Rhine-ing and Dining

Roses for sale at the Giessen farmers' market

There are two inescapable qualities of Germany that have caused us to fall in love with the country: The beauty of the hillsides (both the towns and natural scenery) and the consistently high quality of the food and drink.

Starting with the beauty of Germany, there is so much to discuss here it will be hard to limit this post to only the architecture and the nature.

The buildings in Germany -- in large cities and small towns alike -- are magnificent! At all times we find ourselves walking among the quaint Germanic old-style buildings, marveling at the gothic-style churches and cathedrals, or staring in wonder at the castles. We love the detail that was put into each building: each window sill has something delicate painted around it, or a lovely flower bed holding it up. Each cathedral has been kept in top-notch condition, each doorway has some level of filigree to mark your entrance and exit. It is almost as if there is some law (and perhaps there is?) that buildings must be painted and restored every few years.

Germanic Buildings in the shopping district of Marburg

The natural beauty is hard to pass up, too. Because there is no problem here of urban sprawl (based on the way cities were built and then maintained with city centers and public transportation), train trips out looking out the window go something like this: You are looking at a patchwork of dark and light greens and yellows for farming, and every so often you see a city on a hill or in the distance. You can see the entire city in one place. It has a beginning and an end. It is contained. There are (seemingly) no suburbs. After ooh-ing and aah-ing at the town's cathedral spire and wood-beam sided Germanic buildings, the town ends and you are again looking at rolling, colorful hills until you see the next enclosed village. Amazingly compact and preserved in its own way.

A typical German hillside with a small town

Little did we know, but Germany also seems to have a fetish for fresh flowers. We have seen countless varieties, mainly roses. Everywhere we go seems to smell incredible because everywhere we go seems to be covered in flowers! There was a huge rose garden at the top of a castle we visited over the weekend.

Rose garden at Marburg Castle

We recently took a 4-hour boat tour on the Rhine River from the small town of Rüdesheim up to the larger city of Koblenz, and the rolling hillsides were quietly blanketed with forests and whispering trees, sleepy villages, imposing castles, and colorful cathedrals. It was filled with gorgeous panoramic views and we were enthralled the entire time. Everything just seemed to quiet and serene and perfect. Wow.

On the Rhine

Castles towered above small villages

Churches galore...

Click on the panoramic to see the Rhine in its splendid glory!
You won't regret it :)

*****
German food is the other constant enjoyment! We don't want to brag on Germany, but the food here is darned near perfect each and every meal. Breakfast has already been covered. Lunch and dinner are meals where the richness and description of entrees makes you all warm and fuzzy inside without even having taken a bite!

People here enjoy their food. In the pedestrian district where Linden and Rob live, there are dozens of eateries where you simply buy something small to snack on, and stand at a standing-only tall table, eat, enjoy, leave. You have many choices of what to eat, of course...everything from currywurst (bratwurst cut up with ketchup and curry powder), french fries and mayo, gelato, coffee, small glasses of beer, seafood, meat-cheese sandwiches, mini pizzas, crepes, and of course, bread, bread, and more bread. :) A favorite afternoon snacks is a pretzel.

We have had the pleasure of devouring a few delicious dinners and delightful drinks from breweries. Disappointment is not on the menu! James has made some interesting choices such as blutwurst (blood sausage), leberwurst (liverwurst), and veal gulash. Some more memorable meals for me were the potato and salmon soup, and 'Pizza alla diablo.' One day we only had gourmet cheese and chocolate....7 different types of gourmet chocolate to boot!

A meal of blood sausage, liverwurst, and mashed potatoes smothered in gravy.
MMMMmmmm!

"Prost!"

The beers have lived up to their German heritage. James could speak more to what makes them so great, but they are all fresh, on tap, and zesty! My current favorite is the bierbowle, which is a beer that has fruit in the bottom. It makes the beer taste fruity (strawberries, peaches, etc.). James is enjoying the local pilsner varieties.

Bierbowle: check out those berries in the foam!

All in all, we have absolutely, positively nothing but praise for everything we have eaten and drank in Germany. Everything about this vacation seems so pleasantly perfect!