Ich bin ein bike snob.

I'm a bike snob. 

I have been since college when I was gifted this amazing road bike to ride to and from work, to and from class. It's just such an awesome bike. So easy to ride. And I love it. And riding bikes in general.

However, my bike is not very Euro. The Europeans go more for the cruiser type bike. And they all have baskets in the front and behind. So, even though I ride a road bike, I decided to Euro it up by putting a basket on the back. 

Best decision I ever made. With the basket. I could ride into the city and put my purse/jacket/life in the basket. I could bike home from the market in the city with bread/cheese/my life in the basket. I could go to and from the grocery store with a night's worth of groceries, no sweat (even with the dogs who learned to run along side me!). Perfect bike.

Well, the mover's broke my basket. I need a new one of those. While I don't use it here in the worst state in America, I will use it when living in Baltimore. We will be a few blocks from Whole Foods, Farmers Markets, and apparenty a new and improved Harris Teeter. 

Back to the point. I'm a bike snob. And I know it. What I didn't know however...

...is that in addition to being a bike snob, I am also a bike path snob. Weather permitting, I rode my bike almost every day in Germany. Whether it was just to the grocery store or bakery or to a friend's house in a neighboring village or into the city for shopping and my German class, almost every single day. The paths in Germany are glorious. Well kept, clean, no sketchy/trashy people walking around who might freak you out, and the views... oh the views...

I did not realize until yesterday (and the day before too I guess), that I am also a bike path snob. With us not having a car, I could not go to the gym. The gym is my sanity. So A and I decided to ride our bikes here in 'Biver-crik.' There is a path near our house. The path itself is nice. It's clean and well paved. The clientele, however, are RIDIC. I was told I could not bike by myself... yes, that's how bad it is. And the views, oh geez. I mean, who wants views (and noise) of riding along side the major interstate in Ohio? And the views of riding along side the ghetto-fabulous yards of Ohio? Certainly not me. Certainly not A. So while it was a nice way to be outside and exercise, it was still just like the rest of Ohio... not for us.

Day #2 sans car. So instead of meeting a friend for coffee, this bike snob is staying at home, eating more pumpkin granola parfaits... 

...on my baby sister's 15th birthday!

Das Auto will nicht anspringen

Every morning, I get an email 'German Word of the Day' to improve my German vocab. Today, it was 'anspringen' meaning to start. The example was: Das Auto will nicht anspringen, meaning the car will not start. Funny, because that is exactly what has happened today. It's really quite the disappointment because for once in my Ohio life, I had plans. While I should be going to this and having actual adult conversation in person with someone who has the same interests as me, instead I am sitting at home in a freezing cold house (although I do love that!) drinking coffee and eating homemade pumpkin granola. 

Columbus Microbrew Festival

On Sunday, we were driving back from Pittsburgh to Dayton. Sad just to think about really, but it had to be done. Both of us decided that since it was nice out, we would stop in Columbus to eat. We were both considering going to Minico's (A's Aunt's former pizza place), but opted for a brewery instead (Barley's Brewery something or another). Anything really besides the restaurants in Dayton. We get there, park, and see something going on a block behind the place, so we decide to check it out. Turns out there is this AWESOME place called North Market and there was a Microbrew Festival going on! What luck! For $20, you get entrace to the festival, an awesome glass, 10 tickets to use for beer tasting (5 oz = 1 ticket), and a $5 coupon to use inside the North Market. What a deal! We could not resist. So we spent our Sunday afternoon eating and drinking, the usual. 

North Market is basically an inside, gourmet, trumped up farmers market. Yes, you can find local fruits, vegetables, meats, cheese etc, (which alone would impress me!), but they also have stands set up by local restaurants, coffee shops, bakeries, and more. You can drink a local beer, eat a locally make pretzel (these were to die for and reminded me of zee homeland!), while at the same time grocery shop for the week, and then have sushi for dinner.. in the market! It's quite glorious. Dayton, what in the world are YOU doing?! 

The North Market

iPhone Pittsburgh

Steel city

The public market in the Strip District was awesome!

East End Brewing Company

Pepperoni Roll from Mancini's, as recommended by Molly

Enrico's

Awesome seats for a terrible game.

Pitt's cutest fans - 4 shirtless boys trying to get the camera's attention. It was adorable. 

Please excuse my blindingly pale arm.

Had to do it. 

This guy was talented. Taking orders and making at least 35 sandwiches at a time.

They all looked a little something like this.

Late night.

View from Mt. Washington

The smells definitely reeled us in.

Pamela's - the hotspot for brunch

Pittsburgh Bound!

These two Hokies are headed to Pittsburgh for the VT game! And it's a new city for us!

(Throwback Hokie Pic - December 2009? Jacksonville, Florida for the ACC Championship Game)

We have a few friends from the Pittsburgh area who have given us some recommendations. We plan to hit up - Monterey Bay for dinner and drinks with a view of the city - Primanti Brothers for some famous and delicious sandwiches (not sure how my vegetarian self will survive) - Mancini's Bread for a pepperoni roll and more (a friend of a friend owns it, gotta try it!) - See Station Square - The Cathedral on Pitt campus - Take the incline to the top of Mt. Washington for the views - Andy Warhol museum (if I can convince A) - Check out the Strip District - and Brunch at Pamela's on Sunday morning (another recommendation from a friend from Pittsburgh)

Might be a busy 48 hours!

Best Schnitzel in Germany

Schnitzelstube in Kasel, Germany

Bahnhofstraße 3, 54317 Kasel, Germany

Hands downs.

The cold beer (I'd recommend a Bitburger from here and here only), delicious fries (must order with mayo!), and wide variety of schnitzel, you cannot go wrong with a visit to the Schnitzelstube. 

Schnitzel Cordon Bleu. 

Jagerschnitzel is always a sound choice.

Gemuseschnitzel mit rahm - Or Vegetarian schnitzel. They have something for everyone, ladies and gentlemen!

Schnitzel. It's what's for dinner. Do it.

10 days and 30+ hours of driving, we are finally 'home.'

Our trip went a little something like this:

Beavercreek ---> Blacksburg ---> Atlanta ---> Benson ---> Richmond ---> Charlottesville ---> Richmond ---> Blacksburg --->Beavercreek

I'm done with driving (well, riding) for a while, quite a while.