As always, Ralf did an amazing job of selecting the perfect place for some memorable time with our German family. I struggle because I have limited opportunity to get to know them and to hear about Ralf's upbringing from their perspective so it's always nice to have a cozy, relaxing location to spend time together. Ralf's choice was Hotel Hammermühle in Stratoda, Germany. It was a quaint country inn based around a former mill and not surprisingly, the staff was out of this world friendly! We got settled in our sunny room and welcomed Johannes, Martina and Ines a short while later. Ralf had arranged for the traditional coffee service which involves an enormous tray of cakes and coffee or tea in the late afternoon. Then a nice walk on the path near the hotel through ... read more

After our heavy dinner the night before, we decided to start the day with a nice jog along the Mosel River Walk. What a beautiful way to see a little more of this gorgeous area while this charming little village was just coming to life. (Although, admittedly there was a part of me that thought staying in bed and admiring the Reichsburg Castle seemed like an equally adequate way to enjoy the start of our third day in Germany!) After a nice breakfast at the hotel, we loaded up our suitcases (no east feat in itself considering my heavy packing tendencies and the extended duration of our trip!) We hit the road and spent the next few hours driving along the Mosel River towards Trier with stops in several of the little villages along the way. ... read more

After landing in Dusseldorf, we picked up our rental car and successfully maneuvered out of what I still think are the smallest(but cleanest) parking ramps in the world! First stop Koblenz, which is known for the geographical fact that the Rhine and Mosel rivers intersect there. We enjoyed our first German style breakfast in the brewery in Koblenz. Yes, it’s true that the locals enjoy a “kleine beer” (small beer) called Kolsch even with breakfast. Despite the rain, we walked briefly through the village to find the Duetsches Eck. One thing I noticed instantly were the large riverboats, transporting tourists on the Wine country tours on the Rhine and Mosel rivers. You could walk out beyond all the German State flags to the point where the rivers converge. There is a huge monument erected in the ... read more

Determined to show me someplace new this time, after our touring plans were waylaid last June by the flooding here, Ralf decides on spending some time for relaxation at a wellness hotel in Austria. En route, we spend one night in the city of Munich. Coincidentally, in the US when you get on the topic of Germany, most commonly people ask if you have been to Munich so I figure it's a must and I am not disappointed! After arriving in the city, we promptly get checked into our hotel, the ArtHotel of Munich, a pretty cool place in itself. The walls are covered with modern art, and while I am typically not a fan of this style, it's a fun, high energy feel. Each of the door to the guest rooms has a unique destination ... read more

We made plans to have a night with Ines at a small vineyard bed and breakfast outside of Meissen. On our way, we stopped for a self guided tour of Meissen Cathedral. Let me just say, I am certain I have never seen a more beautiful structure in my life. I couldn't take enough pictures to do justice but honestly, it was just beyond amazing. As soon as you entered the cathedral, it smelled musty (aka historic!). There was an organ player filling the cathedral with sounds of a traditional church music and then the sense of sight as your eyes scanned every detail of the building. Words can't even begin the describe the beauty and I am so thankful we decided to stop for a tour on our way to meet Ines. You could go ... read more