Amsterdam

After seeing meeting with my parents in Freiburg (previous post) we met them the following weekend in Amsterdam. The weather was gorgeous and the flowers were in bloom, which was a very different experience compared to the last time I visited in February 2012 when it was rainy and freezing cold. I guess most trips are better when the weather cooperates.

On one of the days we took the train to Haarlem, rented bikes and cycled to Zandvoort, a coastal town on the North Sea. The last day we met with our friends Joost and Karen (who we met in Nashville) and their little daughter Hannah. We also saw our friend Lex but don't have any photos with him. (thanks, Lex, for the drive to the airport!)

Canal near our hotel in the Jordaan district

Zandvoort

Cycle path in Zandvoort

Cathedral square in Haarlem

Canal tour

Ribs at De Klos

Clever window display

Cafe with Hannah, Joost, Karen and Karen's father

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