Photos from our last night in Paris strolling beneath the Eiffel Tower after a Seine river cruise and one of the best dinner experiences of my life – salmon salads and decadent chocolate soufflés and making friends with the sweetest elderly couple sitting nearby. I knew this would be one of those evenings I would be nostalgic for later on and I already am.
photo credit kate zitzer
Today I’m happy to share that we finally bought a house! We started house hunting last fall and the process was slow at first. We found a home we really liked in our desired neighborhood and made an offer, but our offer was ignored and a few weeks later the sellers accepted a different one. It was discouraging, but we were familiar with how tumultuous the home buying process could be and were committed to staying positive. The winter dragged on and for a while it seemed like we might not find anything. At the beginning of March a house came on the market that we were really excited about. We made an offer but then had to withdraw it due to strict zoning restrictions that would not meet our needs. Once again we were bummed but we knew in our hearts that we had to let this one go. The search continued. A few weeks later another house came on the market that was in our ideal location. We made an offer and after some negotiating struck a deal! It’s a beautiful three bedroom, two and a half bath 1900 square foot home. It has great bones, architectural details, light, flow and space, but naturally there is still a lot I want to do to it so hopefully you’ll indulge me as I post about our new home and the projects we have in store for it. Stay tuned for the whole house tour this week!
We arrived to rain on our windows and I loved every minute of it. Seeing Paris under a grey sky was so charming. The next four days were some of the most wonderful days of my life. We wandered around for hours. We strolled along the Seine and Champs Élysées. We saw churches and arches, famous paintings and sculptures. We ate crepes and croissants and I drank some of the best chocolat chaud of my life. We took the elevator to the top of the Eiffel Tower and got lost in Montmartre. We went to the Sacré Cœur, lounged in gardens and started to memorize the metro lines. The Louvre was as beautiful as I remembered. The fact that I was able to share all of this with Marc and his sweet family only made it that much better.
photo credit kate zitzer
I was fascinated with Berlin the minute we stepped off the train. Something about the energy and the history, the gorgeous architecture, the street art covering the walls and the people filling the streets resonated within me. It was better than I had hoped – bustling and vibrant with a raw edge and dark past. Out of all the cities we visited on our trip, Berlin was my favorite. I was pleasantly surprised with how good the food was too and the shopping, I was in awe. So many beautiful things, big and small – I could have brought home an entire extra suitcase full of treasures! Other things we came across include but are not limited to – the Reichstag and the Brandenburg Gate, the Berlin Wall and Checkpoint Charlie, countless grafittied walls, an outdoor art gallery and the prettiest old cathedral. The history of this country actually overwhelmed at times. I left feeling like I learned more than I ever did in any history class.
photo credit kate zitzer
Never thought I’d go to Germany but I’m so glad we did – rich history, incredible architecture, German beer, walking everywhere. Munich was a simple wonderful city, clean and easy to get around and the people were unbelievably friendly, smiles around every corner. We so enjoyed our time there – exploring different neighborhoods, filling up on German beer and giant pretzels, discovering a little Italian cafe down a narrow alleyway in the city center and taking in the breathtaking view, after climbing 306 steps, at the top of St. Peter’s Church.
A few additions from my trusty travel companion for Munich – wheat beer, the Chinese Tower in the English Garden and the urban surfers on the Eisbach wave near the Haus der Kunst.
photo credit kate zitzer
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