I realize it has been a long time since I've updated our blog, but it's not because we haven't been doing anything blog-worthy! On the contrary, we've just been so darn busy! But now things have calmed down a bit, so I'll update you on what we've been up to...
We had a wonderful trip home for Christmas and New Year's. We visited with family and friends in SC and Georgia, spent some time thawing out in Fort Lauderdale, and even made it to our bowl game in Orlando! (Go Gamecocks!!!) It was so nice to get together with family and friends, many of whom we hadn't seen in over a year. And oh the food, sweet tea, and good American Pale Ales! In Serge's words, it was like we were creating our own version of Super Size Me, enjoying every food and drink of which Germany deprives our Southern-grown palates! :-) I honestly cannot remember a better Christmastime than this one! Thank you to all our family and friends for feeding us, housing us, and making sure we had a wonderful holiday!
As most of you already know, soon after the New Year, Serge was offered a managerial position in Fort Lauderdale beginning May 1st! (Yay Serge!) So January was spent working out the details and planning our move back. Needless to say, it was a stressful but exciting time, so blogging wasn't really on the forefront of our minds. I am incredibly proud of Serge for his promotion and for all of his success here in Germany! We are so excited about moving to Fort Lauderdale, reconnecting with old friends, being much closer to family, and working on our tans! :-)
I spent most of February back home in SC, a trip Serge and I had booked last fall, thinking it would be the only time I could make it home until the end of the year. Although I was really sad about spending weeks away from my loving husband and felt a little guilty leaving him with so much work to do, I wasn't exactly complaining about a little break from all the moving stresses through another vacation with my family! :-) When I wasn't playing with my sweet, sweet niece or cooking dinner with my parents, I was able to catch up with some friends I had missed at Christmas, see an Avett Brothers concert, attend a church oyster roast, tour the Irvin-House Vineyards and Firefly Distillery, and celebrate a good friend's 30th birthday, all the while keeping in touch with Serge through daily Skype dates. Thanks again to everyone back home for ensuring my trip was just as great as the one a month earlier! I love you all!
I returned to Germany at the end of February, just in time to celebrate Serge's birthday! We had planned a trip to Dublin for early September this year, to attend the Notre Dame vs. Navy football game that will be played at Aviva Stadium. When our plans changed and we realized we would not be living in Europe at that time, Serge asked to move our hotel reservation to early March, to which the hotel gladly agreed, since they are booked solid for the game. Serge asked Oliver, one of his friends and coworkers who studied in Dublin for 2 years, if he would be interested in joining us for a trip to his old stomping grounds. Luckily for us, he jumped on the invitation, and was the best tour guide and travel companion we could've hoped for! It was a welcome change not having to rely on Trip Advisor reviews and biased concierge recommendations, but instead be able to see the city with someone who was familiar with it and knew all the hottest spots to take us! We had a great trip to the Emerald Isle, and it was the perfect way to celebrate Serge's birthday!
Nando's was Serge's ideal birthday lunch! He had been craving that Peri-Peri chicken since London last summer!
Next stop after filling our bellies with Nando's... the Guinness brewery!
Learning all about Guinness in the Storehouse
Cheers! Enjoying a pint and the 360˚ view of Dublin in the Gravity Bar
Everyone at the bar sang "Happy Birthday" to Serge! :-)
The oldest pub in Ireland, est. 1198
Our amazing tour guide, Oli showing us around Howth, a fishing village outside Dublin
Howth Harbour
Beginning our hike around Howth Head, which was one of my favorite things we've done this year. It was so peaceful and picturesque up there that I almost forgot my fingers were totally numb and I could plummet to my death if I missed a step!
Trying to stay warm!
Watch out for that cliff, guys!
It was just a tad windy...
Baily Lighthouse in the background - We made it!
Celebrating the completion of our hike with an Irish coffee at The Summit
Yummy Fish and Chips from Beshoff Bros!
And you know it was good if Serge was eating it!
Enjoying live music while pub hopping around Temple Bar
Powerscourt Shopping Centre - so pretty!
About the millionth time we walked through St. Stephen's Green
I really hope Serge will still be taking pictures of me with various potato characters when we're 90 :-) Here's Tayto and myself at the Dublin airport around 6 in the morning.
