Sweet Salzburg

I completely forgot to write about our short trip to Salzburg, Austria.  First of all, we loved the city, the food, the people, the sights and the snow which rarely falls on Frankfurt.  Sounds blasphemous to speak of cold snowy weather as I look out on this gorgeous Spring day with temperatures near 70 degrees.  Seems even more wrong to brag about our glorious weather here when my poor family and friends back in Michigan are still under the chilly grip of old man winter.  I digress.....

Salzburg was our destination between Christmas and New Years Eve.  We wanted to be in our own place on Christmas, stay in our pajamas all day, eat comfort food and watch Hannah unwrap her gifts.  Starting our own traditions is so much fun.  We also didn't want to miss the New Years Eve fireworks in Frankfurt from our upper terrace - always a spectacular view like being in a snow globe of fireworks.

View of the Alps from the Hohensalzburg Fortress

We had an awesome room in Salzburg - one that gave us extra space and allowed for us to sit up after Hannah's bedtime instead of huddling in the dark and whispering.  The incredible view of the fortress had us second guessing how much we actually paid. We arrived on the last evening of the Weihnachtsmarkt, which was quaint and similar to the German markets.

Christmas Decorations in the Hohensalzburg Fortress 

Chapel in the Fortress

Yes, I kissed my love in the "Love Grotto" :)

Just into the Alps - in search of snow......

To take this little one sledding.....she hated it!

Stunning view after our sledding attempt - made the hour drive worthwhile

Oldest Restaurant in Europe - St. Peter's Stiftskeller 

View from the fortress towards the Alps

The fortress from across the Salzach River
Salzburg means Salt Castle

Salzach River

Bike Parking at the Augustiner Brewery
Gotta love it!

There was so much to see in Salzburg.  We only touched the tip of iceberg so to speak - as we didn't get to venture out of the city much, but when we did we were constantly saying to each other, "Oh, this would be great in the Spring." or "I want to come back!" maybe hopefully that is possible.

Home Sweet Home

I have been living in Frankfurt for two and half years now and still struggle to call it home.  After finally leaving my home town that I could not wait to flee as a teenager, I know that I want to go back.  Funny how life works.  For now I am enjoying life in Germany.  If I am really honest though- many times I find myself day dreaming about what I will do when we move back (SO many ideas), but then I pull myself back to the present, to the moment.

I was very lucky to go home for a visit this winter (YAY!).  I needed to see my family and friends and SNOW!  Yes, Michiganders I know you are sick of hearing about snow, seeing it, shoveling it, cursing it, driving in it - not mention the polar vortex.  But I was happy to see it.  Hannah was mesmerized.  And I have to teach my girl that she really is a Michigan girl at heart - sledding, snowball fights, snow angels, snowmen, all of it.  However, she was reluctant to be in it, but happy to watch it from the window; watch Papa plow, watch Mom shovel and see Nanny's car get covered with fluffy flakes.

Thank you for having us Michigan :)

Thank you Old Man Winter for allowing safe travels and on time flights.

Reading List

WOW!  It has certainly been awhile, just over three months to be exact.  Maybe that is because my nose has been in the books literally.  Whether for my own personal reading or reading to my daughter.  I am in two book clubs (and honestly I am a slow reader).  So here is what we've been reading;

The Yacoubian Building by Alaa Al Aswany
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruis Zafon   *Currently reading and can not put down.
The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas

I didn't realize they all began with "The" but I highly recommend every single book listed and certainly invite discussion about any book.

As for my daughter, just a few she loves;

The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler
Tabby McTat  by Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler
I Love You Stinky Face by Lisa McCourt 
On The Day You Were Born by Debra Frasier
Green Eggs & Ham by Dr. Seuss
Tomie dePaola's Nursery Rhymes 

The German Ravensburger search and find picture books are amazing and a household favorite.   

Our favorite places to find books in Frankfurt;

Oxfam Book Store
Oxfam Shop (small selection of books)
Tatzelwurm
Hugendubel *good selection of English and International books

There is also the British Book Shop that I've not had the opportunity to visit yet.

I'd love to hear what you are reading or any recommendations.  Thanks to goodreads.com my list of books to read is never ending.

Happy Reading!

North Sea

Time and tenacity have gotten away from me.  Past due on a post and most of all pictures.  It is always the pictures that hold me up!  I've been putting off going through the hundreds we snapped on a two week cruise on the Norwegian Cruise Lines Star around the North Sea that we took the end of September *hurts to admit how long I've been procrastinating*....

This was my first cruise experience and I must admit that I never really thought they were my cup of tea - turns out I was right - however, it was a great way to see some many places that I otherwise probably never would have had the opportunity because of travel logistics, money, time, etc.

The seas were great, the cruise staff very wonderful, the sights amazing and our toddler AWFUL!  For whatever reason Hannah did not eat or sleep well at all, which resulted in me feeling like a zombie.  Many of the young children on the ship were having similar issues.  She was a trooper when we really needed her to be and I am grateful for that much.

So we visited......
Bergen, Ålesund and Oslo Norway; Lerwick, Shetland Islands; Tórshavn, Faroe Islands; Reykjavík, Iceland; Helsingborg, Sweden; Copenhagen, Denmark.

Never in my life did I think that I'd ever get to see all these places.  I'd really like to return to Denmark and Norway.  All the ports were beautiful and interesting in their own regards.  

Bergen, Norway

Norwegian Wooden Scuplture

Top of the funicular

Bergen Fish Market

Alesund, Norway

Alesund, Norway (monstrosity of a ship to the left)

Canal, Alesund

Fisherman Statue, Alesund

Lerwick, Shetland Islands

Walk to the The Knab, Lerwick

The Knab, Lerwick

 

Torshavn, Faroe Islands

Torshavn Harbor

Leaving Torshavn 

Cliffs & Clouds

Final Cliffs leaving Faroe Islands

Reykjavik, Iceland

Gullfoss, Iceland

Viking Museum; Oslo, Norway

Sculpture outside Viking Museum

Geyser, Iceland

Volcanic Crater Lake, Iceland

Sculpture in Vigelandsparken Sculpture Park, Oslo

Oslo Harbor 

Helsingborg, Sweden

Copenhagen, Denmark

In Search of Water

As I've said before, one of the most difficult facts about living in Frankfurt is the lack of a big clean beautiful body of water specifically Lake Michigan.  So last week we found ourselves two weeks deprived of the lake, checking the weekend weather forecast and booking a hotel near the North Sea.

Finally we narrowed it down to Belgium or The Netherlands, but the reviews of places in the Netherlands won our interest. We finally decided on Vlissingen, Zeeland very near Belgium and not too long of a drive....4 1/2 hours for two nights and one full day by the water - some might think we are crazy, but the added feel of a time crunch to see as much as possible in Europe trumps staying home regardless of the weather.

There is something magical about being by water.  Fresh delicious fish and Belgian beer were other factors in determining our destination.  The friendliness of the Dutch that we've experienced in the past is always a welcomed change.  Everyone speaks English which makes a vacation that much more relaxing and after all that isn't that the point.

Hannah loved playing at the beach which provided endless entertainment if only the weather could have been a little better.  The afternoon was great.  Luckily, she didn't want to play in the water which seemed to have a thriving jellyfish population.

Vlissingen is lovely little seaport.  The people are friendly and we found a great little hotel.  We ate delicious food.  Walked all over the little town and along the beach.  Perfect little weekend getaway.


Thanks for reading :)
Be Well!

Home and Back Again

Nearly two weeks have past since my feet last touched the shores of Lake Michigan and the gypsy life has been rolled up stowed away for another year.  Six weeks of vacation back home has me filled up with all that I miss so much; family, friends, the lake, Mexican food and the confidence that comes with being in your comfort zone of all that is familiar.

After weeks of traveling back and forth between South Haven and Traverse City, visiting with as many loved ones as possible, a wedding, a 60th birthday celebration for my awesome Dad, canoe trip, two great concerts and generally eating too much our life is throttled back to a slower gear here in Frankfurt.  We've returned to a predictable routine anyway - sprinkled with what are starting to become regular tantrums - Hello Toddlerhood!

As hard as it is to say good-bye (and only continues to get more difficult as Hannah grows) it is nice to return once again to our own space.  Living out of a suitcase can be a drag.  Our scenario has its ups and downs, but I must admit that watching my baby point to the phone and say "More!" after talking to my parents or pointing to the computer after Skyping with Nana & Bumpa and saying "Bumpa, more" is a bit heartbreaking.  At least she is learning and talking!

Life is back to park and playground hopping, bike rides, playgroups, trip planning and watching Hannah discover her world.  Her latest "new thing" is mocking us as we walk up six flights of stairs carrying her, as we start breathing heavy she starts blowing air out imitating her out of breath parents - I guess if we can't laugh at that we are really in for it, eh!  She also wants to go up and down the stairs by herself....  Generally, we don't have to be anywhere at a certain time which is good because 84 stairs for 17 month old can be time consuming.  Not to mention every landing has something new to marvel at even on the third pass of the day.

Lilly pad pond at the Palmengarten

The parks are awesome here in Germany.  I hope to go around and take pictures of all and post them.  We have tons of options as far as playgrounds and parks go.

There are also several Floh Markts (flea markets) coming up soon.  My two favorites are the KinderKram in Günthersburg Park on August 24 from 10am-4pm and the Mother's Corner Bazaar September 14 from 11am-1pm at the Bürgerhaus Kirdorf, Stedter Weg 40, 61350 Bad Homburg-Kirdorf.  

We look forward to visitors and trips and all that this next year holds for us.  Still greatly enjoying the adventures of being an expat in Europe and life as parents navigating toddlerhood.  

     

Lake Constance - The Bodensee

Recently, over a long weekend we decided to travel to Lake Constance, on the Germany Switzerland border called the Bodensee or inland sea.  The pictures that we had seen beforehand had us eager to visit.  We wanted to travel somewhere with nicer weather as the Spring has been dreadful in Frankfurt, but for a long weekend being in the car for more than four hours seemed too much so we gambled on Lake Constance.

Hannah started walking the day before so she was less than keen on being contained in the car, but we made it there with relatively little protest.  Of course, I feel like I am always packing up all of our belongings to go anywhere with "Mom's bag of tricks" which consists of anything that might hold her attention for a few moments.  Bubbles are magic and I learned that from my dear mother-in-law who seems to always have a small bottle of wedding bubbles no matter where she is in the world....Clever!

Sweet hair!

I must interject a bit of praise to the Europeans and their commitment to alternative energy sources.  Germany has more solar panels than I imagined for such a grey landscape, but they are everywhere.  I applaud the efforts and wish Americans would get on board.

Solar barns, houses, and buildings.  

And then there is my favorite Springtime panorama....Mustard fields!  The picture (from a moving car with my phone) does not do justice.  The field are all over and the most incredible color of bright yellow.  As much as I wanted to stop to get a picture, we didn't.  Hopefully next Spring.
 

Mustard Fields

After about four hours of travel we arrived in Friedrichshafen on Lake Constance.  The sun was shining, the cafes on the promenade were filling up, the beer was tasty and the views spectacular.  A whole afternoon could easily be passed people watching and enjoying the local culinary and brewery flavors that is if you don't have a restless toddler eager to move in every direction.

Water, boats and mountains.

On Sunday morning it rained, but we went down to see sailboat races in Langenargen.  Then we headed to the Zeppelin Museum in Friedrichshafen which was the same plan as everyone in the town it seemed.  After lunch the sun began to shine and we walked all over the little town and along the lake to the Duke's estate.

Water, boats and mountains....Life doesn't get much better than that and we could have stayed there a long time.

Tasty Zeppelin Beer

View from the Viewpoint Tower

Lake Constance 

The Duke's Palace - at least what can be seen through the gate

Sailboat & Rainbow