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A Day Journey to the Pike Street Market

It was Easter Saturday during another visit by my sister Friedl. My Hal had to go to his office that day. We had planned to drive to the Oregon coast, Otter Crest, right by the ocean on a high cliff for the weekend. We have to reschedule it for another time. Friedl and I planned to stay home and enjoy the deck with sunshine, a glass of a beautiful white Burgundy and a marvelous lunch, like a cheese soufflé.

But, what to do when the sun gets too warm, the delicious food and the wine are gone? Well, we decided to get dressed up and drive into the big city of Seattle and visit the Pike Street Market, browse the wonderful deli store, DeLaurentis, the French Patisserie, the kitchen store Sur la table and have the wine and food tomorrow, when Hal will be home to share it with us. We found a parking spot right in front of Starbuck’s, parked and started walking. There we spent a lot of time, first looking and admiring and then, picking cheeses, Paté of duck, duck confit, sweet butter and baguette, everything necessary to make a delicious meal tonight, when Hal gets home from work.

From there we walked by all the flower stands until we found the lady, I usually find my beautiful flowers. This Saturday she had a great assortment of tulips. The heads on the flowers were very large and looked like they were dipped in wax. So beautiful! I got two bundles of yellow and one of white. It will make a stunning bouquet. From there we went across the street to Sur la table. It was of course more interesting to me than to Friedl, since all their merchandise was not available when I came to the USA. My sister had to mail it to me. It is so nice to see all this appearing slowly now. From there we wanted to stop one more time at the French Patisserie/Bakery. I hoped they still had one pastry left, a Paris-Brest ring filled with rich patisserie crème. We were very lucky, they had several of them and one with coffee crème, that is what I wanted. These rings had their beginning by honoring the winners of the Paris to Brest and back to Paris bicycle race, many years ago. I purchased some Brioches for tomorrow’s breakfast, I will heat them up and serve them with sweet butter and raw honey.

This was such a wonderful day for me and for Friedl, she seemed to be very happy, one could not make it any more fun or more perfect, if one spent several hundred dollars more.

We were walking to the car and had planned to drive home, set a beautiful table, pick a wine from my Hal’s wine cave and make up a scrumptious dinner with all the goodies we had purchased. Yellow table linens with yellow and white tulips and my beautiful cobalt blue dinner set.

As we arrived by my car, I noticed right away that the parking meter had expired and then I saw the ticket on the windshield. Friedl wanted to know what this all means, and I explained it all to her, while reading the ticket.

Someone somewhere heard my thoughts about spending or not spending an additional two hundred dollars, even though this could not make this day any nicer.

This is not for real!

The ticket was $240.00. Oh, well.

Another Summer Visit from my Sister Friedl

Today was the day my Hal and I were driving to Sea Tac to pick up my sister Friedl who was arriving with Pan Am from Germany. This is the visit we will go shopping to replace her pretty dress. We were not able to find a replacement during the last visit.

What we have to realize is that styles have changed, and we are of course older now than when this all happened (stubborn berry stains on our dresses). I put feelers out before Friedl arrived and found something she would really love.

My Hal will join us too, he took his vacation this time, the two weeks Friedl will be here and so did I. After a day of rest for Friedl, due to Jet lag, I called my sales lady at I. Magnin that all was set, and we could come. We arrived at the second floor and when we saw the sales lady we decided to greet her, and introduce Friedl. Hal and I sat down in comfortable chairs right by the dressing room. Janet, the sales lady left and came back with several beautiful silk blouses and slacks. All by Armani. Friedl came out of the dressing room giving us a little style show.

The first one was a bit sporty I thought, and I could see on Friedl’s face she was not too thrilled either. Oh, the second one was beautiful and Friedl was happy, I could tell. The white, silk blouse had a Russian look, it closed to the side with a standing collar, long full sleeves with French cuffs. The slacks, also white, were light-weight wool in a beautiful fit with belt. We had to agree that this was very elegant and made for Friedl. While Janet saw to it that it was put into a garment bag, we went to the shoe salon and found a beautiful pair of white high heel sandals.

All three of us were happy with the purchase and ready to have a wonderful lunch. We picked up the car in the parking garage and drove to the Old Olympic Hotel parking garage and walked across the street to the Olympics Georgian room, where we had made reservation.

My Hal ordered a bottle of fine champagne for our little celebration. We thought one of their seafood salads with green goddess dressing, made in their own kitchen would go very good with that champagne and would allow us some of their delicious desserts with an espresso.

When we arrived home, we packed our little suitcases, so we could start our journey to the Oregon Coast right after breakfast. We had this trip planned on one of Friedl’s visits, but had to postpone it because Hal had to work. By the time we arrived at our first destination, Lincoln City, The Spanish Head Inn, we enjoyed a walk on the beach first.

The air was awesome, so was the sun going down and the scenery. We will enjoy the sound of the ocean during the night with the window open. It was time to get a table by a window, candlelight and a wonderful dinner with a fine wine. My Hal would have no difficulty finding one in the “Captain’s Wine Menu.” After enjoying two days of walking along the beach, good food and relaxation we were on our way to the “Otter Crest” Condos. They are sitting high on a cliff above a beautiful cove. Hiking down a path it is beautiful to see the old pine trees, sculptured by winds and weather to have the look of Bonsai trees.

We stopped on the way and did shopping for our dinner, so we could have a relaxing evening in our condo with a fire going in the fireplace. I set a nice table with two big candles, I purchased on the way and started dinner in the kitchen, while my Hal and Friedl listened to music and rested.

I had purchased a piece of beef tenderloin, which I browned on all sides in clarified butter and then put into the oven to finish. I made in that roasting pan a beautiful brown, shiny sauce with Jack Daniels Whiskey. On the side I made a nice salad of greens, tomato and cucumber slices with a Ranch dressing and grated parmesan. I served the tenderloin in nice slices and put them on a bed of my delectable sauce and the salad on the side. My Hal brought from home in his attaché case a bottle of Robert Mondavi Cabernet Private Reserve. It was time now to call my loved ones to dinner.

                                        Bon Appetit!  

Our Life-Long Desire, Collecting Art

After a visit to the Behm Gallery in Bellevue, we decided to take our vacation in San Francisco this spring. We remembered an Art Gallery near the Ghirardelli Square with a very nice sales lady we shall visit, after we stopped at the Café right by the end station of the trolley to get one of their famous Irish coffee’s. The reason for this trip was not only art, but something we were not able to accomplish at home and will try our best here. We saw at the Behm Gallery a beautiful etching called “Snow in Normandy” but this etching we wanted was shown in a set of three and the sales lady told my Hal that they will not sell only this one.

We entered the art gallery and saw the lovely sales lady coming toward us and we received a warm greeting and welcome.  She asked if there was a certain piece we were looking for and we told her our story and described the etching. She lead us to the section with beautiful lithographs and stunning etchings and here my eyes caught Delacroix’ etching “Snow in Normandy” the center one in a set of three.

Molli, the nice sales lady told us right away that they will sell us just the one we want. That they always let their customer decide and they would sell them individually instead in a set. They will change the glass to plexiglass that would not shatter and air ship it to our home.  We thanked her for her kindness and asked if we could look around the gallery. She, of course, said yes and offered us an espresso.

My Hal and I were delighted to take a stroll through the rest of the gallery. We remembered how many beautiful pieces of fine art they had, from our last visit. We suddenly came to a section with striking pencil sketches. And there my eyes stopped by a lovely pencil sketch of my favorite Impressionist “Camille Pissarro.” It was beautifully framed, and I could see already it was coming home with us. Molli, the sales lady thought this a good choice and wrapped it in bubble wrap. After a sincere thank you, we went on our way. We are able to take this parcel in our luggage on our flight home.

Now would be the perfect time to do some celebrating. We drove to our hotel, stopped at the desk and inquired where we could order room service. We ordered a bottle of Dom Perignon, a lobster salad with French bread and sweet butter on the side and French triple cream cheese with a dallop of fig paté as dessert.

The next morning after breakfast we went into the city to I.Magnin. They always carried “Escada” silk blouses. I was hoping that I could extend my blouse collection and find another Escada blouse. They are a treasure to own.  

After that we will be on our way to Carmel. We cannot visit San Francisco so near, and not visit Carmel. We are looking for a wonderful lunch at our favorite French bistro and a visit with the French owner. It is always a pleasure to visit with her. We heard that Mr. Balyon has his own gallery now and is not represented by Simic any longer.

Our pleasant, good news was two-fold. The lunch of very tender and tasty veal with a fine cognac sauce, rice and green asparagus was excellent and the dream of a Mosel Riesling together with a visit with the French lady was something not to forget. For our flight home we had another little parcel for the other suitcase. A beautiful oil on wood painting by Balyon. It will be a good partner to the ones we already have.

Now that was not only a vacation it was an outstanding shopping trip to fulfill our desire.

A Bouquet of Flowers

This has been a month filled with beautiful tulips which are my favorite flowers to bring into my home. Though I had never seen them put up like this before. I received them in big glass, cylinder vessels without any soil, just the bulbs in water.

The first ones my dearest friend and generous Marcie brought, when she visited me for a wonderful luncheon, she always brings flowers. The second big glass cylinder vessel I received from my dearest friends Karin and Karl, who moved to Chelan from here, but visit often. Those tulips are gorgeous, pure white with just a little soft green inside and at the tips of the pedals. They are quite large and have ruffles like parrot tulips.

Today, my sweet neighbor, Janet gave me another glass cylinder with beautiful lavender tulips. I have a wonderful spring garden of tulips here and I am blessed with wonderful friends. All this what surrounds me here brought to mind, how much flowers are able to communicate and speak for us so clearly.

It was December of 1953. I had gotten married to a wonderful American soldier in Germany. I worked for General Eisenhower at his command Headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany and there met Halvor Legrand Cole, we fell in love and after we got permission from the state department and the army we got married in November.

Distance did not permit the parents of my Hal to be here for the wedding. Mrs. Cole therefore was not involved in planning or giving any input and opinion. So, to make a bridge between Hal’s parents and myself, I ordered one dozen long-stemmed, red roses for Mrs. Alice Cole to be delivered on Christmas eve day. That should break the ice. Hal was already back in the USA for Christmas and after I received my visa and entry permit the end of February 1954 I arrived in Seattle in the State of Washington where my Hal and his family resided.

Another important time, where I let the beauty of flowers speak, was Mrs. Alice Cole’s sixty- fifth birthday. It is such an important day, not necessarily a happy one, but I wanted to make it one, she would always remember the flowers and not the years. My Hal and I ordered sixty-five long-stemmed red roses for his mom to be delivered on that special day.

Hal’s mother truly enjoyed the gorgeous bouquet of roses, communicating love between two women when flowers are the language to use, rather than conversation. If not love, then respect and appreciation for the mother of the husband, because after all, if it were not for her, I would not have the greatest, most wonderful husband, her son, my Hal.

I always believed that beautiful flowers can speak and communicate what we, as people, are not able to convey. Flowers are a loving way to convey one’s feelings, flowers have no strong opinions, they do not care who it is who buys them, who takes them home or who admires them.

In a bouquet they all are equally beautiful, and the sender is loved for this deed.

Gathering Blueberries in West Seattle

It was summer of 1963, a beautiful day and my dearest sister Friedl was visiting us here in the USA for three months from Germany. Hal and I had split our vacations to do some fun things with Friedl because for this length of time my sister would be alone a lot. But I also had a lot of offers from friends who wanted to do fun things with Friedl on the days we were working. To take drives with her, the ocean, or an Island in the Puget Sound, or take her shopping in Seattle or Bellevue or to some of the interesting restaurants we have for a tasty lunch.

We had some very dear friends, Coleen and Bob, we went dancing with them often to the officer’s club. Hal and Bob both worked for AT&T and both had joined the Airforce reserve for two years. Coleen would leave a note on my kitchen counter to tell me the approximate time when they would get back and where they would go. This beautiful, sunny day while at work I knew, that my Friedl had a fun day with Coleen.

I was looking forward to this evening. Hal my husband will bring Bob home with him and Coleen, when she arrives with Friedl will also stay and we will have dinner together. Coleen and Friedl arrived at the time I came home from work and entered the garage. Shortly after Hal arrived with Bob. Behind Bob and Coleen’s house in West Seattle was a large, wooded area between their home and a church.

The ravine was sloping downward and growing blueberry bushes. Friedl and Coleen picked a big basket of berries, I was delighted to get them and planned on making a galette for dessert. I always have buttery crust in the refrigerator, brought it out and while I prepare dinner, the galette can bake.

I noticed that Friedl looked very crisp and clean, no marks or stains of ripe berries on her white eyelet cotton lace summer dress nor on Coleen either. How did I manage that long ago, picking huckleberries in Germany to mess up my dress so bad, that even the cleaners could not rescue the dress?

Later that evening, as I went into Friedl’s room I noticed her dress over a chair. It did look about as bad as mine did. I will take Friedl shopping next week. The dress will not survive. Not washing it, or not even drycleaners could get mine clean so I had them dye it navy blue and I purchased a navy blue silk slip. But I am sure my Friedl does not want this dress dyed. I will look for a dress, same material, next week and if they have some I will take my Friedl with me to work and at lunchtime we go and she may pick one. This store has very beautiful and unusual material summer dresses for ladies and it is right next door to the bank where I work.

Our dinner was a success. I had made Porterhouse steaks with a large mixed green salad, crunchy warmed Baggett with sweet butter. My Hal opened a wonderful Mondavi Cabernet. For dessert we enjoyed the fragrant blueberry galette and coffee.

The taste of the blueberry galette was definitely worth all the problem with berry stains, Friedl’s, mine long ago, and as we found out later also Coleen’s. She redressed at her house before they came back to our house. It ended up a perfect sunny and fun day with family and friends.

Huckleberry Hunt in the Odenwald (Ode to the Forest)

It was a beautiful sunny day. The year was 1953 and I had met a very sweet and special American soldier at Headquarters of the US armed forces, General Eisenhower’s Command in Frankfurt/Germany where I worked as secretary to the communication officer since 1948. Being such a fine day, we made plans for a drive through the beautiful Odenwald (Ode to the forest) a serene forest to admire, take in the sunshine, have a picnic and relax.

My dear friend Hal had purchased a car from a buddy who was going home to the US after his three years of occupation duty in Germany. This forest is the area where Richard Wagner staged most of his famous operas and one could easily imagine high up in these old oak trees his powerful music while lingering a while or walking along these paths. We had parked the car (no cars allowed on the beautifully groomed walking paths.) We were looking for one of the many gazebos to get settled and have our wonderful lunch my sister Friedl so lovingly prepared for us.

We started our conversation with: “When we get our permission from the state department and armed forces for getting married.” All the preparation we still need to do. What is our next step? As we were enjoying our delicious lunch, we noticed that all around us were Huckleberries growing, low on the ground under the aging oaks. After we had enjoyed the last bite and the last of our coffee, we took some of the bowls Friedl had put different salads in, wiped them clean and got up to gather berries to take home to Friedl, so she could bake a berry galette and how surprised she would be over our effort. We filled our bowls full of these plentiful, big, ripe and juicy berries. We came back in our gazebo, sat down and admired our work, thinking how delicious this galette will taste especially for my Hal, he loved American pie, he had told me. Sitting down, I noticed a couple of big stains from the Huckleberries on my white eyelet cotton lace dress. I shall take care of this, when we arrive home at Friedl’s.

When we arrived at Friedl’s and her husband Georg’s home my Friedl was so delighted, and Hal and I got big hugs from her. But when she saw my stained dress, she remarked that these berries were very expensive. I changed my dress, and I will soak it, while we have dinner. Hal was invited to stay for dinner and of course for dessert. Friedl prepared the galette and while it was baking, she made dinner. A beautiful, fragrant galette came out of the oven, while we had a lively conversation during the fabulous dinner of Duck l’orange and all the trimmings. We also enjoyed one of Georg’s fine Burgundy wines.

Other than my dress disaster, it was a wonderful, lovely day in the Odenwald and joining my family for dinner and an awesome huckleberry galette.                                                               

                                                                 … exactly ten years later…

A Beautiful Ski Resort in the Alpine Mountains “Garmish Partenkirchen”

It was to be a cold winter this year and my Hal and I had made plans to be in Germany at the same time as our good friends who went on skiing trips almost every winter to Germany, Switzerland or Austria. We made plans to meet them in the beautiful village of Garmish right in the Alpine Mountains. My Hal and I are not skiers, but meeting our friends there, enjoying the superb Restaurants, going shopping in this great village and sight seeing sounded good to us and we wanted to explore this opportunity.

We flew into the Airport close to Munich and contacted our friends after we arrived at our Hotel. We set a time to meet with them in the restaurant in our hotel to have lunch together and make plans for the three days my Hal and I were there. When they arrived at our table and after the big hugs we got ready to order lunch. We found out from our waiter that we still could have breakfast and that their chef makes French toast from Brioche/raisin bread and serves it with heated honey, a slice of Jambo (French ham) accompanied with a mélange of berries. A wonderful fragrance arose from the coffee pot as the waiter was pouring it into our cups. The breakfast was to behold, it was tasty, and our plans were put on hold. Our attention was given entirely to the food in front of us.

We also were discussing dinner for tonight. Richard suggested we have dinner in the Chalet way on top of the mountain and described the beautiful dining room in the chalet. But if we want to get a glimpse of the awesome surroundings, this should be for lunch and not dinner I thought. It is getting dark by five o’clock. Everyone agreed and we made reservation for the next day for lunch. And dinner reservation for tonight at this fabulous hotel. Richard told about the awesome dining room and the breathtaking view and there are gondolas taking the non-skiers up to the chalet. Richard and Marilyn left to take in a few more runs skiing and we went to our suit to unpack our suitcase to get out some warm clothing and our boots. Dressed nice and warm we thought to walk leisurely through town, look into some shops or just “people watch.”

My Hal was wearing charcoal gray slacks with a gorgeous Missoni sweater, his gray shearling coat and his boots. I wore my cream color cashmere slacks with a plum color cashmere sweater and my cream color cashmere coat and boots. We were dressed nice and warm, just not in ski fashion.

Garmish has a lot of American Army personnel and their families living there. They had built a large Hotel with PX and a commissary outside of town for the American families to shop. Our friends stayed in a Motel with the ski group from Boeing. Our hotel was right in town, had a beautiful appointed lobby and was two stories high. We had a suit on the second floor with a separate bedroom and in the bathroom a huge bath tub. Breakfast or a late snack were offered as room service. A very nice and spoiling touch.

We had a lovely dinner that night with our friends. My Hal ordered a bottle of an aged red Burgundy, a symphony on ones tongue and tastebuds. Our two gentlemen ordered filet of venison with an awesome sauce, spaetzle (pasta)and white asparagus on the side. Marilyn and I ordered Chateau Briand for two, very delicious! For dessert we four ordered the same crème bruleé and a delicious espresso. Our friends invited us to join them to a club for music and dancing. But we declined, since we had our long flight from Seattle behind us we preferred to go upstairs to our suit and relax.

Today is Saturday and it is very cold, but sunny and no fresh snow. It seems that today again our agenda is “eating.” Lunch at the Chalet. Looks like that is all we do. The gondola ride up the mountain was spectacular and the scenery breathtaking. As we came out of the gondola one felt uninhibited and free. In ones lifetime to see this surround is a tremendous gift. Never to be forgotten. The scenery inside the chalet, especially the dining room was also awe inspiring. Beautifully furnished, beautiful vessels with flowers on every table and soft, pleasant music throughout. We were seated by a big round table right by a window. The white linen on the table was bright with the sun coming through the window and the white fresh snow was glistening in the sunshine and everything looked so pristine. One could order from a menu or partake from the plentiful buffet. Marilyn and I ordered from the menu, like our breakfast yesterday and our two gentlemen went to the buffet. We had a wonderful assortment of food, good aromatic coffee and a lively conversation and the time passed along fast. The few hours left of the Saturday were used to purchase some beautiful cards with photos of this town and this beautiful surrounding area. We will treasure them along with photos my Hal took of Garmish and our friends and places.

Tomorrow, Sunday we will make the rounds to art galleries and the art museum. We found some lovely pencil sketches in one of the art shops. Something for the soul and emotion. They too need to be fed. Monday morning my Hal and I will take the Bullet Train to Darmstadt to spend the rest of our vacation with my sister Friedl and her husband Georg. We will take home some beautiful purchases and awesome memories.

It was Close to the “Holidays”

The city of Frankfurt/ Germany is divided into areas or districts. The story comes from an evening close to Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at the “Alte Roemer” the old Roman district. Frankfurt’s tourist attraction from Roman times with the most striking cathedral, the Paulus Cathedral, art shops with works from local artists, and the most interesting and beautiful buildings with old timber architecture and artwork on the facades. The cathedral was the vocal point for us, my sister Friedl, her husband Georg, my Hal and me.  A performance of a Christmas concert. The orchestra, performing the fascinating music to captivate the audience with Beethoven, Haydn, Mozart and Handel’s works. It should be touching, and give us all the guidance into the holy, and mystical Christmas holidays. These concerts, full of the meaning of Christmas always touch one far more, when performed in a church or cathedral, than on stage, in an opera house or a music hall. It is so very inspiring and for me brings out the tears.

We enjoyed the intermission with a glass of wine, conversation and our critique on the music so far. Everyone enjoyed this lovely and powerful music.

The second part of the concert brought us a wonderful surprise. We knew we would hear part of the Messiah, hopefully the Hallelujah chorus, but were astounded and surprised by the most beautiful Roman garments on the performers of the chorus. It reminded me of, many years before, when I saw “Aida.” This choir, dressed in these beautiful garments on stage in front of the large, awesome leaded and stained window as backdrop was mesmerizing and gave me goosebumps. The finale started and could not have been a better choice. “The Hallelujah Chorus from the Messiah by G.F. Handel. One felt refreshed, cleansed, free and in awe.

We called for a taxi and told the driver: “Home, Darmstadt, please.” It is a 45-minute drive to Darmstadt, Friedl’s and Georg’s home. There was silence in the cab, there was thought in every one’s heart and mind.

O, Heilige Nacht

Oh, Holy Night

Sans Souci Palace in Potsdam

It was the pleasure palace of Kaiser “Emperor” Frederick the Great and it featured beautiful Rococo style architecture and a magnificent Palace Garden and vineyard that Frederick the Great had planted, terraced by the stairs. On April 14^th, 1745, the foundation stone was laid for today’s world-famous Sans souci Palace. Sans souci is a masterpiece ensemble of architecture, sculpture and garden art. Frederick the Great was the Emperor of Prussia.

It was the summer of 1943. I was 16 years old and was allowed by my mother to take the train one more time to visit my dear Aunt Frieda and Uncle Christopher in Calau, outside Cotbus, south of Berlin. The bombing situation got to be too dangerous for me to undertake this journey by train. It was a great target for the B-17 bombers. I often spent my summer vacations there, while growing up. My Uncle Christopher was a breeder of fine horses, and I loved horses and riding.

My train took me to Berlin and my father, stationed there, picked me up and before I would continue my journey to Calau I spent the day with my father. First, after arriving in Potsdam my papa took me for an awesome lunch to a restaurant called “Café Repin” near the picture gallery and Sans souci palace. A beautiful buffet was laid out in this charming and very elegant Café, of all kinds of seafood salads or seafood, grilled dishes with green or fruit salads. A very aromatic French press coffee and an endless list of wonderful desserts on a dessert menu. We had a two-hour lunch and while we enjoyed this awesome food, we loved our time together. When the afternoon sun disappeared, it was time for me to return to the train station to continue my journey to Calau, where Franz, Christopher’s driver awaited me with his horse-drawn carriage.

The drive from the Calau train station to the estate brought us through a serene forest, passing by an idyllic lake with wild geese enjoying the clear, clean water, and we arrived at Aunt Frieda’s estate. Franz took care of my luggage and after big hugs from my aunt and uncle we went into the house. Aunt Frieda and her husband were breeding and raising beautiful horses. It was a marvelous place to spend some weeks during summers. There was a pond for swimming, a wonderful meadow in which to play in or just sit, relax and daydream of one’s future, what it might yet hold for a 16-year-old girl. Or wander through the poppy fields, picking a bouquet of poppies for my aunt, only to have all the pretty red petals fall off before I would get to the house. What beautiful sight to behold, as far as the eye can see, beautiful red poppies moving in the summer’s breeze.

On Sunday afternoon I would await anxiously Aunt Frieda’s specialty for teatime. A delicious pastry my aunt called “Kalte Schnauze” cold snout. It was built in a loaf pan with alternating layers of lady fingers and chocolate ganache. Put into the refrigerator overnight and sliced into thin slices and served with whip cream. I would love it and the guests would love it. Later that year I wrote to my aunt and asked her for the recipe of this wonderful dessert. Soon a package arrived, and in it was a beautiful tin with the “real thing” a wonderful cold snout and with it, the recipe. I still to this day know the recipe and have made it many times for my dear husband Hal.

This was my last visit to my favorite place with my favorite aunt and uncle. Bombing attacks on trains in that part of Germany were very frequent and my dear mama thought it too dangerous for travelling.

The war ended and made an end to this life-long relationship. When the Russian hordes came through that pristine area in 1945 on their way to Berlin, all these beautiful estates were pilfered and burned to the ground and the families who lived there were murdered. Uncle Christopher and Aunt Frieda’s son lost his life already in Africa at the battle of El Alamein. His parents gave their lives in 1945, the end of WWII.

Sightseeing and Shopping at the “Alte Roemer” –Old Roman Sector in Frankfurt

My husband, Hal and I, Ilona had planned another visit to my sister Friedl and her husband Georg, who lived in Darmstadt/Germany south of Frankfurt. Since my Hal was reluctant to park his new car in the “long term” parking lot, Doug Hal’s brother and his wife Nancy suggested we park the car at their home in West Seattle and Nancy would drive us to Sea Tac Airport. That was very generous and very nice of them. I, therefore wanted to do something nice for them too.

As Nancy was driving us to the airport I asked her if she had a request for something we could bring her from our trip to Germany. She said if I could find a beautiful etching or Lithograph from one of the art shops in the old Roman district in Frankfurt, she would love that.

One morning during our stay at my sister’s home in Darmstadt my Hal and I decided to take the bus to Frankfurt and have a fun day there, and at the same time look for art. It was a sunny, but very cold day. After being in the bus for about half an hour, we noticed how cold it was in there. One could not feel legs and feet any longer and we still had another half hour to go. Someone asked the driver if he could turn on the heating system, please. Reluctant, the driver told us that this morning the heat went down and that he is very sorry. We had no choice but to sit there to the end. As we arrived in mid- town by the “Haupt Wache” we got off, walked across the street and into Café Kranzler. Our legs and feet were like ice, very stiff and all we could think of was a nice warm place, nice hot coffee and a tasty breakfast. We enjoyed hot, steaming, aromatic coffee and a variety of breakfast pastry, a dish of wonderful fruit and warmth. We stayed about one hour at least until we could feel our feet again and started out toward the old Roman district. We looked into the display windows of some art shops on our way to the one we were familiar with, purchasing etching and stone lithographs for our home over the years. As we walked in, all the walls, glass counters and on easels already framed ones, beautiful etchings and lithographs on display. Almost overwhelming, one salesperson and so many pieces of art.

We found several beautiful ones. We got one for our Nancy and Doug and two for us to display in our hallway. As we came outside with our treasure, we looked for a taxi to take us to the train station not the bus. Friedl and Georg liked very much what we had purchased. We had also purchased a heavy cardboard roll to carry the etchings in on our flight home.

When we arrived in Seattle, Nancy picked us up and once at their home we presented them with the etching. Their faces and smiles showed that they were pleased and happy. As we were having a conversation about our trip from Darmstadt to Frankfurt’s old Roman district I remember another journey there with my Hal, Friedl, Georg and I. A wonderful day, an experience not ever to be forgotten still so vivid in my mind and heart.