November 23rd, 2016

If you look at a map, the country of Luxembourg sits to the west of us, just under Belgium and above France. It hasn’t been a big contender on the Bucket List…actually, it wasn’t even on it. However, being able to drive into Luxembourg City in about two hours made it all the more inviting to do a little exploring for an overnight trip over the weekend of November 12th-13th. We didn’t find much to do in Luxembourg City but found the quaint town of Vianden a treat!

We drove into Luxembourg City on Saturday afternoon and immediately found the Place de Jeux Publique. Our boys were absolutely delighted to climb in and out of every nook and cranny of this AWESOME pirate ship park. It’s no secret that we are BIG fans of the parks in Europe. We can now add this sweet place to our long list of outdoor havens built for children. Well Done Luxembourg!

 

 

 

Luxembourg was still in the midst of their Autumn colors. Since Germany was on the tail end, it was wonderful to extend the season a bit longer!

The boys and I enjoyed playing with the tire swings. It was such a chilly day that moving around was good for ALL of us!

 

We offered to stop by the park again on our way back in order to coax the boys away from this fantastic park!

 

Setting out on foot, Mien Mann used his Google Maps to navigate us through the downtown area of Luxembourg City. We past the Place de la Constitution where Christmas markets were getting set up for the holiday season.

 

We stopped in the Cathédrale Notre-Dame, originally a Jesuit church, that was consecrated in 1621. The boys continued their habit of lighting candles and praying.

 

 

We strolled through the downtown area, stopping in a bookstore, a little piazza and a café for a warm snack.

 

On our way back to the park, we passed a lively, Dutch band playing in the streets. We think there was a soccer game because we saw a lot of fans dressed in orange. Can you see the man wearing the orange, wooden shoes in the second picture? I’m wondering how comfy and warm those are. He seemed quite content so who knows?!?

 

That evening, we drove about an hour to Vianden and experienced the unforgettable St. Martin’s procession that I wrote about in the last post. Remember the fireballs?! The boys cuddled up to their Daddy that night for their bedtime stories.

The next morning, we enjoyed a delicious breakfast at our hotel. We later found out it was included in our room rate. A pleasant surprise we were not expecting.

As we were packing up, the boys watched German cartoons. I couldn’t help but notice all the languages (Luxembourgish, German, French, English, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish) offered on the TV! Many folks in Luxembourg are at least tri-lingual. They speak Luxembourgish, German and French. We met many that also spoke English!

 

It was wonderful to see the town of Vianden in the morning light before heading up to Schloss Vianden.

 

 

The Vianden Castle dates back to the 10th century and is one of the largest fortified castles west of the Rhine. Its perched high on the mountain overlooking the town. At night, the castle is illuminated by lights…very pretty! The castle was slowly restored during the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s and has an authentic, refurnished interior that gives insight into the lives who inhabited it. For example, we noticed how small the bed was. As we listened to the audio tour guide, we learned how people preferred to sleep sitting up in those days because only the dead laid down. Alrighty then. Good to know! We even came across the castle cat who fell asleep on Mein Mann’s lap and drooled.

Thankfully, the fees to explore the castle were very reasonable. We paid 12 Euros for our family since S is still free plus a couple of extra euros for an audio guide in English. S saves us a lot of money at the magical age of five!  We took a self-guided tour through the various rooms full of cannon balls, armor, furnishings and local brew. The architecture was beautiful!

 

 

 

Here is a chest showing an intricate lock…highlighting the skills and trademarks of the local locksmiths.

The castle had its own chapel. The family attended the service in the upper room where the altar was. The middle of the room had an opening to a bottom level. Towns people listened to the service from this lower chamber. E is standing in the remains of the downstairs portion.

 

A large collection of Rembrandt’s sketches were on display in a couple of the rooms. I’m so glad we got to see them! We were struck with how this renowned artist captured so many aspects of humanity and divinity within his art. The boys enjoyed using the small magnifying glasses provided to get a closer look and find things we pointed out in the pictures.

 

Castle exploring eventually lost its appeal and the boys’ fun meter pegged out (as my Dad would say). Thankfully, a fun cafe was open for us to enjoy a relaxing lunch. The Ancien Cinema Cafe-Club in Vianden has a kids’ play area along with a huge screen where they show old cartoons. We watched Tom & Jerry while we ate!

 

 

Luxembourg is such a quiet, country neighbor. We don’t hear much about it. However, it’s a pleasant drive and we found a few gems during our visit. We would like to return someday and explore a Nature Park we read about in an area called petite Suisse (Little Switzerland). It looks beautiful in the travel book!

Until next time…Äddi! (Goodbye in Luxembourgish)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

November 22nd, 2016

My friend, Amy, is my German-culture Guru. She is always filling me in on the latest, cultural events going on. Since her boys attend German schools, their family has an entirely different level of inculturation. I’m thankful that she shares her insider tips and information with us! Near the beginning of November, Amy told us about the St. Martin Lantern Procession on November 11th. Her son’s class was doing a program at the Catholic Church followed by a procession, bonfire and treats. Children make lanterns at school and home (and can even purchase one if needed) to carry in the procession. Often a man, dressed as St. Martin with a long red cloak, leads the parade on horseback. There is also singing. The more she talked about it, the more excited I got for our family to participate!

As the date approached, I did some research to learn more about St. Martin. The boys and I also came across several picture books about him in the children’s section of our favorite, downtown bookstore. For those who aren’t familiar with him, here’s a quick lesson compliments of Wikipedia…”Saint Martin of Tours started out as a Roman soldier then was baptized as an adult and became a monk. It is understood that he was a kind man who led a quiet and simple life. The best known legend of his life is that he once cut his cloak in half to share with a beggar during a snowstorm, to save the beggar from dying from the cold. That night he dreamed that Jesus was wearing the half-cloak. Martin heard Jesus say to the angels, ‘Here is Martin, the Roman soldier who is not baptised; he has clothed me.’ ” St. Martin was a friend to children and a patron of the poor. He was eventually appointed the third Bishop of Tours (France). This holiday originated in France and later spread to other countries throughout Europe.

We bought our lantern-making supplies at the stationary store in our village and got to work. We were excited with the final product!

 

That night we bundled up in layers and walked to the church with the boys swinging their lanterns.

 

We sat with Amy and her family to watch a short program put on by the kindergarten children. They sang songs, performed a short skit of St. Martin giving the cloak to the beggar and also recited lines from a prayer or a poem about St. Martin (I think).

 

Here’s a short video clip of the children speaking in German

Afterwards, we followed the procession out of the church and through the streets to the square where a large bonfire was lit.

 

 

We made our way to the fire to warm up a bit before enjoying sweet pretzels, hot cider and Glühwein. Amy told us to bring our own mugs. I love the efforts, both big and small, put forth by the Germans to be environmentally conscious!

 

A band played while people mingled around the fire, sipping their drinks. The square was full!

 

The next day, we drove a couple of hours to the country of Luxembourg and spent the evening in the village of Vianden. When we walked into a restaurant for dinner, we noticed several folks whose faces were smeared with black charcoal. They were rowdy and we couldn’t help but wonder if there was something going on. We asked our waitress and she made a comment about a St. Martin’s festival. After our experience from the night before, we felt a bit “in the know.” Oh, were we WRONG!

After dinner, people were congregating outside. We saw firetrucks and firemen out as well. I began asking strangers if anyone spoke English. Thankfully, there was a kind woman who spoke up and fielded our questions. She confirmed a St. Martin’s procession was about to happen in a few minutes. However, she warned us to keep the children back from the edge of the street because this was not like the St. Martin lantern processions in Germany. She said, “This one is special.” Hmm…What does that mean?” we wondered. Within minutes, we found out.

As we stood back on the corner of the street, a sudden explosion went off on the hillside. It was SO LOUD! A MASSIVE billow of fire and smoke immediately filled the air! Within minutes, a second explosion took place on the hill opposite the first. Another, MASSIVE billow of fire and smoke rose into the darkness. HUGE bonfires roared on both hillsides lighting up the skies. It was really hard to capture with our cameras but we still tried.

 

It was crazy, amazing and unsettling all at the same time. If you were inside my brain, you would’ve been privy to the exit strategy I was formulating if things got out of hand. Our oldest got upset while our youngest was loving every moment of it. I took E back to the hotel (the large, white building over Mein Mann’s left shoulder in the picture above). Being that the hotel was smack dab in the middle of the village, we couldn’t get away from it all. But, I think the indoors offered a place to feel safe and gave him some time to regain his courage. We eventually stepped outside again but stayed near the hotel entrance.

We could hear loud chanting as a procession of people started walking down both hillsides and through the streets. People of all ages were dragging balls of fire wrapped in cages of metal wires. The cages had a long wire extending out with a handle on the end. Men, women, children and grandparents marched in the procession, shouting out a chant that cycled over and over again. Some of their faces were covered with scarves to mitigate the smoke and heat. Hearty participants swung their cages in the air and then crashed them down on the street giving off a loud “BOOM” sound. There was such a community presence within the age ranges.

 

 

 

We saw people marching with a long stick between them and a fireball hanging in the middle. They would swing the cage around and smash it against the pavement. I couldn’t help but think of how that woman described this as “special.” I would have added some other descriptives to help prepare someone…shocking, crazy, startling, nothing-like-anything-you-have-ever-experieced-in-your-life…just to name a few. Oh, what is lost in translation!!

I was relieved when I saw Mein Mann and our youngest again! We reunited and watched the rest of the procession together as a family. At this point, E was fascinated with it all. All my boys were!

 

Here is another short video clip. This one showing the procession in Vianden…

We definitely got both sides of the spectrum in our first experience of celebrating St. Martin. Though my personality leans more towards what we experienced with our village lantern procession, I have three boys that couldn’t stop talking about the fireballs in Vianden. Truthfully, I couldn’t either. I think the memory is forever SEARED in our brains!

Happy St. Martin’s Day!

 

 

 

November 19, 2016

Immersing ourselves into the German culture has been full of endless learning experiences. When we first arrived, we had to relearn simple tasks. Translating knobs on our German appliances, reading a manual to sort trash, and studying the rules of the road were efforts we made to learn things the German way. Hey that almost rhymes! =)

As we started to get the hang of some basic things, we continued to immerse ourselves a little further. Mein Mann purchased a one Year Train/Bus Pass to get back and forth to work since we have one car.  We became familiar with the German grocery stores in our village, using google translate to read labels on packaging. We learned to bring our cloth bags (or purchase them) and to position ourselves to bag our groceries quickly and efficiently while stopping to figure out the bill in Euros. I’m a big fan of the 2 Euro coin! We started the process of setting up a new network of health professionals with various nationalities (German, Puerto Rican, South African, American, Italian and more). We also navigated the world of car maintenance hoping the funny sounds we made to explain what we were hearing in our car were somehow universal. Oh Man!

This past Fall, we stepped into the culture a little further…motivated by need but also curiosity. There is still the intimidation factor with each new experience, especially in light of our limited German language skills. We appreciate the differences in how things are done and often marvel at the unexpected efficiency. When I got a CAT scan at a German radiology office, I was shocked when the doctor went over the test results with me before I left! I also received a CD of images and a summary of my results. Here’s a few more of our recent experiences to check off the list…

Mein Mann had a Filling Fall Out. Though the boys have seen a pediatric dentist, he and I were long overdue for a cleaning. The filling motivated us to find a dentist fast. After his initial “emergency repair” appointment, he went back again for his cleaning. He saw the head dentist on his second visit and recommended him to me. When I went in for my initial consult and X-rays, the dentist asked me if I spoke German. I responded, “a little.” He then asked the tech if she spoke English. She responded, “a little.” He was confident we would get along just fine and we did. Hand motions go a long way!

Our Adi girl had surgery to remove a lump behind one of her ears. We decided to try our village Vet to get a second opinion on a lump we found several months ago. Adi wasn’t the most cooperative patient but I was impressed with the kindness of the Veterinarian. After a quick examination, he used his tech to translate his recommendation for surgery to remove the lump. A few days later, Adi went in for surgery. E kissed her that morning, telling her she needed to be okay because he loved her. Thankfully, the mass was benign (I actually got to see it!) and she was sent home with a bunch of stitches. I still remember calling the office to check in on her that morning, attempting to speak my broken German. Oh the adventures…

 

I got a Turkish Pascha Treatment. For Mother’s Day this past year, Mein Mann and the boys got me a gift certificate to a nearby Spa and Sauna. I’ve been wanting to get a massage but was hesitant to set it up. Truthfully, I have a rather modest bent. Just the idea of “baring all,” which is not seen as shameful or embarrassing here, is not within my comfort zone. Massages back home came with coverings. I was prepped those coverings that I’m accustomed to would most likely NOT be a part of my experience here. But, I REALLY wanted a massage. I”m a HUGE fan of massage therapy and have experienced incredible relief over the years because of it. So…I decided to jump in with both feet and sign up for the traditional Turkish Pascha treatment. I didn’t fully know what to expect before going, but I figured I would be stretching my comfort zone in a whole new way. And I was right! Here is a description of how I spent 70 minutes one morning at the German Spa:

“A traditional Turkish Hamam treatment. After a 10-minute sweat session, you are scrubbed on the hot stone with the ‘kese.’ After this, your entire body is enveloped with foam during a massage and cleansing. Generous attention is paid to the back. Through stretching and lengthening, deep tension in the muscles is relieved and they are relaxed. As a crowning finish, a nourishing oil is worked into your skin.”

When I showed up, my masseuse spoke English. I was grateful! She instructed me to take off my clothes and enter into the Sauna. To clarify, I asked, “so I need to take EVERYTHING off?” “Yes.” She did not hand me a towel to cover up with. Alrightly then!

Here are a few pictures of my spa room and the Turkish tea I was given afterwards.

 

 

With a small hand towel discreetly placed on my body, I was scrubbed like a baby. Afterwards, I received a wonderful massage. She even washed and massaged my scalp. Once I was able to let go of the embarrassment factor, I relaxed so much that I almost fell asleep. It struck me that the last person that bathed me with such attention was my mother when I was a little girl. Thanks Mami! It’s actually a beautiful ritual. I was telling this to my friend, Amy, and she mentioned to me how so many cultures have a bathing ritual/practice. People know the value of it. Now I do too.

Here’s for being stretched in sooooo many ways! Cheers!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

November 18th, 2016

We went out for dinner last night to celebrate our First Anniversary here in Germany. We ate at our local Doner Restaurant and reminisced how we ate Turkish food for dinner our first night one year ago. Though that is still pretty hazy since we were so whacked out with jet lag! Over dinner, we talked about our favorite places we have visited thus far. Mein Mann and I had the same top three: Rome, Lucca (Italy) and Salzburg. We toasted to all we have experienced and learned in this first year. To Germany! Prost!

I’m starting to close the gap of time that has elapsed on this blog from entries to real-time. Here are several snippets from this past month in efforts to catch up! Some of these thoughts, pictures or memories have already been posted on Facebook but I still want to capture them here as well.

Our Artists

 

One morning, the boys set up their art easel from our landlord and began to draw portraits of people and cats. I think they were inspired by all the artists we have met in various countries and most recently in Rome. They sold their work to willing buyers (a.k.a. Mom and Dad) for .1-.5 cents. After I posted these pics on FB, they got a drawing gig from a family in our church. They both earned .5 cents and were quite excited about it!

Date Night

 

 

Our friend, Ms. Kristin, watched the boys for us while we headed downtown and checked out a “new-to-us” restaurant. We enjoyed this trendy place with delicious food, cooked right in front of us. The pasta dishes reminded us of Rome. The boys loved their time with Ms. Kristin who they have come to adore. A total win-win!

I Poisoned Myself…Ugh! (The Full Story)

 

The boys and I collected chestnuts one afternoon on our way home from the bus stop. We took them home, watched a video on how to roast chestnuts and got to work. Thankfully, when they were ready to taste, I was the only one to try them. My first taste was shockingly bitter. Wondering if I got one that wasn’t ripe, I tried one more bite from another chestnut. It tasted better but still not the familiar, sweet taste I have grown to love since living in Europe. Shortly after, I felt a strange sensation move through my body. I began to google “bitter chestnuts” and came across someone’s blog about poisoning themselves by eating a Horse Chestnut. After a little more research, my heart sank as I realized I had just done the same thing!

After positively identifying the leaves on the tree, I took one of the chestnuts to our village pharmacy and showed it to the pharmacist. She told me that it wasn’t the edible one. I told her I found this out too late and had already taken a couple of bites from two separate chestnuts. Her eyes got big. She asked me a few followup questions and then quickly disappeared in the back. I heard a lot of German spoken faster than I have ever heard before, which didn’t help my stress level at that moment. After a few minutes, she returned with the numbers to our local hospital and poison control. She told me I should be okay because of the small amount I had consumed and the time that had already passed. However, she shared all the symptoms I needed to watch for and told me to get to the ER if any of them presented themselves. I called Poison Control after I got home and got the same response. I was feeling pretty good until I ate dinner. My stomach got upset but I didn’t need to go to the ER. Thankfully, I awoke the next morning with a settled stomach and a whole new appreciation for life! Thank God the boys didn’t taste them!!!!

(Mom and Dad, I will be significantly more careful in the future! I promise!! I’m sorry for any stress this story causes you. I now understand parental love and stress!)

The Sheep Are Back!

I shout out a greeting to these furry creatures when we pass them going to and from the boys’ school. They were gone from the meadow during the summer but are now Baaaaaaaaaaack!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks Grammy Julie!

 

The boys received a super-fun package in the mail for Halloween and Thanksgiving from their dear Grammy! Her creativity and thoughtfulness spoiled all of us. =)

Kaffee Klatch

 

I get together with two women in my village on a regular basis for coffee and conversation. I look forward to these gatherings each week! These friends have become kindred spirits in a short period of time, enriching my life simply being themselves. Our families are getting together this upcoming Sunday for an early Thanksgiving Dinner celebration!

Batman and Robin Return!

 

The boys pulled out their Halloween costumes from last year and dressed up for their school’s Super Hero Day.

Foreign Inspiration

E’s class wrote creative essays about a “Leaf that Blew Away.” His leaf went to Roma!

The Year of the Warrior!

 

S lived out his dream to be a Ninja this year for Halloween. E came across the hardware for a Dragon Warrior costume and we improvised with his clothing. I’m glad to have such brave boys to protect me!

Fall Festival and Halloween

 

 

  

The boys’ school put on quite the festival the Saturday before Halloween. They had a blast playing carnival games, putting Dad in jail, riding a pony, doughnut wrestling and seeing their friends. Afterwards, they participated in a Trunk-or-Treat in the parking lot. We took them to a nearby village on Halloween night for a second go-around. A few German children came to our house to Trick-or-Treat too!

Getting to Know You, Getting to Know All About You…

We have really enjoyed getting to know our neighbor, Kristin (and her husband). She often rides home with us in the afternoons because she works at the nearby middle school. One day, on the ride home, S had the idea to invite Ms. Kristin to the coffee shop for a treat. The boys were delighted when she took us up on it!

Schönen Tag!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

November 17th, 2016…our One Year Anniversary of living in Germany! What better way to celebrate than share about the goodness and beauty we recently experienced this Fall! Just know that as I write…its raining. Such is life here! =)

Autumn is my FAVORITE season. I deeply enjoy the brilliant colors, the blue skies and the cool yet still warm temperatures. Getting to experience our first Fall here in Germany was an absolute DELIGHT! The array of colors were amazing!!! It’s as if Germany gives off an orange glow with all of its changing foliage. The outdoors have beckoned to us the past month or so and we have been more than happy to go and enjoy it! Even if it just meant shuffling our feet through the leaves, there was a richness added to the experience.

Back in the land we came from, we took a traditional Fall Hike with the boys each year. We kept that tradition going here by venturing out to the Magic Forest one lovely afternoon in October. This was my second time along this unique path where nature seems to come to life. I wrote about it back in September here https://www.germanyjournals.com/?p=2234. To our surprise, we met the artist on the trail! He was adding a new piece to his outdoor museum that holds around 500 of his creative wood carvings and stone work. He stopped and chatted with us for a while before moving on to place his next piece of art.

 

 

Later, he caught up with us again and gave both boys a little wooden gift he crafted himself. We will hang them on our Christmas tree this year.

 

 

Here are some colors we saw around our village in October…

 

 

Near the end of October, the boys had a Thursday off from school for a teacher inservice. We took advantage of a beautiful day and drove to the Dino Park. There were pumpkin creations everywhere!

 

 

The changing leaves added to the beauty of our surroundings…

 

 

A few days later, we joined our friends for a Sunday afternoon stroll near the farmlands that surround our village. Our boys rode their bikes ahead of us on the path while we walked and talked. Lovely weather and fun friends were a fantastic combination!

 

On November 1st, the boys and I took a bike ride after school along one of the trails near our home. The days are getting shorter now so it’s getting darker earlier. However, beams of sunlight shined through the trees that afternoon while piles of leaves blanketed the forest floor. We live in such beauty! Just remind me I said this when we are in the throes of grey, gloomy winter!

 

 

 

Vielen Dank Germany for sharing such beauty with our family! Even in the most mundane moment, I couldn’t help but be in awe. We have loved every minute of it!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

November 16th, 2016…one year ago today we boarded a plane for Germany! (Still catching up on memories made during our first year. This is my wrap-up from Rome.)

The Marriam-Webster Dictionary defines Pilgrimage in two ways. The first is this…a journey of a pilgrim; especially : one to a shrine or a sacred place. Here’s a look back at our family pilgrimage…

After learning of Pope Francis’s designation of a Jubilee of Mercy from December 8, 2015 – November 20, 2016, Mein Mann put Rome and the Vatican City on his bucket list for THIS YEAR. We wanted to attend a Mass with the Pope, visit St. Peters Basilica and see the Sistine Chapel with the boys alongside the sites of Rome. However, after our Papal Mass orientation with the nun at the Bishop’s Office in Rome (mentioned here: https://www.germanyjournals.com/?p=2759), Mein Mann and I asked ourselves, “Are we out of our minds?!” We would need to arrive three hours early and then expect our boys to sit through a church service in a foreign language for another 1 1/2-2 hours. Our conclusion was, “Yes!” After acknowledging our insanity, we still decided to go for it. If it all went south, we would leave or be escorted out by the Swiss Guard. But, at least we gave it our best shot! We knew this could be a once-in-a-lifetime experience because who would try this TWICE with two young boys?? Carpe Diem Folks!

Papal Mass on October 9th

On Sunday morning, we watched the sunrise illuminate St. Peter’s Basilica as we waited in line with people from all different nationalities. We chatted with a German woman who was standing in front of us.

 

 

Once the gates opened and we made it through security, we found seats along the main center aisle in the front section. The boys’ backpacks were filled with toys, snacks, and blankets. We set up a little play area for them and settled in for the next two and half hours as we waited for the service to start. They kept themselves entertained for a long time playing cards and cars. We broke up the time with a field-trip to the bathrooms. Thankfully, that was our only bathroom break since we had to go through the security lines to get back in…bladders of steal! During the last hour, we pulled out the iPad for a movie.

 

 

By the time the Mass started, the sun was high in the sky. Everyone received a booklet with the order of the Mass. Though Pope Francis’ Homily and the Sacrament of the Eucharist were spoken in Italian, we were impressed to hear several languages incorporated throughout the service. Readings and prayers were spoken in English, German, Italian, Chinese, Spanish and more. We were a family of four in a sea of thousands!

 

 

After the service, everyone pressed up against the aisles to see Pope Francis ride by on the Pope Mobile! The boys stretched out their hands towards the Pope as he passed directly in front of us.

 

 

Five hours after we first arrived, we were gathering our things to leave. We were proud of our boys for doing as well as they did! As we walked out through St. Peter’s Square, a large parade filled the streets, complete with marching bands. What a fun and festive way to end our Papal Mass experience!

 

 

In exchange for the hours the boys sat still, we spent the afternoon riding around the Borghese Gardens and climbing the lions at Piazza del Popolo. Our gelato came with a little reminder of the man we spent the morning with!

 

 

St. Peter’s Basilica

We returned to St. Peter’s Square mid-morning on Monday. We quickly found ourselves packed in like sardines waiting in the security lines for the Basilica. Oh the tradeoffs…Sleep? Sanity? Sardines? My beloved hubby held an umbrella up for almost an hour to shade us from the hot sun while I fed us all clementines. The boys were troopers!

We entered St. Peter’s through the Porta Sancta, the holy door, since it was a Jubilee Year. Once inside, we caught sight of Michelangelo’s Pietà. What an amazing depiction of Mary’s love for her son, Jesus. The sculpture was carved in 1499 when Michelangelo was 24 years old. It’s the only piece he ever signed.

 

St. Peter’s is beautiful! Our pictures do not do it justice…

 

 

St. Peter’s Square gave the boys much-needed space to get their wiggles out. “Pigeons!”

 

 

The Sistine Chapel via the Vatican Museums

After lunch, we walked to the Vatican Museums. Since we reserved our tickets online, we literally walked by hundreds of people into the main entrance…don’t make eye contact! What a contrast to our sardine experience in the morning.

 

All my “boys” enjoyed Pope Francis’ fussball display case with the “Francisco” jerseys the Pope received after addressing visiting soccer stars.

The boys wanted to see the Pope Mobiles so we headed there first. We watched a video about the shooting of Pope John Paul II. E & S learned how the Pope met with his shooter and forgave him. Such a powerful example of forgiveness.

 

We lingered in the Vatican inner courtyard, enjoying snacks and the beauty that surrounded us. This wonderful, open space is a respite from the crowds. As I was looking at a sign of the Sistine Chapel displayed in the courtyard, I overheard a tour guide talking to a family in English about the ceiling. She explained many of the panels of Michelangelo’s work. I listened for a few minutes and picked up some interesting tidbits to share.

 

We walked through the Gallery of Maps on our way to the Sistine Chapel.

 

The Sistine Chapel was packed! We spotted a small bench in the front corner of the room, beside the altar. Though the crowds were ushered to the middle of the room with constant reminders to be quiet and NOT take any pictures, I asked a guard if we could sit with our boys on the bench. He graciously approved. This allowed us to step out of the crowds and have our own little space to take in the vastness of the art around us. I whispered to the boys the facts I had learned from the tour guide in the courtyard, encouraging them to look for specific details in the paintings. We got to linger MUCH longer than I had anticipated. What a gift this was in the moment!

We exited out a different door than the general crowds thanks to a tip from our travel buddy, Rick Steves. This allowed us to end up back at St. Peter’s Basilica vs. the entrance to the Vatican Museums. MAJOR SCORE! Since the crowds were thinning and we didn’t need to go BACK through security, we decided to venture to the top of the Dome of St. Peter’s and see ROMA!

 

 

The views from the top!

 

 

On our way down, we walked around on the roof a bit. We eventually exited through St. Peter’s.

 

 

We couldn’t leave Vatican City without a celebratory gelato and crêpe!

 

We wrapped up our day, and our trip, with one last Italian dinner and playing near the Spanish Steps before heading back to our apartment. What sweet memories now.

 

  

Marian Webster’s second definition of pilgrimage is this…”the course of life on earth.” In some way, shape and form, we are all on a pilgrimage every day of our lives. May your journey be a good one and may all of our eyes be open to the Sacred in our midst!

 

November 4th, 2016…Today is my sister’s Birthday!

Our boys are at a great age for traveling! Since they are still young enough to have us at the center of their worlds, we aren’t interrupting their social lives or sports schedules by venturing off to other countries. Planes, trains and automobiles all hold various forms of interest which helps with the “enjoying the journey” part. They can be reasoned with (on the most part), bribed with sweets or distracted with a game when we need them to hang in there longer. They carry their own backpacks and walk for several miles a day but are still light enough to carry on our backs and shoulders if they need a break. In Rome, we walked over twenty miles in four days!

 

We still have our “moments.” However, we are learning how to bring down the stress, make things more enjoyable and set reasonable expectations. Checking out books from the library about sites we will see has been a simple way to set the stage for the boys and build excitement. We often tip the scales to more kid-friendly activities and keep our youngest travel companions in mind as we plan out adult portions…”How can we make this fun for them as well?”

Applying things we have learned the past several months, awesome weather and experiencing the sacred in our midst allowed our trip to Rome to be one of the best ones yet. We spent Saturday exploring Ancient Rome. Here’s a look back…

We took a Family Friendly Tour of the Colosseum and Roman Forum

After reading how a family oriented tour guide can engage children in ways that bring history to life and allow parents to enjoy and learn alongside them, we decided to give it a shot. We picked a woman, Katia, who was born and raised in Rome. She was part of a tour company that gave affordable options for private tours in Rome. Katia met us at the Colosseum Saturday morning and used props, architecture, and the landscape to fill our heads with stories and historical facts of Ancient Rome. We learned about the life of a gladiator, the gruesome “entertainment” that occurred in the Colosseum and the persecution of the Christians who were Emperor Nero’s scape goats after an all-consuming fire burned almost three-quarters of Rome back in 64 A.D..

 

 

 

 

From the Colosseum, we walked over to the Roman Forum. This ancient marketplace was the center of Roman public life. We saw ruins of government buildings, temples, and the complex of the Vestal Virgins. Katia continued to share her knowledge in this new setting. For the most part, the boys stayed attentive and enjoyed her company for a total of three hours. When it was time for lunch, we bid Katia goodbye with many thanks!

 

 

 

We visited the Torre Argentina Cat Sanctuary because our kids love cats!

 

After taking our Ancient Rome tour and refueling at a nearby restaurant Katia recommended, we visited this unique place I had discovered during my planning. Since Italy outlawed the euthanasia of healthy companion animals in the 90s, the city is a cat’s paradise. The Torre Argentina Cat Sanctuary houses 150 cats amongst the oldest temples in Rome (dating back to 400-300 BC) and the Theater of Pompey, upon whose steps dictator Julius Caesar was betrayed and killed in 44 BC. Fully vaccinated, cared-for-cats live amongst the ruins and our boys were excited to see them…especially our seven-year-old feline fanatic. The place is a wonderful example of compassion and creativity. There is also a nice Gelateria nearby that we visited afterwards!

 

 

Seeing the Pantheon

A former Roman Temple and now a church, the Pantheon is one of the best-preserved of all ancient Roman buildings. The current building was built between 118-128 AD and has the world’s largest, unenforced concrete dome. There is a large, open circle at the top called the oculus. With a diameter of 27 feet, this “eye” allows sunlight in to illuminate the building and rain to cool it. Water is carried away through drains in the floor. “I Spy Drains!” This was a free, relatively quick stop. 

 

 

Piazza Navona: Pigeons, Fountains and Open Space

Since our boys have been chasing pigeons across Europe, Rome was no exception. The open space of this piazza gave much-needed space to get a few wiggles out and enjoy the surrounding scenery without the concerns of traffic.

 

 

We eventually headed back to our apartment and called it a day. Mein Mann hung back with the boys so they could play and relax while I walked to the grocery store and picked up a few items. We ate our dinner on the patio, finishing up just in time to escape a downpour of rain. With full tummies and tired legs, we slept like babies!

I often wonder what our boys will remember from this season of life and how our travels will shape their perspectives, interest and interactions with people. Only time will tell. For now, we want our kids to enjoy traveling so they’ll look forward to the next adventure. Ciao!

 

 

 

 

 

November 1st, 2016…Happy November Everyone!

Do you know what Roma spells backwards? If not, take a moment to think about it. I think this is quite fitting and descriptive of how we felt about the Eternal City after our visit back in October…LOVED it! Mein Mann was the catalyst for this trip. After learning of Pope Francis’s designation of a Jubilee of Mercy from December 8, 2015 – November 20, 2016, he wanted us to go and experience Rome and Vatican City. When I found a four-day holiday weekend that aligned with an incredible deal on Ryanair, I booked the tickets and started planning.

We heard sooooo much about the crowds in Rome that I was worried how to navigate it all with two young boys. I spent hours reading books, blogs, websites and maps about Rome in the hopes of creating a child-friendly and crowd-tolerant itinerary…if there was such a thing! I even watched Roman Holiday with Audrey Hepburn. I found the entire movie on Youtube! We booked an apartment near the Spanish Steps, bought our Vatican Museum tickets online, hired an affordable, family tour guide for the Colosseum & Forum and reserved tickets for Mass at the Vatican with Pope Francis through the Bishops Office (the tickets are free yet still advised in light of the crowds). At O’dark hundred on Friday morning, October 7th, we boarded our plane to Rome. We landed in Ciampino airport in time for breakfast, allowing us a full day to start our adventures.

After checking into our apartment, we found a market in the neighborhood for groceries. Eating breakfast in our apartment, bringing snacks in our bags and having the ability to cook dinner makes an apartment our preferred lodging option. Shopping in Italy gave me the opportunity to use my limited Spanish seasoned with a couple of Italian words I know. Sometimes, we found ourselves responding in German to a question (Nein) and then speaking English to completely confuse things! Sadly, we are only proficient in one language but yearn to be more.

In the afternoon, we walked to the Bishops’ Office to pick up our tickets for Sunday Mass at the Vatican. We were called “pilgrims” upon our arrival and given a full orientation about what to expect at the Papal Mass by a young nun with a beautiful smile. She spent some individual time with me afterwards to pass on some kid-friendly tips. We felt  cared for and welcomed!

 

The Trevi Fountain was a short walk from the Visitors’ Office. Even in the midst of an amazingly LARGE crowd of people, we were able to make our way to the front and toss in our coins. According to legend, tossing a coin into the fountain guarantees you will return to Rome. The Trevi Fountain receives about 3,000 Euros a DAY through the wishes of tourists. The money is collected daily by the Roman Catholic charity, Caritas, and used to help the needy.

 

To sweeten the experience, we ordered our first gelato of the trip at a nearby Gelatoria!

Our next stop was the Spanish Steps, just around the corner from our apartment. This famous stairway, comprised of 135 steps, was renovated and reopened to the public about two weeks before we arrived. At the bottom of the steps is the Fontana della Barcaccia (“Fountain of the ugly Boat”). The boys enjoyed getting a sip of the fresh, drinking water. We walked to the top and enjoyed the view looking down.

 

 

A beautiful church, the Trinita dei Monti, sits at the top of the Steps. We peeked in, lit some candles and admired the art. There was an incredible sculpture of Jesus after he was taken from the cross. The expressions of his friends and his mother were deeply moving.

 

To give the boys a chance to run around, we walked to the Villa Borghese Gardens. What a refuge from the crowds this lovely park was! As we walked down the tree-lined paths, we passed a gentleman reading on a bench with a bust of Machiavelli in the background. The past and the present.

We rented bicycles and a go-cart for E and spent an hour riding around the park, attempting to verbally steer the boys away from obstacles (human and otherwise). The boys LOVED it and beyond the occasional close call with said obstacles, we did too!

 

 

Our ride was quite enjoyable until our oldest attempted to make a sharp turn while going downhill and ejected himself from his seat before our eyes. There was lots of tears, a bloody nose and scraped skin. We were INCREDIBLY fortunate it wasn’t worse, especially in light of what we witnessed. He ended up with a few band aids, a tender nose and quite the story to tell. He recovered remarkably well and even rode the go-cart in a MUCH more controlled manner back to the rental area. I think he bounced back quicker than I did. I rode away with more grey hair!

As the sun made its slow descent in the sky, bathing Rome in a golden hue, we made our way back to our neighborhood. We passed an artist selling his work. I purchased a painting for our travel wall and asked if I could take his picture. He was kind to oblige and thanked us for supporting the local arts.

 

We walked back down the Spanish Steps in search of a place where we could load up on Italian carbs. I love getting to travel with these boys of mine!

 

Many restaurants seemed to pour out into the streets with outdoor seating. After accepting an invitation to dine at one, we devoured our dinner while cars slowly drove past the tables when they needed to get by…a memorable experience in and of itself!

With full tummies, we headed back to our apartment and turned in for the night. We clocked over four miles on foot for our first day! It was definitely time to recharge.

Buona notte…Goodnight!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

October 31st, 2016

At the beginning of October, my parents spent a week living life in our little village. This was their second visit in about seven months and it was fun to see their familiarity with the area this time around. Before coming to us, they had cruised the Rhine River for two weeks, starting in Amsterdam and ending in Budapest. Postcards arrived in our German mailbox for the boys from Dear and Pop Pop’s travels, sharing fun stories of their adventures. My Mom is always faithful at writing! When my parents arrived, their stories really came alive with the addition of pictures and fun travel souvenirs.

The crazy part about all of this was how they signed up for this cruise before we even knew we would be moving to Germany. What a gift it was to get to see them afterwards because we LIVE in Europe…which is still somewhat surreal to me. I wonder when the novelty of it all disappears? I’m grateful my parents added another week to their already full travel agenda to hang out with us. Though we stayed local, since the boys were in school, the days still seemed to slip through our fingers. Here are a few of the moments we shared that I captured in pictures…

Walking downtown after church on Sunday…Dear gave the boys coins to throw into the fountain to make their wishes alongside her. This tradition has become ours as well!

 

 

Lunch Dates with the boys at their school…E and S LOVED getting to sit with their Dear & Pop Pop at their lunch tables! I was quite impressed how my parents hung out for an hour on those hard cafeteria benches!

 

 

After-school treats at our favorite coffee-house…

A fun morning out with just me and my parents…I needed to run an errand and they graciously chauffeured me so Danny could have the car. We did some shopping (they spoiled me with the perfect jacket vest and a couple of lovely scarves…Thanks Mom and Dad!), walked around downtown and simply enjoyed the time together before we headed to the boys’ school to pick them up.

 

Dear and Pop Pop gave the boys pretzels and chocolate kitties…a fun treat! I enjoyed watching my parents love on the boys.

 

 

Mom did a fabulous job engaging them with her creative games. It was like they were in “Dear Camp!”

 

Our last evening, we ate an early dinner together at the Döner restaurant in the village before saying our goodbyes. We were all flying out the next morning but in different directions. Dear & Pop headed home and we were on our way to Rome.

 

My heart always aches when its time to say goodbye. It’s never easy because I see and know the incredible love of my parents. I’ve come to value it more deeply as I walk through parenthood.

Thanks for coming Dear & Pop Pop! Sei ganz lieb umarmt! (be hugged with lots of love)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

October 26th, 2016

Somewhere between six and nine months, we began to settle more deeply into our new rhythms of life here in Germany. We’ve experienced many milestones markers; the comforts of community again, a sense of coming “home” when we returned from summer travels, and becoming a familiar face to some of the locals. I receive a smile from the bakery woman when she sees me coming now followed by a short German pronunciation lesson each time I order a new kind of bread. Its our routine!

Milestones mark time, catch our attention and remind us of the gifts we have been given. Here are a few milestones we experienced in September…

On September 11th, we celebrated our 17th Wedding Anniversary here in Germany. That afternoon, we enjoyed ice cream together at our favorite coffee shop and hung out in our own biergarten. Later in the week, we had a date downtown when Mein Mann (my husband) had a day off. The boys were in school so we didn’t need to worry about a babysitter!

Mein Mann had been talking for a couple of months about creating a biergarten in our yard. As an anniversary gift, I took on the challenge and surprised him with our own little outdoor eating area. I cleared out a space under the trees, cut back branches, hung some lights, purchased a couple of IKEA lanterns and set up tables previously stored away in our garage. Thankfully, Amy helped me move the tables. She also lent me a dirndl to wear and some beer mugs to make it even more authentic! Its pretty simple but a fun addition non-the-less!

 

We’ve used it a bit…catching up with friends or enjoying lazy Sunday afternoons while the boys play in the yard. The trees form a natural canopy just like the biergartens we have been to on our travels.

The First Füssball game of the Season! S was beyond excited to put on a team uniform and move with the pack on a beautiful Fall afternoon. We are grateful he started playing when he did because he was able to join his peers as they develop their beginning soccer skills together. There is also an older, German boy who helps the coach with practice. He speaks English and has been so kind to take our little guy under his wing to make sure he understands the drills. This boy definitely bridges the gap between the coach and our five-year old! At the first game, he wasn’t there and I could hear S trying to remind his German-speaking coach that he doesn’t speak German. He is learning some words though. Thankfully, she is still working with him and giving him playing time in the games too!

 

 

Sadly, E hasn’t had such a positive experience. The gap in skills was greater for him and the language/cultural piece more challenging without the help of a translator. Teams are determined by birth year. As an end-of-December baby, E is young in age and skill set. He hung in there for a while, even in the midst of some discouraging words from fellow players. But, his discouragement grew over time until it was no longer fun. He still comes along to see his brother play in games and is positive about the sport itself. Hopefully, we will be able to find something for him that will be a better fit. We are on the lookout!

Celebrating the First Year of Life! Our pastor’s son turned a year old near the end of September. He and his wife invited our family to a birthday celebration in a nearby park. We spent the afternoon celebrating their little guy and enjoying the beautiful weather. We are so grateful for this sweet family and for their leadership in our church.

The boys had a blast playing at the park as hours slipped away in the warmth of the sun.

 

 

As I write this post, the month of November is just around the corner. On November 17th, we will mark another milestone for us…our one year anniversary of living in Germany!