2009/01/24

Photo Recap: Days 9-11, München, Deutschland (Europe 2008)

More from my journal:

The next day we took the train early to München, found our cute hotel, and set out to conquer the city.




Nothing prepared us for the Jodelwirt - it took two nights to find it - but I am so glad we did. You climb up these stairs and enter a tiny room with a table, a bar, and a man perched in between it all with an accordian in his lap, a microphone stretched out of the ceiling, and the biggest shit-eating grin that you've ever seen that quickly turns to a "howdy" glance and - whenever he finds a moment - a joke - about someone or something - and sure not everyone understood it - and his thick Bayern accent tripped up my poor German - but the room would roar with laughter.

He made fun of us because I couldn't find a place to put the coats and he also asked where we were from and put a few "yippees" in [his songs] for us. How fun, we stumbled home after a bajillion Ayinger [beers].


München is one of those familiar-feeling cities that welcomes every time, puts on a great show, but always has something new around the corner to discover. Two days isn't enough. I doubt even two weeks would be - two lifetimes...maybe.



Click here for more viewing options.

Tschüß!

p.s. Life rolls happily by this month, busy trying to stay afloat, and hoping to catch up on the personal life this weekend. Only two more segments of the photo recap to go...Rothenberg is next, then Amsterdam! Thanks for the comments, I'm glad you have enjoyed it!

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2008/06/14

RUS 1 - GRE 0

I guess I would root for the Russians over the Greece...convenient, now the game is over. How fun, I am enjoying a beer and reading the paper with a busy room around me. I have a new blackberry and it is actually Blogger-friendly! Neat.

On topic, are fried chicken tenders irish? Haha, they are certainly good here.

The town is hot and abuzz with the biker rally (our 4th year seeing it!), and Pride, which isn't the sad repressive shit in Utah. We need to enjoy the city buzz. Cab ahoy! :)

Finishing my Spaten and the paper...then off to the hot afternoon.

Tchuess!

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2008/06/10

Summer Adventure Challenge #1: Lockhart

So, I joined Corinne's Summer Adventure Challenge because Austin TX is in the middle of Texas and has a million things to do in and outside the city. When our friends Melissa and Spencer asked if wanted to go grab some authentic BBQ in Lockhart, a "man's town" about 30 minutes southeast of Austin...we were all for it!

Now, 30 minutes southeast of most cities is still the suburbs. Maybe if you went Northwest (Leander) or Northeast (Plugerville). But head southeast on Highway 183 and you are quickly past the airport and in the middle of nowhere. A beautiful Sunday drive (it was about 99 degrees at 12:30 p.m.) and we happily chatted on our way to Lockhart.

There are a lot of random churches in Texas. Not big, beefy, granite churches like Utah or massive worship malls like Dallas...but falling down, white buildings with a cross. I noticed a number on the way down.

I really like small Texas towns...Fredericksburg is one of my favorites...Lockhart is pretty cool. It has this rockin' Courthouse that just does not fit but kind of does...almost an empirical French look in a town that didn't have a lot of french people (mostly anglos) and not even germans (they went on to New Braunfels).

The BBQ joint was a trip...you walk into Smitty's through an entrance and you are in a long, wide hallway that is painted a grey color. It was probably brown at one point, but the air is so thick with smoke (not cigarette...wood smoke) that it coats everything. Benches line the entire wall and I can imagine they are fully packed during lunch hours...on a Sunday it was rather dead and I found that ominous. Ryan and I were nervous. Spencer (the professional cool guy he is) navigates us toward the back.

Halfway down the hall we found a door and through it a bright room full of people eating -- packed to the gills! Old, young, white, brown, black, conservative, liberal (not talking politics here), they were all here chomping on meat without forks. Knifes? Yes. Required for the charred natural skin sausages. Spoons? Yes, but only to slop up the charro beans. Forks? Get out of here.

We keep walking -- at the end of the hallway is a huge guy in a grubby Chef's outfit and he's sitting chatting with some other workers. To the left seems to be storage. To the right is a pile of wood on fire, smoking next to large rectangular boxes...smoker boxes. A couple guys reach in periodically to pull out a hunk of brisket or shoulder...cut pieces off...slam them on scales from the late 1960s...and then throw the meat back in the smoker.

Better get in line. I won't lie, we acted pretty awkwardly as we stared through the smoke and tried to figure out how we ordered and what we wanted. There was no smoked turkey in these parts...beef, sausage, and ribs. I listened to someone else order to get my clue and then did it: "1/2 pound fat, 1/2 pound lean, 2 hots." I had just ordered 1/2 pound of brisket, 1/2 pound of shoulder, and two hot (not spicy, just heated) sausage. Success...with a slab of meat in some wrapped light purple paper, we moved into the main room through two doors and found a seat. I went for sides: potato salad, beans, cole slaw, some sweet pickle chips, and two Shiners.

The place had been there for almost 100 years -- but back then it was a Spoetzle Brewery (german, yes), one of the many that brewed Shiner Beer throughout Texas. In the 60s it closed and the Smittys family moved in to do BBQ...not a thing has changed on the interior since.

The food was great -- don't you dare ask for BBQ sauce though. It's not allowed, it's not around, and you best not think about it. The sauce is the juice from the meat. Seriously!

After grubbing, we took some pictures and then walked around the Courthouse -- a beautiful building that had elements of a French/Russian palace. After looking at some property listings at a local realtor office window ('come on, let's just get a trailer out here and forget about the big city!') we got back in the car and drove into the Central Texas distance...

Check out our pictures!



Tschüß!!

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2008/05/26

Rotkartoffelsalat

I made that title up -- but I made a really good batch of it yesterday for a Sunday BBQ at the Jeff and Steve's house. I didn't want to make an American-style version with loads of Mayo and French's Mustard...so I went with a Paula Deen recipe that turned out perfectly!



Tip: Instead of shelling out $1.79 per pound for the Class 'C' Red Potatoes, which are really cute and small, go for the $.79 per pound regular Red Potatoes. For this recipe you want the bulk of the potato, not just skins.

Click here for the Red Potato Salad Recipe

Meanwhile, most of the day we relaxed and recovered from our night out. These days, we don't go too crazy with hitting bars but we did have a great date night - I bought tickets to Indiana Jones and we walked to the theater (people are going to be sick of me gloating over that but it's really one of the coolest things in the world) -- it was a sticky afternoon and even though we arrived early, we were about 3/4 back in the line...right at the door. The sticky heat of summer air rushed through the doorway, right past our legs into the lobby.

The movie rocked!! We both really enjoyed it, as well as two pitchers of hoppy IPAs...I've been anti-IPA for some time, but I can't remember exactly why. Tasting these, I'm actually enjoying the flavor of the hops!

We left the movie, stumbled home and at the last minute Ryan pulled me toward the Horseshoe Lounge and we stopped in for a beer. Well, after talking to a few of the regulars and three beers later we finally made it home.



Ryan sleeps off his migrane


It didn't help that we have both been sick because Ryan had a migraine the next day (yeah yeah in most countries we call that a hangover...but this was pretty bad) and my cough was a bit strong.



Even our pet Squirrel was sleepy and wanted to nap


At about 3, Ryan rolled out of bed and declared he wanted to mow the lawn! He's such a good mower and I'm glad he likes yardwork. I'll take care of the kitchen, he'll take care of the landscaping, and all will be well in the world.



Ryan expertly mows the lawn


At the BBQ, we were comparing couple's notes with Jeff and Steve -- they had a similar arrangement when they first got together. Jeff does the lawn, Steve does the finances. Although for Ryan and I, we were so young and I really had no concept of domestic life. I suppose at the time my life was school, laundry, write papers, live cheaply, date Ryan. Sounds nice and easy!



Isaac and Scott


Now, it's work, fold laundry (Ryan does the washing around here), write checks, try to live cheaply, love Ryan......cook meals, grocery shop, love my bird, love my cat, clean up after the bird, scoop out cat poop, play Wii, read magazines, check e-mail, forget birthdays, drink good beer and good wine, read newspaper, listen to music, and try, try, try to live well.

Since it's Memorial Day, I should be thinking about those lost in War. I don't understand war (couldn't corporate innovation and teambuilding help vet out issues???? haha!) but proudly have two grandfathers who served in World War II, a father who was in the US Army, an uncle who served in Vietnam, and ancestors who fought in the Civil War (both sides!) and the Revolutionary War!



My grandma and grandpa (dad's side) reading cards at their 70th Wedding Anniversary. My grandpa served in Europe, driving German soldiers back to their home towns


Off to go have a nice Memorial Day -- it also means lots of furniture sales and we need chairs for our new dining table!!

Tschüß!!

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2008/05/24

Chicken Shit Bingo

I think that people have the wrong idea about Texas. (Well, once that baffoon in the White House is back at his ranch, it'll certainly help.) I did when I first moved here.

In all reality, Central Texas is an interesting mix of great-great-great-grandchildren of German and Czech immigrants, a healthy dose of Mexicans (don't forget, we live in former Mexico), pockets of hippies (and now kids of hippies), and then 'tech-transplants' like me.

A few weeks ago, we went with Kris to drink our cares away in memory of her son Micah's passing 5 years ago. So, where does one go? Why not a dive bar to listen to Rockabilly music, drink cheap Pearl beer, and play Chicken Shit Bingo!

Proof:



Now, I have no proof that Ginny's Longhorn Saloon has any connection with German immigrants, but there is a tie-in later. Let me explain the Chicken. Every Sunday at 4 p.m. you can line up to buy a numbered square on the plywood straddling the pool table. It's quite a confusing operation, with the band playing 15 feet away from you, crowds of old ladies and yuppies all trying to navigate the piles of old chairs and formica tables. Eventually, Ginny herself leaves to grab the chicken, who lives out back, and deposits her in the cage -- corn is strewn about. The chicken eats, the crowd watches, Ginny feeds it pieces of something that looked like cooked egg (?!) and eventually......YEEEAAAAHHHHH!! The chicken shits. The number is announced. The winners split the pot.



I'm serious! It actually just made Esquire's Best 100 Bar list, too.



Bring your own liquor too, if ya want!



Or your dog -- we discovered Pearl beer, which has faded in popularity. Interestingly enough, it's recipe comes from Bremen, Germany -- from the same makers of Beck's. Although the brand is now owned by Pabst and brewed at a Miller brewery in Dallas, it was mighty tasty.



OK, beyond that I also wish a happy 70th wedding anniversary to my grandparents, Sam and Hila. I was able to spend a lot of time with them at the beginning of the month in Salt Lake City. They're both so cute and haven't changed a bit.



Tschüß!!

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2008/04/27

Radler and Frühlings

Both of us are definitely jumping into Spring with both arms wide open -- lots of changes around here. Before we get into the tour, let's make sure you have a Radler beverage in your hand. Shiner (a local and independent brewery in central Texas that has been running since 1909 -- the brewery's actual name is Spoetzl or Spötzl which is a common last name) is brewing an Anniversary Beer that is in the München Helles style that is a bright gold lager with high white foam...perfect for a large Maß or stein.


How do you take a beautiful beer like that and make it a nice spring/summer drink? Add sparkling lemonade of course! Our preference is the San Pellegrino Limonada with the awesome foil safety top. You can mix them half-and-half, or to taste. I prefer to put this in a traditional stein since it keeps it nice and cool.


Above: Ryan enjoying a Radler in Stuttgart, 2006.

Beyond that, other changes around the house mean Spring is here. We're both on a "healthy eating" binge with dinners of a protein and loads of fresh vegetables...no starches. That also means not much German food is being cooked at the moment, but I just need to get creative.


Above: We painted the green wall white since all the outside greenery should cast their own color on the wall.


Above: Ryan's beautiful assortment of plants on our front porch.


Above: Can't you smell the Jasmine on our back porch?


Above: The skyline view is gone until winter, but the greenery is spectacular.

We had two strong storms roll in Friday and this morning -- the moisture is great and it didn't hail at our house! Going to be unseasonably cold today (in the low 60s) so it's definitely a "Mall" and "Target" sort of a day. Which is fine -- I just hate doing all that when it's super beautiful outside!

Tschüß!!!

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2008/03/30

St. Patrick's Day



Ryan, Steven (pictured) and I enjoyed a green beer and I made Cottage Pie (it's like Shepherd's Pie)! It was super good -- I finally got the recipe down...parsnips included!!

Tschüß!

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2007/11/03

Deutsches Umfrage

A few weeks ago, I was poking around www.db.de, the website for Deutsche Bahn, and somehow clicked on a survey...alles in Deutsch. I figured most of it out, using my dictionary for help.

Then, I receive an e-mail asking me to setup my profile on this Market Research company's site - so I do. I now get surveys every week or so, asking my opinion on different things...today's was quite thorough and asked about my Getränke (beverage) preferences, etc. It's actually an amazing language lesson for me! I did get tired after a while...was looking up way too many words.

Grete's spay operation went very well -- I stayed home yesterday to watch her and she's been sleeping it all off. I feel bad having to do that but know it's the right thing to do. Now we need to watch what she eats so she doesn't gain a million pounds and turn into Garfield.

Our friend, Mary, called me yesterday and asked if I would help her save a table at a bar for a game later that day -- I was so happy she called! Of course, I said, especially if drinks are involved and acceptable at 2:30 p.m.! Afterwards, we're going to Melissa and Robert's house for dinner -- should be a great night!

Last night, we were SO LOCAL I couldn't stand it -- we walked 1/2 block to the nearby Mexican Restaurant, called Sazon, and it was awesome -- listening to live music, ate queso, and both had great dishes. After, we mozied another half block to Horseshoe Lounge for a beer -- it was packed. Had a nice chat and then walked through the backdoor (like regulars) down the back alley, and across the street to our house. I love this neighborhood!

Tschüß!

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2007/10/13

Oktoberfests in Central Texas

Funny, I just attended my third Oktoberfest celebration...of course, in Central Texas they take it literally (it really happens at the end of September in preparation for October) so last week's festival in Fredericksberg was just the start!

Central Market, a local grocery chain, had "Oktoberwest" and I happen to shop there every Saturday...I've been eyeing the signs for weeks and today, solo, I went and had some Pork and Kraut, a draft Paulaner Oktoberfest and a draft Ayinger Oktoberfest (they also call it Märzen, because it's brewed in March and fermented until September for Oktoberfest). Ran into Julie, who was over for our dinner last Thursady, and had a nice chat. The second beer, the Ayinger, I took in the store with me and shopped. At first it felt a little strange, pushing my cart around through the vegetable aisle, list in one hand and beer in the other.

Then, I reminded myself that I'm in Texas...that was followed by several minutes of "OMG, I live in Texas..." a phenom that I've gone through many times during the past 3 1/2 years since we moved to Austin.

Anyway, the Oktoberwest was great -- had an Oompa band out front (not as good as the one from Fredericksberg, but I can't pas up waltzes and marches) -- and I have my eye on a couple others coming up throughout the month. Dare I say, Oktoberfest Slut? :)

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