German ways

Arrival at Farnkfurt

Our first week almost behind us it has brought family reunions, celebration of my parents 50th wedding anniversary and a landscape which is summer warm and absolutely wonderful.

Volkach on Main

It was wonderful to be reunited with my second oldest son, my parents, sisters and all their families! We talked and laughed together until the sun came up in the morning...



Hotel Four Seasons, Volkach

Brothers reunited...

Me and my sisters...


The region of Franconia in northern Bavaria filled with vineyards and soft rolling hills along the Main river! The food is excellent and the wine even better!




We visited Wuerzburg, the next big city and attractive university town with a most impressive former prince bishop residence.




Horsebackriding in the country side...



Today we left the area to drive towards Munich to visit old friends and here we are now, me just now squeezing a few minutes to tell a little about it!
Via a small thermal bath town south of Munich, where we spend one day, we will go on route to Italy!

So, dear readers, I will report back in a few days, when we reach Venice...


XX
Victoria




All pictures by V.Zlotkowski

Sansepolcro

Our foothold in Italy is a wonderful farmhouse in Sansepolcro, a little up in the mountains, overlooking the Tiber valley and only one hour by car east of Florence.






Internet search made it possible and we are so excited about the location. It's sumptuous wine country, hiking country and the cultural cradle of all things beautiful Italian.
We had entertained the idea of going to Italy for a couple of years now, but this time we feel our younger children will be able to truly absorb some new impressions and do not only rely on playgrounds and swimming pools! Touring will be possible and some memories will hopefully be brought back to last a lifetime.

We have a wonderful itinerary, my list to visit places is long, beginning with Florence, its museums and surroundings, Pisa, a visit to Rome and many local explorations. Sansepolcro is the birth place of Piero della Francesca, who's murals and painting are still to be seen in Sansepolcro. I am so inspired by the Italian renaissance and architectural greatness!

Italy has always in my mind been the place for La dolce Vita, a place to receive beauty and to find peace in wonderful landscapes. I will try to do this too, to leave the needs behind and just let the simple life be my guide. Local foods, walks in the mountains, cooking with my darling mother in law and just being with all my children will give me more then I could ask for!
Perhaps some painting will be done and sketches of the landscapes...Photography is my passion, so many pictures will come back with me.

Just let us all be safe, sound, healthy and return home full of energy for a new school and work year ahead!

Wishing you all the most delightful summer!


XX
Victoria


Pictures from the vacation website.

Our journey

Modern skyline of Frankfurt am Main

Our journey begins actually in Frankfurt (Goethe's birth place), this is where we start our road trip through southern Germany and Italy! The places we are going to visit are not necessarily well known outside Germany, so I will give you a little introduction and a taste of the region. Germany is a wonderful vacation country, simply due to it's many regions with very particular landscapes, architectural styles and culinary specialities.
Wuerzburg is perhaps better known to Americans, since many American soldiers were stationed there after WWII. By now American military presence in Germany has ended, but many families might remember their stay.
The city is well known for its castle and Wuerzburg residence, the University and lovely location on the river Main.
And on our way to Volkach we will pick up one of our older sons arriving from Berlin in Wuerzburg! Yeah!

Map of Bavaria, Wuerzburg almost at the border on the northwestern corner of Bavaria, Volkach is just 20 minutes away from there towards east along the Main!




Wuerzburg

From a travel guide:

"Volkacher Mainschleife" (Sinuosity) - Wine Culture, Arts, and Sports All in One Place:

The Volkacher Mainschleife is one of a kind in Germany; only here, the River Main has built this sinuosity over Millions of years. Around the Mainschleife, a Vacation Paradise has evolved in Volkach and its quarters of Astheim, Escherndorf, Fahr, Köhler, Dimbach, Eichfeld, Gaibach, Krautheim, Obervolkach, and Rimbach, as well as in Nordheim, Sommerach, Obereisenheim, Untereisenheim, Stammheim, and Wipfeld: Idyllic villages and spots in every season.

Volkach, town hall.

The Mainschleife is also THE region for wine, fruit, and asparagus in the Franconian Wine Country. Between late April and late June, the Volkacher Mainschleife is a Mecca for asparagus fans. Seamlessly the wine season follows: vintner and wine festivals offer wine to taste, before fall brings the peak season and the wine harvest. To watch the vintners do their work first-hand is a special experience.


When it comes to culinary treats, the Mainschleife is just as unique: Enjoy typical, Franconian meals, as well as selected asparagus and fish dishes, along with the matching wine.

Bocksbeutel wine

And, of course, there are the cultural highlights: The Pilgrimage Church "St. Mary in the Vineyard" with its Riemenschneider-Madonna, the baroque "Schelfenhaus", and the "Barockscheune" ("baroque barn") museum in Volkach for instance, or the "Kartause" museum in Astheim with its church treasures; just a few of the many unique destinations.

Tilman Riemenschneider(c. 1460 – 7 July 1531) Madonna and Child.

For those who prefer a more athletic approach, the region offers an excellent network of biking trails which are also great for inline-skating. The Main River itself also offers a variety of activities such as fishing or sailing. If you want to learn more about the region, the Tourist Information of Volkach will be happy to help out. Telephone: +49 (0)9381/40112 or online: www.volkach.de
End of quote.

My parents have spent many happy vacation times in Volkach, enjoying the walks and the wine.
They choose this lovely place to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary and I am so glad their beloved destination is for all of us to enjoy!

From there it goes after 6 days towards Munich


and then we will continue our journey towards Bad Toelz, a small town in the Alpen region.


It's thermal baths have attracted us before and we will stop and take a dip!



From here we will begin our travels into Italy and I will give you a small preview on Sunday!

You can imagine how excited we all are and that I sit here, apart from squeezing some time at the blog, having my hands full and my head in suitcases! :) Only a few more days!!!

image

Well, I do not mind at all!

My check list is almost complete:

Pick clothes to take (for all 4 of us!!!)- check
Pick shoes to take - check
Hairdresser - check, this morning....:D
Nail salon together with my daughter: still to do
Drop off dog at bording home: next week
Major house cleaning: I know, will do as late as possible...and all the odds and ends, which pop up when you need it least, like the just broken water boiler.....Yikes!

I so love getting ready!!!

XX
Victoria



All images via google image.

Summer charmers

There is a house in Nyack,NY, standing right at the edge of the majestic Husdon and I always dream my way into it! It has a magic pull on me! It is gorgeous and I have witnessed the work over the last two years to restore it to its original beauty! If I owned it, I would fill it with rooms like the ones below and my sailboat would sit right out there, waiting to take me to the waters!



Such summer perfection! Dimmed against the bright sun light, but light and airy, summer comfort to lounge, read, talk or to watch the movie you missed in the spring...



The dining room could be like that...


This would be my bedroom, overlooking the river...( I know, you have seen this picture only a few days ago...)


I would walk into my bathroom with glee every time ...


And the kitchen could be something like this:


Another small corner...


The veranda would have a big table for all my friends and family like that!


Or perhaps like that:


The garden would have large shade spending trees...


And I would never want to leave!!!

Do you dream your way into houses?

A happy week ahead, wherever it takes you!

XX
Victoria


From the mixed files of V.Zlotkowski. I do not take any credit apart from the tree in our yard!!! Bathroom by John Jacob Designs of South Africa. Veranda images via Architectural Digest and House and Home magazine. All others found nearby in magazines /blogs?! Thank you all for your creativity! It feeds mine!

The heat of the day

I love the languid feel of the heat of the day, the shades are drawn, the fan is humming and a soft warm breeze runs through the house. Windows are open and ever so often I hear some birds or occasional car passing by, otherwise it's still.


On my table sits a glass of ice cold lemonade waiting for me, pearls of water running down its sides. I will just finish this sentence!
Later we will prepare for an afternoon poolside, some good reading material, fresh cut fruits and lots of water...


My son turns into a fish and I must wait a while for him to transform back into the son I can take home with me.


Our girl has disappeared with her girlfriends, they share bedrooms and activities and we have not seen her since Saturday....
Oh the fun of being 13 and living in the embrace of the group...

School is out!

This morning I heard the crickets the first time and I love their noise! Our son picked one up yesterday, stranded on her back on the driveway. He was amazed at the size. We put her on a tree and hope she will survive!

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Tomorrow begins the count down for our summer vacation, our son will spend his days until then in our local camp and I can begin to sort and pack and get ready to squeeze six weeks worth of travel into 50 lbs of luggage per head....


I love to prepare for this, it gives me a wonderful feeling of getting ready and in my mind I am already there, thinking my way into this summer life in Germany and Italy!

The Main river in Volkach, Bavaria where my parents celebrate 50 years of marriage with all of us!

We will visit the Alpen region near Bad Toelz. The town in southern Germany has thermal springs with a wonderful spa.


And eventually we will stay for some time in Tuscany in Italy! We can't wait!
I will try and post semi regularly from our travels, I might not comment on your lovely blogs, but I promise to read here and there my many favorites....

Summer is the time to re-coup and relax and we try to just do that! We fill our batteries with summer energy, warmth and impressions to last the coming year!
Wishing you all the same wonderful time over the next couple of weeks!

XX
Victoria



All pictures by Victoria Zlotkowski, cricket as indicated, trunk via etsy Topsydesign, landscapes via google images.