Sacramento Travel Meeting --- Saturday, December 21st

Greetings from Frankfurt (OK, it's not Paris but at least it's in Europe.) We will be thinking about you on the 21st, but not missing you all enough to hop on a plane back to Sacramento.
Happy holidays to all. See you in January with tales of Christmas markets.

Lauri and Ed

We probably won’t be able to come as we’ll be in Rocklin that morning for a sports event with Lucy and her family then Christmas week officially kicks off at our house!

We should be at the January meeting right before our NZ-AU trip so see you all then.

On another note...Some of us enjoy planning things in advance so here’s a heads up about a musical Kitty, Dave and I saw last year in San Francisco. In May the production comes to Sacramento!

There might be some interest in our group seeing the musical Come From Away based on the events in Gander, Newfoundland on September 11. I’ll bring a signup sheet to the January meeting. I can call the box office for a group rate (10-25% off) if 12 or more of us want to go to the same performance. It runs from Tuesday, May 19 to Sunday, May 24. There are 2 matinees and the rest are evening performances. The tickets range from $24-$70. https://my.broadwaysacramento.com/520/605

I hope a group of us can have this memorable travel experience in May.

We plan to be there!

Mona, that musical sounds wonderful, but we will be off to France the end of May! I joked last month about beating Mike to Provence and the Dordogne, but it now looks my dream has come true :-) Yippee!

Here's another recommendation for "Come from Away."
I saw it SF last year with friends and we loved it also.
It's unique and wonderful!
SharYn

Count me in for "Come from Away!" I'll have to ask Jim if he's interested.

Not sure if I can make this month's get together. Flying back from Virginia on Friday and have a Christmas Party Saturday Night. Might be 'recovering from' and/or 'preparing for' one or the other. :)

In the event I don't see you, wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy New Year!

This is a busy time of year for everyone. I'm looking forward to to seeing those who can make it, and for those who can't I'm wishing you Happy Holidays!!

Lauri & Ed, I hope you're enjoying the Christmas markets.

I will be back from trips and will be there on Sat.

The lord willing and the creeks don’t rise ( or I’m on a Cal Train headed into San Francisco) I hope to be finally able to attend a local RS meeting. With moving around the country every 18-24 months I really never get a chance to meet up with “locals”. Was hoping to hear of France (transport issues) from Laura and Ed but I guess they are still there having a wonderful time with the Christmas markets in Germany.

Travel safe,

One Fast Bob

I’ll be 7 miles away at the airport on my way to Texas. I’ve missed 3 (or 4?) of the last 6 meetings; that’s about how many I missed in the previous 9 years 8^0

AFAIK, I’ll see everybody in January...

Have a great time!

Is anyone else coming?

Adding to Mona, RE: Come From Away
I usually don’t see a play twice, but this was a wonderful pick me up. This Tony Award for Best Directing is a delightful shot in the arm.

Hoping to join the group this Saturday.

Waxing nostalgic following Laura and Ed on their 🎄Market tour. Looking forward to their report come January!

Mid-trip report :
Flew into Frankfurt (actually, I think the plane landed in Belgium and they bussed us to the FRA gate -- longest transfer from plane to terminal that I can remember!) Jet lag hit about four hours after we landed and lasted for two days. Loved the Frankfurt market in the beautifully restored Old Town area. (Thank you Ms Jo!!) Had a great (and inexpensive) hotel across the street from the train station -- Fleming's Express -- with enormous breakfast buffets.

German train to Strasbourg, France. Colmar was skipped because the train service was questionable due to the SNCF strike (didn't want to get there and not be able to get back to Strasbourg.) Beautiful city and markets, as always. We stayed, as before, at Residence Hotel Louise, a student residence about 15 minutes walk from Cathedral and markets (and Monoprix!) -- has free laundry room so I did a couple loads.

Next to Stuttgart which also had an extensive beautiful Christmas market area with decorated roofs on every booth. Took a train to Esslingen to see medieval market -- very cute! Hotel was Park Inn Radisson -- chain style, but good and well-located and big buffet breakfasts.

Now in Nürenberg with another enormous market area. Hotel is a Rick recommendation, Privat Hotel Probst, walking distance to train station and Christmas markets. Charming family-run, possibly renovated since the last RS review. Multiple delicious pastries at breakfast, eggs soft-boiled to order.

And off to Munich in the morning for Ed's reunion with his home town of 9 years, then Salzburg for Christmas.

Local specialty foods sampled:
Frankfurt - Green Sauce
Strasbourg - Flamküche
Stuttgart - Spätzle
Nürenberg - Lebküchen (and tiny Nürenberger sausages)

Items purchased to date (excluding glühwein, cookies and other comestibles) :
one €2 night light, 2 glühwein mugs.

Lauri, thanks for the Trip So Far Report. I fear that with all that shopping you'll need to buy another suitcase to haul all your loot home. ;-) Enjoy the rest of your trip!!

Nice mid trip report Lauri! We will probably be at the meeting for awhile on Saturday.

I will be there, Susan Beats me to Dordogne by three months
Mike

Greetings Sacramento,

Friday not going as planned and thus I fully expect to head into the office on Saturday morning.

Have a fantastic meeting and Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all.

I’m really looking forward to meeting Ms. Jo in March! That will be a treat.

Travel safe,

One Fast Bob

Laura, thanks for your comprehensive report on the Christmas Markets. I will do it again. It was so much fun!

You should be a travel writer to finance all your travels!

Ed likely knows this. Hope you get to try this drink aflame that we enjoyed In Mainz last year:
Feuerzangentasse 🔥 ..Wow!