Germany recap: more time with family and friends and my trip to Cologne

You know what the best feeling of Week 1 of my visit back home being over was? I had still two whole weeks ahead of me.
Seriously, this is the first time a visit at home truly felt like a vacation and not just a short swing-by, in which I would try to squeeze as many people into my schedule as possible.

Of course, I still didn’t get everything done that I wanted to get done (I never do!), but at least, I didn’t stress myself out about it and actually gave myself some real time off. Which, was the best decision ever.

So, Week 2.

I spent a lovely Monday morning with my great-aunt Ina. After my Granddad died so suddenly in February, I really wanted to make it a point to spend some quality time with my great-aunt. She’s 88 years old and I have no idea how much longer she’ll be around (although I am hoping that it’ll be for a very long time!)

On Tuesday, my friend Ira came over in the morning. We had tea and some time to catch up.
The afternoon was spent with my sister and the kids and we prepared “Reibekuchen” for dinner. Mmmh. It was one of the many dishes that I had requested from my Mom.

"Reibekuchen"

Wednesday, I spent the whole day in Köln (Cologne.) I took the train in the morning, bought some hot chocolate at Starbucks and then went on a little stroll along the Rhein (Rhine). It was a beautiful morning and I just loved walking around, soaking up every little bit of Köln that I could get.
Früh

Deutzer Brücke

Köln Rheinpromenade

Köln Rheinpromenade

Köln Alter Markt

Köln Altstadt

Köln

Just looking at those pictures makes me somewhat nostalgic again.

I did a little shopping on the main shopping street and then took the tram out to where my uncle lives. I spent a lovely afternoon with him and my aunt, we had coffee and cake (do you recognize a theme here? Seriously, I haven’t had that much coffee and cake in a looong time, heh.)
At 7:30 p.m., my uncle took me to the train station where I met up with my friend Ilka. We went to “4 cani” for dinner and talked and talked and talked. As always, time went by way too fast, but I am happy about every meeting with friends that I could squeeze in.

On Thursday, I spent the morning with my sister and the kids and after lunch, she took me to the train station because I was going to Essen to see my friend Sanni.
She picked me up at the train station and we went back to her place where we had – have a guess! – coffee and (more) cake! :) It was a very lovely afternoon, even though time also went by too quickly.

Tomorrow I’ll tell you all about our trip to the Zoo and the rest of the weekend!

  1. These photos look like a storybook! Love it!

  2. It sounds like you had a lovely trip!

    I’ve only been to Köln two or three times – I need to go back someday soon. Also, Reibekuchen? My GOD, I haven’t had them in forever, and now I can’t think about anything else. :D
    .-= Kat´s last blog ..Lazy, hazy, and hardly crazy =-.

  3. Sounds perfect to me.
    I would need a vacation right now,…

  4. These photos are just magical, sounds like such a wonderful trip.
    .-= Emily Jane´s last blog ..Thanksgiving Comes Early, oh, and I beg you for 21 x 30 seconds of your life. =-.

  5. After I saw the Germany-Australia game yesterday, makes me sad that you couldn’t be home during the World Cup. Talk about exciting – to actually be in Germany as they win games!!! =)

  6. I had the best time at the Zoo in Berlin! It was the best!!!
    I am hoping today is my last jet lag day.
    Wish I was still there!
    .-= Maribeth´s last blog ..Homecoming =-.

  7. The pictures are beautiful. Looks like you had a great time! Yay, Germany!!!! :)
    .-= Tinka´s last blog ..99 things =-.

  8. As always, sounds like a great time. Love the pictures of Cologne!
    .-= Karen´s last blog ..Moving =-.

  9. lecker! schoene fotos hasi! freut mich das du so viel spass hattest und jetzt schon wieder voll im alltagsstress was? knutsch

  10. i love the second to last picture especially.
    and i love that you enjoyed your trip so much and made the best of it!
    xoxoxo
    .-= kim´s last blog ..i love it all =-.

  11. We call this “Kartoffelpuffer”. I could eat off of these for the rest of my life. :)
    .-= Stefanie´s last blog ..Milestones. =-.

  12. The photographs are beautiful! It makes me want to go back to Europe so bad! We just don’t have streets and sights like that here in the States.
    .-= terra´s last blog ..The bitch that’s June & the problem of chronic multi-tasking =-.

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