Freiburg

We went to Freiburg in May to meet with my parents who had just finished a boat/barge trip from Amsterdam to Dusseldorf. This was the first time that my parents had met Richard's parents, so it was a very important family gathering!

Despite the language barrier between my parents and Richard's, Sofie, Richard and I helped to translate and after a while it started to feel like just a natural conversation. Just as when you're watching a foreign film with translated subtitles, after ten minutes you forget that you're reading and just get into the movie--- that's the way the conversations worked, at first a bit fragmented but after a little while it felt very natural.

First meal together at Richard's parents place

The parents

Taking the gondola up the Shauinsland in the Black Forest 

Mom and Dad enjoying the view

Flower market at the Freiburger Muensterplatz 

It was spargel (asparagus) season while we were visiting.
The best way to eat it is steamed with some hollandais sauce!

Meal at Martinsbraeu

Pretzels and beer at the Schlossberg beer garden

Visit to Frankfurt and vicinity

In mid-August, I went to visit Germany, it was fun to catch up. And the sunny weather was a nice change.

Daniel and Julian have taken to sporting Ninja outfits...

... and feasting like the Vikings in 'Wiki und die starken Maenner'.  Sparkling water also making an unlikely appearance.

Soon, I will get a train track just like this one.

Parents normally play the second fiddle. Margarethe got to use the spare swing, but Matthias did not make it onto the pictures.

Just...

... hangin'.

More lifestyle inspiration from Wiki.

Frankfurt operates the last Anglo Irish still in business.

In the mountains outside Frankfurt.

We took the DB-MiTo, sweet ride. 

Visited castles.

View from the fortress tower. A lot of targets.

Street in Hoechst.

Another one.

Family Visit in Frankfurt

Several weeks ago we visited Richard's family in Germany. We stayed with Richard's sister Sofie in her apartment in Frankfurt. On Saturday we drove to Neider-Olm to see Margarethe and her family Matthias, Daniel and Julian where we played a lot of fun games with the kids and ate lunch. On Sunday Richard's parents took the train from Freiburg to have lunch with us. They brought a delicious lunch of Rinderrouladen, red beet salad, sauerkraut and Marmorkuchen (marble cake), all made my Richard's mom. 

Sofie and Richard. It was very cold in Frankfurt, about -12 C.

Julian showing us his winning from the game

Playing games with Daniel and Julian

Richard, Julian, Matthias

Julian showing us his Lego catalogue

Julian, Matthias, Sofie, Richard, Daniel, Margarethe

The European Central Bank, where it all happens 

The Old Square

Schnitzel and cheese spaetzle with apple wine, a Frankfurt specialty

Lunch with Kasimir and Alexandra at Sofie's apartment

Oktoberfest

I made my first trip to Oktoberfest in Munich two weekends ago to meet with my friend Shilpa from Chicago, who I met during study abroad in Australia, and to see relatives-in-law Sofie, Anna and Andreas.  We did some sight seeing in the city and visited the Oktoberfest several times.  One night we went to the Paulaner beer tent, and another to the Hofbrau tent.  Many of the Oktoberfest-goers wear the traditional Bavarian Lederhosen (leather pants or shorts for men) and Dirndl (women's dresses).

Me and Shilpa at the Hofbrau tent

Andreas and Sofie in the park 

Sofie at the entrance to Oktoberfest

Inside Oktoberfest

Sofie and me in the traditional Bavarian dresses called "Dirndl"

Easting the traditional Oktoberfest grilled chicken at Anna and
Andreas' apartment with Sofie and Robert

Inside the Paulaner tent

Beers at the Hofbrau Zelt

Pretzels in every shape!

Shilpa eating the traditional grilled chicken "Wiesnhendl"

In the Hofbrau tent

Holiday Trip Part 4: Munich

We spent the last part of our trip in Munich visiting Richard's sister Anna and her husband Andreas.  We had a great time seeing the sights of Munich, eating Bavarian food, and celebrating the New Year.

You can buy huge pickles at the Viktualienmarkt.

Odeonsplatz

A German fortune telling game: melt lead with a candle,
pour it into a bowl of water, and the shape tells your fortune. 

Sofie is about to find out her future...

Sofie, Robert, Andreas, Anna and Rico-- it's almost midnight!

Fireworks in the Nymphenburg Palace gardens