Biergarten

Rider took us to his favorite Biergarten for "scoopies" and pretzels yesterday.

There's no messing around in Germany when it comes to pretzels and beer.

Munich, Germany

We're legitimately on our way! After a pretty painless long haul flight from Denver to Munich, and an assortment of train rides, we're at Amanda & Todd's house enjoying generous hospitality. Nichole whipped up the most delicious sandwich I've ever eaten and naptime starts in about 30 minutes! Things couldn't really be better.

We had a beautiful view of the old moon just before sunrise from the plane.


Luke

At DIA: Denver International Airport

Luke and I are all checked in and through security. We grabbed a few things and now Luke is firing off a few things for clients before we board.

It was a pretty nice morning, and without too much scrabbling either. We were able to go to Marrocco's up in Ward, our favorite breakfast place--also our favorite dinner place--to meet Stu and Rebecca for some tasty food. When we went to order, we got the heartbreaking, stomach saddening, news that they were out of green chili, but we pulled ourselves together and ordered one of their other items. We finished breakfast with a smile, hugged and thanked the owners, Pat and Celeste, and grabbed some brownies for the road. (Pat, thank you for your kind blessing for safe travels) Next, we dropped off our canoe at the cabin and then headed up to Brainard to take in the view and to breath that most beautiful air on the planet. We zipped back home, finished up a few things and tried to clean up after ourselves a little better. Happily, Giff and Midra both got to take us to the airport and we got a little more time together before we left. And here we are!

I will share a little more of the details of the last week later, maybe tomorrow. Now that we are sitting still, I am settling into how tired I am and want to close my eyes for a bit. Much love from Luke and I both; thanks for tagging along on our adventure!

Obie, Shelbey, Cooper and Drake: Our Big, Sweet Surprise

This is the post that we wanted to add way back when, but we were too busy during those last few days before we flew out, so here we are now.

Midra and Giff flew Obie, Shelbey and the boys out the weekend before we left as a surprise to Luke and me, and to enjoy those guys themselves, of course! It was a total surprise and so awesome!! We found out later that Giff had been nearly spilled the beans that they were coming, but we were so preoccupied and consumed with lining things up for the trip, that we missed it. They day they came, Luke was home working and looked up to see some kid who looked like Cooper walk through the door, and then he realized that it was indeed Cooper! I was away for the afternoon visiting with a friend and came home to see Shelbey first---I was so happy and surprised, my eyes and my heart just welled-up.

We had a great visit together, even though Luke and I were busy, busy. We got up to Brainard together, had Black Bottom Pie (thanks to little Coop!), we played around the house and got to see Cooper ride his bike like a total champ. I got sung "Happy Birthday" and opened my b-day gifts from Shelbey (thank for that amazing tea and Indian beach recommendation!). Obie and Shelbey helped Giff and Midra make the back garden an even more beautiful place to have a evening dinner with friends. They also let me ask them some tough questions about being parents and they totally delivered, and with honesty. Luke and I some great parenting advice and insight from O&S, who are two really awesome parents.

The visit wasn't long enough though, and Luke and I are hoping to visit them in Cali this winter for some skiing and more time together.

Thank again for making the trip guys---we love you!

Tomorrow we leave

Our friend Leslie called us shockingly serene...
I am too busy to write more than that until we arrive in Germany *wink*

8 Days and Counting...

We leave a week from tomorrow.
Wow.
We bought out tickets from Delhi to Leh last night thanks to my friend, Vini, who lives in Bangalore and turned us onto makemytrip.com. It is an internal/domestic flight which set off some whistles at our credit union; we got a call from them asking if we had sushi last night in Boulder just before buying 2 one-way tickets from Delhi to Leh for next week. I have to say that I am glad for this bit of extra care even though it took me a few minutes on the phone to clear it up. On my list of things to do today: let our credit union and credit card company know today that we will be in Munich for a few days next week and then in India.

So flash forward from our last post. Luke's folks, Giff and Midra, have returned from their summer field-work in Australia. I think this is so cool, but even cooler in my book, is that National Geographic was filming Giff and his crew out in the field doing their thing. What is their thing exactly? I am pink in the cheeks to admit that I know very little more than that they are collecting the egg shells of a very large, extinct bird named Genyornis and they use these shells to gather information about climate change and human activity in Australia around 50, 000 years ago. I know that is terribly simplified, but you can read the wiki page if it strikes your fancy. Luke and I have been housesitting for them for the summer and now we are houseguesting for the last few weeks before we fly out. We owe a million-and-one thank-yous to Giff and Midra for their kind hospitality and for letting us store our things in every conceivable spot in their home so we could spend that money on our travels instead of storage. We love you both!

• We bought new camera! I am very excited about this. Our friend, fellow traveler and brilliant photographer, Seth gave us an invaluable lesson on it so we could get some good practice in before we leave. Luke's transformation into a techno-geek is nearly complete as he accessorizes his computer, iPhone and camera for the trip...ahhh, I love my geek, so who am I kidding.

• We are eating sushi. And Mexican food. And salads. And we are eating as much as we can! We are also enjoying that we have a kitchen to cook for ourselves for little longer. This is what I miss the most while traveling; I miss cutting veggies and making dinner with Luke.

• My mom and dad, Jan and Jerry, come to visit us just a few weeks ago. We had a blast and it was such a sweet visit together. My folks are great guests because they love to get out and do it all--we packed in as many Boulder-only experiences as possible while they were here. Our visits together are never long enough though, and the salads never big enough...

• We have been getting up into the Indian Peaks as much as we can. We have had some recent cool weather that left a little snow up high (above 10,000ft). It has made the air crisp and fresh and joy to breath in!

• Luke has test-packed his suitcase once already. I have not and it is making him a little twitchy. He comes from a strong blood line of stagers and test-packers. Come to think of it, I guess I do too; my mom would use the frontroom sofa as a staging area for packing her's and my dad's things before a trip. I am going to test-pack, I promise, but not until all of my clothes arrive this week.

• I found someone to take over my Yoga Therapy office while I am away who fits in well with the rest of the gang at 1633 Pine Street. I move back into the space mid-January which makes me very glad because I love the space, the location and my most lovely office mate.

• Last week I met up with my dear friends, and fellow SYT classmates, Janet and Elizabeth. We met at the Boulder Farmers' Market to discuss our travels in India. Janet returned from her fourth trip last year and Elizabeth will traveling there for the first time this winter. I loved spending time with these two women and sharing our mutual call to India with each other is so sweet! Jai Ma!

• I got a birthday present in the mail last week. My birthday is not until December but, my friend and sister-in-law, Shelbey, is on it. In the box was a card that reads, "To Aunt Nichole" and 4 of the cutest, little gifts that are wrapped in animal-print tissue paper. They smell soooo good! I have been following my instructions: do not open until I arrive in India.

• My friends Elizabeth, Corrie and Cathern, who I read and share with in Sutra group threw me a Bon Voyage gathering this weekend and Cathern hosted us on her beautiful Victorian front porch. It was a sweet evening of friendship through Yoga, homegrown veggies, homebaked cookies and my new favorite spouted bread. Thank you all again! I already have my charming bookmark tucked into the pages of my Lonely Planet India.

• I shared lunch with another friend, and fellow Yoga therapist, Carrie this weekend. We had a swim date planned, but instead we were gifted a few gorgeous, and uncommon, rainy days last week. Instead of swimming, it was a leisurely lunch at Sunflower where we got comfortable and deepened our connection.

• I had a chance to see my very good friend, Melissa, who I've known since living in Phoenix House together. She and I shared a lovely lunch at The Kitchen with her radiant friend Amy. It felt great to connect with them too; we shared the unique changes that each of us are growing through in our lives. I feel like Amy won this round though; as she is 38+ weeks pregnant.

• Our friend Katie, a Boulder local who went to both elementary and middle school with Luke and his brother Obie, was back in Boulder for a few days and we met up at Lucille's for some delicious Cajun eats before she flew back to San Fran. We had a sweet visit together and after, we walked down to grab a few things at one of my favorite places in Boulder, Rebecca's Herbal Apothocary. I've been building a self-care and first aide kit for our trip and this the place to get it all...except for tourniquets...knock on wood

• I had a swim date and teary-eyed hugging with Yasamin and her daughter, one of my favorite little persons, Orianna. We laughed and swam and soaked up the sun together.

• Luke and I had the unbelievably good fortune of seeing our friend, Heather, sing and do her thang at the b.side lounge this weekend. Wow. Those are some heavenly pipes that she is playing and I was bursting with happiness for a my friend who is making it all happen.

We have planning our last complete week here; trying to see as many of our dearest as possible while packing and tending to details. My teacher, Mukunda, is in town this weekend for classes, as will be some of my classmates. This is most auspicious timing; to see him just before I leave. My heart-connection to India has been deepened because of my work and studies with Mukunda.

We have more of our favorite foods in the plans too. We both heart Mexican-street-food-inspired tacos. We have green chili at Marrocco's in our sights. We have Sushi Tora in our sights. And all of it shared with friends.

While we were hiking together last night, up high and with no others around, Luke and I were sharing with each how infinitely blessed we are in our beautiful home in Colorado, our health and opportunities, and our deep friendships. Our cups overflow...