A wedding in Germany

This year our annual trip to visit our family in Germany ended with a Highlight: my youngest cousin's wedding! 

The weather was stormy, but we had a blast!! 

Family reunion at my parents house...

Before the wedding we got the chance to spend some time with our parents and friends.

Summer time at our lake

It almost feels like vacation!
Sitting at the boardwalk restaurant, drinking a cocktail,...

 watching the sunset, ...

...and listening to music at the beach. 

Who has it better than us...?!

Happy 4th of July!!

 Our house is decorated, the guests are arriving, the party can start!

Later in the evening: Olaf is waiting for the fireworks at our Lake.

The fireworks!

The graduate

...though only from Middle School, so far! The fun is just about to start...High School!

Us in May 2009 and in June 2015! Where did the time go...?!

Proud dad (after the graduation ceremony)

Celebrating afterwards. "Mom, you are so annoying!"lol

Chicago 2015

It almost feels like coming home! 

After visiting this city for so many times I know my ways by now... though I still discover something new...

...like this new sculpture in the Millennium Park!

or a blue crab at the Shedd Aquarium!

A new viking exhibition at the Field Museum of Natural History

or the very unusual paintings of a native American artist!

Also unusual was the small theater (far away from Downtown!) where I took Jakob to see MacSith (a combination of Macbeth and Star Wars). His face says it all...lol

For me the highlight was (finally) visiting the Shakespeare Theater at the Navy Pier. They played Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility! It couldn't get any better than this!!!!

Another highlight: being together with my son who is getting taller than me!

Alone the view from The Institute of Art is worth the visit!

Last but not least: we enjoyed the company of our friends and some good food!

La Dolce Vita!

 

After almost 18 years we visited Italy once again. 

What a gorgeous trip! 

The places did not change (they are as beautiful as ever), neither did we...ha, ha. 

Oh, sweet nostalgia...!

Our trip started in Milan.

Next on the agenda: Florence! 

This was the view from  our window. We had a 12th century tower for ourselves. And a 360 degree view!

On the way from Florence to Rome we passed the Chianti region. 

The absolute highlight (for me) was to visit Villa Vignamaggio.

 Rome!

 Hotel Universo. 

We spent our honey moon 19 years ago here...

 ...and still going strong!

 On the way from Rome to Venice we had a nice lunch break in Todi (Umbria).

Venice!

The view from our hotel window...

A day in Padua.

Some things (and men) never change...!

And we need to practice to take selfies next time, ha,ha

La dolce vita! It's so easy to get used to it. And so difficult to leave it behind...