Joel Weiss

Merry Christmas from Schwerin. We celebrated Christmas Eve at the Dom here and it was unbelievably beautiful. We bundled up, braved the elements and had a great time. It feels good to feel good again.

Chevy’s American Diner in Kassel not only serves tasty hamburgers with cool names (the John Wayne burger is a favorite), but they also show American Football! We had a blast and it became our Sunday night haunt. Doesn’t matter that we’re not the biggest fans in the world, we sure have fun!

A perfect morning for a pancake breakfast here in frigid Kassel.

The famous Herkules Monument in Kassel. After a long walk (hike) through a beautiful, fairy-tale forest you’re rewarded with a fabulous view of Kassel. Sadly, you also see the bus stop and realize you could’ve ridden up there. Doh!

When you run 26 miles they give you two beers. Smart Germans.

A very nice surprise brunch in Kassel – at the Mercure Hotel. A great birthday.

7 years! 7 YEARS!!! My goodness. So far, not so itchy

I got coaxed in to riding the “Space Bikes” with nephew Kyle. If it looks like I was petrified, I was. P.S. I lost.

Not even a bad case of “jet-lag” could keep us away from a Sunday brunch in Bremen at the Becks house. Barbara, Kirsten, Christina and Sandra were there, and the weather cooperated too.

All goes well here in Germantown. My mission to bring back the “Miami Vice” turned up shirt collar is going well – although participation is less than hoped. Back to NYC Monday and then to Iowa for father-by-law’s 80th birthday! Party time.