Adventure 2009 begins

As with every vacation that is in the Western hemisphere, the home base is Germany, Moerfelden/Walldorf to be specific. And finally, after 27 years of threatening to visit Rüdesheim, the deed has been done! Yes, yes, it is a tourist trap, but still a quaint village and the home of Germany's finest brandy distilley, Asbach.

Matt and Sabine, apart from being the best friends in the world, are also profound food junkies. A quarter of a century ago Matt taught me how to make some simple traditional German dishes beyond the good ol' wurst type things, and it has been a culinary competition ever since.

After one of the most enjoyable transatlantic flights ever (the company was very good and lively... a wonderful change after the past several trips!), came the welcome home barbecue at another friends house. While not in any way conceding defeat, Matt could probably hold his own in a cook off! The shame is that we cannot get the specific cuts of meat in the good ol U.S., even when you show the butchers full diagrams and explain the seasoning and aging. Yes, it has been tried, several times in the Fresno area with no success!

The next day was a short road trip to Rüdesheim. Please note the angelic little figure in the adjacent photograph...

for some odd reason a scenario for the next Omen sequal comes to mind, The Omen 31, Damien in Disguise.

Not quite that evil, all of the time, he is an 8 year old Tasmanian Devil, very hard to keep up with. The benifit is that once a year my parenting skills are tested and once a year my reasons for having chosen to remain childless are justified. Kids are fun when you can give them back to their parents. Unfortunately there is that little bit of psuedo-parent pride in the child. He is a genius and one helluva soccer nut. The kid's got potential.

So, the first three days were the usual homecoming before taking off for the real vacation. Pretty much eating way too much, bike riding all over town and catching up on the past years events. It's kind of telling that you are family and no longer guest when you drop the kid off at school, gossip with the other parents and run back home to get packed before your flight. To my way of thinking, this is the way all vacations should start!