Armenian Coffee and Conversation

This weekend reminded me of the importance of engaging in conversation, which seems to be a dying art. We were invited for traditional Armenian coffee by my husband’s colleague who recently moved to Germany. Since everything is closed on Sunday other than gas stations, restaurants and museums, it is a good day to have no real agenda. I thought we would show up, have coffee, share some experiences about being expats here and be on our way. Six hours later, the entire afternoon had been consumed by actual discussions about our world and ourselves. What I enjoyed specifically about our Armenian coffee afternoon was that we did not look at our phones or talk about this season of the Bachelorette. Despite the irritating complexities of daily life here, being able to relate to others is key in feeling normal!

La Dolce Vita in the Alps

Italy is like a sweet and endearing friend who always welcomes me back with open arms.  The village of San Martino, Val di Mello, where we ventured for the outdoors  and general disconnect from our German world,  was nothing short of heaven. Stunning views, dramatic mountains and turquoise blue waters that made it feel like a dream I wished to not wake up from.

Ethereal turquoise color.

Ginseng Espresso from bar Kundaluna in San Martino, Val di Mello.

A rainy day called for some down time in a chill  bohemian style bar in  town. Café exploration happened  in the form of a Ginseng Espresso. A state of Zen in a cup you can’t find in Deutschland.  The local dried beef, Bresaola , was also a winner and a must to try while in this area.

Oscar, our doxie, had no problems taking it easy at the bar.

There is just something transcendental about wandering cobblestone streets and drinking pristine water from beautiful little fountains. How could there not be? This is perhaps my most revered detail of la dolce vita. Instead of looking for the next bottle of water from a market or filling one up with horrible tasting tap water, you always have access to pure water. Drinking from these fountains whenever I please is close to fairytale living. Good water is the basis for everything. Seems simple.

Now that we are back, I feel refreshed and am looking forward to my evening German language course again.  Crazy, right? Oh dearest Germany, despite your cleanliness, well maintained landscape and orderliness, I believe it’s quite crucial to one’s wellbeing to venture down south for a break when possible, …Bis später!

Tea Time

Tea is good here and there are some swanky tea zones I’ve even found in the area. Trying to find a decent macchiato, however, is like a terrible game of café roulette where you will most likely lose. Nearly every coffee concoction seems to be a latte in some form, and I just don’t get it.  It’s safer to just order a traditional café “normal.” The coffee here is not that great is what I am saying. Explore the tea instead. We are headed to northern Italy for a week, which is long overdue since moving here…espresso updates and posts on this trip to follow! So happy, so happy!…Ciao