Nuremberg's Quality of Life

a lot of Christmas decors are also available for sale

variety of candies for sale during Christmas market (wrong cam date)

a store selling dolls during Christkindlesmarkt

Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady) in Nuremberg

view taken from the Kaiserburg (Imperial Castle)

Since I already started about Nuremberg, let me continue more about this city which I really love.

Nuremberg is international and yet at the same time a manageable size. Its 500,000 inhabitants and guests are offered all the advantages of a metropolis, such as the subway and the international airport, museums, the State Theater, sights of interest like the Imperial Castle- all the things that makes life pleasant. Yet, despite Nuremberg's size there are only short distances to travel. The costs of living is quite low compared to other cities, whereas the recreational value is high. In the Nuremberg European Metropolitan Region, with 2.5 million inhabitants, Nuremberg is the largest city and offers job in industry, trades, services as well as teaching and research. At the same time it is a feel-good place for locals as well as newcomers. Hiking, climbing or bicycle riding in the Franconian Switzerland are very relaxing pastimes.

This is also the area with the greatest density of breweries in the world. Wine connoisseurs will appreciate the popular Franconian wines in the main Franconia region. The Franconian lake lands offer recreation in and around the water. And the very traditional 1st FCN (Fan Club Nuernberg) soccer club makes sports enthusiasts from the entire region tremble with excitement. My husband is also an avid fan and member of the FCN.

That's the reason why I really love this beautiful and historical city of Germany.

Visit to Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt

I can finally share our escapades with my husband today in Nuremberg. Let me tell you first a brief history of this old city. Before the devastation wrought by the terrible air raids of 1945, Nuremberg or Nuernberg in German was Germany's greatest surviving medieval city. The destruction was not total. Sensitive rebuilding has respected the ancient street pattern, enabling the visitor to recapture the atmosphere of the city's heyday, in the 15th and 16th centuries, when it was the principal focus of Germany's politics, culture trade, science and technology.

Let me continue our sightseeing trip today to one of Germany's international city. Christkindlesmarkt means simply Christmas market. It is usually held during the last week of November till the 23rd of December. This is already my second time visiting the Chriskindlesmarkt. The first one was in 2005 but I was already a lot of times there and I really like this city. A lot of people were there from the different parts of the world and also from other places in Germany. What really amazed me are the very nice Christmas decorations in the different stalls their. Of course, I always eat this famous Nuernberger Bratwurst, a special kind of sausage.

Me and my husband visited for the first time the the Kaiserburg or Imperial castle. This castle is located in a small hill where you can see the whole view of the city. And of course, I always have with me my pocket camera to take some pictures. I was surprised because I have 344 photos taken up only for today's visit to Nuernberg. I really like it. I also bought some souvenirs like postcards which I always do everytime I am going anywhere. Today is a again a great day!!! Thanks to God!!!

Worth Sharing!!!

Sometimes you read something and it makes you stop and think...and then you want to share it with everyone you care about....

There was a blind girl who hated herself because she was blind. She hated everyone except her loving boyfriend. He was always there for her. She said that if she could only see the world, she would marry her boyfriend.

One day someone donated a pair of eyes to her and then she could see everything, including her boyfriend. Her boyfriend asked her, "now that you can see the world, will you marry me?". The girl was shocked when she saw that her boyfriend is blind too, and refused to marry him.

Her boyfriend walked away in tears, and later wrote a letter to her saying, "JUST TAKE CARE OF MY EYES PLEASE".

This is how human change when their status changes. Only few remember what life was before, and who has always been there in the most painful situations.

The Importance of Drinking Enough Water

Water is an important structural component of skin cartilage, tissues and organs. For human beings, every part of the body is dependent on water. Our body comprises about 75% water: the brain has 85%, blood is 90%, muscles are 75%, kidney is 82% and bones are 22% water. The functions of our glands and organs will eventually deteriorate if they are not nourished with good, clean water.

The average adult loses about 2.5 litres water daily through perspiration, breathing and elimination. Symptoms of the body's deterioration begins to appear when the body loses 5% of its total water volume. In a healthy adult, this is seen as fatigue and general discomfort, whereas for an infant, it can be dehydrating. In an elderly person, a 5% water loss causes the body chemistry to become abnormal, especially if the percentage of electrolytes is overbalanced with sodium.One can usually see symptoms of aging, such as wrinkles, lethargy and even disorientation. Continuous water loss over time will speed up aging as well as increase risks of diseases.

If your body is not sufficiently hydrated, the cells will draw water from your bloodstream, which will make your heart work harder. At the same time, the kidneys cannot purify blood effectively. When this happens, some of the kidney's workload is passed on to the liver and other organs, which may cause them to be severely stressed. Additionally, you may develop a number of minor health conditions such as constipation, dry and itchy skin, acne, nosebleeds, urinary tract infection, coughs, sneezing, sinus pressure, and headaches.

So, how much water is enough for you? The minimum amount of water you need depends on your body weight. A more accurate calculation, is to drink an ounce of water for every two pounds of body weight.

ToTaL BLaCk-Out

As me and my husband were drinking cappuccino this afternoon, the radio cassette and lights were off. He said, that it might be the main switch. I told him that the switch in our room's heater is not functioning right. This morning as I woke-up, our sleeping room was very cold because the electric heater is not working. We thought that the defective switch was the cause of the black-out. I told my husband to call the electric company but our telephone is also not working because there is no power.

I also heard the very loud voice of our neighbor which I guess talking to the phone. My husband went out to ask our neighbor and finally told me that probably the whole Hohenfels is of total black-out. I told my husband, "well for us, it is not a problem because we also have a wooden oven or a small fireplace". Besides that I also have a lot of candles which might last for some days.

If the power will not come back before night, I told my husband that it is pitiful for those who don't have a wooden heater. It is very cold now here in Bavaria. Sometimes the temperature in the night is going till negative degrees. I was even kidding my husband, that maybe we are already back to the "stone age".

This is my first "black-out" experience in our place here in Germany. It is still not so bad compared to the Philippines which last sometimes for some days. I can also say that black-out in the Philippines is not too bad because there is no winter time like here in Germany.

That was also very nice and romantic afternoon because I had some quite moments with my husband drinking cappuccino with candles lights. I was finally happy because after maybe 35 minutes, the power came back.

Important Information Regarding German Citizenship

As what I have said last Tuesday, I am now a German citizen. Yesterday, I processed my passport and regular processing usually takes 3-4 weeks. Beginning November 01, 2007, all Germans who want to apply for a passport will already be taken of their fingerprints and a biometrix photo. The new passport will already have a chip which contains all the owner's characteristics or data. This is especially needed when travelling or going out of the country. A special laser machine will scan the chip easily and will see all your data in it. The authorities said that this is for security and control purposes.

In Germany, you can apply for a German citizenship for varied reasons. Since I am married to a German, I have the right for a German citizenship. This is one of the reasons, by Marriage. Other reasons are; children born in Germany by non-German parents (by birth), by legitimation and simply for applying it.

In my case, I need to have 3 years residence in Germany before I can apply for it. One of the requirements is attending the German Integration course. I guess, I already mentioned this in my early blogs. In this course, one will learn the German language, German history and culture and some basic laws. After the course, you need to take two exams, one for German language and the other for Germany's history and culture. If you pass the exam, you will received then four certificates which is then needed for the application of German citizenship.

I am just really happy now, since I already have all the rights and privileges being a German citizen. One advantage is travelling anywhere without need for visa. Another reason is that, I already have a freedom of movement in EU especially maybe working in other EU countries without need of a working visa.

I am hoping that next year will be a better year for me and for all of us.

...to be continued...

ReLlY VeRy ToUcHiNg!!

A Full Glass Of Milk

Very nice story to spread to...

One day, a poor boy who was selling goods from door to door to pay,
for his hungry stomach, decided he would ask for a meal at the next
house.
On the way through school, he found he had only one thin dime left
and he was very hungry.
However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the
door. Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water.
The woman thought he looked hungry, so brought him a large glass of
milk.
He drank it slowly, and then asked, "How much do I owe you?" "You
don't owe me anything," she replied. "Mother has taught us, never to
accept pay for a kindness."
He said..."Then I thank you from my heart."
Year's later that young woman became critically ill.
The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big
city, where they called in specialists to study her rare disease.
Dr. Howard Kelly was called in for the consultation.
When he heard the name of the town she came from, a strange light
filled his eyes.
Immediately he rose and went down the hall of the hospital to her
room. Dressed in his doctor's gown he went in to see her. He
recognized her at once.
He went back to the consultation room determined to do his best to
save her life, from that day he gave special attention to the case.
After a long struggle, the battle was won. Dr. Kelly requested the
business office to pass the final bill to him
for approval.
He looked at it, then wrote something on the edge and the bill was
sent to her room.
The woman feared opening it, for she was sure it would take the
rest of her life to pay for it all.
Finally she looked, and something caught her attention on the side
of the bill. She read these words..."Paid in full with one glass of
milk."
Signed,
Dr.Howard Kelly.
Tears of joy flooded her eyes as her happy heart prayed: Thank You,
God, that Your love has spread abroad through human hearts and
hands."

A SIMPLE INSPIRATION.......
To fix a broken life, use the tools of the heart.