Business Trips

 Lately, we have been the benefactors of business.  I've seen both my brother Bryan and brother-in-law Eric all because of lovely business trips.  Even though the time was short, we had a great time. 

With Bryan we went along the Rhine river and visited some old towns that were backed by hills draped with wine vineyards-truly nostalgic. Unfortunately, all the shops were closed for the month of January.  However, we still got a little bite at the local bakeries so all was well.      

 Below is the Altes haus, "old house."  A medieval timber framed house from 1300s.

 Cathedral in Köln.  

 Roman catholic church that began construction in the 1200s and finished in the 1800s.  It's a great representation of Gothic churches and quite magnificent.  I was bummed I could not get better pictures of the inside.  The stained glass windows were remarkable and the organ was enormous.  And it claims to have the Three Magis' bones. 

We met Eric in Berlin where we had dinner at the KaDeWe.  The second largest department store in Europe (Harrods in London is the first).  And oh the food was delicious.  They had this food area that was something similar to an American food court but also nothing like an American food court.  There was at least a hundred different little open bar type restaurants (seafood, sushi, french, italian, etc) where you would choose your meal and they cooked it then and there right in front of you.  

Jane is typically terrified of strangers, especially men.  However, she LOVED uncle Eric.  She immediately asked him to hold her, hold her hand, and assist her in every way possible.  She even gave him a kiss, which she doesn't give away easily (even to her Dad).