Back to Reality

Our summer holiday back to the mitten - Michigan - was lovely.  Feeling really blessed to have spent so much time with the ones we love and doing what we love.  I will remember forever the smell of home when I went running early in the morning, the air so fresh clean almost intoxicating and there is nothing like that in Frankfurt.  Maybe our camping trip this weekend will reveal some fresh crisp air.

In homage to the state I love and to our pilgrimage home here are some pictures.....

Waking up to a sunrise on Long Lake (Traverse City, Michigan) is my pure bliss.  There is no greater serenity than sitting down with a steaming cup of coffee on the porch to journal with the cool morning air inviting the day.  While we were home I received a sticker with a picture of Michigan and the words, "Wherever I Roam Michigan is Home" no words can ring more true for me.  And as far as inland lakes go....Long Lake rocks!  The air, water, purity and peace are all addicting.  The boating, kayaking, swimming and paddle boarding are excellent and some of our favorite past times.

We were lucky enough to be home for over a month.  In that time, we celebrated the 4th of July, my Dad's birthday, Hannah met almost all of her family for the first time - missing some great aunts & uncles and one grandparent who we will see in February, took part in an awesome wedding for some of our dearest friends, saw Dave Matthews Band at Pine Knob near Detroit, drove all over Michigan, and Travis did the Chicago to Mackinac Race (and worked too).  Needless to say we crammed in as much as possible and had a great time.  Michigan started to feel like home again - it was great to see our family and friends.  Time flew by especially the last couple weeks.
                                                   

The fireworks on Long Lake were awesome this year.  We were lucky enough to be sitting out on the boat watching them - nearly right under them.  The Gray family dog, Opus, has now decided he doesn't really like those loud and bright things so much anymore.  Hannah on the other hand slept through the whole display.  And yes that is a picture of us with her bundled in the carrier passed out and me wearing a big grin because life doesn't get much better than that moment.  Still can't believe she slept through the fireworks.


It is safe to say that Hannah impressed me (us) quite a bit on this trip home.  She was a champ on the 8 hour flight to Chicago, she didn't poo for 15 days, she cut two teeth (!!!) while we were home, went swimming several times and she grew longer and stronger.  Hannah was a complete peach with meeting new people all the time, driving around in a car way more than she was use to and being held by new adoring folks very frequently.  I'm not bragging (maybe a little), but she was awesome.  She even started taking naps, real substantial naps not just 15 minute rests.  She must love Michigan and all it contains as much as her parents!

One more thing to love about Michigan -wildflowers!  Sweat peas, daisies, bee balm, day lilies, clovers, orange butterfly flowers, and the list goes on.  And of course there are the Farmers Markets, blueberries, peaches, cherries, and so much fresh local produce.  It is a great feeling - sometimes overwhelming- when walking around, going to the grocery or out to eat and you see dozens of people you know greeting you with a smile or a hug....much different than life here in Frankfurt.  Something I miss, but appreciate even more when we are home.

Finally, I end this entry with the sunset - seems appropriate.  There is no vista more breath taking than a Lake Michigan sunset.  This picture was taken on the South Beach in South Haven, Michigan.

Bamburg Trip Pictures

Our little travel buddy, Hannah, waiting patiently

Beer taste test.  Hell, Keller, Hefeweizen, Smoke 

1000 year old cathedral

Ambrausianum brewery 

One of the channels running through the city

Igor Mitoraj's bronze sculpture "Centurione I" depicting the Greek god Eros

Hannah & I trying to stay dry in Bamburg

Nugget's Nest Complete

I've taken procrastination to a whole new level....Finally, I finished the mobile for Nugget's room.

The paper mâché creation was a drawn out process that I most likely could have completed in a couple weeks - however I took the path of a couple months instead - perfection takes time.  We hung the creation last night, only days before we are expecting our little bundle of joy.  I really enjoyed making the mobile and am now conjuring up new ideas, new creations, new reasons for making phenomenal messes!

Snow!

Just as the days are growing longer and the birds can be heard chirping into the evening....Snow falls on Frankfurt!  I awoke this morning to a light dusting - not meant to last - instantly the child within me was awakened.  Coming from Michigan and loving the winter the last couple months have required a quiet acceptance of my new environment.  Although the sun seems to shine a bit more here in the winter - the lack of snow has been slightly disappointing - until this morning.

So of course, I had to play with my new camera and capture this magical morning....

Balcony window boxes - over looking church

Snow!!!

Little green remnants of summer 

Neighborhood dusted in white

The parked snow dusted & quiet in the morning 

Quiet morning

Picture Perfect

Santa was reading my mind this year....A Canon Rebel DSLR!  In our travels around we've taken hundreds of pictures and many times found ourselves wishing we had a better camera to get the desired shots of the great architecture, views, and experiences - well Santa must have heard our wish!

Although I have much to learn about my new camera, I am looking forward to capturing moments and better photographs.  Hope to post pics from the new camera soon - until then, here are some of my favorite shots so far.....

Flooded moat - Strasbourg, France

Moat at sunset around Strasbourg, France

Overlooking village & vineyard - Durbach, Germany

Vineyard overlooking village - Durbach, Germany

Pedestrian street, shops, architecture - Antwerp

Saturday Market and the largest capers I've ever seen - Antwerp

Het Steen, medieval fortress & castle - Antwerp

Puppets & Marionettes everywhere - Prague

Foggy Prague & sweet red berries

View of Prague from outside the castle 

Graffiti wall mostly dedicated to John Lennon - Prague

Gratitudes

Finally some rain arrived this weekend after the driest November in Germany....thank goodness!  However, the Michigander in me is anxious for the snow.  Soon enough hopefully.  Everyone has said that last year was really cold and snowy, but I imagine it's nothing compared to southwest Michigan.

I'm feeling rather grateful and even though I could list my gratitude's here - I will spare you...at least a little....

Last night we were listening to music - String Cheese Incident - and our little love "Nugget" was bouncing around and jamming to the music.  We sat and watched my baby bump moving - what an extraordinary feeling - I will never forget that moment.  I am grateful for a healthy pregnancy.

Another gratitude I must share is for sunsets.  It may sound strange as Lake Michigan is one of the best places to catch a sunset, but in the evening the sky here in Frankfurt can be brilliantly colorful especially with all the contrails.  So Frankfurt sunsets are not on the same breathtaking level as back home, but they are beautiful in there own way and I am grateful for catching a glimpse each night.

 Sunset from our balcony.

Today I am grateful to have found so many gently used and much needed baby items to buy from others through Mother's Corner an extension of the American Women's Club and through the web forum Toy Town Germany a great resource to us for all things an expat living in Germany might need. 

A final gratitude....I'm grateful you took a moment to read my blog.  I hope that we can all find a few things to be grateful for each day.  Enjoy!

   

Prague

Prague is beautiful, old, and enchanting - a city built on seven hills.  My amateur pictures do not do justice.  This photo is from the top of one of the hills overlooking the city on a rather foggy and freezing cold day.

The group trip through the American Women's Club of the Taunus was a great experience.  First of all, we met   people that we might not have otherwise and we all had a wonderful time together "running" around seeing as much as possible.  Secondly, we didn't have to plan anything, which was a freeing experience because we didn't have to think about any details just show up to the airport with a suitcase.  This was the first trip that we did through the AWCT, but definitely not the last as we had a great time.

After walking all over the city for three days, I felt the definite urge to watch Mission Impossible again as many  scenes were shot there and I couldn't remember that far back.  There is so much history and so much to see and with a guided tour you learn so much.  The architecture is grand and diverse with buildings from the Gothic, Baroque, Renaissance periods and so on.  Once you drive outside the main city center you can see the imprint the communism left on the city with the large, spartan, and window deficient apartment buildings.

We walked non-stop for two and half days touring the city - seeing so much that I had to look through all my pictures once home to fully absorb it all again.  My eyes were definitely stimulated taking in all that there was to see.  The St. Charles Bridge was one of my favorite places.  From this vantage point you can so much of the city on each side of the river and the bridge is decorated with statues on each side depicting different saints.

The food was delicious and the sip of Pilsner Urquell that I had was refreshing - it seems best to drink a beer in it's home country.  With the cold temperatures most restaurants and cafes were serving Gluhwein (hot spiced red wine) at little tables set up at the entrances - based on the honor system.

This past weekend was also the opening of the Christmas market in the old city center, which also meant tons of people.  We were told to be cautious of pick pockets and it was crowded.  The market was quaint and festive, but mostly full of tacky items with no artistic or even homemade quality - more mass produced stuff than anything.  The back drop of the old town square was very picturesque and the atmosphere was certainly spirited.

Two intriguing facts: 1) The Czech Republic is a member of the European Union, but not on the Euro currency, but almost everywhere we went accepted Euros (not the best exchange rate, but still convenient) and 2) Almost everyone spoke English and it was super easy to get around - surprisingly it seemed easier to get around using English than it does in Frankfurt.

A great experience and I'd go again!

Antwerp In A Weekend

Living in Europe there are so many places to visit that are only a few hours away by car or train.  Finally, as our unofficial trip planner, I just had to pick a destination and plan a weekend trip.  So Antwerp it was this past weekend....

Friday afternoon we threw our bags in the car and we were off - hoping that traffic would not be too brutal.  Four hours later we arrived in Antwerp.  For the day and a half that we were there my eyes felt like they were at an all you can eat buffet...I'm surprised that I didn't trip in fall considering my gaze was constantly focused on the buildings and architecture that we wandered past.

The architecture is amazing and the city feels older than Frankfurt, but I assume this is because Antwerp was not nearly as heavily bombed during the war.  I'm not sure about the historical facts.   The Barbo Fountain above sat in the middle of the Old City plaza, which seemed to be teeming with people at all hours of the day.  One of the most spectacular buildings in this plaza is the Our Lady's Cathedral http://www.dekathedraal.be/en/index.htm.  The Gothic cathedral is open to visitors for 5 euros and I could not resist, especially considering the Peter Paul Rubens special exhibition going on inside as well.  Not only was I walking through a incredible and giant cathedral, but it also felt like a art museum and cemetery as well. There are frescoes all over the walls and ceilings, there are antique robes, statues, and amazing wood work, as well as hundreds of paintings as part of the permanent collection and then the Rubens paintings on loan.  The floor is a checker-board of old graves, which was interesting as they were everywhere and impossible not to step on - so not exactly like a cemetery.

We did not have enough time to see everything on our short list, but we were able to walk over to the Steen Castle and - my favorite building that I saw - the Central Train Antwerp Train Station.  Yes, the train station.  We saw it from far away one night walking back to the hotel and it looked wonderful all lit up.  So Sunday morning we walked from our hotel to the station and it was breathtaking.  When I walked in the doors, I felt as though I was taken back in time.  I do not have the words to describe this space accurately or how it made me feel, but it is amazingly grand.  No trip to Antwerp is complete without seeing the Central Station - in my opinion.

The food was delicious - especially at Appelmans and at Dock's Cafe and I'd highly recommend either restaurant.  Dock's Cafe was a bit more fancy & expensive than I anticipated, but worth it, plus the atmosphere and decor are interesting.
http://www.brasserieappelmans.be/index2.html
http://www.docks.be/

So my first attempt at trip planner/tour guide turned out well.  We found delicious beer - yes, Non-Alcohol for me - and several flavors and varieties for my husband.  Of course, I also found the delectable world famous Belgian chocolate - a bag of which I am still nursing!  I never had the chance to enjoy Belgian waffles so I guess this means we have three years to make it back to Belgium, maybe Brussels or Bruge next time...

Street Markets Everywhere

Street Markets...one of my favorite things about Germany so far.  There is always a market going on somewhere, except Sundays.  The markets are social gathering places that include venodrs selling wine, hard apple cider (Rauscher), and a Hessen favorite - Apfel Wien (apple wine), which is usually mixed with mineral water or orange Fanta and is quite refreshing in the warmer summer.  Then there are the vendors selling various wurst, currywurst, Frankfurters, and Pommes (french fries).

Pommes mit ketchup & Currywurst mit brot

(French Fries with ketchup & Currywurst with bread)

Yesterday's snack at the Bergerstrasse Market, pommes for me & wurst for my husband.  It's wonderful to see so many people out, shopping for fresh produce, fresh meats, natural honey, olives, teas, candies, bread, homemade egg noodles, etc - not typical in many American cities, although it is growing.  

I must mention that the Saturday markets are packed with people shopping for the weekend because everything, except restaurants are closed on Sundays.  So people are out stocking up for the weekend.  At first it took some getting use too - shopping every few days and stores being closed on Sundays, but I really enjoy both differences now.  Sundays are a true day of rest here...loud noise is not allowed (so no cutting grass, recycling glass, or loud music) and it is a day to be spent with family & friends.  Many Germans go on a family walk on Sundays - more on that later.  I love Sundays!

My friend Amanda was so right...I love the markets!  There is one market two blocks from our flat on Wednesdays and people stay in the park drinking wine, talking with friends, and shopping until almost eight o'clock in the evening.  A great way to spend the evening - unfortunately that wine is out the question for me right now!

More market pictures later this week...