Where are the Rapaljes?: March 2012

Monday, March 26, 2012

ein Wochenende in Trier

A had the weekend off and surprise, we did NOT go somewhere! I know, hard to believe. We were planning on heading to Liechtenstein for a few nights, but after looking at the weather here, decided to stay. When A is on call, we hang out in Trier more, but the possibility of having to work limits the fun. The weather was perfect and we had an awesome weekend!

good morning, Kasel!

a glorious bike ride to Schweich on Thursday for lunch with friends

wine tents set up in the city for the Easter Market. i love me some german riesling.

lunch in the city with jandee after a great morning of shopping at the market

if its 70F and sunny, not a cloud in the sky, its not possible to skip the snickers gelato. simply not possible.

and i thought we liked wine!

Trier setting up to display 'the robe of Christ'

fresh tulips from the local market

danke, Mirjam!

more fresh flowers from the local market!

Friday night drinks (and dinner for some) at the Schnitzelstube with the Kasel Women :) Is this not a gi-normoussss schnitzel (that comes with fries AND salad)?!

@Coffee Fellows. My substitute for Mill Mountain!

Saturday morning breakfast at Coffee Fellows. One of the 2 places in Trier that has bagels, my weakness!

my thoughts exactly!

bffs

hanging out at the rugby game. Bos and Riva got lots of attention from zee Germans

Saturday afternoon at the Trier Women's Rugby Tournmanet. my friend Jandee is on the team...verrryyy interesting to watch!

the perfect weather for grill night at Mir's

i made the most delicious strawberry rhubarb crumb pie with fresh strawberries and rhubarb from the market! it was a hit!

30 minutes later, half gone... 12 hours later, all gone! (we did share!)

Riva, taking in the view of Kasel from our picnic spot

reading and white burgundy wine (from across the street at the Scherf Vineyard) on our amazing porch

long walks through the weinberg

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Utrecht, Netherlands

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

world's coolest bookstore

The other weekend, A had off from work (surprise!) and last minute, we decided to go somewhere. Living where we do in Germany, we are so close to so many other countries: France, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, etc. We knew we wanted to go to Haarlem for a night which is closer to Amsterdam and Maastricht for a night, which is closer to our house and base. Maastricht is the closest city to us just over the Netherlands border. I didn't expect it to be so beautiful, more like a border town that people go to just to buy pot legally. But I was pleasantly surprised. It was beautiful. More Belgian looking than Dutch, but nevertheless, still nice and definitely worth the trip. We rented an apartment for the night and walked around for a day and a half.

Before our trip, I told A the number one thing I wanted to see in Maastricht was a book store, he said, well, ok, whatever, yea let's go. I told him a book store IN a church, but this far exceeded his expectations! This is a typical European church (so, beautiful, impressive, jaw dropping, high detailed ceilings, stained glass, the works) turned book store. The bookstore is called Selexyz Dominicanen and it won the Lensvelt de Architect Interior Award in 2007 - rightfully so! It seems as if the designers didn't change the church at all, just added a bookshelves, books, and a cafe to have coffee while reading! Selexyz Dominicanen in Maastricht definitely won my approval for coolest bookstore in the world!

Selexyz Dominicanen in Maastricht, Netherlands

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Haarlem, Netherlands

all that's missing are a pair of clogs, a windmill, and a very large dutch person!

Thursday, March 15, 2012

cooooookies

ooooh Speculoos Spread, Nutella has NOTHING on you :)

I was unfortunately introduced to this amazing wonderfulness called Speculoos Spread at Erin's today (thanks A LOT, by the way). OH MY GOSH. It is so delicious. Apparently, the Speculoos cookie is a French thing. They are described as being short-bread esque, but that description does not do it justice. So the Speculoos cookies are good, but the Speculoos spread, now THAT is something to talk about. It's the texture of peanut butter or nutella, but tastes like cookies. This is heaven in a jar.

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

proud!

we're moving here...

...and he's pretty stoked!

we cut into the good, Westvleteren cheese...(delicious, but oh my GOSH, this cheese was in 4 different bags and it still smelled up my fridge! A bought this home from a guys trip to the Westvelteren Brewery in Belgium)