Category Archives: food

The Flight

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Boarding the plane was pretty darn quick. It was all done by facial recognition … except when it wasn’t. The camera didn’t see to recognize Dan! He had to then have his passport scanned and all was well.

We got to our sets (row 5, Polaris). I know, I know, fancy schmantzy … but these days I just can’t deal with tight spaces and the inability to sleep. Plus I blame my brother Greg who got us seats in business class once. He suggested we wouldn’t be able to go back and he’s mostly right (we do premium economy on occasion).

We were offered a drink. Speaking wine for me, water for Dan. Yep, he lives on the edge. Then it was a bit of sitting, followed by taxiing, followed by taking off. It was smooth until there was mild turbulence, which they apologetically said would delay our meal. Not that we were hungry anyway.


After a bit of time I looked at my watch. 4:20 AM.

No, not in San Francisco. But when I get on a plane I set the watch and iPad to the destination time, hoping it will get me to accept the huge eight hour time change.

I did a bit of a jigsaw puzzle, and read a bit, but my brain really didn’t want to concentrate on anything. I actually wanted to sleep! Sort of a good thing, but there was dinner to eat. What to do? (Some people suggest you do NOT eat meals on the plane: I’ve yet to convince myself to do that.)

What to do was start writing this.

Food was a bit late, due to turbulence, according to the announcement, but eventually we received our drink and warm nuts, followed by the appetizer. That appetizer was lovely, and was enough for a full meal as far as I was concerned. That turned out to be a good thing: our dinners were not quite so appealing.


After dinner it was lights out for the two of us, and we did a good amount of sleeping. Dan is, in fact, continuing to sleep as I type this. But it’s 11:35 AM at our destination so I’d prefer to try to stay awake now. (It’s 3:35 AM at home.)

Where we are:

Breakfast was served near the end of the flight. I would have preferred lunch, since it was lunch time at our destination, but since I only eat two meals a day anyway, I sort of tried to convince myself it was lunch. It was, as usual, too much food and not terrifically exciting.

This flight really flew by. Yep, that’s about how funny I can be! And then we arrived.

Hello Heathrow!

We went through the passport control in mere minutes, but oh all the walking one does before and after that. It’s a great way to get steps in after such a long sit, though!

Then it was Heathrow Express to Paddington Station.

From there we had to find our way to our hotel via the tube. It took a while, but we did figure out how to do that.

Oh … but it DID take us a while to walk from Euston Station to our hotel. One of use (me!) was using a map app and got confused. Then someone else (he!) took over and managed to also get confused for a bit. We figure this is par for the course and today we had a number of “oops!” moments so perhaps we got it out of our systems early. Who knows? but we got there. Eventually.

Side note: we had to opt for roller bags due to the things we (Dan, really) needed. I’m so torn between the roller bag and our packs. My back isn’t great, and I have neck problems, so a pack hurts, but it sure isn’t fun carrying luggage up stairs, and there were a lot of stairs to get from one place in the tube to another.

Our hotel is nothing exciting, but it will suffice: we are only here for one night and tomorrow we take a night train to our destination. London was just a quick stop.

After dropping off our stuff we went to find an ATM and then a pub. Well, except I first realized I’d left my phone in the room so we had to go back. Another mistake!

ATM was found, money was pulled from there, and off to The Lamb we went. Dan ordered fish and chips and I had a chicken and leek pie. Both were yummy pub food and just what we wanted for our first night here.

Cheers!

On our walk back to the hotel we went past this interesting building.

And then it was time to finish this blog, post my daily flora photo, and hit the hay.

I’m not sure I will be able to post every day: it will depend upon time and internet access. But I will actually write every day so I can post later if things don’t work.

For now … cheerio!

December 7, München

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We started our late morning at Jan & Greg’s room, because they texted us and said there were pastries there. Who can say no to that?

Then it was back to our room to get dressed in the warm stuff, and we all met in the lobby and walked to a closer, smaller, less crowded Christmas market.

We went to a pharmacy to get me something in case I start coughing at tonight’s concert. I actually feel pretty good, and the cold I have is progressing quickly. I just figure it’s better to be prepared: when we were at the Voces8 concert a woman had a horrendous hacking cough that went on throughout a large portion of the concert. (If I get that bad I’ll leave the hall!)

Taking my cough suppresant back to the hotel, we then went out yet again. Our first stop was the concert hall very close to our hotel. Greg knew the hall that had been used was being renovated, but he thought the one they are using instead was nearby.

Um. Nope.

We finally found information on their website and it turns out it’s a two+ mile walk from our hotel. I think we’ll be taking a taxi.

We continued walking, and just took in more sights. We visited a church, and when we came back out we each got just a few snowflakes on us. But that was IT for snow.


Because of how crowded it is here, Greg suggested we attempt to find a lunch spot right then. After two places that were too full we did find one and had a Bavarian meal. This is to be our larger meal of the day since the concert begins at 7:00 and we get our taxi around 6:00.

After lunch more walking.

Greg eventually split off to see a friend, and Jan, Dan, and I were going to head back to the hotel until we heard brass instruments. Going the opposite way, we found them and listened for a brief time.

Then it was back “home” again. And the rain began as we neared the Hilton. Probably because we had read that it wasn’t going to rain.

At the hotel I started typing up this day’s post, and then took a nap. I wanted to be sure I was well rested for the concert.

And rested I was! The four of us caught a taxi to the hall, and of course the person on stage getting ready when we finally went in was the principal oboist for the night. Typical! But then they all have to be off stage (except the basses for some reason) and when the concert begins they file in together to audience applause.

I had always admired Nathalie Stuzmann and I admire her even more now! What a fabulous conductor!

Here is the program:

The location for these performances is rather interesting. When you enter it feels more like an art exhibit or something.

Then you go in to the hall and I was somewhat surprised. But in any case, it was a wonderful concert and the musicians were great!

Following the concert one of us really wanted food so after catching another taxi (which too a while) we found an Italian restaurant that was open and had a spot for us.

Then it was back to Jan & Greg’s for a glass of wine. Well, except not Dan. He’s being a very good boy. Heck he even went to sleep before I finished writing this!

So tomorrow is our last full day here. I suspect we’ll do a lot of walking if the weather is cooperative. So hoping!

And now goodnight!

Happy Thanksgiving … For Some Of You

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We began our morning with coffee and breads. I’m so thankful that we are able to do our travels, and extremely grateful that Jan and Greg are willing to house us … and, yes, feed us. For us, though, Thanksgiving will be on Saturday since the Germany gang doesn’t get today off.

We discussed all our tasks for meal preparation. I am making carrot ginger soup and glazed carrots (yes, I know they are both using carrots but they will have different things to sway them in different directions). Dan is doing bread, Brussels sprouts, and sweet potatoes. Greg is doing the turkey, cranberry relish, red cabbage, gravy, and I’m guessing he will also choose the wine. Jan is doing mashed potatoes and making sure we all get things done! (She’s the list keeper for this and I’m glad she’s put that together. It’s a lot of things to keep track of.) Some things are already prepared, some are in process, and some will get done tomorrow or Saturday morning.

After a while Dan suggested we go back to Mannheim since we really didn’t see much of it so while Greg got ready to take what turned out to be a long bike ride Jan, Dan, and I went to catch a street car. The number 5 goes to Mannheim. Um … sort of. It worked the first time we took it. This time it took the longest route possible, it seems. But we did finally get there, and I got to nap a bit (I still am not sleeping well … last night I was up between about 2 and 4 and then again from 5 to 6).

Arriving in Mannheim right near the water tower we went right there and checked out the Christmas market there. We bought our flammenkuchen (terrifically healthy stuff! HAH!) and then had glühwein We wandered by all the stands but, honestly, I wasn’t really interested in all the stuff people sell, and I wondered if people really buy some of the things … but what do I know?! (Don’t answer. Heh.)

After that it was back to the street car and deliberately read the destinations and, sure enough, we were choosing the number 5 to go back to Heidelberg. But … well … wait! At one stop the number changed to a different one and suddenly it veered incorrectly and we weren’t going to get home! So we had to get out and walk to another spot and grab a street car that would actually get us home. I guess I will never understand them … but Greg, when we arrived home, suggested we should have taken the train which would have been faster. Go figure!

Once we got home I decided to make the glazed carrots. The more we make ahead of time the better, I do believe. So after that and after a bit of glühwein we decoded we’d take everyone out to dinner (who wants to make dinner when preparing dinner for another day … RIGHT?!).

Dinner was at an Italian restaurant called Salerno’s, just down the street. And we all ate a lot and it was great fun.

Home meant a bit of cremont and some that incredibly expensive fruit & nut Alsacian treat that I foolishly bought. Okay … maybe not so foolishly since we all really like it! We are thinking it might be baerewecke. Sure fits the description!

Tomorrow is a big cooking day. I’m really hoping I sleep better tonight, but I’m not counting on it, considering the huge meal we ate at Salerno’s!

Anyway, Happy Thanksgiving to all my friends in the not so United States. Enjoy your day!