Me too! I love hearing about all the things you have done and seen. I especially love to see and hear about the food:)The pictures are awesome! I would've wanted to take pictures but not have my camera with me.
I love your blog!!! I actually found it by accident a few months ago, and wondered if you were in my mom's ward. Small world! Oh, your pics brought back memories. My husband and I went through europe and ALL I ate was gelato...grapefruit is my fav. ok, actually ALL the food was amazing. Isn't CAiller the absolute best?
ANyways, thanks for checking out my blog! I am using it to try out my children's art line. HOpe to see you back!
Don't feel bad, Kristi! I only went to CA for a week and I still haven't finished/started blogging about it. We love hearing about all your adventures. It is so nice to hear about the way of life there(how they commute, the food they enjoy, their hotels)it has been so fun to read. I can't wait to hear more!
oh wow.. you must be tired.. I have never experienced that big of a time change.. sounds hard adjusting back.. thanks so much for sharing..it really is fun to read about! love that last pic of jeff and your girls.. what a great memory!
I'm so happy you're going to frame that last photo of Jeff and the girls, it's amazing!
It's so fun to see all these pictures from your trip, and so interesting to have your posts separated like this. It's such a bonus to see many photos of the food you guys ate rather than just one. Everything looks so good.
I think it's cool that Annie Kate had no problem going to vendors and communicating even though she didn't speak the language. Perhaps the need for a marmalade pastry can be spoken with the eyes.
Keep going. These are fun to read. Brings back lots of memories for me too.
We loved to go get ice cream in Europe. We went to a little city in France for a week and I think I had five ice cream cones a day. It was the best I have ever tasted!
How fun it will be to have these photos on your walls. That last one is beautiful. And I think its so cool how many details you captured. Especially if you did not think about doing that ahead of time. I always mean to get the details but always seem to forget.
Reading these posts is a a highlight for me. I am so glad you are doing them. I am really itching to go back there now. I love the Cornflake Ritter bars. And all the Kinder chocolate in Germany. We ate out of gas stations a lot also. So much yummier then doing so here.
1:30 AM
Anonymous said...
I love reading about your trip! Please continue as I've been looking forward to it the whole time you were gone. I've been to Europe twice and never wrote about it (in a journal or in a photo album)- thinking I'd always remember. Well, it's only been 3 1/2 years sinc emy last trip and already I don't remember so much about the trip. You do such a good job documenting everything and it's so interesting. Thanks for sharing. Melissa Pimentel
For Heavens sake, don't stop posting about your trip! We all love it! My mom and I call each other every day and talk about all the amazing things you've posted about. We lived in Germany 20+ years ago and she desparately wants to go back. (I don't remember it...too little) You've given me hope that I don't have to wait until my 3 little ones are grown to go to Europe someday. =)
Please don't stop the posts! They are fabulous and help me to relive our trip last summer!
I have to tell you a really funny story about staying with Ben's relatives in Germany. Our hostess had provided us some food for breakfast so we could eat whenever. This is what was available: chocolate covered donuts, musliex with chocolate filled things, nutella, croisants, and cheese. Later she said to us "I am so glad I watched American tv so I knew what Americans liked to eat". Ben and I were laughing because we almost never eat donuts, nor do we eat chocolate cereal. Oh well!
I, too, am enjoying reading about your trip. I was talking to a fellow Marine wife the other day about their upcoming 2 week leave in October and the fact that they really had no plans for a vacation, but really wanted to go somewhere. I emailed her to check out your blog and consider a European vacation with the military perks.
Of course I love your posts--long or other wise!! I absolutely love the picture of Jeff and the girls, and also the pic of Annie in the straw hat eating ice cream. I personally can't wait to try some of the Swiss chocolate, and pray that the trip with the girls isn't too draining. You can sleep away your jet lag here too.
Thanks so much for your blog, another blogger recommended to me to read your blog. I am glad that I did! I enjoy reading about your trip to Europe! Keep posting!
Kristi, I will have a look here for the blood orange Ritters, but I have to say I can't recall seeing them. But I'll look. I feel anguish for you desperately hanging on to that last one to share with your family!
The picture of Jeff and the girls is so sweet - definately framable! It is crazy how drinks are so expensive! We spent about $8US per bottle of coke. But it was the only thing they had that was cold! It was worth it though. Annie Kate did a great job going up and ordering the pastries herself - very brave! I know what you mean about wishing you had brought a certain food home, but didn't. I'll check for you up here in Quebec, sometimes they have things you can't get in the states! Hope you get caught up on sleep sooN!
Seeing your cute pics of your girls and all the yummy food makes me ALMOST want to take my family on a European getaway. Not quite but ALMOST! (unfortunately 3 kids- oldest with autism, youngest still a baby..isn't really condusive to these types of trips:( I admire that you did the trip, that you took 5 million pics and that you are documenting it all here. You will love that you took the time to do so in the future even more. I've been all over the world and have never been thorough about documenting my trips- lots of pics but nothing written down. I still love the memories made but it would be that much better to have written it all down. Too bad for me. Yay you!
The currant bush!! I have great memories of it too, and can't seem to find currants anywhere. Remember the cherry tree and the raspberries too??
I too love the trip documentation. I would love to go to Europe but won't be going anytime soon, it's fun to visit through your blog.
9:55 PM
Anonymous said...
Photo shop you into the black and white of Jeff and the girls and you've got your Christmas card pic! SO CUTE! I want your camera-especially if it comes with you clicking the pictures!
Wonderful photos, Kristi! I love that you gave in to feeding the kids ice cream -- I'm sure that made everyone happy. Ice cream was probably Lucas's favorite thing about France...
I am so loving the photo of AK with the wonderful hat! And the one at the end of Jeff and the girls.
Don't you hate the way Nestle, Dannon, Yoplait, etc. sell things in the US that don't even resemble the wonderful things they have in Europe? What gives?
I have really enjoyed reading about your trip. Sort of makes me feel like I went along. That is an awesome pic of your hubby and girls. Thanks for sharing.
12:37 PM
[Image]probably our favorite dinner the whole trip - in Italy
What filled our tummies
We had heard that finding food wit kids could be one of our biggest challenges. It was true, until we came to terms with feeding the ice cream for meals - then life was easy! Jill has always said I need to start a smugmug gallery just of the girls eating ice cream and after this trip I think she is so right. Here are just a few of the many ice cream - gelato cones they ate
[Image]in Innsbruck Austria and later that day...
[Image]In Brixen Italy. (this was far the best gelato, I got lemon ice) [Image]In Obberamergau, Germany [Image]
a few hours later with another ice cream that came in the cutest [Image]Donald Duck Head
[Image]the girls dinner in France, Caroline ended up switching her chocolate for my apricot gelato and has actually brought it up twice since we have been home how she want to go back and get the orange ice cream. [Image]ice cream in Salzburg, Austria [Image] This was a cheese I found at two commissaries but never found it at the grocery stores. It was amazing. They came with Shrek playing cards that the kids loved.
[Image]Every single day we were there I wanted Diet Coke - they call it Coke Light there. I kicked my habit on May 5th but still crave it everyday and know if I drink just one I will be back to my scary amount that I consume. I feel we spent more money on drinks than anything else. They don't serve ice with drinks or tap water. Just think how great it would be to be a waiter there not having to refill drinks your whole shift. [Image]I can't believe I forgot to bring some of these home. They were only $1.00 at the commissary and they were amazing chocolate sticks filled with lime creme. Oh they were so good. [Image]While I am working on my Diet Coke addiction my Ritter addiction worsens. They had so many flavors of candy bars that they don't sell here in the U.S. this was one or our family favorites and we brought home 6 bars. It is white chocolate with grapefruit center, sounds gross but it is so good. My other two favorites were the peppermint one and the chocolate with corn flakes in it. We only have one of these bars left and I am saving it to share with my family next week. I hope it does not get eaten before then.[Image]Our evening in Italy really seemed like something out of a dream. I can't wait to document the flea market we went to. It was the last nights of the summer festival. We seemed to have such luck with events going on in the cities we went to. So all of the restaurants had mini kitchen's set up outside and serving a few of their best items off the menu that you could eat outside. This was like a dream for us as waiting for menus and the bills seemed to take FOREVER in Europe. Dining seems like an event there and there is no rushing. this would have been great if Jeff and I only had each other's eyes to stare at - but we had 6 others to keep track of. [Image]There was one restaurant that we chose to stop at because they were making these amazing pastries. We watched them make them and fry them up and got to eat them warm.
[Image]I have no idea what they were called but had a marmalade inside. Annie Kate at a whole one herself and then went and ordered another one for herself. The lady who took her order didn't speak any English and Annie Kate did not know any Italian, but the lady got her money and Annie Kate got her pastry it was fun to see her be so brave and communicate the best she could. This event alone could have made it worth it to take my kids. We also had the pasta above and some ravioli. I think the whole meal was less than 20 Euros - [Image]but we probably spent another 8 euros just on water. [Image]we tried to always have some of this water with us. The water bottles over there are HUGE! We got a great tip from some of our military friends who told us to go to the commissary when we flew in to get a bunch of these for our drive. We got 12 of these huge bottles for $4.00. I tried to bring an empty one home but it would not fit in my suit case. Not because I am cool like Annalisa who helps the environment but i just wanted to have a cool European water bottle. But I am sure I will find out they have these at my grocery store next time I go.
[Image]This was my lunch in Innsbruck Austria. I got my awesome wienerschnitzel, spicy mustard and sauerkraut, that was on my expectation list. It was great. This was the first time since we had arrived we had eaten at a restaurant and had forgot if we were supposed to tip or not. I remembered I had asked Jill but forgot what she had said. So I looked at the darling couple to our right, who was actually eating at another restaurant, but we were sitting on the street and it was just tables after tables under a street tent. I asked her if she spoke English, she did a little. I asked her if we were to tip our waitress and how much. I must admit I was a little nervous to do so, but glad I did because she said yes and to do 10-15%. [Image]Also on my list was to go to a grocery store and just look around. I seem to have an obsession with advertising, logos and packaging. I didn't know if I could walk around and take photos (I have been asked in grocery stores here to put my camera away) so I really didn't. But you should have seen how they had the mayonnaise in Switzerland it was in metal tubes like how toothpaste used to come and then it hung upside down but from the top, I wish now I would have taken a photo. this above jar was this awesome peanut butter and chocolate spread that we never spread on anything but ate straight. I have hopes to find this in the European section at the commissary here. [Image]I also loved buying a huge box of currents at the store. My grandmother had a bush in her garden that we loved to raid when we would visit. Eating them reminded me of being a kid in her backyard again.[Image]Annie Kate in Wengen, Switzerland we took our friends advice and bought fruit on the side of the street anytime we saw it. It was so good. this helped make up for all the chocolate we ate. [Image]The milk was an issue for us as it was served warm. The girls didn't really like it and this was where our two visits to McDonald's paid off.
[Image]We seemed to always be able to find French Fries and pizza where ever we went which helped with the kids too.
[Image]We also ate lots of pretzels! They were amazing. This was a store in Obberamergau and they had the sliced with butter inside. They were yummy. [Image]Annie Kate in France along with the blue slushie.[Image] This was a cute pretzel stand that was set up in Salzburg.
We got a salt one and a chocolate pistachio one. [Image]This pretzel was one also at the stand. I didn't do a good job taking the photo because it was HUGE - bigger than me and Annie's head put together. It was 7 euros. (which is $9.50) The exchange rate was $.77 cents to the dollar. I looked it up today and it is $.73 cents.
[Image]Even though I never saw any kids eating at restaurants they always seemed to have a kid menu. these were the kids glasses for the kids meal one night in Garmish. (my kids are used to plastic cups with a top and straw so it was a miracle they didn't break them) I loved the porcupine/hedgehog character on them.[Image] We also ate A LOT of chocolate. We had got a hot tip that the only chocolate to eat in Switzerland was Cailler which is made by Nestle but not sold in the states. It was really amazing. [Image] We brought lots of it home [Image] Switzerland was by far where we ate the best. Mainly because the hotel we were staying at was where we ate breakfast in the mornings and one night we at the buffet dinner for their Independence day. [Image]When we drove into Switzerland we were too tired to get anything to eat so we just picked up fruit, the above cheese, and a croissant at the gas station. These were some of our best meals. This cheese was thinly sliced, hard and rolled up with little sprinkles of another kind of cheese on it. Just typing about it makes me crave it. I wonder if i could find this here. [Image]our lunch at the top of Munlinchen hiking to the base of the Eiger I was amazed as I went back through my photos how many photos I had taken of the food we ate, but wish I had taken more. I had never thought before leaving how I would document our trip so I am thrilled with how many photos I took of the details I don't want to forget.
on a current note I am exhausted. I have spent the past two afternoons sleeping about 4 hours and can't seem to catch up to regular speed. I don't know how people who travel internationally continue to go to work the next day. [Image]one of my favorite photos of the trip of Jeff and the girls in Switzerland
I am also worried I have taken on too much trying to document the list I have from our trip but can't seem to drop it either. I am so glad I wrote down my list of goals or I am sure I would have given up by now. OK So this was number 3 only 11 more to go... oh my. I sure bloggers must be getting tired of my 2 week trip which now on it's third week of posting... So thank you to all of you who have taken the time to read these ever so long posts and even taken the time to comment. Unlike Jeff who gets to go to work and talk about his trip all day, all I want to do it talk about it but can't find many listening ears except for here. And that shall do.
and jill thanks for reminding me i need to print and frame some of these photos the above one of Jeff and the girls will be the first one I do.
posted by everything pink! at 12:57 PM on Aug 9, 2007
Untitled
33 Comments -
I am loving every minute of your entire trip Kristi. Please, for the love of Pete, DO NOT STOP!! :)
9:37 PM
I so enjoy reading about your trip...I have never spent any time in Europe, and your descriptions (and photos) are so vivid.
9:54 PM
Me too! I love hearing about all the things you have done and seen. I especially love to see and hear about the food:)The pictures are awesome! I would've wanted to take pictures but not have my camera with me.
9:57 PM
I love your blog!!! I actually found it by accident a few months ago, and wondered if you were in my mom's ward. Small world! Oh, your pics brought back memories. My husband and I went through europe and ALL I ate was gelato...grapefruit is my fav. ok, actually ALL the food was amazing. Isn't CAiller the absolute best?
ANyways, thanks for checking out my blog! I am using it to try out my children's art line. HOpe to see you back!
10:22 PM
Don't feel bad, Kristi! I only went to CA for a week and I still haven't finished/started blogging about it. We love hearing about all your adventures. It is so nice to hear about the way of life there(how they commute, the food they enjoy, their hotels)it has been so fun to read. I can't wait to hear more!
10:58 PM
Amazing food, amazing experiences. I love the picture of your hubby and the girls at the end. So beautiful!
Don't stop telling us about your trip, I'm loving living through you!
11:12 PM
oh wow.. you must be tired.. I have never experienced that big of a time change.. sounds hard adjusting back..
thanks so much for sharing..it really is fun to read about! love that last pic of jeff and your girls.. what a great memory!
11:44 PM
I'm so happy you're going to frame that last photo of Jeff and the girls, it's amazing!
It's so fun to see all these pictures from your trip, and so interesting to have your posts separated like this. It's such a bonus to see many photos of the food you guys ate rather than just one. Everything looks so good.
I think it's cool that Annie Kate had no problem going to vendors and communicating even though she didn't speak the language. Perhaps the need for a marmalade pastry can be spoken with the eyes.
12:10 AM
Keep going. These are fun to read. Brings back lots of memories for me too.
We loved to go get ice cream in Europe. We went to a little city in France for a week and I think I had five ice cream cones a day. It was the best I have ever tasted!
How fun it will be to have these photos on your walls. That last one is beautiful. And I think its so cool how many details you captured. Especially if you did not think about doing that ahead of time. I always mean to get the details but always seem to forget.
12:14 AM
Reading these posts is a a highlight for me. I am so glad you are doing them. I am really itching to go back there now. I love the Cornflake Ritter bars. And all the Kinder chocolate in Germany.
We ate out of gas stations a lot also. So much yummier then doing so here.
1:30 AM
I love reading about your trip! Please continue as I've been looking forward to it the whole time you were gone. I've been to Europe twice and never wrote about it (in a journal or in a photo album)- thinking I'd always remember. Well, it's only been 3 1/2 years sinc emy last trip and already I don't remember so much about the trip. You do such a good job documenting everything and it's so interesting. Thanks for sharing.
Melissa Pimentel
2:40 AM
I am definitely not tired of Europe posts - I love reading about your adventures and seeing the beautiful pics.
6:29 AM
For Heavens sake, don't stop posting about your trip! We all love it! My mom and I call each other every day and talk about all the amazing things you've posted about. We lived in Germany 20+ years ago and she desparately wants to go back. (I don't remember it...too little) You've given me hope that I don't have to wait until my 3 little ones are grown to go to Europe someday. =)
7:21 AM
i, for one, will not get bored!!
8:02 AM
Please don't stop the posts! They are fabulous and help me to relive our trip last summer!
I have to tell you a really funny story about staying with Ben's relatives in Germany. Our hostess had provided us some food for breakfast so we could eat whenever. This is what was available: chocolate covered donuts, musliex with chocolate filled things, nutella, croisants, and cheese. Later she said to us "I am so glad I watched American tv so I knew what Americans liked to eat". Ben and I were laughing because we almost never eat donuts, nor do we eat chocolate cereal. Oh well!
8:05 AM
I love reading about your trip! I love the way you are breaking it down too. I think it's a great way to document your travel.
8:18 AM
Thank you so much for "talking" to us about your adventures. I am enjoying each post and am looking forward to the next 11 or so!!
Sounds ideal: iced cream, gelato, chocolate, interesting cheeses, weinerschnizel and enormous pretzels. Now I'm hungry!
How brave of AK to order on her own. I know your heart was bursting.
Love all your pics, especially the last one--beautiful!
8:39 AM
I, too, am enjoying reading about your trip. I was talking to a fellow Marine wife the other day about their upcoming 2 week leave in October and the fact that they really had no plans for a vacation, but really wanted to go somewhere. I emailed her to check out your blog and consider a European vacation with the military perks.
9:15 AM
The food you tried looks great. I really want to try gelato.
I am enjoying reliving your trip with you. It's fascinating.
9:16 AM
Of course I love your posts--long or other wise!! I absolutely love the picture of Jeff and the girls, and also the pic of Annie in the straw hat eating ice cream. I personally can't wait to try some of the Swiss chocolate, and pray that the trip with the girls isn't too draining. You can sleep away your jet lag here too.
10:18 AM
Love the Europe posts. I love that last photo too - it's perfect! Definitely needs a frame! That food - delicious!!!!
12:15 PM
I'm loving all the little details you've captured of this amazing trip! Certainly not getting sick of it!
That's a wonderful picture of Jeff and your girls at the end. Definitely for framing!
12:15 PM
Thanks so much for your blog, another blogger recommended to me to read your blog. I am glad that I did! I enjoy reading about your trip to Europe! Keep posting!
3:41 PM
Loved the picture of Jeff and the girls...I'm hungry now from seeing all the fabulous ice cream and goodies!
5:06 PM
The food looks to die for !! Oh, the chocolate! :D I am craving all of the food in your pictures right about now.
I love these posts about your trip. What a clever way to document a wonderful time with your family.
The picture of Jeff and the girls is adorable. Definitely needs a frame! :D
5:40 PM
Kristi, I will have a look here for the blood orange Ritters, but I have to say I can't recall seeing them. But I'll look. I feel anguish for you desperately hanging on to that last one to share with your family!
6:20 PM
The picture of Jeff and the girls is so sweet - definately framable! It is crazy how drinks are so expensive! We spent about $8US per bottle of coke. But it was the only thing they had that was cold! It was worth it though. Annie Kate did a great job going up and ordering the pastries herself - very brave! I know what you mean about wishing you had brought a certain food home, but didn't. I'll check for you up here in Quebec, sometimes they have things you can't get in the states! Hope you get caught up on sleep sooN!
7:26 PM
Seeing your cute pics of your girls and all the yummy food makes me ALMOST want to take my family on a European getaway. Not quite but ALMOST! (unfortunately 3 kids- oldest with autism, youngest still a baby..isn't really condusive to these types of trips:( I admire that you did the trip, that you took 5 million pics and that you are documenting it all here. You will love that you took the time to do so in the future even more. I've been all over the world and have never been thorough about documenting my trips- lots of pics but nothing written down. I still love the memories made but it would be that much better to have written it all down. Too bad for me. Yay you!
9:05 PM
The currant bush!! I have great memories of it too, and can't seem to find currants anywhere. Remember the cherry tree and the raspberries too??
I too love the trip documentation. I would love to go to Europe but won't be going anytime soon, it's fun to visit through your blog.
9:55 PM
Photo shop you into the black and white of Jeff and the girls and you've got your Christmas card pic! SO CUTE! I want your camera-especially if it comes with you clicking the pictures!
10:46 PM
Wonderful photos, Kristi! I love that you gave in to feeding the kids ice cream -- I'm sure that made everyone happy. Ice cream was probably Lucas's favorite thing about France...
I am so loving the photo of AK with the wonderful hat! And the one at the end of Jeff and the girls.
Don't you hate the way Nestle, Dannon, Yoplait, etc. sell things in the US that don't even resemble the wonderful things they have in Europe? What gives?
6:47 AM
all of this food looks delicious! A chocolate bar with corn flakes?! so interesting! I love these recaps. Don't stop!
6:37 PM
I have really enjoyed reading about your trip. Sort of makes me feel like I went along. That is an awesome pic of your hubby and girls. Thanks for sharing.
12:37 PM