Flying Through the Alps

We had an experience of a lifetime when my dear friend, Beth (Charney) Ulfig and her father Biff Windsock visited us in Murnau.  Beth's dad flies his beautiful 1944 Beechcraft Staggerwing around the world. Beth always dreamed of flying through the Alps with her dad; so she met up with Biff and visited us. We were not only lucky enough to be visited by the Carneys but honored to accompany Beth in realizing her dream to fly through the Alps in the Red Rockette, the name Biff bestowed on his plane after his talented daughter Beth, who danced for 15 years as a Radio City Rockette.

Simultaneously, Carolyn Kelly, another good friend from Denver, traveled throughout Germany. We all met for breakfast and it was fun to have two United pilots, Biff and Doug Kelly, meet at my favorite breakfast spot, Florentina, in Murnau.

After breakfast, Peter, Tobi, Beth and Biff took the tram to the top of Germany's tallest mountain, the Zugspitz. Then the next day, Biff flew Peter around the Zugspitz and found Neuschwanstein.  When I flew in the Red Rockette, Beth discreetly showed me "the (barf) bag".  Biff kept flying with one hand and snapping pics with the other: I repeatedly offered to help snap pics, so he could steer the aircraft with 2 hands. My heart pounded as it seemed that we kissed the Alps from the plane. I must have been green and at least entertained Beth and Biff; most importantly and proudly, I didnt loose my cookies. I knew I could not be flying in safer hands.  It was so cool to see the places in the air that we frequented on the ground with Beth and Biff.

Pfingferien-Milan

No such thing as too fashionable for Milan. In Milan we saw women dressed to the hilt sporting Jimmy Chu shoes and biking. So when in Milan......shop til ya drop and drive Ferraris.

Peter and I just loved watching Gia and Annika shop with their brothers. The boys, for whatever reason roll their eyes at their parents, but they do pay attention to their sister's fashion opinions and love when their sisters dote on them.

Then of coarse I enjoyed the Germans driving the Ferrari.

Girl's sports

Annika and Gia continued to do some of their sports here in Germany, and as usual, very different than in U.S. For example, although we live in Bayern Munich territory, here there are no girls teams until you get to 18 y.o.

Annika ice skated from December until April, when they melted the ice for "summer vacation". Annika skated in Garmisch with a Hungarian coach. She took the train to and from Garmisch; she was proudly independent. She skated with a small group of three and there was always a group of little 9 or 10 year old throwing their triple jumps! Once skating finished, then Annika played soccer 4 times a week with a women's 18 year old team and the boys 14 year old team.

Gia did gymnastics. Gymnastics is very different in Germany, in fact her gymnastics was very similar to when I was in middle school: they had to set up their own bar, beam and vault in a middle school. Gia also practiced with the 13 year old boys team. So although there were no girls teams, the boys made our girls feel welcomed on the field.