Germany: Tastes, Connections and Impressions

I really believe that traveling is, in many ways, more about people than about places -- and in many ways, this trip has been focused on connections I have with Germany -- family, old friends, and new friends.

Similarly, so much of the trip has been filled with sensory impressions: sights, tastes, smells... and just a feel for something that's new -- and yet so very familar.

Here are a few of those connections and impressions we've had. Since I can't seem to do captions within Blogger, here's a very short description of each photo:

My aunt Leni (Mom's older sister) has lived in Traunstein all her life, and now she is what brings me back there. Here, I'm showing her photos of our kids.

Annette is the granddaughter of one of Mom's other sisters (I know there are easier descriptions, but...). She came to Ruhpolding to join us for two days as we visited Salzburg, the Herrenchiemsee and the Frauen Insel -- and, of course, visiting Leni!

We had an absolutely wonderful day in Köln with Geoffrey. Tom and I both consider him a wonderful new friend... and Elisabeth certainly considers his son, Lionel, a great new friend, as she stayed in Köln an extra day so she could party with him and his friends. Thanks for everything, guys! :-)

After over a year, we finally got to hug Laura, our exchange-student daughter again! It was wonderful to meet her (real) parents, and we are loving or time with them! This photo was taken in Kassel, when we visited the Documeta Exhibits. I gotta say, I do not GET really modern art! I appreciate the opportunity it allows toward making a statement, but ART? Not in my opinion!

I fell in love with a big mug of hot milk with ammaretto... and with a smaller cup of cappuccino that we make each morning at Laura's house. Mmmmmmmm!

Tom rests his shoulder in town... with ein stuck Kuchen to help with the healing process. His shoulder has been hurting him more than we'd expected. Surely he'd have healed faster sitting at his desk for two weeks! But he says it's all worth it.

Laura and Elisabeth are having some really good times together here, which is wonderful because Elisabeth was away at school during the year that Laura lived with us.

More morning coffee at a cafe with Laura and her sister, Cathi (who is Elisabeth's age).

Sonja and Elisabeth. So

nja is my god-daughter and was our au pair when our four kids were small. Two years ago, Elisabeth was an au pair for HER kids in Germany! Hopefully, one of Sonja's daughters, Emma or Marleen, will someday be an au pair for Elisabeth's children!