This is from our visit to top of Germany – the Zugspitze.

Planes fall and people still fly.  Cars crash and we still get behind the wheel.  We enjoy cruising, we’re looking forward to this one and a great summer.

I’m so happy!  Another beautiful life added to the fabric of mankind.  Another chance for us to get it right.  I’m so proud of my daughter.  Now I understand why grandparents shower their grandkids.

Happy birtday lil Josh!  Little momma and dad, get some rest. 

My wife and I decided to go on a date Saturday night and it was pretty nice to break away from our schedules and spend some time together.  We drove to Luxembourg, did some shopping at the huge mall, had an excellent seafood dinner then caught the latest Mission Impossible at the cine.  We even had sushi and sake to wrap the night.  Even the drive home was nice.  This is what it feels like to have a partner and be truly.

The chain of mountains that make up the Swiss Alps, stretch across many countries.  In Germany, the highest peak is 10,000 feet high and called the Zugspitze.  From it, you can see 400 peaks in 4 different countries.  The Zugspitze was first conquered in 1820 and now, Hiroe and I conquered it in 2012.  It wasn’t as difficult as in 1820 but just as amazing (and with much better Bavarian food).

Edelweiss Lodging and Resort is a resort for military members in Garmisch, Germany.  Hawaii has Hale Koa.  The Alps has Edelweiss and they’re having a new year’s eve party.  We enjoyed a couple of nights in the mountains, checking out the locals, the Garmisch Christmas market, visit the historic church and ring in the new year.  Great food and excellent champagne!

Swarovski is world reknown for precisely crystals and luxury items produced in Austria.  We took a trip to the Swarovski Museum, an incredible place, full of imagination from the moment you step of the car.  Amazing artwork everywhere and of course shopping at the end.

This year, I baked 3 rum cakes (2 were delivered to my neighbors) and the Christmas ham.  The ham was smoked for 11 hours, spiral cut with a spicey orange honey glaze (my recipe).  It came out moist and cooked to perfection.  One more item on my list of Christmas blessings.

Echternach is one of the major tourist centers in the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg.  The 1,300 year-old market town is the location of their Christmas market.  It is right, and right, across the German border – cross the bridge and park because you are already at the center of town.  A very small town that blends its history with today’s trends.  Modern night clubs, bakeries, chic clothing stores and fountains adorned with jazzy motifs mark the grand street.  Echternach has very friendly people and a thriving culture in touch with their history.  We enjoyed brats and vin chaud.

After that, we went to one of the largest markets based on sheer popularity – Trier Christmas.  A wide variety of vendors, excellent shops but wall-to-wall people.  By the amount of people at today’s, you’d think it was opening day.  We had alot of fun at both.

Vianden Castle was constructed between the 11th and 14th centuries and is one of the largest and most beautiful feudal residences of the romanesque and gothic periods in Europe.  In 1820, under the reign of King William I of Holland, the castle was sold piece by piece, and as a result, it fell into a state of ruin.  It was a pile of rubble until the family of the Grand Duke of Luxembourg transferred it to State ownership in 1977.  Since restored to its former glory, the castle now ranks as a monument of not only regional, but European importance.  For 2 days during the month December, the chambers are transformed in a Christmas market offering unique gifts.  In the basement, there’s a small restaurant called “Taverna” where you can get some of the best brat, currywurst and gluwein.  After visiting Vianden we stopped through Bitburg to see their Christmas market.