This is the last post about my trip to Germany, I promise. You’re probably so over hearing me swoon over my niece and nephew and the family talk and how much I miss them and how precious our time was, and blegh. Still, I need to get this post out to make my recap complete. This will be long, so be prepared, but to make it easier on you, they’re going to be a lot of photos as well. Photos always help.
So like I said, the last week in Germany was all about spending time with my family.
I didn’t make any plans with anybody for the last week, because I didn’t want to feel like I was hurrying from one appointment to the next (even though I would have loved to see some more people that I didn’t get to see for that reason).
I knew I needed to feel like I really had a week “off”. Visiting back home never feels like a vacation vacation, if you know what I mean. And I needed some time to just relax.
On Saturday , I spent the morning with my parents, running the usual errands and then preparing all kinds of yummy goodness for a BBQ with relatives from my Mom’s family. They came over at around 6 p.m. and since the weather was really nice and warm, we were able to sit outside until midnight. We had Bauchfleisch (pork belly), sausages, steaks and grilled vegetables, baked potatoes with sour cream, salad and baguette with garlic butter.
It was such a nice evening!
Greta and Basti
Sunday was a beautiful day as well and I hung out with my sister and the kids in my parents’ backyard. My parents bought a ” Strandkorb ” (beach chair) last year and it was perfect weather to hang out and watch Greta play in her sandbox and use the slide. Tom slept on my lab the whole time.
In the afternoon, we went walking downtown and had some ice-cream.
In my town
Later that evening, my family met up at our favorite local Italian Restaurant to belatedly celebrate my great-aunt’s 88th birthday. It was a lovely evening with great conversations and delicious food.
My great-aunt and me
My great-aunt’s 88th birthday party
On Monday , my parents had a day off (due to Pentecost Monday) and we all decided to go for a bike ride. My Dad took me over to Nina’s place in the morning, so I could ride her bike (I obviously don’t have a bike in Germany anymore). Nina rode Dirk’s bike and Dirk had borrowed a bike from his Dad. The kids were put in a bike trailer. They could sit next to each other and enjoy the view. Awesome!
On our bike trip
We then rode the bikes back to my parents’ place to pick them up and then started our bike tour. We rode for about 1,5 hours and then took a break at a monastery with an attached “Biergarten”.
We had some yummy food and refreshments and enjoyed the beautiful, beautiful day.
From Tuesday through Friday, we did very, very mundane things. Things we would do if I lived back in Germany, close to my family.
My Mom, my sister and I went shoe-shopping for Greta. My sister, my aunt and I went to the ESPRIT outlet to do some shopping for ourselves. (It’s one of the places that I always like to visit when I am there :) you can always find such good deals. I bought a jacket, capri pants, a zipped hoodie and a blouse.)
My Mom cooked me a lot of very authentic German meals, like – “Dicke Bohnen” (fava beans) with bacon and string bean soup. Yum.
I got to spend some one-on-one time with Greta, when my sister had to take Tom to the pediatrician one morning, and it was just great to have her to myself for a little while. We cuddled on the couch and listened to one of her audio books.
I spent more time with my great-aunt, which really was important to me, and I spend a lot of time with my sister, who tried to convince me to cancel my flight and “just stay” by making me delicious latte macchiatos and feeding me Toffifees :)
On Saturday morning, I picked up Nina, Greta and Tom at 8:30 a.m. and we drove to the “Kastanienhof “, where we had breakfast with my parents, my aunt and some other family friends. It’s a breakfast buffet and they have all kinds of yummy breakfast items… croissants, waffles, müsli , fresh rolls, bread, yogurt,… – you name it.
My Dad and me
When we got home, my sister and I ran some more errands downtown and then we drove over to my great-aunt’s place one last time to spend some more time with her before I had to say goodbye.
In the evening, my parents, my aunt, Nina, Dirk, and Tom went to the Italian restaurant for our traditional farewell dinner.
My Sister, Tom and me
My Aunt and My Mom
We had espresso at my parents place and watched the end of the Grand Prix Song Contest.
On Sunday , we got up at 7:30 a.m., had breakfast with my Dad (who had to leave for a tennis match) and at 9:15 a.m. my sister came over with the kids and they and my Mom took me to the airport.
It was surreal almost to part with them after what felt like such a long time (compared to previous visits). My Mom kept saying how it feels so normal to have me around (ha, she wouldn’t dare say anything else, I guess ;)).
So, this sums it up… my wonderful visit in Germany with my family back in May. More photos are here (if you’re a friend on Flickr).
I can’t believe it’s been 6 weeks, since I got back.
Deia
July 15, 2010 at 1:03 amIt looks like you really had a great time. I remember when my great-great-aunt would come over from the US to visit, we always had a lot going on, trips, parties, etc…
.-= Deia´s last blog ..Too hot to blog =-.
Fabulous
July 15, 2010 at 3:40 amThe last photo with your niece is ADORABLE. Her face is SO cute :)
Tinka
July 15, 2010 at 3:46 amThe pictures are beautiful! Looks like you had a great time in good old Germany :) we need to get together next time you come out to visit :)
.-= Tinka´s last blog ..Engaged AND married – =-.
Kyla Roma
July 15, 2010 at 5:35 amOh my gosh, I want to squeeze Tom, what a cutie!! It looks like such an amazing time :)
.-= Kyla Roma´s last blog ..I’d like you to meet my fairy godmother- her name is Leigh-Ann =-.
Tanja
July 15, 2010 at 6:45 amI’m not getting enough reading about your trip to Germany. I can feel your excitment and it makes me want to go on a vacation trip to Germany soon ;) I’m glad you had such an amazing time!
Susi
July 15, 2010 at 7:59 amshe fed you Toffifees? I would have stayed! ;-)
Lisa
July 15, 2010 at 8:45 amThat sounds like the perfect week! I love going out and doing things when I visit home, my my favorite times are those spent just doing everyday activities and just being a family together. It’s perfect. <3
.-= Lisa´s last blog ..dreams- sunshine- laughter- love- life =-.
Stefanie
July 15, 2010 at 9:47 amI love reading about your Germany trips. It always sounds like so much fun.
.-= Stefanie´s last blog ..Things that make me happy =-.
Nilsa @ SoMi Speaks
July 15, 2010 at 10:22 amI think your family has found the fountain of youth. I cannot believe your great-aunt is 88 – she looks 68. And your mom, aunt, sister and yourself all look fantastic for your respective ages. What’s your secret!?
Chelsea Talks Smack
July 15, 2010 at 11:55 amThese are absolutely adorable, I LOVE GERMANY.
Kat
July 15, 2010 at 12:26 pmAw, it sounds like you used your time over here very wisely. :) A whole week of strictly family time seems like a good idea… And I loved all those pictures but the one with you and Greta (https://www.flickr.com/photos/i_am_mine/4747607817/) has got to be framed and put in your house somewhere! Such a good picture of you and such a funny capture overall! <3
.-= Kat´s last blog ..When life gives you lemonade =-.
ute
July 15, 2010 at 4:46 pmman girl. get to it and make some babies. if they are even half as cute as your sisters they will be adorable :) LOVE all the pictures, thank you for the update. felt i was right there with you!
Maribeth
July 16, 2010 at 5:01 amI know. I think mine is a month. How I miss my Uschi and Germany!
.-= Maribeth´s last blog ..Friday Fil-Ins =-.
Emily Jane
July 16, 2010 at 8:38 amI love all the photos!! Greta and Tom are ADORABLE :)
.-= Emily Jane´s last blog ..The Broken Mirror =-.
emmysuh
July 16, 2010 at 9:48 amYou can never blog about Germany too much for me. Keep it up!
I feel like this blog post described 89% of my time/activities in Germany — in a good way. I do miss it!
Also, haha, German is such a fun/funny language: Strandkorb = beach chair, but…Strand = beach but doesn’t korb = basket? So it’s a beach basket? Haha, which carries, you a person?
<3
Karen
July 24, 2010 at 5:46 pmBeautiful photos. Tom’s so cute, as is Greta!
.-= Karen´s last blog ..A note from me to you =-.
Polin
July 31, 2010 at 7:04 pmIt’s always so great to go back home… and it’s always so hard to come back. Glad you had a good stretch there and enjoyed it to the max.
.-= Polin´s last blog ..Moving =-.