This was our second trip to Amsterdam. While most people who visit Amsterdam get all excited about the “cafes” (eh hem, pot bars) and Red Light district, Janna and I were on a different type of quest. We heard there was authentic Chinese food in Amsterdam! Did we find it? Judge for yourself…
This first picture is just to prove that we were in Amsterdam. Crappy bikes everywhere!
Part II coming soon!
Back in May (I told you we were behind), Janna and I went to the Spargel (Asparagus) Festival. In Germany, asparagus is pure white and EXPENSIVE. Not many pictures of the festival itself (it was festival celebrating asparagus for gosh sake), but plenty of good food to drool over!
Did you know that they grew white asparagus buried in dirt?
I told you it was expensive, that’s about $6-7 a pound!
Bravo Vince, bravo!! You’ve posted three days in a row!!
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I got to scratch another item off my bucket list: “See the Tour de France in person.” Janna and I debated whether we should choose a mountain top stage or the final stage in Paris. Hmmm, let’s see… wait for 4 hours to watch the riders ride by for 20 seconds or hang out in the City of Light and see those same 20 seconds? No brainer right? Well, actually it was bit more than 20 seconds watching them in Paris. If you didn’t know, the final stage of the Tour de France has the riders pedaling up and down the Champs-Élysées about six times before the finish line… BONUS!
Double BONUS: Justin was in Paris too. Really cool hanging out with him again for the weekend (it also doesn’t hurt to have a free tour guide that can speak French too). Good times, good times! Oh yeah, Contador still bites and Lance RULES (even if he’s old and slow)!!
Can you be in Paris and NOT be a tourist? Guess not…
Ah, what blog post would be complete without pics of food? In this case, a nice meal before we went to watch the race. This meal ended for me with the “Floating Island (Oeufs a la Neige).” Beautifully light meringue floating on creamy vanilla custard. Drool…
Janna fed her addiction to Crème Brûlée with this beauty. Thanks to Justin who taught us how to use the “correct” American pronunciation of it: “Creamy Broo-Lee.” The waiter was not impressed.
Can you point out the pick pockets?
Look, it’s Lance!! (Slighty blurry rider, front and center)
Paparazzi!
George Hincapie! (In the Stars and Stripes riding gear)
Boo, Contador!
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So waaaaaay back in April (we said we were a little behind in posting didn’t we?), Janna took part in the German Wine Road Marathon. Craziest run you’ve ever seen. About a thousand people lined up to do 26.2 miles or half of that, while getting “re-hydrated” with sponges filled with wine. Ewww, gross.
But of course, Janna enjoyed it. I “took part” in the event by staying in the welcome tent drinking beer. Ahhh, what a life!
Number 4887, ready to get her run and drink on!
Hero shot!
The infamous wine sponges. “Hmmm, my palate detects a hint of cherry, cellulose and sodium sulphate in this Riesling…”
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Hey, we said winter hibernation was over and that we’d be traveling again, but nobody ever promised we’d have time for posting on the blog, right? Ah, so we suck because we left everyone hanging, but no fear, the flood of belated blog posts is coming!
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Spring is here, the snow has FINALLY melted after a loooooooong and coooooooold winter. As a gauge of how long this winter has been, Vince’s new car has been in winter storage since October of last year and just finally got to touch semi-dry pavement as of last week. What is that, six months? Crazy!
They say that this winter was the worst Germany has faced in over 50 years. We believe it, snow was on the ground almost the entire six months and the temperatures hovered at or below freezing throughout. Janna actually got sun withdrawal… all she ever talked about was running away to the beach somewhere. Cabin fever!
But no worries, the sun has finally returned and mama and papa bear have lumbered out of their winter hibernation! The M is gassed up and there’s plenty of German Autobahn to drive so get ready for the 2010 return of the Lausy European Tour!
What’s a person to do after being bundled up in Gore-Tex and goose down for six months? Head straight to the old thermal baths down in Baden Baden for a nice steam and swim of course!
This was our second visit to this old Roman bath town and there was plenty to discover.
Cherry blossoms! My buddy Ted tells me they still haven’t bloomed yet in Korea because of their long winter. No worries, head over here to see what they looked like.
This is the Trinkhalle, supposedly the old pump house, but now home to the Tourist Info Office and a nice little cafe (“Drink Hall” get it?).
This is the result of the cabin fever I was referring to earlier. There were German children standing around us crying as they watched Janna hog their little ride.
Behind Janna is an old and authentic Roman eatery.
What the hey? People in Germany actually drink Lowenbrau? That’s like finding out Americans actually drink Pabst Blue Ribbon. Wait, come to think of it… oh well, more important things first. Must… drink… beer…
One of the many beer gartens you’ll find throughout Germany, although normally with more beer and drunks:
The proof is in the coaster!
Ahhhhh, so refreshing…. just like a…. Budweiser. Huh? Yeah, that’s what I thought too, I guess my palate has just been spoiled by all the good weiss bier here.
Meat and beer, a perfect combination. Pork to be exact, with a side of boiled cabbage and potato dumpling. DEEE-LISCH!!
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Amber
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