Feuerzangenbowle

A Sugar cane is being soaked with rum, and then lit above a pot of hot, nicely spiced red wine. The caramelized sugar drops into the wine and...

... brings a smile to Amy's silly face

Who's that sharp woman in front of that blurry background??

Christkindlmarkt

munching yummie chestnuts...

... leaves me with the feeling that i have something stuck in my teeth??

Strolling through München

... strolling through munich - Asamkirche St. Johann Nepomuk a Baroque church from 1750

Sendlinger Strasse, taking time to take pictures, while everybody is hunting for christmas presents

Christmas fruit stand

Christmas wood stand

Aroma Cafe

... a very ...

... cute, little ...

... coffeshop with a ...

... wonderful atmosphere and good coffee ... in the Glockenbachviertel, the 'castro' of munich

The Family Christmas Photo Shoot

Proud: Amy survived the photo shoot

a man on the search for his belt.

B's sister Stefanie

Amy practicing a charming smile : )

Arrival in Munich!

Yanni in awe of fancy dinosaurs.

B's nephew Max supervising the family's christmas photo shoot.

B's nephew Yanni trying to pull a funny face

Arrival!!! A warm welcome from Bernhard's niece Elea and her baby butt toilet ring adapter.

Lay-Over in Paris

Arrival: Baggage check at Charles de Gaulle ... unfortunately we missed our opportunity to capture the "smoker's box" a glass container packed full of french smokers inside the airport. Like fish in a smokey, crowded fish bowl. Smokers on display.

aaaa... joy....

brings a smile to a dead man's face

The Gerney to Jourmeny

... and awayy!

cute!!!

Baggage craze. What do you need to get this much baggage together and into a BART train?
1. too many presents
2. LOT of clothes
3. no time to decide what to take
4. more presents
5. one hundred billion miniature santa's elves
6. and one dedicated father .... thanks Bob!!!

After a wirl wind packing craze we finally make it to BART accompanied by Vincent and Lalau, two friends from france who arrived just in time to see us leave. Coincidence?

Anticipation

So here it is..... the Monday before our much anticipated departure for Germany, and there is still soooo much to do! We were lucky to spend some nice time with various friends and family before heading off, so we have definitely been spending our time very well!

We've also been doing research on weather in Munchen, and it appears we will experience both rain and snow once there.... Live Webcams also indicate that there is snow on the rooftops, so a romantic chill has already dressed the city for us... 

I have been warned by Bernhard and his parents that December will be very grey and cold, and likely not so pretty... which is a good set up!  Therefore any light, warmth or sparkle will come much appreciated.  I do think there will be a certain charm to the cold, and was fortunate enough to have found a couple of pictures of winter markets that seem quite appealing (as long as I have the right attire to keep my wimpy Californian bones warm)... Fortunately, my family treated us to hats, scarves and mittens, so we should be well enough prepped!

I don't have a lot to say at this point but am looking forward to filling this blog with tons of yummy pictures and commentary as rich as the spezzle once we're there!

Looking eagerly forward to our takeoff!

Bernhard and Amy