Joanne's trip to visit her daughter Jeanine and son in law Bradley, in Germany 2023
She also did a trip to Croatia in 2021.  Click here for those photos --> Croatia
Welcome to Germany Mom!
Happy Thanksgiving! As soon as we got home from Switzerland we started preparing for our Thanksgiving dinner with Mom. We’re so excited to have her here these next 2 weeks!! ​

​Click below for more photos of this first day
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10159226527461637&set=pcb.10159226535171637

We started Mom’s first morning here with opening Advent calendars; Mom’s is homemade. Typically you start them on 1 December, but we’re leaving town early on Friday so we didn’t want to get behind on opening them. Kesten was stoked for his first Advent calendar too. This is our 2nd year w/ the Schwarzwald Radio edition.

In the afternoon we took a walk with our neighbor Larissa and delivered her a plate of cookies and pumpkin pie since she’d never tried it before and then had more cuddle sessions with Kesten. ​

Before our dinner of Thanksgiving leftovers, we did a Weihnachtsbier (Christmas Beer) tasting of 5 local(ish) German beers. Of course we had to have cheese and crackers with some of my homemade quince jam and pickled green walnuts too. Our favorite of these 5 beers was from Schimpf. ​

​After our Christmas beer tasting we headed to the “Man Cave” to do the super “manly” event of gingerbread house and cookie decorating. We used the mini houses from IKEA and they were just perfect.

Mom and I had a big day in Ludwigsburg and took the 1 hour Duchess tour of the palace. Highlights were the theatre, picture gallery and the staircases.

Although it’s winter, not much was blooming and the gardens close up on Sunday, we still enjoyed walking around the Blooming Baroque Gardens in Ludwigsburg. We practically had the place to ourselves! ​

For more photos of the above day click the link below to Jeanine's Facebook page for that day.
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10159228835146637&set=pcb.10159228843101637

Surprisingly the Pumpkin Festival was still going on in Ludwigsburg! Most were in sad shape but we still had fun checking them out. Highlight was the big bowl of soup with Maultaschen and pumpkin seed bread.

#1- Ludwigsburg Baroque Christmas Market- Not only was this Mom’s first Christmas Market, but also her first official Glühwein! Beautiful colors and lights at night, especially the angels.

Click the link below for more photos this day
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10159228868691637&set=pcb.10159228871111637

​#2 Stuttgart Part 1 of 2- we met up with some long time friends from Illinois, Tiffany and her Dad, to ooohhh and ahhhh over all the amazing lights and decorations on top of the stands. It will definitely be hard to top this market!

Click the link below for more photos this day
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10159229284716637&set=pcb.10159229310931637​

#2 Stuttgart Christmas Market Part 2- there was a whole section on the Schlossplatz (Castle Square) that had symbols of the city- Porsche, Mercedes Benz, elephant for the Wilhelma Zoo… It was sooo cool and such a surprise. Every 15 minutes they did a little music and light show too. ​

For more photos of this day, click the link below
​https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10159229730336637&set=pcb.10159229736841637

#3- Calw Christmas Market- On Thursday we ventured into the Black Forest more to feast our eyes on the half timbered homes and lights of Calw. We started with lunch at Schönbuch Brewery and then Glühwein at the market. A much more local vibe than Stuttgart and Ludwigsburg. I loved the decorated streets and fountains! ​

For more photo of the above, click the link below
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10159229816126637&set=pcb.10159229822336637

#4- Fürstenberg Weihnachtswelt (Christmas World) in Donaueschingen. Brad chose this one for us after seeing it advertised in a Black Forest magazine. It was super cool and ranks very high for us due to its uniqueness of being in historic princely horse stables, the lighted trophy hallway and the vast amount of stalls with quality products.

For more photos of the above day click the link below
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10159230775496637&set=pcb.10159230790946637

​We started off our snowy Friday morning driving to Donaueschingen. Before our visit to the Fürstenberg Weihnachtswelt (Christmas World), we found the source of the Danube (Donau in German) River. 2840 km to the sea.

After we visited the Fürstenberg Christmas World, we drove the snowy roads through the Black Forest to Triberg. Brad has been really wanting a new cookoo clock clock so Christmas came early. It’s a beautiful hunting themed one. ​

For more photos of the above day click the link below
​https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10159230967701637&set=pcb.10159230974241637

Because of numerous photos we are now just puting in the link to Joanne's daughter's FB page
12/2/23 Being silly at the Triberg Fantasy experience with all the Black Forest themed photo opportunities. ​

For more photos of the Triberg adventure click below
https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10159231261231637&set=pcb.10159231267441637​

Mom’s 6th Christmas Market, but 2nd one in France was in the city of Colmar. We took the Christmas shuttle bus from Riquewihr and started our tour by the train station. Beautiful snow, lights and decorations everywhere we turned. It’s like walking into a Christmas fairytale land!!

For more photos of this adventure click below
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10159232101861637&set=pcb.10159232117546637​

Christmas Market #5 and 1st in France- We arrived to Riquewihr Friday evening and immediately went to the Christmas market to grab a mug of Glühwein. Tastes like there’s a bit of anise in it. Hanging out here for the weekend while exploring other Christmas markets in the local Alsace region.

For more photos of this adventure click below
https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10159232130001637&set=pcb.10159232134531637​

Seriously I can’t get over how pretty this town is! So yep, I’m going to post 1000 photos! Saturday morning it was snowing and the crowds hadn’t arrived yet so we got to wander around and visit the bakery and try some Glühbier (mulled beer) before catching the Christmas Market Shuttle to Colmar.

For more photos of this adventure click below
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10159232186691637&set=pcb.10159232192136637​

German Christmas Market #5- Freiburg im Breisgau. The Alsace region of France was a hard act to follow so unfortunately Freiburg wasn’t wowing Mom and Brad. It didn’t help that it was also cold and rainy and the vibe was pretty mellow on a Monday morning. Nonetheless we cruised around the markets and churches, found some treasures at the Black Forest store, ate potato pancakes with truffle mayo and later Schupfnudeln with sauerkraut. Then we had a snowy scenic drive through the Black Forest home. ​

For more photos of this adventure click below
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10159234764726637&set=pcb.10159234778661637​

St Nicholas Day in Germany

In anticipation of St. Nicholas Day tomorrow, our boots have been set out, as well as our usual seasonal decor of St. Nicholas and Krampus pictures. We can’t wait to see what they leave us during the night!

Mom and Brad may have regretted deciding to walk the 1.5 hours back to Riquewihr instead of taking the bus, but the scenery was beautiful and the sun was shining so nobody complained too much. So much had melted just in a couple hours! ​

For more photos of this walk click below
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10159235570326637&set=pcb.10159235572946637

Wednesday morning we visited the Stuttgart Rathaus (Town Hall) to ride the paternoster (circulation elevator) and to check out the beautiful view of the Christmas Market from the 4th floor.
“There are three circulation elevators in the Stuttgart town hall, better known as paternoster. The paternoster in the marketplace wing has been in operation since 1956 and was modernized in 2004. Riding in one of the twelve cabins is a special experience. By the way, the name Paternoster is derived from the Catholic rosary. Because like the pearls of the prayer chain, the cabins of the elevator are threaded.”- Stuttgart.de​

​German Christmas Market #5- Freiburg im Breisgau

On Wednesday we revisited the Stuttgart Christmas market during the day and saw a few more sections we hadn’t previously visited. As nice as it was to walk around with no crowds, the lights at night are amazing and so thankful we had the opportunity to go last week too.

For more photos click the link below
https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10159236480956637&set=pcb.10159236483971637​

On Wednesday we took Mom onto the military base that Brad works on, Patch Barracks. It was important to her to see where Brad works at EUCOM and what the facilities look like that we have access to. She found our Commissary, food court, thrift store, arts & crafts, post office… interesting.

On a chilly but sunny Sunday morning in France, we walked the 1.5 hours from Riquewihr to Kaysersberg through the vineyards and up to the castle ruins before wandering through the Christmas Market. ​

For more photos of this day click below
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10159235455861637&set=pcb.10159235458941637​

In Mom’s words, the Esslingen Medieval Christmas Market was “charming” and “magical”. Our 6th German Christmas Market did not disappoint and only got better as the lights turned on. A late Thursday afternoon/early evening was the perfect time to visit this very popular market! Enjoyed some delicious Raclette bread, Feuerzangenbowle and Teamwerk Glühwein. Bonus we even saw St. Nicholas.

For more photos click on the link below for this day
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10159237882286637&set=pcb.10159237900216637

​Thursday was a perfect day to visit the Wilhelma Botanical Gardens! It was sunny with clear skies and we stayed warm all day. The poinsettia show was an extra bonus! And nice to have a sit down lunch together too!

For more photos click below
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10159238599261637&set=pcb.10159238604511637​

The Wilhelma Zoo in Stuttgart is amazing! We were there 5 hours and it flew by! Mom’s favorites were the penguins and elephants, but I found the monkeys and meerkats the most entertaining.

Click below for more photos
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10159238608166637&set=pcb.10159238612531637

With it being Mom’s last weekend in town, we decided to celebrate Christmas early with her. So Friday we pretended it was Christmas Eve and had a big pasta dinner with Dad’s recipe for pork butt spaghetti sauce and venison/pork/raisin/pine nut meatballs. Then we put our stockings out for Santa and each got to open one present early. We all got matching pjs!

Saturday morning we pretended it was Christmas Day so we could celebrate with Mom while she’s here. We all wore our matching pjs and enjoyed all the presents Santa brought us! Saturday morning we pretended it was Christmas Day so we could celebrate with Mom while she’s here. We all wore our matching pjs and enjoyed all the presents Santa brought us! Saturday morning we pretended it was Christmas Day so we could celebrate with Mom while she’s here. We all wore our matching pjs and enjoyed all the presents Santa brought us! ​

For more photos of the fake Christmas (LOL) click the link below
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10159239107676637&set=pcb.10159239119876637

German Christmas Market #7- Pflanzen-Kölle Gartencenter. We had so much fun visiting last year that we had to take mom here. And she loved it too! Lots of photo sessions with all the decorations for sale and a stop at the Glühwein and crepe stand. ​

More photos below on the Facebook link
https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10159239686831637&set=pcb.10159239698391637​

German Christmas Market #8- Herrenberg. We always enjoy a visit to this beautiful town with all their half timbered houses and church towering over. Had some of the best mulled cider and bought a long sought after felt Frohe Weihnachten banner, supported the Bauhütte with a purchase of some candles and got a bottle of Teamwerk Glühwein to make at home.

Click the link below for more photos of Christmas Market #8
https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10159239728601637&set=pcb.10159239736726637

German Christmas Market #9- Kloster Maulbronn. The UNESCO World Heritage site monastery of Maulbronn was a cool backdrop for exploring all the food and craft stands on Sunday. The grilled salmon was definitely one of our favorite foods we’ve eaten at a market!

For more photos of Christmas Market #9 click the link below
https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10159241226256637&set=pcb.10159241232621637​

​ After visiting a whopping 12 Christmas Markets (9 German & 3 French) with Mom during the past 2 weeks, we sat down and racked and stacked them. This brought about 3 very different lists and some very entertaining discussion!!!

Unfortunately Mom’s visit has come to an end so for her last meal with us we had Bavarian Weißwurst, Weißbier and pretzels for dinner. We even put our Dirndl and Lederhosen on for her.

Mom has made it back home to Tahoe safe and sound though exhausted from all the delays. Looking back on our fun times together and so grateful we could share our holiday season together! A few more photos from Sunday night where we had a Christmas music & slipper dance party, Feuerzangenbowle , French beer tasting and tasted salty black licorice. ​

More photos added to Jeanine's FB page after Joanne got home

For Mom’s last day in Germany, she requested a mellow day with a nice lunch out. So on Monday, 11 December, we did a little walk around Weil der Stadt and had a scrumptious lunch at Samowar, a Russian restaurant. I can’t wait to bring Brad back now that I have done a good recon.

for more photos click below
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10159244388736637&set=pcb.10159244394021637

The Wilhelma Christmas Gardens have been a highlight of my Christmas season and so grateful I got to share them with my Mom! My favorite was probably the California giant sequoias lit up and so fitting being from Tahoe. I hope she’ll come back in spring so we can share all the flowers together.

for more photos click the link below
https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10159244372451637&set=pcb.10159244379166637

It’s almost hard to process all the amazing memories and experiences I shared with my mom while she was here. A week ago we were in awe of all of these lights. The house doesn’t feel the same without her being here, but so happy she’s home to share Christmas with my adorable nephews and their parents of course.

Click below for more photos
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10159244366321637&set=pcb.10159244369611637​

A week ago, 7 December, Mom and I made a big day of visiting the Wilhelma Botanical Gardens and Zoo and then stayed after for the Christmas Gardens. It was better than I even expected! We loved it! So many amazing lights and fountains!! Annnddd we got so lucky with the weather since the next day was pouring.

For more photos click on the link below
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10159244355416637&set=pcb.10159244360331637