Saturday- A day for Exploring and Explanation

 Lessons to Be Learned
So, since today is Saturday and there is no school I am going to catch you up on a few things that I have found fascinating.  Sure, as you know I am fascinated by just about anything, but maybe you will agree.  ​

Market Day
Yeah, so there is nothing new really here to tell you other than... HOLY COW look at this!  Is this not the most beautiful open air market you have seen?  The size of two futbol fields (remember I am in Germany) filled with local produce, flowers, cheese and breads. I have to say I had to borrow a photo from flickr for the bread because I was too busy drooling over the smell.  Seriously, this was so amazing.  For someone like me the colors, textures and senses were completely at a palpable level.
Photo credit for the break-www.flickr.com/photos/smashz/2862639315/in/pool-71735763@N00

Fahrradstraße
Roughly translated a fahrradstraße is a bike street or bicycle road where bikes are given the right of way.  Rather than jus a  bicycle lane a full street is intended for cycling.  While cars may drive down these streets, it is discouraged. It increases the attractiveness of cycling and create advantages over driving cars.  It also makes it safer for people like me-Super SLOW and cautious.  Also, would you just look at this bike, isn't is totes adorbs?  They really love their bikes here.

 Children and Bikes 
Outside of the in-house kinders, I have seen these bikes without peddles and was curious. It is called a laufrad which is a toddler's balance bike.  Lauf means run and fahrrad is bike so loosely translated it is a "running bike." The child sits on the seat and kick his/her feet like a scooter or like they are running.  I have seen this in action and basically it looks like the road runner cartoons.  It is just a blur of legs moving as the child flies by on the bike.

Also, most children ride their bikes to school if it is not far into the woods.  The bike racks are completely filled. It is also a great honor when a child moves from the laufrad to a peddle bike.  Pretty darn cool if you ask me.

Remnants of WWII
Yikes!- As you can imagine, there are bits and pieces of World War II everywhere.  That is literally correct.  As it was explained to me, Landau was one of the main routes for trains from France, so to stop the connection many bombs were dropped in this area.  Some exploded and damaged or destroyed property, but other bombs did not go off. To this day they cannot dig a foundation without concern that an undetonated bomb would be found.  If one is found the area for one kilometer has to be evacuated so the bomb experts can come in to defuse it.  Yep, that is not a job I would want. Anyway, because of this issue, people prefer not to dig a cellar and build their foundation on a slab.

Former French Military Barracks 
After the war the Allies built barracks for the military. Many of the French barracks remain today but have been long abandoned.  They have a master plan in Laudau to turn this into a sustainable neighborhood.  They have the roads in place and the green space planned.  The old barracks are being renovated into apartments.  Unfortunately, during the construction, several bombs were found and has delayed the project. Below you can see the old buildings and the new construction.

The Facilities
I must answer a question that many people have been asking me, "Where do the kids go to the bathroom at the Forest Schools?"  Hmmm good question.  I'll give you three guesses, and I have provided three hints below.  Yep, that is right, in the woods.  To keep it on a kindergarten level,  number 1 is done in any discreet bush nearby.  Yes, boys and girls, whatever, when you got to go you got to go.  If it is number two, the teacher assists with digging a hole and burying it far away from a play area or a space where guests of the park may come across their "treasure."  Just think of it as fertilizing the woods.

I think I will leave it right here.  I've given you enough information for one day.
Tschüs!!!
BTW- That's the cool way to say good-bye in German.