Dreaming in Germany

Your appreciation for the smaller niceties in life definitely increases when you are traveling for long time. I am blessed to have family that lives in the Mosel River Valley in the southwest portion of Germany. Even though I had not seen them since they were sitting at our kitchen table in Friendswood ten years ago, seeing a familiar face (although distant) for the first time in nearly four months was comforting. I have never really worried about safety; however, the instant you see that familiarity at the end of the train platform, you just feel “safe”—like you have a protector, even if only for a few days.

Family also meant the chance to have a home-cooked meal, nice smelling clothes again, and an entire night of uninterrupted sleep. I genuinely cannot remember the last time I truly dreamed on this trip—something that happens multiple times a night back home. When you are sharing a room with six, ten, twelve people, you never rest into that deep sleep, because someone will barge in at 3:00 in the morning, or more often than not, a symphony of snorers will shake the room like a miniature earthquake all night. I laid my head on the pillow that first night, immediately fell asleep, and started dreaming. It was glorious…uninterrupted sleep!

If you are ever pass near the Mosel River Valley, I recommend spending at least one night in one of the villages. The people are super friendly, it is off the tourist track, and it has a peaceful beauty that you will not forget.

My first spaghetti ice.