Tasting Germany

Just got home from a fabulous trip to visit family in Germany and also travels to Austria and Italy.  It was one of the most relaxing and thought provoking trips I've ever been on.  I plan on posting twice more about different aspects of the trip but for now the foods of Germany will be the star.

Pretzels everywhere the size of your head...or bigger.  Made fresh daily and are incredible.

This artfully arranged fruit and cheese platter was one of several plates my aunt had ready upon our arrival.

Thinly sliced smoked salmon, stuffed peppers and tomatoes along with filled cucumber cups.

A German Feast would not be complete without their "auf schnitts" which are their paper thin sliced cold cuts and salami.

 

The pastries were amazing - unlike anything we have in the States and every cafe has an wonderful assortment of croissants, tortes, pastries and strudels. 

I'll miss the beautifully set tables my aunt, uncles and cousins set for us every morning with all their dainty china along with fresh croissants and breads from the local bakery.  I'll miss the afternoon "Kafee & Kuchen" hour enjoying a fresh pastry and cofee while catching up on days happenings.  This unhurried and relaxed atmosphere is what I'll remember even more than the food itself.

Kauai

Once every five years or so our family has taken a family vacation.  With the kids no longer living at home and Kate married we weren't sure how long we would still vacation together, but over a year ago we started talking about going to Hawaii.  Kate had the great opportunity to work in Kauai for three weeks one summer and had told us how much we would enjoy it.  It is the smallest Hawaiian island, known as the Garden Isle.  To retain the natural beauty on this island,  no buidlings can be constructed higher than the palm trees.  The island is filled with such beautiful scenery from wet jungle terrain, secluded beaches, mountains, cliffs and the enormous canyon area that words cannot describe what we saw.  

This was the scenery from a hiking trail I took that was only five minutes from where we stayed.

Kauai is one of the wettest spots on the earth, which equates to numerous rainbow sitings.  We counted ten in one day.

One of our favorite spots was the Kauai Coffee Plantation where we were allowed unlimited coffee sampling.  Several thousand acres on the island are planted in coffee groves.

Waimea Canyon is an awesome sight to see. 

Overlook at Waimea Canyon.

Poipu Beach where we spotted a sea turtle within a couple feet of us.

Maha'ulepu Beach is a privately owned beach where visitors are allowed access only during day hours.  We were only one of two families on the entire beach. 

Secluded Maha'ulepu Beach is undeveloped with a natural rugged beauty.

Zach and Alex catching some big waves with their boogie boards.

This is what it's all about - sandy beaches and blue water.