Love, Love, Love

Halloween 2021

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. Pretty good, huh? I just made that up. 😊

In this installment of the blog,  I'm going to focus on how much I have to be grateful for during these troubling and turbulent times. And it turns out there's a lot! It's still somewhat of a travel story, because the chronology follows places we've been and people we've visited. Though we haven't been anywhere new (it's still Coronazeit big time in Germany), it's been good!

Waiting to get out on the road 

In November 2021 I made my way to Florida, making sure to include a trip to the mid-Atlantic to finally meet my new cousin Ione, who was already two and a half years old! Though Matthias didn't join me until later on in Florida, I didn't travel alone. My new friend Adabar the ostrich joined me on our way to his new home in America. Along the way we sent pictures and updates to Ione so she'd be expecting us. 

Adabar and me at the train station in Leipzig

We spent the night in Frankfurt before flying to the USA

At the Frankfurt Airport

Arriving in America, we were treated to an airport pickup by Jennifer and Brenda, who hosted us for two nights at their their fabulous condo overlooking DC and the Potomac. After a fabulous meal of Korean chicken wings and a few cocktails, I managed to stay up nearly the whole night chatting with Jen. The next day, Brenda took me on an amazing walking tour consisting of a loop from Rosslyn through Arlington Cemetery, the Lincoln Memorial, Kennedy Center and Georgetown for drinks and food! It was a DELIGHTFUL visit!

First night in DC!

On the grand walking tour!

The next morning, I took the train to Maryland where Josh and Elisha picked up me up on their way to U of Maryland. I sat in on a class Josh' was taking (not teaching) while Elisha stayed in Josh's office to get some work done. Then on to Laurene's house where I finally got to meet Ione, and also see Laurene and mom, who flew up from Florida a few days before. We hung out and played, sang and read for three days - so much fun! Then mom and I flew down to Florida together.

Ione and me, together at last!

Ione, meet Adabar

Gals behaving badly!

Reading before bedtime

A few days after we arrived in Florida we were in for another treat: a visit from Stu and Sue!  I kind of messed up the scheduling forgetting that I invited them both at the same time and not considering that my mother was having work done on her bathroom, but it all worked out beautifully (hope they think so, too!) Stu arrived first from NYC so we had a day to catch up, go to the gym and pool, and go out for a nice dinner before Sue arrived the next morning from California. It was a great time dining out, playing Rummykub, visiting the beach and just hanging out together. On Sue's last day we went to the theater and to check out the grounds of the Sarasota Bay Club, where mom is on the waiting list for a high-rise apartment! It was a wonderful visit and mom and I were pooped when everyone left.  But the visiting wasn't over yet. The next week we got to spend time with Jane, Marvin and cousin Larry, who I hadn't seen in years. I finally got to meet Larry's daughter Addie as well as her fiancé Matt. It was great to catch up!

Hanging out with Stu and Sue!

Dinner with family (or the last supper?)

After a couple more weeks in Florida, I was off to NY to meet Matthias. Of course, I left Florida a day early so I'd be able to meet him as his fight came in, but also (really) so I could have a chance for an overnight visit with Barb in New Jersey. We had a blast reminiscing over old times, eating Jersey pizza and (if that wasn't enough) a trip to a real Jersey diner for breakfast!! And I made it back to Newark in plenty of time to meet Matthias and make our way to Stu's apartment for a couple of days (Stu and Lorenzo were away in Brazil.)  Unfortunately, we didn't have time to meet up with old friends (actually a bargain I made with Matthias to entice him to come) but we did walk, walk, walk around, visit some old haunts and treat ourselves to the best bagels and Chinese noodles around!  And we had a special night with family at a restaurant in Harlem near Andrew and Chavi's place. It was fantastic!

COVID be damned! Enjoying beer at Molly's Pub

Dinner with the family in NYC!

Drinks and snacks with Andrew and Chavi

One of the many bowls of noodles we enjoyed in NYC!

But wait, there's more! We got to meet up with Jennifer and Brenda at Newark Airport as they had a departing flight to Brazil (where they would later meet up with Stu and Lorenzo) on the same evening - and airline - as our flight to Florida. As if airports weren't fun enough! I actually mean that - I love airports!

Hanging out at the United "Club"

In Florida, Matthias and I visited some of our old haunts in Downtown Sarasota and ate lots of steak, wings and also quite a few poke bowls. Had low key Christmas and New Years and then a lovely birthday. Mom took us out for a wonderful dinner and Matthias surprised me by repairing my engagement ring and giving it to me at the restaurant! A few more days and then we were on our way back to cold, damp and dark Germany for the rest of the winter. But thanks to technology, I was able to keep in touch with friends by phone and video chat!

Had to post this picture of us a day before my 55th birthday
to show off my old-lady neck!

We didn't just eat meat in Florida -
Matthias made quite a dent in this mountain of Broccoli!

Hanging out at O'Leary's

Modeling my ring - then and now!

Back in Germany, hanging out with dear friends from Portland!

Soon we had a another bright spot to look forward to. Somehow I managed to convince Jen and Brenda to take a trip across the pond to Germany to celebrate Jen's birthday. Actually, the Ravensburger (of puzzle fame) town and museum did most of the convincing. They had to jump through a few hoops at first to get scannable vaccine passes that would allow them to jump through further loops to get into restaurants and museums and the like, but they got it worked out. We met in Stuttgart (after Matthias and I experienced a two-hour train delay!) made a very quick visit to the pig museum there (!) and then drove up to Lindau on Lake Constance. We spent a few days there enjoying the scenery, the spa hotel, good food and great conversation. Oh, and of course made a side trip to the Ravensburg Museum, which did not disappoint! Then we drove to Füssen to see Castle Neuschwanstein, mainly because I was under the (mistaken) impression that it was on Brenda's must-see list, but as it turned out was something none of us were particularly interested in seeing. But see it we did, on an eerily dark, damp and windy day. Actually, it was a Sahara storm, with winds carrying sand from the Sahara all the way to Germany (and blowing Matthias' baseball cap off of his head over the castle wall and down a ravine!)  The nearby town of Füssen was a nice surprise, though. Matthias and I had been there twice before and had negative experiences (too many tourists, animals getting into our food at night at the campsite) but this time we were able to enjoy the town in the off-off season (enhanced by COVID) and surely it was the best time if ever to see the town and iconic castle without the usual throngs of tourists. The next day, we took a nice drive along the "romantic route" to the town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, which we were also able to enjoy without the usual busloads of tourists. In addition to seeing the sites, I enjoyed a late-night gab session with the gals, and a fun last dinner with all four of us. Then we said our goodbyes and Matthias and I took the train back home.

Dinner in Lindau. Fun times!

Fun room at the Ravensburg museum. 

Lindau Harbor - gorgeous!

Castle Neuschwanstein

Castle courtyard darkened by Sahara dust!

Pretty scene in Füssen, with the Alps in the background, and Matthias has a new hat!

So now we're up to date. Spring is here and we're getting ready to head out on our first bike tour of the season. That, and the great memories of time spent this year with fabulous people should help me stay positive. And also motivate me to catch up with those I didn't get to see this year (and stay connected to those I did) going forward. So fortunate to have such great friends and family! Cheers!