Italy/Germany - November 2015

11/14/15 – Arrive in Munich at 8:00 a.m. on an uneventful flight, to news of horrific Paris attacks the night before.  Unbelievable and saddened by this news!  Ate lunch (falafel wrap) at the airport then went shopping.  Arrived home and slept for 18 solid hours until Sunday morning.  The weather is very nice.

11/15/15 – A relaxing day today.  Dinner at a German restaurant with the in-laws.  Good German food.  I had Rösti (German potato pancake) with delicious smoked salmon, wasabi sauce and salad with wine.  Nice weather.

11/16/15 – Another relaxing day today.  Dinner at the in-laws.  Packed for Italy and had an early night.

11/17/15 – Early wake up call for the flight to Rome.  It was a good flight and took the train from Roma airport to hotel Boscolo Exedra in the heart of Rome.  Checked in, got upgraded to Executive Suite with fabulous city view.  Had lunch then walked to the Trevi Fountain, one of my favorite attractions.   Spent the rest of the afternoon window shopping for my new bag and boots.  Back to the room to shower, relax, and eat dinner.  Had good pizza at small family restaurant.

11/18/15 – Took the Hop-on Hop-off tour bus to the Basilica, Colosseum, Forum,  Circus Massimo today.   Ate gelato, panini, snacks at Colosseum.   Had really good gnocchi in cheese sauce with wine for dinner!  Yum!! Weather is still very nice.

11/19/15 – Took the Hop-on Hop-off tour bus to the Pantheon, Trevi fountain (again), Via Condetti (shopping).  Ate a good lunch at Trattoria Da Luigi.  I ate here about 10 years ago during one of my first trips to Rome.  Really good food and service back then and still today.  I ended up in the kitchen with the cooks and took a picture with them.  I drank plenty of wine today.  My husband too…Little tipsy!  Sad it's my last night in Rome, but had a real great time here!

11/20/15 – Leave Rome today.  Last Italian meal was risotto for me and spaghetti carbonara for him at the airport.  Don't do this!  Make time for a final good Italian meal NOT at the airport. 

11/20/15 – Arrive in Munich and went straight from the airport to the in-laws for dinner.  Ate a plateful of really good homemade, freshly baked Apfel strudel with vanilla sauce.  Made  especially for me by my mother in-law. 

We made the best of the time in Rome given the threats to that city as the same time of the Paris attacks.  The Italian military was very visible guarding all of the national monuments, while the police made sure that the streets were safe.  I left Rome with mixed emotions.  Sad to leave the city that I've come to adore, but aware that Rome was targeted by terrorists and relieved that I could leave with some good memories.

The Europe that I started visiting many, many years ago, has changed.  Today it's hard to sit at an outside cafe and not feel vulnerable.  It's hard to visit a monument or any tourist attraction and not glance warily around you.  It's especially hard not to stereotype certain people that you share the same space with.  I pray for peace in the world!   

11/21/15 – Another lazy day today.  Not much to do.  Good weather.

11/22/15 – Another lazy day today.  Ate dessert first then had dinner with in-laws.  Played a German card game called Mau Mau.  I won a couple of times.  Heard great and interesting stories from mother in-law about when she grew up at the  end of the war, losing her mother at aged 2, (her mother died of a lung infection at age 36, because there was no antibiotics available at that time to cure her).  Also heard about her leaving a luxurious life behind in Vienna, Austria, when the Russians took over, and heading to Bayern, Deutschland, which was controlled by the Americans at that time.  I saw a portrait (drawing only) of her mother, she was a beautiful woman.  

There was snow today and the temperature was 2 degrees celcius (about 35 degrees farenheit).

11/23/15 – Snow today.  Freezing outside, 5 degrees celcius (about 41 degrees farenheit).  Dinner with in-laws, homemade spätzle, chicken schnitzel and mushroom sauce, with red wine.  Lecker!  German chocolates and cakes for dessert.  Played Mau Mau again.

11/25/15 – The Christkrindlmarkt (Christmas Market) in Ingolstadt opens today.  The mayor opens the celebration with Santa Claus himself cutting the ribbon.  Kids will visit the manger of baby Jesus and adults will drink Glühwein and Feuerzangenbowle (wine with sugar and rum).  I went there and drank both.  So good!

11/27/15 – Went to the RonCalli circus (German circus) in Ingolstadt.  It was a good show!  The performances were entertaining and a few were amazing!  Every spectator waited until the curtains were closed before getting up to leave.