Banks of the Donau
Given that 4 of my friends here in Germany have birthdays this week, we all decided to throw a huge grill party on the banks of the Donau. Right in the middle of the city on the riverside pathway we set up a tables, chairs, a grill, and even a TV to catch the Germany-Australia soccer match (Germany won). Perfect weather, great food, close friends and German beer all made for a magical evening. Find pictures
here.
I'm rolling out tomorrow (again!) to visit some friends in Hamburg. I'll pop up some spring photos of that beautiful city when I get back next week.
I think I've been using some German sentence constructions lately, or at least losing some of my grammatical clarity. I apologize - but such is the cost of life abroad.
Jason Out.
Escargot
Mmmmm...Despite its bad rap,
Escargot is delightful! For that matter, so are
Frog's Legs (even given their stereotypical associations with the French). I would liken snails to seafood, and frog's legs to the most tender chicken you've ever tasted.
Of course I sampled these delicacies in the beautiful Elsass region of eastern France (frog is illegal in Germany because the method of slaughter is considered inhumane, but that's a topic for another day). Elsass is home to Strasbourg and the famous Muenster Cathedral, made from beautiful sandstone. The whole area is rife with countryside charm - pastel, wood latticed houses, old fortresses perched on forested hills, and vineyards as far as the eye can see. The regions white wines (especially Riesling, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, and Gewurzed) are excellent, as I quickly realized during a tasting at a vineyard near Colmar.
The Black Forest, where I was lodging with family, was even more beautiful in spring than when I was there for Christmas. See that blog entry
here. Although I didn't have time, my travel companion managed to visit the renowned Irish/Roman Baths in Baden-Baden. I have been instructed to recommend them with enthusiasm. Go! The baths consist of 12 different stages, varying from rain showers to saunas to the mineral water baths themselves, and for a little extra euro you can snag a massage or exfoliating brush-down. My friend maintains that its one of the most relaxing and rejuvenating experiences in the world. Did I mention its all nude?
Pictures from Elsass and Baden
Take a gander at
shots from a trip thru the Baden, Germany and Elsass, France regions.
