Road Trip with Shari-Take II

Day 80
Monday, March 21, 2011
At 0515 this morning I met Shari at the front gate so we could drive to Frankfurt for her Visa appointment to study in the united States. I am not a very good morning person but I wanted to be there for my friend as she began the next step in her life. The last thing that she needed before buying a one-way ticket to the states, was approval of her Visa. She was so nervous and I was so excited for her, I wanted her to get approved for her Visa as much as she wanted it.

After the two-hour road trip with very little traffic, we arrived at the U.S. Consulate building an hour early for her appointment. Shari parked the car, left me in it, and took all her paperwork with her. I fell asleep for about an hour while she was doing whatever she was doing inside. When she came out, I was barely awake but I could tell she wasn't in a bad mood...she had been approved for her Visa! I screamed, I was so excited for her.

Heidelberg

We left Frankfurt around 1000 and headed to Heidelberg to check out the enormous castle which was kind of on the way home. The castle has only been partially rebuilt since its demolition in the 17th and 18th centuries.

Heidelberg Castle

It is located 80 metres (260 ft) up the northern part of the Königstuhl hillside, and thereby dominates the view of the old downtown. It is served by an intermediate station on the Heidelberger Bergbahn funicular railway that runs from Heidelberg's Kornmarkt to the summit of the Königstuhl.

The earliest castle structure was built before AD 1214 and later expanded into 2 castles circa 1294; however, in 1537, a lightning-bolt destroyed the upper castle. The present structures had been expanded by 1650, before damage by later wars and fires. In 1764, another lightning-bolt destroyed some rebuilt sections.

Courtyard

I was back home by 1430 and I really wanted to take a nap but because I had to work the next morning I decided to stay awake, paint my nails, and head to bed early.





Time is painted with a lock before, and bald behind, signifying thereby that we must take time by the forelock; for, when it is once past, there is no recalling it.  ~Jonathan Swift