Author Archives: Chris

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Winter 2017 recap

Winter will be over by the time we return,  so had to post a few reminders of Winter 2017.

We enjoyed the serenity and beauty of Stevens Pond in early December.

Some very frigid days in December – unusually early for those temps.

The downtown area is always so festive looking with wreaths and lights strung across the streets.

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The Annual Polar Dip downtown at the boat launch was relatively balmy – especially for one who didn’t touch the water!! Always fun to watch my crazy friends!

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We get out for walks no matter what the conditions! After all, Lucy is a Mainer-girl!

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January was pretty uneventful with very little snow. And then … the day before Valentine’s Day Blizzard!

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12-hours in the Big Apple

A quick hop into the Big Apple for a well executed tour (by our friend, Sue) of some highlights – the American Indian museum, housed in the former Customs House, a walk along Wall Street, lunch at an Indian restaurant in lower east side, exhibits at the New York Public Library, Bryant Park and a virtual reality experience at a Facebook demo lounge, and the cream on top – the Broadway show “Jersey Boys”! What a day!

Lady Justice and the Manhattan skyline from Guttenberg, NJ.

Fancy subway cars!

Grand Central & Lower Manhattan

The magnificent public library (research)

On the streets…

Shop windows, Christmas lights and experiencing VR!

 

Jersey Boys and total number of steps walked!! = 9.5 miles!!!

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A little culture

We started the day with an 11 a.m. Christmas Chamber Music concert at the Staatstheater, but actually held in the elegant foyer.

The afternoon we were in the Rheingau and Eltville for a walk through town and along the Rhein.

And ended the day and vacation at Gutschaenke Langehof in Rauenthal.

 

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Michelstadt with friends

Wolfgang and Elke took us on a day trip to Michelstadt, in the Odenwald. An old, walled town filled with fachwerk houses and a very lovely Weihnachtsmarkt (Christmas market).

Followed by meeting up with Bjorn and Erik for tapas at Bodega, a spanish restaurant in Wiesbaden. Lots of fun!

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Around Wiesbaden and Out on the Town

More wandering the streets of Wiesbaden with our friend, Sue, who flew in for the weekend!

A ride up to Neroberg to see the Russian Chapel.

Relaxing few hours spent at the Thermal Bad

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An evening out on the town to see the shop windows, lights of the Weihnachtsmarkt, and a few songs at der Eimer!!

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Castles and the Rhein

We drove through the Taunus mountains to Braubach on the Rhein and the site of the 13th century Marxburg Castle. We had visited this castle for a “formal” celebration with 4th Brigade’s partner brigade 10th Panzer Brigade back in 1980.  After taking a cruise on the Rhein we had dinner by candlelight in the castle. It was magical! The castle has since been further renovated and replastered since 1988 and is now in beautiful condition. The castle was never destroyed in battle, the only damage was caused by an earthquake and shelling from across the Rhein during WWII.

The interior and room where we enjoyed our supper.

The chapel.

Driving the Rhein River.

 

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Trips down memory lane

Another glorious day with a clear blue sky, brilliant sunshine and sharp frost on the meadows for a drive into the Taunus mountains and to Idstein – a beautiful old market town where I once (in a former life) owned a lovely half-timber (fachwerk) house.

… and here is Kreuzgasse 42 with attached barn.

From there we traversed the country side with the goal of arriving in Fulda in time for lunch. Unfortunately, “MathildaII” (the car’s built-in gps system) had different routing for us! Anyway, we arrived in time for a beer at the craft brew Wiesenmuhle (restaurant closed) and onward for afternoon tea or coffee and delicious cake at a Konditorei very near the Fulda Dom. We sat at a table with a similarly aged lady who spoke impeccable english and enjoyed a lengthy conversation about politics!! Hmmm!

We managed a quick visit to St. Michael’s church, from 1194; spectacularly simple in design – quite beautiful.

Leaving Fulda, we were rewarded with the most dazzling sunset – rivaling those in Arizona! – which lasted for a good 45 minutes.

Dinner at traditional restaurant in Rambach, where Dennis had his long-awaited Zigeuner Schnitzel! and then home to some Lebkuchen!!!

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Along the Rhein

It was a perfect day for a walk from Schiersteiner Hafen alongside the Rhein. Of course,  we worked up an appetite for a glass of wine and lunch at the Gruener Baum in Schierstein.

Another stroll through Wiesbaden to Kochbrunnen Platz (where the warm, healing  spa waters spout continuously) and window shopping, enjoying the Christmas displays.

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Wiesbaden – we’ve missed you!

Driving from Frankfurt to Wiesbaden felt so natural and normal – not like it’s been 28 years!! and once we got into the center of town everything was so familiar and beautiful. Having the Weihnachtsmarkt (Christmas Market) in the market place and on Kirchgasse makes it even more special. We have a whole week to explore old haunts and the surrounding countryside and catch up with some old friends.

 

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Family Thanksgiving at camp

Our first family gathering – at Thanksgiving – at camp! Plenty of space for the kids to run around, roaring fire, board games, building forts and splitting wood outside, and delicious Thanksgiving dinner.

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Having fun with Snapchat!!!

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Step by step reaching our goal

We accomplished much with both of us putting in a solid 12-hours of work. The place is now much less like a construction site, but had its first proper cleaning and a major tidying up. Fireplace was installed last week – thanks to friends – and it was oh so pleasant spending the evening with a roaring fire.

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Eating our way around the world: St. Maarten/St. Martin

In the week we’ve been here we’ve tried a variety of local restaurants, but this evening’s was a real local charm – Yvette’s – a restaurant in a home. Being Friday, it was filling up with local couples out for a TGIF meal. The waitress and young waiter, both family members, were so friendly and obviously well loved by the locals.

We’ve had to stay reasonably close to the resort because night time driving isn’t optimal! but even though this is the quiet side of the island, we’ve had plenty of options.

I’ve had seafood virtually every night we’ve eaten out – grouper several times – and this evening enjoyed a delicious whole red snapper cooked in a creole sauce and served with fried plantain and rice and  beans!!! it was wonderful.

#Canoa #BigFish #DinghyDockBar #Yvettes