Jul 28, 2015

Alsace Region: Colmar, France



If you're searching for a town that drums up images straight out of a fairytale, I think I found just the spot.. Colmar, France. I'm convinced fairy dust was sprinkled on the timbered homes and blooming flowers to make the colors extra vibrant. This town is situated in the Alsace Region of northeast France, not far from the German border. It has been occupied by the Germans more than once in history and reflects this in some of the architecture and cuisine. A canal runs through the town, giving it the name "Le Petit Venice".  


An aroma of fresh pastries swirled through the streets, luring us into the local patisseries to peek at the variety of sweet treats staring back at us through the glass cases. We left the patisseries empty handed, saving our calories for the most talked about Le Tarte Flambée and a glass of local white wine. I would describe Le Tarte Flambée as finely rolled out dough in a somewhat rectangular shape topped with creme fraiche, caramelized onions, bacon and white cheeses, all cooked to a crispy finish over a wooden fire. Its light smokey flavor coupled with the melted cheeses make this oh so good. Our camera didn't stand a chance at capturing a photo before the wooden cutting board sat empty, bellies full and content. 


The Route de Vins (wine route) guided us home, winding through extensive vineyards, picturesque  villages, and the Vosges Mountains. These mountains were the fighting grounds for battles during World War I and II. Memorials dotted the peak of the mountains, honoring thousands of men who perished in the Vosges. We happened upon Le Linge battlefield, one of the bloodiest confrontations during World War I. This was trench warfare spanning four years and 17,000 lives lost.  As we walked through the trenches, Brecken ran through them, squealing with freedom and curiosity as he searched for sticks, rocks, and pine cones to carry in his tiny little hands. I couldn't help but think of life and time. One hundred years earlier, these trenches were engulfed with fear, disease and bloodshed, and on a Saturday afternoon in 2015 they brought so much joy to a little boy, running through the pathways, completely unaware of the evils and hardships that are found in this world. 



Travel Notes


Alsace Wine Route
Wanting to drive or bike the wine route but not sure where to start? This website is extremely helpful in giving you all the maps, events, tips, and accommodations for the region.

Know your Alsace Wines
Don't make the mistake of going to this region and ordering a robust red wine. Beware. They may give you a strange look. If you love Riesling and Pinot Blanc, you're in luck.

Le Linge Memorial Museum
This link will provide you with an overview of the museum, its address, entrance fees, as well as the hours of operation. 
































Jul 20, 2015

Lago Di Como, Italy



Italy, a country that has so much to offer to guests: heartfelt hospitality, top notch fashion, bold espresso, smooth and creamy gelato, stunning scenery, and on and on... Our fourth of July vacation was spent in Bellagio on Lake Como. A gorgeous six hour drive from our home, straight south through Switzerland and into northern Italy. I bet you're thinking, driving six hours with a toddler, are you nuts? Ha, hardly. I will gladly take a long car ride over public transportation ANY day with Brecken. Why? Because he's strapped in, that's the real beauty of it. I get to sit back and get lost in a book and he gets to take a nap, it's a win win. We didn't hear a peep out of him during the ride, he was too busy taking in the alpine breeze and gazing at the turquoise lakes of Switzerland, or sleeping!

We reached Bellagio by way of a ten-car ferry that shuttled us across Lake Como from Mennagio to Bellagio. The excitement rose in me as we were nearing the shores of Bellagio,  its old world elegant architecture waiting for us. After a quick drive from the port through the winding streets, we ended up at The Hotel Belvedere. When booking our trips, I have found that Tripadvisor has been the best resource for finding hotels and activities. The reviews are so helpful and haven't led me to a poor experience, yet. Surprisingly, the majority of guests at the hotel seemed to be from England or America. Brecken made fast friends with the hotel staff and Suzy, an outspoken British woman in her mid seventies. She would always greet him saying, "Brecken dahling, are you being a fine little boy for your mummy today?" He would respond by intense hand gestures and babbling, only to get more of a rise out of her.

So, to be quite honest, we didn't do all that much on this trip. There's little to do in Bellagio, and that's a wonderful thing when your sole purpose of vacation is to relax. We visited the Giardini di Villa Melzi, walked the narrow streets with many stairs, swam in the lake and hotel pool, savored the homemade food, and drank our way through bottles of vino rosso, Valpolicella being our favorite!



Hazy days of summer :) 
Views from the pool
The Hotel Belvedere
Infinity Jacuzzi
Breck was napping and I got a quick break from chasing him around the pool!
This handsome guy ;)
Pointing at the boats and ducks.
Had this area all to ourselves!
After a lap around the boats, I had to grab this little dude and get him in the cool water.
Quick break before climbing these steps after our lake swim.
Gardens
Gardens
He's graduated the backward slide down the steps.
Gardens
A statue picture is a must when visiting Italy.
Lake view from the gardens
Gardens
Gardens
After lunch stroll by the water
Promenade
Gelato, again. How can I say no when it gives him this kind of happiness!?
Getting a good lesson on mixing drinks
Streets of Bellagio 
Pesto at its best
We found a fountain across the street from our dinner table. Perfect.
The boys after dinner, Breck on the verge of a good tantrum.
Being silly and hiding from us.
Just had to bust out the ring around the rosie. 

Jul 12, 2015

Willkommen



On the surface life looks great over here, right? Well, let me just say that this transition has not been easy. Arriving in a new country, battling the language barrier, knowing no one, and living in a hotel with a toddler has been emotionally draining. I was so excited for this adventure in our life but there were moments when Alex would find me in tears; crying because I felt so alone and missed the life we once had. I desperately missed the familiarity of life in the U.S., the close friendships, and our immediate family who all seemed so far away. As an extrovert, I have found it most difficult being on the local economy and not being able to strike up a random conversation with strangers. I feel mute half the time and do not feel as if I can express myself like I typically would. Learning the German language is important to me and I believe it's necessary in order to truly be a part of this community. I started a course last week and have learned so much in a such a short amount of time. This last week has been so much better. I have met a few really nice women whom I can chat with, hosted new friends for a dinner, and completed several transactions and a small conversation in German at the local farmers market, big victories over here.

After hotel hopping for the last 2 months and desperately looking forward to the day we could unpack the suitcases, we've finally found our new home. We arrived in Germany with no idea whether we would be approved to live on or off the military installation. We also knew that there was a possibility we could be living in a hotel for upwards to 90 days. That's one of the reasons we left our fur babies (Skylar and Nahla) behind in the U.S. to temporarily live with Grandma Amy. I may add that she is loving on them as if they were her own and is spoiling them with adventurous hikes, lake swims, and treats. Now that we found a home that will accommodate them, we are looking forward to their arrival in the fall, yay! Our home is in an ideal location, conveniently situated within walking distance to biergartens, restaurants, markets, swimming pools, walking paths, shopping, transit, and a quick commute for Alex. The home was built immediately following WWII and still displays old charm but has been remodeled with modern fixtures. Each closet door is closed with a skeleton key, reminding me of one of my favorite books "Sarah's Key" which took place in Europe during WWII. The church bells ring every hour and chime quite loudly for five minutes at 7am every day. Alex and I haven't yet decided if this is an interesting part of living in an old German town or downright obnoxious. The last two weeks have been filled with unpacking at least 12 hours a day in 90 degree temperatures and the worst part was living two weeks with no internet. This was not therapeutic for me, it was downright awful and made me realize how much I rely on Google! We were lucky enough to beat the heat by traveling to Italy over the 4th where we soaked up the air conditioned hotel, refreshing swimming pool, and unlimited wifi ;) My next post will give all the details on this absolutely amazing trip.













































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