A Lufthansa Lunch Date

Disclaimer: I am currently 40,000 feet in the air on a double decker airplane somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean with a few glasses of wine in me ('Tis the season). 

For some reason I find airplanes quite relaxing. Partly because I can sleep anywhere - middle seat, emergency exit row, you name it and lights are out before the flight attendants can press play on the safety video.

Today I am flying from Frankfurt to Orlando on Lufthansa's big boy Airbus - double decker and all. Everyone knows Christmas in Germany is important, but Lufthansa really outdid themselves this season. Not only is their airport terminal decked out, but Wreaths even hang in the gallies. Amenity kits have been swapped out for a felted grey dop kit lined with Christmas fabric, wrapped with a little red bow, bell included. How many times do I have to say, it's all in the details?

The Holiday just so happened to be the feature movie on this flight (one of my all time favorites) - so here is my very merry Lufthansa lunch date as told by Cameron, Jude, Kate and Jack. 

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The amenity kit 

The Wine Selection 

Red or white, Cameron? Lufthansa had a very generous selection of wines from all over the world. I chose the German Riesling to refrain from any withdrawls from my country of residence. 

My first (date) course with Jude Law. 

The Kurbis-pepperpuree was the perfect start to the date as you can see by Jude's facial expression. 

And then Cameron interrupted... she was predominantly upset that she couldn't eat the crispy bread rolls #carbs. 

Jack black sings theme songs to the Classics. 

The classics also including Germany's traditional rolled noodles and onions - a Christmas market staple. 

The Finale 

Dessert, fresh fruit and Christmas cookies. Need I say more?

The movie just so happened to end at the end of the wonderful food service. Talk about perfect timing.

Thoughts? Lufthansa is incredible no matter where you sit on the airplane. But I think we all already knew this. Happy to be back in the sunshine state with my family for the holidays! 

Have a very Merry Christmas & a even happier new year! 

Speak soon, 

Per 

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One Night Stand: Maastricht

It was finally Friday, not that I usually have enough time in each week to think about what specific day it is (they all start to blend together after a while). With that being said, I do get excited for Friday's when I have planned a little weekend getaway - especially for a one night stand with the quaint and cozy town of Maastricht in the Netherlands. This wasn't my first time visiting this town and it was even better the second time. 

From the moment we crossed the border the sun started to shine; the sky was painted with shades of rust and lavender (not something I see often --- the sun that is...insert life in Germany here) 

One night stands (15-24 hours in a city) are always better with someone who has a little more experience, which is why I couldn't have been more grateful that my wonderful coworker lives here. It is a great help knowing someone to find all of the local spots and places that are often overlooked. 

Maastricht is filled with quaint bakeries, matte black bicycles parked in front of art galleries, and cobblestone streets that lead to gothic style churches converted into bookstores (they even smell like barnes and noble - yes.) 

For dinner we wandered over to Café Sjiek to munch on the bread, devour the meat stew, and sip on the generous gin & tonics. The animations on the napkins and matchboxes are to die for and the bartenders were a little too generous. Thank you?

The morning after we shamelessly wandered into coffee lovers to reminisce about the night and make note of how much I've fallen in love - with the city that is (plus their coffee and family style atmosphere is pretty cool). Overall: get ready to be overwhelmed because everywhere you look it just keeps getting better. Don't forget to notice the little details like --- 

the bicycles & store fronts.

the little details.

Definitely look down.

& out. 

thanks for hosting me, jill & max.

ps - pack oversized sweaters - here is why. 

speak soon, 

Per 

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A Parisian Love Story

It was the first Sunday in September in Paris circa 1999. I recollect getting lost in a flock of tourists visiting the Louvre. I was also slightly saddened that the Mona Lisa was being suffocated in glass enclosure as a sea of people crowded da Vinci's masterpiece. There were no cell phones, no digital cameras and no distractions to the art of travel. People used tangible maps, wandered mindlessly and planned the day based off interest, not the closest café with wifi. I was 7 years old and my carry-on consisted of a polaroid camera and a Walkman CD player with Now 2. I probably took 12 pictures that entire trip | 1. Mona Lisa, 2. Statue of Venus, 3. Indiana Jones ride at Disney Land Paris 4. My grandmother and mother 5. Warm milk and a croissant, etc. 

I have dreamt of Paris ever since. Perhaps it reminds me of my family, or conceivably the romanticism associated with the city of lights. I have slept under a wall sized portrait of the Eiffel Tower for the past 10 years, and studied Parisian fashion week every year at SCAD. It is also the only destination of the 50+ countries I have visited that I did not have a keychain for (why yes, I do collect keychains from each country I go to.) 

Fast forward 15 years, I am wandering to the Düsseldorf airport dragging my weekender bag and leather loafers to visit my best friend from high school. Paris was everything I remembered plus more. I was in tears the second I got to the Eiffel Tower overwhelmed with a soul from home alongside tango music echoing in the background. We sipped hot chocolate at Angelica’s, took photos nearly every step we took, climbed the busy stairs to see the silhouette of the Eiffel Tower atop Galeries Lafayette, and went to a pop-up trance club decorated like a Berlin living room. I couch surfed, drank wine, ate too much bread and laughed way too hard. 

Paris is inevitably perfect and would love nothing more than to spend a portion of my life surrounded by such artistic influence. 

Visual Journal