Liebe Berlin,

Liebe Berlin,

It's almost time. We've had a good run! We've had some good times, we've had some bad times, but our time is over now. I'll admit, it was hard in the beginning. You weren't familiar, I couldn't use my phone to call my Mutti for help, and I couldn't understand a word that you were saying. However, as we got to know one another, I realized that Jack and I could do this. I eventually began to understand you, though half the time, I still can't understand a word you are saying. You've taught me so much; about myself and about life.

You have taught me:

• Be present in the moment. Life is not virtual, it is here and now. Enjoy every moment, take breaks when you need to, and stop worrying!
• Family and friends will help you get through anything
• Bread and carbs are okay. In fact, they're delicious
• What good chocolate tastes like
• Chicken has a taste
• How to (decently) speak a foreign language
• The importance of travel
• Christmas markets are amazing
• How to relax, especially on Sundays and holidays
• That the US needs Döners. Period. 

Since you have taught me so much, I would like to repay the favor and teach you a few things:

• You need a Target (it's French!) and a Sephora. Trust me on this.
• Not everyone has to own a dog
• Update your toilets so that they are without shelves
• Smoking is bad for you
• Learn how to walk. Not everyone walks slow, walks with sticks, or horizontally in groups

Jack and I soon return home to the US to finish up the first chapter of our lives. We have graduate programs to finish and jobs to find. While we have a long life ahead of us, you will never be forgotten, Berlin. We will miss you, and hope to visit you again in the future!

Love Always und Bis Bald,

Sarah (& Jack)

Biergarten and the World Cup

Jack and I, along with another American couple, decided to go to a Biergarten for the Germany World Cup game the other. A Biergarten, for those who don't know, is a outdoor area with picnic benches, tvs, and stands to buy beer, wine, wurst, pretzels, and other German foods. There is usually a lot of people hanging around these Biergartens, but when the World Cup is going on and it is Germany's night to play, you can bet that places are packed.

The Biergarten that we went to was not a huge one; a cafe with a large outdoor seating area near Preußen Park. There was a huge flat screen with many people decked out in their Red, black and yellow gear, who were yelling and cheering at the screen. We should have more Biergartens in the US. Sports bars are fine, but it's indoors and confined. Outside, one can be free to jump around when your team scores without bumping into people. Soccer is not my thing. To be honest, I find the sport quite dull. However, at the Biergarten, with friends and watching fans, it can be quite fun!

Half-time came and everyone left to go to the bathroom/get food/go smoke/whatever. We decided that we had had enough of the Biergarten and watch the rest of the game from our apartment. The Biergarten, while a great atmosphere, is also full of smokers who decide to smoke and blow their smoke right in front of you, along with teenagers who congregate and drink/smoke/act ridiculous together because it's one of their first nights out without parental supervision. We mature adults can only handle so much of that.

PS: Germany and Ghana tied 2-2.

Caption this #5

Saw this at the Zoo today. It might be the most awesome picture in the world...Go ahead and caption it!

That Italian Place

There is an italian restaurant that Jack and I walk by whenever we go to the U-Bahn, the grocery store, or on one of our many walks. We refer to it as "That Italian Place." We have been there once. The food was decent; nothing spectacular.

"That Italian Place" is an interesting restaurant because they are always open, yet never seem to have patrons. Other restaurants will be mostly full, but this place is empty, save the owners and one of their sons. We know the owners by their faces because they are always seen smoking outside and the boy is always running things between a car and the restaurant. It is one of the few restaurants in our area that have a "Raucher Raum" (Smoking room), and when we do see people, they are usually in there. Jack and I have always wondered how "That Italian Place" has managed to stay in business when no one is ever eating there.

Things have changed over the last week. In case you didn't know, there is this huge soccer tournament going on in the world called, The World Cup (GO USA!). Ok, I know that you know this, but I don't know if you know how important and popular this tournament is in the world outside of America. Think of the Superbowl on crack, but like leap year, it only happens once every 4 years. Pretty crazy, right? Fans cheering and televisions echo in the usually quiet streets as restaurants and homes play the games. Now, with 3 games every night, bars, restaurants, and biergartens are packed, including "That Italian Place."

Jack and I were amazed as their previously stained chalkboard menu that was never changed got a makeover. The blackboard now features a new menu with new specials and actual photographs to go along with their description. There are new waiters/waitresses who have been seen drawing little soccer men on their new World Cup Happy Hour Specials board. There is a huge flat screen in the restaurant that has an average of 15 people crowded around it when a game is going on, with other people eating in/outside the restaurant. Their food smells and looks pretty good! I wonder if this will keep up after the World Cup is over? Sadly, we may never know if "That Italian Place" will continue to stay in business, because we leave for the US in 11 days. Manuel, you will have to keep us posted!

The Amalfi Coast and Capri: By Land and by Sea

Jack and I just returned from 11 days in Italy, specifically the Amalfi Coast, with my mom, dad, brother, and "adopted" family member, Nick. The weather was amazing, the food and wine were plentiful, and the sights were beautiful. After every Roman Family trip, we do two things; plan the next trip, and talk about our highlights. While we don't know when or where our next trip will be (the Bro and I are, after all, adults now...), I did know what my two highlights were, both of which have to do with exploring the Amalfi Coast/Capri.

Hanging out on the Spanish Steps

Sorrento

Ruins in training

Jack and I took advantage of the mountainous seaside by hiking. We must have gone on at least three all day hikes, usually climbing to our favorite town of Ravello, or around the island of Capri. We would meet my family for lunch or dinner in the town that we hiked to, and then make the trek back. On the
hike to Ravello, Jack and I saw what he called "Ruins in Training", as they were homes and buildings that had clearly been abandoned long ago, but not quite as long as real Roman ruins. We saw several small towns along the way, including one where we ate lunch called Pantone. We walked up and down rock steps, around waterfalls, and through wooded areas that required frequent lice checks (we were clear!).

The tiny main square of Pantone

Mom and I also went hiking around the island of Capri. I'm glad that I persuaded her to go with me because the views were spectacular. We saw a Natural Arch, views of the perfectly blue ocean, and went to the Villa Jovis, the ruins of the home of Emperor Tiberius. After all of this hiking, we should be in tip top shape. These hills were pains in the @$$...literally! However, the views made it all worth it.

The other way that we explored the Amalfi Coast was by boat.

Amalfi

One day, my family rented a boat and we could go wherever we pleased.

We made a stop in Positano, a city that is famous in the area, but is extremely touristy and posh. Not my favorite area of the coast, but beautiful nonetheless.

Positano

We then returned to the boat and docked it at a restaurant that is only reachable by sea. You dock the boat there and enjoy the beach and/or an amazingly fresh seafood meal. Other than the meal, my favorite part was the bathroom. In case you had any doubts with how to go the bathroom, these pictures were helpful reminders.

Our Lunch Spot

Thank you, bathroom, for clearing that up

Following lunch, we anchored the boat in a little cove not far from Amalfi to do some tanning and swimming. Specifically, my mom and I tanned, while the boys braved the frigid Mediterranean Sea temperatures. After all of us had a chance to play captain, we drove the boat back to Amalfi, got ready for dinner, and continued to eat amazing food.

You can kind of see Nick's head, bobbing around on the left side.

I wish I could spend an hour with all of you and tell you about this trip. There was so much more that we did! We went to the ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum, visited the Gardens of Villa Cimbrone in Ravello, I rode on the back of a scooter with Nick, and took a rowboat inside the Blue Grotto in Capri. However, not all of you want to listen or read my ramble, so I took out two major highlights and shared them with you all.

Check out Food Porn for some pictures of the yummy food that we ate! Sadly, I didn't take nearly enough pictures of food, mainly because by the time I realized that I wanted to take a picture, the food was already in my belly :) Also take a look in Die Photos for some other great Amalfi/Capri/Rome photos!

Sarah's Happy Place

I can't believe that I was here...Claude Monet's home in Giverny.

We had the perfect day. Sure, there were a ton of tourists, but it did not matter. I was looking at the pond with the water lillies and the Japanese Bridge (replica). I saw the field of poppies. I leaned against the willow trees looking at their reflections in the water. The place that I only dreamed of going was now reality. This was where my most favorite painter lived, worked, and drew inspiration. Another moment of pure joy, once again found in (ok, not in, but near) the most fabulous city in the world.

Jack's Happy Place

This past weekend, Jack and I woke up early to catch our 7 hour train to Munich. Munich, the place of beer, wurst, and pretzels, is also the home to Jack's Happy Place; The Deutches Museum.

We planned the travel and accommodations of our trip, but winged the rest of it. What were we going to do each day? No idea. On Saturday, being rainy and somewhat cold, we decided to go to the Deutsches Museum, a museum that we only assumed was a museum full of Deutches (German) art. How wrong we were. This museum happened to be a technical museum, of all German technologies in every possible field. There were artifacts of German glass making, printing, car and train modeling, space exploration, plane flying, and most importantly (to Jack), ship building.

Jack looking at the planking of the model ship

Jack loves anything to do with ship models. All last year, he spent countless hours working on the "Jolly Boat of the HMS Bounty" (whatever that means). When visiting Copenhagen this year, we stayed in a hotel that had model ships throughout the lobby and the man spent all of our down time looking at them. When we entered the room in the Deutches on German ship building, Jack was in awe. There were life sized ship models, small ship models, and everything in between. I can't remember for certain, but I believe he jumped and clapped in glee. He ran ahead, like a little child, shouting "Look at this one! It's so cool!"

"Toot! Toot!"

Then the museum guard pressed a button on one of the life sized ships. Instantly, the motors of the ship moved, the horn sounded, and Jack's mouth dropped to the floor. I don't know what was bigger; the smile on his face, or the length that his mouth dropped. He continued to run ahead, looking at all of the model ships, pointing and smiling, and I watched him like a mother watching her child play in puddles in the rain. How I love this man...what a dork he is...

Look of awe

Don't get me wrong. The pretzels were good, too :)

Pretzel the size of an Elephant's ear