Burgundy, German Hippies, Rafting the Vitava, White Party!

It was really fun having Laurie in town especially since she is fluent in French! She invited an adorable French couple, Marc and Manyla, to join us at Stuttgart's SummerFest.

Me, Laurie, and modelesque Manyla from Laos

Scott and Marc bonded over similar passions like energy efficiency and striped shirts.




We introduced our new French friends to our stylish German friends.

 

Toby (on right) with his BFF Patrick (on left) sporting denim shorts, flowing locks, clutching his Murse (man-purse)

The following weekend (after the bike tour), Laurie and I drove to the Burgundy region of France.  We stopped halfway in Alsace for a BBQ at Marc and Manila's home.

Marc's electric car is "For Sale"

Laurie is the perfect size

It is cute and much roomier than it appears. 

Our hosts insisted I try pastis (a typical French anise flavored liqueur).  My first "French" BBQ was a fresh local feast of grilled vegetables, chicken, sausage, lentils, olive tapenade and of course Rose'.

We left Marc's home and drove to Beaune, a lovely town in the Burgundy region.

Hotel Rousseau is quaint and run by an adorable elderly lady who fed us fresh baguettes for breakfast

The main attraction (besides the vineyards) in Beaune is the famous historic hospital that dates back to the 1400s.

Hospices De Beaune

We drove along the famous wine road

Beautiful grape vines as far as the eye could see

We devoured the MOST memorable meal I have had in years (I never really appreciate French food until now).  l'incontournable was a typical Burgundian restaurant located in an old wine cellar.  Burgundy France has an epic culinary reputation so we adventurously ordered tasting menus.  

We started with a few "aperitifs"

Kir is a cocktail made with white wine and creme de cassis (Burgundian specialty made from blackcurrants).

Succulent goat cheese salad

Red wine sauce with mushrooms & coddled eggs,  Escargot

Friendly couples seated next to us- a few spoke to Laurie in French while I practiced my Italian with others 

After the salad and apps, we shared beef bourguignon, mustard encrusted salmon and potatoes dauphinoise (cheesetastic scalloped potatoes).  Next, an intense cheese course (mild & stinky) and when I thought I was totally full we were served a decadent dessert of salted caramel crepes with vanilla ice cream (clean plate club!).

The next day, Laurie headed south to visit friends and I drove home. 

 The following weekend we attended the Immeldorf Open-Air Music Festival.

Our campsite


We explored the campgrounds and found a river

Great signage

Pied piper (far right) playing "Irish whistle" serenaded us all morning (He was homeless & Bex fed him pork chops)

Bex excited for the music to begin

Scoots and Matt cooling off in the river

Scoots ready to boogie in his karaoke tank and jorts

Bobby, Matt (aka Pee Pants), and Safari Scoots

The festival was super small and intimate.  Everyone was friendly and there were actually la few other Americans (lovers of jam bands) in town to see Jerry Joeseph.

Patrick (orange t-shirt, luxurious rat tail, & fanny pack) was a ton of fun,  also met 3 US military dudes (to his right)

Scott befriended this sexy thang among many other Euro hippies.

His leopard vest stank of BO and beer

Last week, Mariel, Bex and I drove to Cesky Krumlov in the Czech Republic for a quick overnight gals trip.

Cesky Krumlov is a UNESCO world heritage site and an Eastern European gem

Unique artwork, fabulous views, and historic monuments entertained us on a chilly summer day.

Bex & I in Old Town Square

The saying that dogs resemble their owners rings true in Cesky Krumlov

We dined at Laibon on the Vitava river.  The food in Czech Republic is notoriously meat driven but this place had great reviews and the vegetarian sampler platter was divine.

The next morning, we went on a rafting trip down the Vitava River.

Me, Bex, & Mariel boarding our boat

I did not stay in the back seat long due to my below average steering skills

View from the raft

Bex and I paddled hard for about 4 hours with few breaks since we needed to drive back to Germany that afternoon.

Not the most treacherous waters

Mariel gazed around "saving her arm strength" for the drive home - her Honda not an automatic

Lots of beer and sausage stops along the river

We took a quick break and warmed our wet feet by the fire.  I hope to bring Scott to this town and spend more time on the river.

Last weekend, we went to our first "White Party" at the Jackson's house.

Hosts Sam & Erica Jackson

I had heard about Oprah and P Diddy's "White Parties" so was excited when the invitation arrived and we got to dress up!

Scoots wore a Puerto Rican button down

 Almost everything was white (white decor, white Russians, white chocolate, white cranberry & vodka, white meat chicken, white frosted cupcakes...)

Danger Danger: Tons of top shelf vodka (Have you ever been to a party with no beer or wine in sight?) 

Willie, (a Cowboys fan), Hostess Erica (handing out lemon drop shots) and Jackie

Scoots and I looking rather pale for August 

Blue & white silk accessory-perfect for warmth - thanks mom :)

The crew we plan to watch football games with this fall (Jerald on far right is also a Skins fan)

3 things I love dearly: white linen, white Russians & this dimple faced white boy

Euro Bike Tour - Bavarian Alps with Cindy & Laurie!

Last week, we had 2 visitors!  Cindy (my work friend from good ol' High Point, NC) and Laurie (my college lax friend- Go Blue).  Cindy, an iron man athlete, encouraged us to do a bike trip so we signed up for a self-guided tour of the Bavarian countryside.   She arrived on her birthday so we celebrated at the Stuttgart Summer Festival.

Me, Laurie, Cindy

We danced around stages with live music and tents set up along the water.

Photo taken a few minutes before Spanish cover band played "Celebration" and Cindy climbed on stage to dance resulting in a "Happy Birthday Cindy" serenade by the band!

The next day, we took the train to Munich and visited the English Garden (one of the world's largest public parks) with a river and rapids filled with surfers.

Laurie and Cindy brought fancy cameras (and contributed many pics to this blog)

Cindy enjoyed her Dunkel beer during her first trip to the Hofbrahaus.

Laurie was eager to taste the traditional Bavarian white sausages.

I stuck with pretzels

The next day, Laurie & Cindy's shiny red rental bikes were delivered to our hotel.

We took off on a 4 day adventure called the Euro Bike Munich Lakes Tour.

 Yes, Cindy will rock this goofy helmet for the entire expedition

1st stop along the bike path- very authentic

Cindy with thirst quenching Radler (half beer, half lemonade) 

Lake Starnberg - Germany's 5th largest freshwater lake fed by glaciers from the Alps

The cycling path winds 28 miles around Lake Starnberg and into the woods.

Super speedy pace thus a blurry photo

Konig Ludwig Castle on our bike route!

 We spotted an ice cream boat at sea that also sold beer!

It floated away before we had time to park our bikes :(

We rested at the Fishmarket Beer Garden and enjoyed a delicious snack (I was thrilled with the refreshing seafood options)

Seaweed salad and smoked salmon herb cream cheese pinwheel

 By the end of the day, we rode 69 kilometers exploring off the beaten path terrain.  We arrived at the hotel 5 precious minutes before a thunder storm.

Delirious with scrumptious appetizers

Hotel Seeblick's restaurant surprised us with the best "German" food yet!

Tasty fish stew with fresh herbs

The next day was supposed to be our shortest route (35 KM) but we ended up riding over 60 kilometers again.

Many years relying on a GPS had left us pathetic at map reading

We left the hotel going the wrong direction so we had to back track but actually got more lost leaving hotel for the 2nd time and rode deep into the countryside.

Enamored by the scenic beauty and animals, I rode obliviously 3 miles uphill the wrong direction

Cows confused perhaps witnessing their first "cashew American paparazzi"

We eventually got back on route and found the most gorgeous peaceful lake.

Lake Staffelsee

We needed some energy so we stopped at a beer garden and ordered drinks and chips (fries).  A lovely German waitress said the fryer was broken and suggested we try the cake (Germans LOVE cake & beer in the afternoon)

Best cake ever - part angel food and part cheesecake - Divine!

Laurie and wheat fields with Alps in the distance

Laurie cheering with excitement as we approach Murnau -location of our next hotel

Trip Advisor ranked Griesbrau Brewery #2 so we went to sample a beer.

Refreshing "Bruno brown beer"

We were greeted by a jovial Brewster named Wolfgang. 

Cindy had many stylish items in addition to her helmet like the snazzy reading glasses (below) and padded biker shorts.

Shots of grappa while trying to read the map for the next day's cycle route - not productive :)

We headed back to visit Wolfgang and he surprised us with whip cream topped beer shots!

The next morning we got lost again (not a shock at this point but still amusing since we had no agenda except to get to our hotel by dark).

Sporting my new padded bike skort (lined with hot pink spandex)

Cindy made a new friend 

Happy cows? 

Finally, riding in the correct direction, we stopped for caffeine.  Hearing a southerner try to communicate with the Germans was hilarious especially when Cindy needed her daily Diet Coke (as she said "Coke Laaat").

Cindy and her "Coke Light" and me sipping a cappuccino

Lake Kochelsee

We smell like Europeans

Laurie craving shnitzel & beer

We stopped at Benediktbeuern Abbey which also has a beer garden.  

Beer gardens & monks like peas & carrots

Feast of Schnitzel, Potato Salat, Saurkraut & Hefeweis

By the final day, we had mastered the German bike route signs!

Cycling path signs

We were totally exhausted when we arrived in the town of Bad Tolz.  

Kurpark

Bad Tolz - small village in Bavarian Alps

The next day, we headed home after riding about 200 kilometers.  It was a wonderful journey with incredibly fun, lovely, directionally challenged mates.  Looking forward to doing another Euro-Bike tour in the future!

(Next Blog- Laurie visit part 2 - FRANCE)