Final Days with My Parents

Crowds of sweaty people, cars honking at us as the Mercedes stalls in the middle of city streets, plates filled with heavy meat and creamy sauces we can never finish eating, and lots and lots of beer (spread out over several days, of course...).

We did not have enough time to fit in all that we wanted to see and do together.  But we were able to squeeze a few more adventures locally before my parents had to leave.

My mom not only came to Crossfit with me, but also participated in the tough workout consisting of wall balls, jump ropes, pull-ups, sit-ups, burpees, and ball slams.  We started together and finished together.

Walking to the local Alte Ziegelei restaurant later that night, my landlords John and Kris joined us for dinner and dessert.  With the best burgers in town and a moist chicken salad, we hardly had room in our stomachs for sharing the 5-scoop ice cream masterpiece topped with pralines and carmelized almonds.

A trip to this region of Germany is not complete without visiting the architecturely ornate Dom in Köln.  Glimpsing the cathedral for the first time is enough to take anyone's breath away.  After touring inside the historic site, we ventured across the street to enjoy a cup of coffee with a perfect view of the Dom.

Köln is such a hodgepodge of history and eclectic mixed together.  Just a few yards away from crowds of people in black trench coats with fish-net stockings and eyebrow piercings is an original Roman road dating back 2,000 years ago.  The stones are a little worn, but can still be walked on today.

After walking past the people in black, we reached the famous Love-Lock Bridge.  Hosting padlocks of all shapes and sizes, couples come to Cologne to place their symbol of love in an eternal bonding on the bridge.  But don't worry if you haven't made it here yet, the city just opened a whole new section of the bridge for love locks!

Needless to say, we were ready for some solid food after walking around Cologne all day.  Thankfully, my ever-culinary-adventurous boyfriend Steve prepared a Dutch-style BBQ with sausages, chicken, pork, macaroni salad, green salad, potatos, and roasted vegetables.

The last full day of my parents' visit was seeing some of the local landscapes in the Dutch province of Limburg.  We drove by this traditional windmill, which has been renovated into a liveable home.  In fact, the owners were sitting out front while we awkwardly took pictures of their home.

The three of us wore our Dutch clog slippers that Steve's mom got for us one last time...

...and then it was time to say auf Wiedersehen.  Until next time.