Where am I supposed to ride this again?

Gotta love superfluous English. Although at least the ‘outdoor’ on my new bike makes a little more sense than the ‘street racer’ written in big letters on my skis. (Or could it be that I’ve been using my skis in the completely wrong environment all these years?) Not unlike skiing, I learned to ride a … Read more

Garden update: Felice the pepper

OK, I know, this is one of those posts that will only be interesting to me and perhaps a couple other crazy vegetable garden enthusiasts. But…. I’m so proud of my pepper I can’t help but share. We’ve named it Felice (Italian for ‘happy’). Isn’t he handsome? 🙂 At 5 centimeters high, he’s by far … Read more

Eurovision 2008

We had a little party for the Eurovision finale again this year. At least half the guests came reluctantly… either not having heard of Eurovision at all, or wondering why in the world I’d want to throw a party for such a ridiculous event. But everyone had fun whether they liked it or not, even … Read more

Chocolate chips for expats

As ubiquitous as they are in the US, chocolate chips are practically unheard-of in the rest of the world’s supermarkets. Sometimes the clever expat must improvise:

1. Unwrap a bunch of dark chocolate bars (extra bonus step – freeze them first)
2. put them in a ziplock bag and seal it
3. break up the chocolate in the manner of your choosing (drop the bag on the floor several times, take a wooden mallet to it, etc. etc. Be creative!)

This little tip isn’t new… in fact American expats have been making their own chocolate chips using this method for decades, if not centuries.

Read moreChocolate chips for expats

It’s time to play Name That Obscure German Holiday

Anyone have a guess at what today is? That’s right: Fronleichnam*! It just sounds fun, doesn’t it? You know you’ve plumbed the depths of obscurity when even the Italians haven’t heard of your Catholic excuse for a day off of work. Not that I’m complaining, mind you. I think all countries could benefit from the … Read more

Italy trip highlights: Sleeping in Tuscany

Scott was responsible for finding us places to sleep in Tuscany, and he did a fabulous job. For two nights we stayed at Hotel Il Rondo’, a gorgeous bed and breakfast in Montepulciano. Rarely have I stayed in a room so beautifully done. The ceilings had large square wooden beams as is typical in Tuscany, … Read more

Coming events in and around Munich

The Eurovision Song Contest is coming up this Saturday, with the preliminary rounds on Tuesday and Thursday evening. If you love cheesy euro-pop, you won’t want to miss it. Will the Eastern European countries continue to vote as a bloc and piss off the West, who has been voting in much smaller blocs since the … Read more

In which we find a use for our balcony

My husband and I have never been plant people. Given the frequency with which we travel (and move), plants just never seemed to be worth the effort. My attempts to grow things and keep them alive have been limited to basil plants and the odd oregano. That is, until now. A couple weekends ago we … Read more