As a barista (and west coast coffee snob), one of my favorite things to do is find quality coffee shops. Visiting Ludwigshafen, I was in for a treat. Cousin Alexandra is not a coffee drinker. She drinks tea and lots of it. Â But on the morning I awoke lopsided on the deflated air mattress [...]
German Pfannenkuchen (pancakes) are more dense and hearty than the American pancake and are usually eaten for lunch or dinner rather than breakfast. They are commonly prepared as a savory meal, but are sometimes enjoyed with sweet toppings. Just like in the States, everyone makes their Pfannenkuchen a bit differently. Here is a picture show [...]
I was about to head north when I was possessed by an overwhelming feeling. I was leaving too soon. I needed to see Heidelberg again. It was too soon to jump on a train and head on to the next leg of my journey. It had been seven years since I’d lived in Heidelberg. Seven [...]
Today, January 25th, I set out on my first hike of the new year. It was incredible and rejuvenating, and took place in the deep dark depths of Germany’s Schwarzwald, also known as the Black Forest. Hearing the name Black Forest is likely to conjure up a chilly sense of mystery, and rightly so. The [...]
Christmas in Germany IS Christmas. I can’t imagine a more amazing place to spend December than roaming the streets of these festive markets. To get a true understanding of the enchantment, you really need to go there yourself (I highly recommend Munich & Nuremberg). To instill a bit of romantic inspiration, I have prepared for [...]
I was sitting in the condo room in Maui wondering what to do.  I had planned to train it up to Remscheid to be with Jennifer and her family upon my arrival in Munich, but had just received an email informing me of their flight to Spain for the holidays.  I could fly to Spain, but lets [...]
It was sometime in the morning, the 15th of December, and I was in Munich. It was snowing. I had never packed a suitcase before, but here I was. With a hard case. Fashionably European. Â It had been five-and-a-half years since living in Germany and I was, at this point, fully aware of [...]
