large open space like my last rental and shifting perspective. It happens to me regularly when I come back to Germany (where I have a studio in the old town normally) from Spain (where I rent an entire house). I spend the first week all grumbly and then I get over it.
At least I've found a solution to the rotten cabbage smell in the bathroom. This morning I'm cooking Carbon's breakfast of broccoli, sweet potatoes, apples and fish... the smell of all that in such a small enclosed space has completely overpowered the nasty smell coming from the bathroom.
Emily_Babbelhund
Mama Red HOT Pepper
- Location
- Regensburg, Germany
He's a pro and did better with yesterday's move than I did. The current place is in a large modern apartment building that is a complete warren of doors and corridors. After the first trip up, he knows the way better than I do. After last night's icy walk, I wanted to go one way and he looked at me as if to say, "Um, are you SURE about that...because our place is in the opposite direction." My Mama Jodhi used to do that too, and I learned to trust her directional judgement. Maybe this is a new developing super power for Carbon: doggie sat nav.
Boogie
Moderator
- Location
- Manchester UK
Hurrah - you have a Guide Dog!
Emily_Babbelhund
Mama Red HOT Pepper
- Location
- Regensburg, Germany
It actually has a tiny little balcony and glass doors going out to it, so if it sunshines here the light should be good. If we get a bit of sun.
It's in the posh bit of Regensburg's new town, but as my entire life is pretty much in the old town, that means driving in as it would be a 30 minute walk just to the edge of the old town. Also just to go to the grocery, you really need a bus or car as the distances are too large. On the other hand, it is a short walk (10 mins or so) to a nice park along the river. Carbon is sure to love that.
As a long time inhabitant of the the old medieval town, I find the new town very...new. Soul-less and just too big. But for a week and a half, it will be interesting to see how the majority of Regensburgers actually live. Living in the old town is a bit like living in the centre of Disneyland...not quite an average experience for most.
If/when I get back into the medieval old town again, I will have gained a new appreciation for its convenience and charm. It will certainly help me put up with some of the downsides of my partially subterranean and nearly windowless little studio, which in retrospect I now think of as nirvana on earth.
Emily_Babbelhund
Mama Red HOT Pepper
- Location
- Regensburg, Germany
Hurrah - you have a Guide Dog!
