Tag Archives: Trips

We were booked to leave Europe on a 5 pm flight out of Frankfurt on Monday the 15th.

When we checked our flight status that morning, however, we learned it had been canceled due to aircraft maintenance. How relieved were we that we happened to be staying with a friend!!!

The next available flight wasn’t until noon the following day, and I can’t say we were unhappy to have a bonus day in Wiesbaden!  We took advantage of it by taking the funicular (cliff rail) at the end of Diana’s street up the mountain and exploring a bit up there. The views were spectacular! We wandered around a beautiful old Russian Orthodox Church, and had lunch at a small cafe at the summit. Maddie indulged I yet more curry wurst (a new favorite!!!). Neve had a big, fresh pretzel with cheese and I had an apple strudel.

Later, Diana took us to another park to explore a bit before dinner at a lovely Lebanese place called “Restaurant Palmyra”, which was, of course, absolutely fitting.

We were all three of us surprised by Germany and just how much we loved it. We weren’t sure anything could match our adoration of London and Edinburgh, but we were wrong. Perhaps it was because Wiesbaden and Eltville were smaller cities; but it was easy to navigate and explore, and evyone spoke English. Everyone. And they were all so very friendly! Or perhaps it was because we were with such a dear friend the whole time.  I don’t think that was it, though; I think Germany is legitimately a beautiful, wonderful, welcoming place.

The view from the mountaintop of Wiesbaden.

Diana lives on a lovely, tree-lined, quiet street.

At the Kurpark, Wiesbaden.

Neve ve made a cute new friend outside the grocery store on our way back to the apartment.

It it was a very sad goodbye to Diana the next morning.

Now we are home after a hellish trip back to the states (re-entry at Chicago was an absolute nightmare. Being a U.S. Citizen means exactly zero to customs and passport control here. Europe was far more welcoming). We spent six hours at Chicago O’Hare waiting for our flight to leave and got back into Richmond nearly 24 hours after waking up in Germany.

The 3 of us are going to be insufferable for awhile, comparing all of the wonderful we just experienced to the reality of home.

But it’s okay; I’m already planning on figuring out recipes for all that wonderful food!!!!

I am super duper jet-lagged and haven’t had much luck blogging from my iPad in the past, so bear with me as I try and figure this out.

Victoria Street

Love this pig!

Ross Fountain with Edinburgh Castle above

We went and toured Greyfriars Kirkyard and all of its creepy glory.

The tombs, crypts, and funerary ornaments are just amazing. 
Unfortunately, it was closed.

Greyfriar’s Bobby

The cafe where JK Rowling wrote much of Harry Potter.  (And we did spot the graves of Tom Riddle and a MacGonagall in the kirkyard).  We want to head back there for a proper cuppa tomorrow.

Statuary in front of St Gile’s Cathedral.

The Heart of Midlothian (the former administrative center of the town).And for all my doubters out there: we stopped by a Sainsbury’s grocery and the eggs are sold not refrigerated. Seriously. Eggs are amazing and can keep for ages.

Tomorrow we tour the castle and Holyrood Palace, and hopefully it is not intensely windy, rainy, and cold again. But if it is, we’ll do like the clerk at Sainsbury’s said to us: “Enjoy our lovely “weather”.

Brace yourselves – this post is picture-heavy.

This Saturday my father got remarried in a beautiful location in the Hudson Valley.  I drove up with Maddie on Friday and we met up with our brother, who we hadn’t seen in over a year. It was immediately the most fun we’ve had in ages.  Sibling sleepovers are  more fun when you’re adults.  It doesn’t hurt that my brother is the funniest guy I know. My abs hurt from giggling so hard.

Before the ceremony Saturday we struck out for Kingston to explore the town we had spent so much of our childhood in (well, Caleb and I anyway; Maddie’s been a Virginia kid since she was a year old).  It was surreal and weird to be there and see it all again.  So very little had changed, except that it looked so very much smaller than when we were children.  We had several spots to visit, as we moved around a lot during our time there.

Every corner we turned was an “oh! Remember?”  It quickly became a delightful day together, just the three of us, reveling in nostalgia.

The Old Dutch Church was a highlight; I’d always loved its architecture and history, and this time we got a tour of the inside. I still miss hearing its chimes throughout the day.

While driving past my old elementary school I remembered that there was a stunning view just over the hill.  Standing there, I remembered why I miss New York State so very much. The landscape simply speaks to me in a way that no other place does.

I was surprised to see the ruins of the old Hutton Brick factory still in place near Kingston Point Beach.  I was even more surprised to discover that the beach itself is still, in fact, covered with old bricks that have washed ashore.

After the beach we hit the Rondout Strand area for a quick lunch.  Or it would have been, if not for the worst service and even worse food.  Oh well, can’t win then all, right?

It did mean that we had to scramble to get back to the resort in time for the wedding.  Fortunately, we were able to make it in time to shower and change just in time for the ceremony.

The resort is backed by the Esopus Creek, which made for a lovey setting for a wedding.

My aunt, Diana, sang during the ceremony (and made us all cry).

Crying or not, I still made faces at my brother up there (he was best man).  I think he was ignoring me.

Julie, the bride, was radiant (as brides should be!) and I especially loved the tartan ribbon she wore about her waist. That’s her son to the left of her.  I think that means I have a new sibling?  And he has an adorable 18 month old daughter.  I have a step-niece!

Maddie looked beautiful, as always.

Looking at this picture, I think it’s apparent they will be very happy together in the years to come.

I hadn’t been to a wedding in ages, and I’m happy to say it was a wonderful time.  My cousin Jim came, and having him there along with my brother made my whole weekend.  Two days and a looooooong drive back home later, my heart is still full from their company this weekend.  I need to make sure we connect more.

Congratulations to the happy couple! Here’s to many years of happiness ahead!

Every year I pack a suitcase and head to Virginia Beach for a long weekend with some of my closest friends.  It’s always a much-needed respite from family and farm responsibilities, and it’s wonderful to have my meals brought to me for a few days!

Unfortunately, it rained much of the time we were there this year, but we did manage to take part in our yearly Stand-Up Paddle Boarding tour and spend a little time on the beach before retiring indoors.  Besides, just being out with your besties makes everything better!  I’ve known for quite a long time how important it is to find your tribe, and it means so much in my life that I have found mine.

That’s Elizabeth and Gabi under the blue umbrella.  It definitely came in handy for the smaller rain showers (I took this from the balcony of our room; those ladies are early risers. Me? Not so much when I don’t have to worry about feeding the animals!)

The theme of our weekend was “Looking on the bright side”, since I had just lost Jerry and we were essentially rained out.  Gabi showed us how to have fun walking to dinner in the rain with crappy ponchos.

The bright side of rainy beach days?  No crowds!

The morning before we left there was a pod of dolphins just offshore.  It was hard to get any pictures from where I was, but it was such a wonderful and calming sight to behold.

As every year, the time goes by far too fast.  The ocean is such a calming and recharging force, I wish I could spend more time there throughout the year.

Thankfully I have my friends close by, even if we aren’t always in a swanky hotel room overlooking the beach!