Sunday, November 30, 2014

Cell photos from the past couple weeks...


Apfelwein Solzer restaurant. Super famous in Frankfurt. It has the feel of a multi-room, cavernous, wooded interior, boisterous, slightly run down beer hall.Somayeh and I enjoyed monstrous meals of fish and potatoes. With of course, an Apfelwein.

Chocolates and tea. The best :-D. The chocolate flavors were: cinnamon and chocolate cake.

Missing this place. The Danish Pastry House in Medford, MA. They had incredible cakes. Wowza! 

Photo credit to my Dad, John English. Major nostalgia for this place. "Camp" in Marquette, Michigan. Where our family has a tiny lake cottage on the beach. Here are the waves rolling in.

Lake Superior. One of my favorite places.

A new blog update is coming within 24 hours. Promise :-) sorry for the pause!!

Saturday, November 22, 2014

Must See Places in Germany

My list of MUST-visits in Germany!!!

Bamberg.  The city is romantic, charming, beautiful and old.  A centre of imperial and episcopal power for almost a thousand years, and often referred to as the Rome of Franconia, Bamberg stands on seven hills surrounded by beautiful countryside. Dominated by its imperial cathedral, the town is a unique and superbly maintained masterpiece of urban design, uniting medieval and baroque architecture.







Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria.  Seven weeks after the death of King Ludwig II in 1886, Neuschwanstein was opened to the public. The shy king had built the castle in order to withdraw from public life – now vast numbers of people came to view his private refuge.  Today Neuschwanstein is one of the most popular of all the palaces and castles in Europe. Every year 1.4 million people visit "the castle of the fairy-tale king". In the summer around 6,000 visitors a day stream through rooms that were intended for a single inhabitant.
The setting of Neuschwanstein could not be more idyllic. However, movement in the foundation area has to be continuously monitored, and the sheer rock walls must be repeatedly secured. The harsh climate also has a detrimental effect on the limestone façades, which will have to be renovated section by section over the next few years.


This bridge, Mary's Bridge, is the recommended vantage point for viewing of the Castle(s)!!!!

Rothenburg Christmas Market.  In the Middle Ages, when Berlin and Munich were just wide spots in the road, Rothenburg was Germany’s second-largest city, with a whopping population of 6,000. Today, it’s the country’s most exciting medieval town, enjoying tremendous popularity with tourists without losing its charm. There’s a thousand years of history packed between its cobbles.  Rothenburg is still Germany’s best-preserved walled town. Countless travelers have searched for the elusive “untouristy Rothenburg.” There are many contenders (such as Michelstadt, Miltenberg, Bamberg, Bad Windsheim, and Dinkelsbühl), but none holds a candle to the king of medieval German cuteness. Even with crowds, overpriced souvenirs, and a nearly inedible pastry specialty (the over-promoted, fried ball of pie crust called a Schneeball), Rothenburg is still the best. Save time and mileage and be satisfied with the winner.
(That was an excerpt from Rick Steve's writing about the city.  I've actually been here before, during last May 2013.  But I desperately want to go visit during the famed Christmas market here.  It looks magical).






Cochem.  This town is one of the most charming (supposedly) in all of Germany, with legend, folklore and a rich history found in every nook and corner.  The town is set in the scenic Mosel river valley.  Its surrounded by steep vineyards and quaint wine villages.  






Heidelberg.  Heidelberg is a city that will capture your heart. Famous the world over, it is a perennial favorite among international tourists. The city has so much to offer: charm and character in abundance between the Old Bridge and the mighty castle, an unparalleled choice of culture and entertainment, hearty yet heavenly cuisine and a picturesque setting nestled between the Neckar river and the foothills of the Odenwald forest.





Rugen Island.  Germany’s largest island, is located in the northeast of the country in the Baltic Sea off the coast of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Rügen has been one of Germany’s most popular travel destinations for centuries; Bismarck, Sigmund Freud, Thomas Mann and Albert Einstein vacationed here, and during the GDR, the island became the favored spot of the government’s top politicians like Erich Honecker.
Rügen is famous for its romantic seaside resorts and spas, which date back to the 18th century, quiet fisher villages, and spectacular landscapes. On the coast, there are mile-long beaches, while in the heart of the island you can follow the scenic drive “Alleenstrasse” along cobble-stoned avenues lined with century old trees. The main draw of Rügen are the snow-white chalk cliffs (Kreidefelsen), which were brought to fame by Germany’s Romantic painter Caspar David Friedrich.  A great way to get around the island is by taking the "Rasender Roland” (Racing Roland), a historic steam train that connects the towns and sea resorts of Lauterbach, Putbus, Binz and Göhren.





Thursday, November 20, 2014

Recent Phone Photos


One of my greatest loves and sweet baby boy, Bug.

Delicious sweet almond cake with tea.

This quote really caught my eye ;-) so true.

Delicious brioche roll with my tea during a desperately needed lunch break.

Scrumptious dessert with Somayeh!!!  Waffles buried under whipped cream and strawberries.  Yowza!

Another meetup outing with Sweet Meets!!!  We went to the Taco Haus in Frankfurt.  So delicious.  I miss yummy Tex-Mex food which was plentiful in the US.

Tasty lunch buffet with Sally.  I was pleasantly surprised by how healthy most of it was, while still tasting great!  I really enjoyed the pumpkin soup :-D

Trying to improve my style, so new Autumn outfit ;-)

Tea and dessert with Francine last month.  YUM!

This was excellent.  Mixed berries and sweet crumble with a lightly sweetened milky sauce to pour on top.  I was so impressed.  Great!!

And a few more good quotes for the day...





Sunday, November 16, 2014

A European Thanksgiving

The menu was: turkey of course, which came out great!  Success on that :-D.  Side dishes included stuffing, a make-your-own-baked potato bar, salad with avacado, tomato, corn and onion, green beans wrapped in baconmashed pumpkin roasted with butter and brown sugar, brown seeded German bread with a mango spread for topping and cranberry sauce made from scratch.

Dessert was homemade pumpkin pie with a made-from-scratch shortbread crust and American-style brownies swirled with sweet cream cheese on the top (I used the last box of brownie mix that my Mom had mailed me this summer for a birthday gift.  Sniff :-/).

The meal was a huge success!!!
















Three of my close girlfriends here in Frankfurt. (Left to right: Francine, Somayeh, me, Judith).

 
What to do with all that leftover pumpkin mixture...??

Pumpkin pancakes sounded like a great idea <3