Since I've Been Gone. . .

I know, I have been away, I have been remiss, and I should do something to make up for it. . . I am sorry, really - wait, no I am NOT sorry!  the missing piece of the family came home last month after a long time away, and we have been enjoying our time together as a complete family unit again. While I may not be sorry for being away, I do feel guilty - and so, I shall make up for it.  No, really.  I am going to make up for it BIG time.  Our time is dwindling down here in Europe - and we are really making the most of it.  

In fact - as I type this right now, I am sitting in our castle turned hotel room in SCOTLAND!  Yes, lots of pictures coming, I promise.  We spent two days getting here, in crappy weather, and in the dark of night, but we got here finally!   Needless to say with 12 hours of driving, and 12 hours on a boat, I really haven't taken too many photos - but I have taken a few, and am even posting them, just to whet your appetite.

In case anyone is wondering how we have done this trip so far. . . the answer is "BY THE SEAT OF MY PANTS".  I am not kidding when I say this was last minute - I mean, I decided we (I) wanted to go on Thursday, and we left on Sunay!  We took a P&O Ferry from Rotterdam to Hull, England - we hit Rotterdam at night, so sadly, there are no pictures of that impressive city - talk about a big port - er.me.gerd!  Our ferry sailed overnight, so we all had a bunk on the ship, and crashed out, just in time to wake up in England - it is NOT a fancy cruise.  It is not a "comfortable" cruise - and it is most definetly not a "cheap" cruise - but it was workable, and it got us where we needed to go!

But, well, it's me.  Therefore, there must be snow!  Last month it snowed while we were staying at the beach in Rimini - and today, it snowed the entire way through England.  However, I kid you not, the minute we crossed into Scotland, the weather cleared, the skies blued, the snows melted, and it became a wonderful drive the rest of the way into our hotel, near Peebles.

I mean, COME ON - Look at this!  Simply beautiful!  

I have lots more to say, more pictures to take, and fun to have - so this will have to suffice in the mean time.  I promise I will do better about making this dragg with a ton of different pictures - I really will pick only the best, and hopefully no more than 5 per day.

We shall see.

Thank you for reading about all our wanderings!  As always, please leave a comment, share your experiences, ask a question!

Reiterlesmarkt - Rothenburg O.D. Taub

When most people think of Germany, it seems that they think of Christmas- the Markets, the Glühwein, the decorations, the Lebküchen, all of it.  And they are right.  Starting the first week of advent, the towns bring out their best, they light themselves up, the put up booths, they simmer the wine in amazing spices, and they attract the tourists.  Perhaps none more so than Rothenburg ob der Taub.  Rothenburg is a small city, that is about 30 minutes from my house.

In nearly every guide book I have ever read, Rothenburg is mentioned as a "must see".  It is historically significant, as it was a Free Imperial City throughout the middle ages, and today it's architecture, and culture serve to remind us of what was.  We see life as it would have been living behind the city wall that to this day still completely encircles the town.  We can wander through the castle garden, and even down into what was the old moat (now totally empty, of course.  There are numerous covered bridges, and watch towers that you can climb up and walk into throughout the city - there are funny little doors all around, and beautiful churches, statues and fountains sprinkled about.

Last night we went to the Reiterlesmarkt (the Rothenburg Weihnachtmarkt).  We got to Rothenburg shortly before sunset, and before the crowds really came out - the merchants were just opening up in the Markt, and we were not crowded at all!  Later at night, more and more people come out, and on the weekends, the crowds will have you nearly shoulder to shoulder.  Rothenburg's market is not huge, it is not its size that makes it special.  It is special because of what it is - the booths are a bit more unique, a little more upscale than some other places.

 Not all the booths, are in the main square, in fact, most of the booths wind around the block behind the Rathalle, and they fill smaller, less well known courtyards.  There is a section that is for only hand made items - this is my favorite part - walking into a hallway, with evergreen branches everywhere you look, and the smell is just heavenly - the branches, the Glühwein, the candied nuts - I treasure the memory of that smell, it is the epitome of Christmas to me.

Have you ever been to Rothenburg?  What is your favorite experience there?

Thank you for reading of our adventures!  As always, please leave a comment, share your experiences, ask a question, whatever!!

A Tavola Non Si Invecchia

The loose translation of this is , "At the table with good friends and family you do not become old."  How true is that!  As we age, we lose parts of ourselves, but sitting around a table with loved ones, the memories abound, and what we have forgotten, our families and friends help us to remember.  

In Italy, we have been so very, very fortunate.  We have family here, and through Auntie Heather, we have friends down here, none more so that Mimi.  Mimi runs the most amazing seafood restaurant that I have ever been to, the world over! (Il Lurido in Rimini - I can NOT recommend it enough!)  We are spoiled there, and through the love in both her cooking, and her fawning over us all, we have all become true seafood lovers!  

THIS is the real Italy.  It is not a tourist destination.  It's a little restaurant in the old fisherman's section of town. 


 Mimi lovingly decorates the entire restaurant, in the spring it is beautiful, however now, decorated for Christmas, it is breathtaking.  Mimi loves her restaurant, Mimi loves her job, Mimi loves her patrons, and quite simply, it shows.  Every year when we come to visit, she remembers us, and she dotes on us, and she has formed a special bond with my daughter - this year they traded bracelets.  Mimi became a great-grandmother this year, and still she loves us like her own as well.

When we come to visit, Mimi and her staff not only serve each and every item on the menu to us for us to try, but they make special items for us that are so amazing - words fail completely.  

Thank you for reading about our adventures - as always, please, leave a comment, share your experiences, ask a question, whatever!