A new year always reminds me of one of the most memorable New Years Eve's I've had. It was perfect and stunning in every way. It was 2002 and the first one my Dutch husband and I shared as a newly married couple. We were living abroad in Holland, living it up and well, we were kid-free. We decided to drive to Heidelberg first to see some of my Dad's family and then on to beautiful Bavaria to visit friends who have a very charming Inn with amazing views of the Neuschwanstenstein Castle. It was a New Years Eve day of beautiful walks, cozy meals, crisp air, a tour of the castle and later that night there was a party at a local Italian restaurant that was nothing short of fabulous. We were with people I never met before yet I felt completely at home and laughed along with all the different languages that surrounded us. The evening ended with us outside toasting with champagne to just about everything and watching some crazy-pretty fireworks. (To be honest everytime I think of that night I can always hear Robbie Williams in the background singing, "I just wanna feel real love..." which seemed to playing A LOT in the background).
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| Neuschwanstenstein Castle, Bavaria, Germany |
Anyways, it was a beautiful, romantic New Years Eve with my amazing husband. What keeps this magical area of Germany so close to my heart is all tied in with my very first memories as a child. When I was 3 1/2 my parents took me to Germany to see where my Dad came from and it was while visiting here, looking up at this castle that a lasting impression was held in my mind and heart. Now that my Dad has passed it means even more. New Years Eve 2002 he had been gone a year. I felt him smiling on me that day, I felt the rush of memories past and memories new. Now I will create memories for the future with our kids as we plan our own trip to go back and share it together as a family in 2012. Of course, I'm guessing we'll introduce the castle as, "look...here is the ORIGINAL Disneyland castle!"
Happy 2012!
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