The Ideal Island Vacation: Ischia, Italy

In early June, we realized Ian had some vacation days and sometime - sometime soon - I was going to be far too big and uncomfortable to travel. Thus, our usual brand of spontaneous/half-planned travel was born. But where?

There are few place we won't go. Bucharest in August? Why not. Copenhagen just for a day to pick up a parent? Or course. Idaho? Let's do it!

But given our poor trip planning, flights to just about anywhere were more then we hoped to pay. So I got creative. Thought outside the box. I looked at packages. Rarely the best deal for us bargain-basement globetrotters, I found that easyjet delivers some pretty enticing cheapo deals. I found one such combo (just over 400 euro for a flights & hotel for 2 for 4 nights) to the island of Ischia, Italy. After we fell in love with the area during a trip to Naples and the island of Procida two years earlier - we couldn't resist going back.

German Fruit Wine Festival

As an avid fan of alcohol, I knew it was going to be hard saying good-bye. But for the sake of the little person we don't even know yet, I have. And - shockingly - it hasn't been nearly as hard as I thought it would be.

While I love my beer (and Ian has continued to enjoy in my absence), I don't really feel like I am missing out. I have indulged my fair share and in this latest adventure I feel like I will take any step necessary to make this a success. I have avoided out beloved spätis in Berlin, abstained on our latest adventure through France and skipped beers in my favorite brewery city in Germany.

But this weekend I will be tested again. The Fruit Wine Festival (Baumblütenfest) is back.

The U2 UBlau

Once again, we took to Berlin's UBahn to drink and rate our way through an entire line's stations, simultaneously horrifying and amusing our fellow passengers. It's fun for everyone.

Berlin Street Food Markets: Bite Club & Markthalle IX

Ian is in the habit of familiarity. If he's cooking dinner I can guess the meal is going to be Mexican and if we are going to eat out in Berlin he has his stable of favorites. I am different.

Berlin Beer Festivals: Internationales Berliner Bierfestival

Though I've posted about  festivals in Berlin and drinking quite frequently (some would say too much - sorry parents), somehow I have managed to avoid writing about Berlin's Mile of Beer at the Internationales Berliner Bierfestival. We've managed to drink there each year, just not take pics or impressions of note...which seems like a pretty ringing endorsement.

Offbeat Northwest: Coeur d'Alene & Wallace, Idaho

I'll admit it. Us Western Washingtonians can be a little snooty. The Cascade mountain range that

separates our state is the marker of a different climate, both meteorological and socially.

Western Washington is largely liberal, techie, rainy, and green.
Eastern Washington is more conservative, desert climate, and traditional values.

It's a common perception that it just gets worse the further east you go. Thus our trip to Spokane resulted in comments like

"Spokane? Shit that town is sad. What the hell are you doing there?"

Riding Berlin's UBlau

The UBlau. Where we ride a line of the U-Bahn from start to finish, getting off on every stop to discuss, rate, take a pic, and drink. Don't worry, this has been tested on humans. We're not barbarians.

Why would we do this to ourselves again? Haven't I said we're crazy? (Exhibit 1, exhibit 2, exhibit 3...or just read the whole blog). We've done this before, so how bad can it be?

Berlin's Hafenfest Tegel

We arrived in the sleepy NW corner of Berlin to things looking just a bit different. Some people were dressed in viking-esque garb. Multiple stages with cover bands and other miscellaneous acts had been set-up. There was much German singing.

Hafenfest, had Arrived. 

 

People gathered around little tables as the music varied from oldies, to German polka to death metal.

Our friends live right around here so we had already been exposed to the wonders of Tegel - outside of the lake and the airport. When they told us about this traditional harbor festival which included a viking village and performances we were open to it. When they told us there were fireworks we were in. We're obviously a sucker for fireworks, but we should never handle them so this sounded perfect.

Offbeat Washington: Leavenworth - A German Village in America

Growing up in Washington State, trips to Leavenworth are practically mandated. Christmas, summer, or for one of the largest Oktoberfests in America (not quite like the real Oktoberfest). It's cute. It's kitsch. It's a tourist attraction.  

We love it.

Offbeat Washington: Spokane

Even though Ian & I are native Washingtonians, we have never been tempted to actually visit Spokane (pronounced Spo-Can or SpoCompton for those in the know). It is 92 miles (148 km) south of the Canadian border, 20 miles (32 km) east of the Washington–Idaho border, 196 (315km) miles east of Yakima, and 232 miles (373 km) east of Seattle. Located past a long and desolate stretch of road, whether you are coming from western or central Washington, Spokane is simply out there for most of us.

However- as the second largest city in Washington, it is home to a lot of Washingtonians. For the over 200,000 people that live here, the city is home to attractions like "Spokan Falls", a growing microbrewery scene, and the prestigious college, Gonzaga University.

Skiing for the 1st time in Europe

Now that it has finally gotten warm in Berlin, I am waxing poetic about our time in the snow. Go figure....

It sounds so bourgeois to say "the first time we went skiing in Europe", but it takes it down to about the right level when you hear it was actually in a discount resort town of Liberec, Czech Republic and it was our first time skiing ever so we fell...a lot.

David Hasselhoff Visits the Berlin Wall

I had never really given much thought to David Hasselhoff. I certainly never expected to see him perform.

But that was before I moved to Germany and my American friends eagerly insisted that Germans love David Haselhoff. It doesn't appear that many actually do, but Americans seem pretty sure.

Testing Out the U-Blau

What to do on a Saturday night? 

What to do?

What to do?

What to do?

What about a drinking tour of the U-Bahn? OK! Let's call this an art project so it doesn't sound so...alcoholic.

I am skeptical about how this day will go

NYE (Almost) Disaster

This year, we found out why they call it a bottle rocket.

Remember the first time you lit a firework? I don't. We've never really bought them and while there are a few notable holidays where we did light up the street (hi Yakma & Santa Barabara 4th of Julys), I have extremely limited experience. And it showed.

This year we bought fireworks. Even though this is our 4th New Years Eve in Berlin, this was our first time hosting a small party and I guess we wanted a piece of the madness. We were excited. In Ian's case, very excited.

Learning to Love in the Land of Whiskey, Whisky & Bourbon

Whisky Kaninett - Berlin

When a friend asked if we wanted to join a private tasting of bourbons and whiskeys at a shop in Berlin, there was only one right answer:

YES.

The Plan

As frequent drinkers of the cheap stuff, whatever that may be, I am not all that familiar with anything as tasty as whiskeys and bourbon. Despite my sketchy knowledge, we looked forward to a night of fine drinking. Six of us arranged to meet at the shop in Steglitz and drink to our hearts content. What we got was so much more. From 7:30 to about 11 we were inundated with fascinating facts about whiskey, whisky & Bourbon. 

On the Hunt for Mexican Ingredients in Berlin

While we were excited to see our favorite German, Mr. Thomas, back in Berlin, we were a bit stumped on exactly what we should do with him. He has visited us in Berlin a few times now (& we visited him in Cologne) and while the city continues to amaze, we want each visit to be spectacular.

Luckily, Thomas came with built-in interest. After a year living with my burrito-loving family and just off another year in Mexico City, he was as crazy for Mexican food as most of us expats. It was decided. We were going to climb our mount Everest. We were going to attempt the impossible. We were going to find real Mexican ingredients in Berlin. Hopefully the hunt wouldn't kill us.

What NOT To Do at Oktoberfest

Opening weekend of the greatest beer festival in the world was last weekend and it seems everyone we know just got back or is on their way. We have been twice before, beginning and ending our year abroad in 2007-2008, but we didn't even talk about going this year. As amazing as the festival is, we are hesitant to make our way back.

Let's start with the amazing:

Oktoberfest 2008

Seattle Brewery Tour - Love from Afar

In yet another of this-would-never-happen-in-Seattle moments, Ian has formed a friendship with one of the parent's at the Kita over his first love - no, not me - BEER. After receiving the gift of a nice ale, there has formed a reciprocal relationship of beer love.

Naples - When the Moon Hits Your Eye

As Berlin summer weather continues to prevail, (RAIN...lots of rain) we are brought back to a sunnier time, just a month ago, when we were in Naples with my nephew.

Naples & Vesuvious

Ian suggested titles for this post that were both apt and ridiculous.

*Naples, a lovely place to wa- WATCH out for the vespa!*

*Rome wasn't dirty enough for you? Ben venuto a Nopli*

*Buffalo Mozzerella and the Mystery of the Stolen Passports*

*Dr. Palm Tree - or How I Stopped Worrying about the Heat and Love the Camora*

*Naples - We came for the pizza, we stayed for the dirty-ass fountain*

*Don't want to siesta? Go for a walk with the tourists and Indians*
 *Naples - where the majority of people are Fat*

Just another Karneval der Kulturen

When I posted about the May Day festivities in Berlin, I realized something. Everyone had already posted amazing pictures, info, etc. That's great, because these events are pretty seriously awesome - but doesn't make my posts unique little snow flakes. Thus, only a brief recap and pics of another great day in Berlin.

"The Carnival of Cultures presents the cultural and ethnic diversity of Berlin." For us, this means sun, food, beers, and one tiny red hat.