Fun Trip to Deutschland!

In May I traveled to Bernkastel-Kues, Germany for a conference in which I was giving a presentation. It was an adorable little town, just outside the Frankfurt area. The weather was beautiful, I was able to fit in some trips to the gym, I had a wonderful time speaking German, and had some tasty German AND Greek food!

I couldn't resist posing with this lego mountain man in the airport!


Bernkastel-Kues was a beautiful little town! Although I'm not sure that when I'm looking to eat dinner, I want to see two naked people in a bathtub on the sign!! ;)
While I was there, I visited my friend John, who works at a base in Wiesbaden, also near Frankfurt. We had worked together during my summer of working in Stuttgart a few years ago. He has a great apartment with a spectacular view - I was very jealous! You could hold a gala ball in his foyer! No, he doesn't live in the house below! haha!




While waiting to cross the street, I noticed this interaction... A sly older Casanova (well, at least he thought so) flirting unmercifully with a lady on crutches. I couldn't hear their conversation, but I'd put my money on that gentleman being Italian rather than German! I love that he's making an Adidas track suit look like a normal thing to wear out and about town! She was loving the attention, too...I hope he took her out on a nice date!



Of course, I visited my mecca, Starbucks, while I was in Wiesbaden... my caramel macchiato was fabulous! You should have seen the look of sheer ecstasy on my face when we walked up to it! While Italian coffee is good, they don't have the fanciful drinks that Starbucks does - it's either a small glass of jet fuel, jet fuel and milk foam, or jet fuel, milk foam, and milk. Maybe some cocoa powder or cinnamon on top. I'm a creature of variety - I need a little bit more spice and sweetness than that!

On our wanderings through town, we stopped at one of the best gelaterias in Europe. Large scoops of yummy gelato in a crispy waffle cone! Amazing! Made with the same amazing milk (I can only assume) that they used at Starbucks! As we walked, I saw this couple below... she looks like she weighs no more than my pinky finger but she's accompanied by a guy who is eating the same super yummy and not-so-lowfat gelato I had eaten. She has some indescribable willpower to stay that skinny and stand that close to a guy snarfing down huge scoops of ice cream!

We then traveled down the road a bit to the wine country of Rheingau to visit a wine museum and sample some of the local white wine. Tasty! The weather was perfect for a nice relaxing session of people watching in a small square. We saw guys in capri pants, some goth kids, and some t-shirts with wolves on them ... I've never understood the black-shirt-with-wolves-on-them look...!