Turkey in Provence

I loved the old architecture and the vines that grew up the old house walls  

I have so much to be thankful for this year: a healthy family, a wonderful husband, and precious nephew, new and old friends, a chance to explore Europe, the list goes on and on. Since we were unable to return the the States to reflect on this glorious year, we headed to Avignon, a town near Provence, France. It was there we dined on buttery croissants, flaky baguettes, creamy brie, magnificent wine and delicious turkey!

On top of Roussillon

While we weren't dining decadently, we spent our time sight seeing in the beautiful country side and visiting local wineries. Lacoste, Goult, Luberon were all tiny scenic towns we spent time in. Roussillon was another small town we went to that reminded us of Sedona, Arizona because of its rich red soil.

The chateau of Marquis de Sade in Lacoste 

Luberon, where Russell Crowe filmed "A Good Year"

It was a nice, relaxing trip and a Thanksgiving I will not soon forget. Now that we are back in Nussloch, I am busy working off the excess French calories- all enjoyed guilt free!

Italian Road Trip Part 5- Mountains of Como and Davos

George Clooney made it famous among Americans, but Lake Como is not a new discovery for Italians. (Clooney's house in Como is on the market for €30 million if you are interested) Justin and I were blown away by the gorgeous lake and immediately added it to our list of places we would like to retire. From our hotel in Griante we took a short ferry ride to Bellagio where we hiked around the entire peninsula before a spectacular sunset. Here are some of my favorite shots from Lake Como:

Spectacular sunset from Bellagio

J and E on the ferry 

A small port near Griante 

Bellagio at sunset 

Gazing at the Alps 

The last stop on our Italian road trip before Nussloch was in Switzerland at the famous ski town of Davos, the highest city in western Europe. Driving up the steep, mountain roads to this breathtaking town was very exciting and beautiful. It was a crystal clear day and we could see for miles. This ski and skating town is known for their pure air and houses several clinics for those with lung conditions and is also home to the annual World Economic Forum meeting. While in Davos, after indulging in Raclette, a heavy cheese dish intended to keep one warm, we went on a long, hike with extordinary views of the town and the Alps. Working up a thirst, we also headed to BierVision, the highest brewery in the world. We loved Davos and will return later this winter to ski!  Here are my favorite Davos pics:

J standing in front of a crystal clear lake on our way up to Davos

Winter wonderland!

Me enjoying a sample of BierVision's finest creations 

Postcard perfect 

Italian Road Trip Part 4- Tuscany

I've dreamed of visiting the Tuscan Hills ever since the movie about it's grandeur came out. So naturally I was very excited to check out Siena and Lucca. While visiting Siena, the rain refused to let up except when we first arrived. As we pulled up to the Castle Bigozzi Relais, a beautiful rainbow came across the hills.

Only having one rainy night in the city, we immediately headed into the walls of Old Siena which have been intact since the 13th century. Within the walls is the Piazza del Campo where the famous race track is. There horse races and bullfights date back to the 14th century. Palio de Siena is a bi-annual horse race that still takes place today and usually lasts less than three minutes.  Also within the old walls is the great Duomo which was also constructed in the 13th century.

Lucca was magnificent. The weather cooperated and we took full advantage. Like Siena, Lucca is also an ancient walled town. Here, we witnessed one the most spectacular sunsets I've ever seen. Below are some of my favorite shots from Lucca and Siena.

Lucca Sunset

Our Castle/Farmhouse in Sienna. So pretty!

Lucca's Fall colors

Lucca in the Fall

Tuscan Hills in Siena

All of our photos can be seen here.

Italian Road Trip Part 3- Florence

I admit, I often complain about Justin's job and him being gone all the time (prior to this fellowship- now he is around allll the time!), but his excessive travel and hotel point obsession really played to our advantage in Florence. When we walked into our suite at the Westin Excelsior, we quickly realized that our room was amazing.

A huge private terrace that overlooked the Duomo and the Tuscan Hills was right at our doorstep. I mean, it was crazy. Tempted by the luxury of our room and the stunning view, we contemplated sight seeing via the zoom from our camera lens, but we peeled ourselves off our lounge chairs and headed on a tour of Florence.

On our amazing balcony

Since we both had been to Florence, we were able to sidestep the must do's (i.e. Michelangelo's David, the Uffizi Gallery, etc.) and go a little off the beaten path. We headed to the Boboli Garden on a gorgeous Fall day. Overlooking Florence, the garden itself is peaceful and a nice escape from the bustling city. We also re-visited the Duomo and did a short walking tour to the Ponte Vecchio bridge. The medieval bridge was used for trading and merchandise. Today it is still a shopping bridge with jewelry stores running across it.

Overlooking Florence from the Boboli Garden

Of course my favorite thing to do in Italy is eat! And we had some amazing meals in Florence. One place we stumbled upon after the Gardens was part grocery store, part lunch room. We knew it had to be delicious as there were only locals eating there and everything was very inexpensive, hence no tourist markups. I had grilled eggplant and Justin had the most amazing lasagna we'd ever had. I'm kicking myself because I did not write down the name (I remember the location if you are interested!).

Another great place was Trottoria Sostanza. A friend recommended this institution to us and the artichoke omelet did not disappoint. Trottoria Sostanza is a tiny, nondescript restaurant that requires reservations for its two dinner seatings at 7 and 9. The seating was German-style in that tables are shared with other parties, making it slightly awkward at first. Though we did not order it, our table mates had the the steak and it looked amazing. This was a fun Florence experience!

Ponte Vecchio at night

To top it all off, we visited Grom for some of the best gelatti I've ever had. Though Grom Gelato is a chain (they even have Malibu and New York locations) it really, really good, and I'm a tough critic. Their flavors are so rich, creamy and super fresh. And their waffle cones are doubled layered for extra deliciousness.

J and E in the hotel lobby

See all of our Florence pictures here.

Italian Road Trip Part 2- Venezia

I love Venice! The canals, the ultra narrow cobblestone streets leading nowhere, the deep history that shines through in the architecture, the gondolas, Murano glass, Piazza San Marco, everything! Studying abroad nearby allowed me to really explore the majestic city years ago. It was one of the only cities I'd been to that Justin had not, so I was excited to show him what he had been missing.

J & E in St. Mark's Square

We were fortunate to have gorgeous weather on our first day and took a water taxi ride from our wonderful hotel, Gritti Palace, to the island of Murano to check out the glass. Our hotel concierge informed us that some of the glass shops will send a complimentary water taxi, give a glass blowing demonstration, allow you to shop for some glass, and then send you back on your way. We signed up sceptical that we'd be given the hard sell. But, we took advantage of this service and were really happy with our experience!

Gorgeous glass everywhere. Had to be careful where I walked!

It was very cool to see the making of some gorgeous glass art. Venetian glass dates back to the 9th century and was originally sculpted on the main island. Since the ultra hot ovens cannot be shut off at the end of the working day, worry of fire moved the art to Murano. The Venetians idolized glass makers and they were once very prominent citizens with special privileges. The skills are still passed down from generation to generation today. It is truly beautiful and a true art form, and we hope to one day own some amazing Venetian glass of our own!

We're on a boat! 

Our second day was spent taking in some culture and getting lost. We visited the modern Peggy Guggenheim Collection and Ca' Pesaro. Ca' Pesaro boasts the largest collection of Asian artifacts in Europe and the Guggenheim Collection's setting is spectacular. Both museums were really impressive. It was also a perfect day or roaming (despite the rain). And we spent hours getting lost eating gelato in the historic city.

The second night our hotel informed us that a strong front from Africa was moving in and that the lobby would be flooded the following day. All the antique furniture was moved out and catwalk stilts were put into place. The elevator was shut off from entering the first floor and the hotel staff slapped on their rain boots. I figured after all my visits to Venice, it was only fitting that on my last day there I would witness an infamous flood.

Gondolas fill the busy canals

However, luckily for us and for the sinking city, the water did not come in as high as expected- at least not while we were there. I find it so hard to believe that such a gorgeous city is on the brink of literally getting buried under water. Hopefully the solutions they are putting into place are a success and we can all enjoy Venice for many years to come.

See our photos from Venice and Paderno del Grappa here.

Just Came to Say Hello...

German radio leaves a lot to be desired. While in the car we mainly flip between my preference, the AFN Network, which is the local US Army station, and Justin's favorite, Sunshine Live. Sunshine Live is a 24/7 techno station playing beats from the 90's and a few new jams thrown in here and there. Oddly enough, electronic music has slowly grown on me. This is one of my favorites by Martin Solveig and Dragonette- the video is quite entertaining!

Italian Road Trip Part 1- Paderno del Grappa

My parents and I celebrated my 16th birthday at Epcot Center "in Italy" (I cannot remember WHY we were at Disney World past the 2nd grade, but whatever!) and when I blew out the candles on my delicious chocolate torte, I wished to spend my 21st birthday actually in Italy. Apparently birthday wishes can come true, even if you share what was wished for- my mom constantly reminds me of this one. I spent the big 2-1 at the infamous Pizzeria in Paderno del Grappa, Italy, taking shots of what else- grappa. "PDG" is the place where my love affair with the country started.

Six years later and the Pizzeria still stands. I never knew the actual name of the restaurant...  Al Sole, eh??

Heading to the base of the Dolomite Mountains in Italy, which are part of the Alps, from the flat lands of Kansas for a semester proved to be one of the best decisions I made in college. Not knowing a soul when I arrived, I met some of my best friends today on that journey. The Italian semester also enhanced and jump started my obsession of seeing the world. Six years later I returned back to the PDG with Justin to check out my old stomping grounds.

Eating a Tabbachi sandwich at 9am in front of campus. 

It was as if time stood still in the Veneto region. Literally nothing had changed. The Pizzeria was still there despite rumors it burned down (no idea who started that one), the same tabacchi owners still prepare the best turkey and asiago sandwiches for a mere €2, and the "Hotel Bar" still has processco on tap for €1,5 a pop. It was crazy to see how everything stayed the same while my life had completely changed over the course of time. Though, it is refreshing to see that some things never change, and a reminder that can be a very good thing!