2012 visitors part 1

Later in February, Rebecca Voss and her boyfriend Florian came to London for a few days and we had a lovely evening with them.  It was special to build on the relationships we started during our visit to Bremen in December.  We were continually amazed by their ability to chat with us all evening in English.  While I understand from Rebecca's point of view that she can't truly be her full self in English as she could be auf Deutsch we loved her nonetheless and had a great time.  We decided to show them our neighborhood in Marylebone and started off at The Beehive, thai food for dinner, with a giant English menu, but everyone liked what they ordered and then Marylebone High Street for another drink.  We introduced them to Pimms and I think I will make it my mission to introduce everyone I know to Pimms when I am back in the US. 

Great visit, and I really hope I get to see them again!

Next, Weber round 2 began in March as he presented at another literary conference similar to last year and has also been introducing us to new London microbreweries and pubs.  On Saturday we visited the Kernel brewery again near London Bridge which is sold out of the tunnels under a train bridge each Saturday.  It's fun to sit outside on old furniture and enjoy the beer culture with the other patrons and the little market that has sprung up in the train bridge alley.  I love London markets.  Can't be beat. 

Porto!

Porto in northern Porto on the Atlantic was a hidden gem.  Happy that Yang and Lucy recommended it.  Porto was perfectly sunny for 4 straight days (that last time I experienced so much sun was in Nice in July) with a wide river and an incredible two level bridge with a tram and walking path 60 meters above the water.  The old section of Porto is built into the hills surrounding the river.  The old homes/buildings some covered in colourful tiles and red roofs contained a surprising number of units that were abandoned.  One side of the river houses port wine lodge after port wine lodge all the way up the hill.  We went to two tastings/tours and were amazed at the low cost.  Everything was great value in Porto except for the Port we were offered when we sat down for our first lunch fresh from the airport without seeing a menu that ended up being €12 ea.  Taking advantage of tourists I guess. 

We spent most of Friday and Saturday at cafes on the beach.  The cafes were so pleasant with chairs and umbrellas you could sit under for hours (literally 6) and continually drink and eat while watching the waves crash on the rocks.  Gorgeous.  We enjoyed two dinners at the hotel restaurant (we actually stayed at real hotel, making it a truly relaxing vacation while still at a great value).  We went out for a few drinks Saturday night but the smokey bars got the best of us before long.

We also witnessed the colonisational (word?) spirit of the UK as the Manchester City football fan club/hooligans took over downtown Porto complete with over 10 Manchester City/English/British flags drapped over the balconies along the cafes on the river and 100's of chanting football fans.  We thought about going to the game, but I was too tired from finishing up my audit the night before this trip and sleeping for 1 hour.

The mansion flat

The problem with blogs is that they don't write themselves.  When the blog stops, life keeps going and there are infinitely more things to write about.  In February we got an offer we couldn't refuse.  Puppy/house sit for the family of the student Jim tutors for a week.  We happily moved into the 2 story mansion flat not far from Marylebone High Street complete with its Fendi throw pillows, TV!!!, heated floors and big guest bed.  While they paid us a nice sum for this, I felt we should have been paying them.  It was fun to see who actually gets to shop at the Marylebone High Street boutiques and recognise vases from the shop windows around the house.  I also learned that Fendi makes throw pillow, lots of these, in sparkles and gaudiness.  I've also never been worried before about the indent my butt leaves on the perfect white leather coach and it took a couple of days to feel comfortable there.  Baths in the big tub became a nightly routine, and we decided that whilst 2 little puppies are incredibly cute, they are a major pain and something that we don't want for a while. 

A nice little vacation in town especially over Valentine's day and our 8 year anniversary made special by a really nice meal prepared by Jim (and help of the housekeeper) in the mansion flat's dining room.  Fun times.

2011 travels

Where did we go...

January - Faro, Portugal
March - Connecticut, USA (for work!)
April - Lake District, England; Malaga, Spain; Tangier, Fez and Marrakesh, Morocco
May - Paris, France
June - Brussels and Lueven, Belgium; USA (IL, WI and MN)
July - Nice, France
August - Berlin, Germany; Cork, Youghal, and Dublin, Ireland; Edinburgh, Scotland; Copenhagen, Denmark
September - Cotswold's, England; Munchen, Germany
October - Madrid, Spain; Amsterdam, Netherlands; Prague, CR
November - Budapest, Hungary
December - Bremen and Hamburg, Germany; Cambridge, England

Can't possibly pick a favourite, they were all fab.  Here's a few words on each destination:
Faro - deserted, no one golfs in January.  Peaceful.  Best €90 lunch and Jim was allowed to smoke a cigar in the restaurant. 
Lake District - lambs, daffodils and a country cottage for Easter and we hiked a mountain.
Morocco - Took us one day to get out of Spain and on the right ferry.  Hot. Markets and souks are wild, staying in a Riad is the best way to go!  2am train in 2nd class with smoke, music, crowded with local men and no signs...adventure.
Paris - enjoyable the second time without having to hit all the museums
Belgium - Friends, incredible beer and bikes
Nice - Four days of sun and beach all summer.  Beautiful, lots of wine, romantic.
Berlin - historic, The West Side Gallery, International Beer Festival!
Ireland - kissing the Blarney stone!
Edinburgh - gorgeous city, Fringe stand-up comedy festival
Copenhagen - Harbour tour and stairway to heaven church where you walk up the steeple on the outside!
Cotswold - so old and quaint, enjoying England with the parents
Munchen - Oktoberfest opening day speaks for itself!
Madrid - tapas, rioja wine, shown a great time by friends living there
Amsterdam - enjoying the city's delights, walking the canals, going to the movies in English
Prague - like a picture book.  Hearty food.  5 story club with friends.
Budapest - thermal baths, nightlife, gorgeous river and Parliament lite up at night
Bremen - unexpectly gorgeous old city centre, authentic Christmas market.  Family.
Hamburg - lakes in the middle of the city.  Family.
Cambridge - pubs and punting!

A great year indeed.

Family both new and old

In December Jim and I traveled to Germany to visit family that I didn't know know much about but apparently have always been there.  These are our closest living relatives on my Dad's side to be exact (outside of my immediate family).  A trip like this, while it didn't have a lot of pizazz or crazy adventure, was definitely one of our most memorable.  My family was so friendly and welcoming it was hard to believe I'd never met them before.  Uli and Rebecca showed us around beautiful historic downtown Bremen (should be a tourist destination) and a TRUE German Christmas market.  Great food and gluwein.  It was especially touching to meet Hans-Peter, my 85 year old great-uncle.  At 85 years old, he took us on the bus and train to downtown Hamburg so we go on a doubledecker bus tour and pointed out sites all along the way.  He was so happy to have us living with him for a couple of days and told us all about our family tree and my "Beckmann" nose after my grandma.  It is still hard to fathom that this sweet man with tears in his eyes when he dropped us off at the airport lost an arm in Normandy on the wrong side of the war.

A new year

Finally inspired to bring the blog back.  There's been so much creativity going around lately...cupcake baking wars, Jim's YouTubing, another friend's new blog (million times better than mine coming from a Phd in Literature) but nonetheless our last London year is quickly winding down and there are a lot of adventures to record and many more to come. 

I fear I just booked one of my last European train/plane tickets as we are mostly booked for our last 7 months between visitors and tickets already in hand.  The booking addiction is going to have to end.  Ok, I'm sure with my bad influences (friends :)) and I can squeeze in at least one or two more.  The truth is I have 6 months left as an auditor and other things need to take priority.  Sounds convincing, but I'm still struggling to live this new mantra.  I still appear very committed on a daily basis like I want this job for life.  I have an idea for my next move: find a normal accounting job with a slower pace and try that out.  In California.