Quality Time

From the very beginning of this trip that my family embarked upon, I cannot overlook how it was a hurricane of so many emotions. There were more fluctuations in my mood where overwhelming sentiments of excitement, unease, frustration, joy, emptiness, and grief were all durable in that sense. My thoughts were slipping into a groove of homesickness but do not let this dispel any of your curiosity about the adventures. When you are in the presence of your family, it includes the succession of positive, wholesome events which are deemed to be peaceful, exciting, joyous, funny, and that are all worth celebrating such INVINCIBLE nostalgia. 

The first destination was Frankfurt, Germany and this meant a historical moment, well a wealth of history to reminisce about for my dad especially. As I would like to put it in a manner that is special, this is traceable to his life when he was in his twenties. He had lived in Germany for twelve fruitful years and I completely understand why he misses it quite a lot. Memories like this are always rooted in his life y’know?

Myself, my mother, my older sister, and my father arrived at the Frankfurt Central Station. I possessed this lingering thought of exploring, tinged with excitement and joy. What else was I going to discover during this family trip?! We were greeted by a panorama of the EXCEPTIONALLY sophisticated train station that it was absolutely a glory to behold, which is of course the Frankfurt Central Station. We tried out a local snack and it was a German pretzel, Brezel, which was a scrumptious bite of something new and distinctive. You could never go wrong with a delicacy like that. Well, this was another thrill of family travels and it was only a sliver of the gaiety. I fluttered my eyelashes, musing on more of our ‘destinations’ internationally, and glanced towards my sister, Mahima (or I like to call her by a nickname, Mima) who was preoccupied with where we were heading off to next. I absentmindedly asked her where we would go, and I knew we were meant to take our first train at one point of time but there was time to dilly dally. The only way to indulge my frivolities, I gingerly fished out my iPhone from my pocket to begin snapping some photos of neighboring bistros, flower shops, and restaurants which displayed their own inimitable beauty from every possible angle.

(You can never go wrong with these delicious options. German bread, pizza, and pretzels are just.. So good..)

(Or these blooms of purity and magnificence!)

You can presume that this was just getting a little too overwhelming in very little time spent, which is true! Aside from that, my dad instinctively led my sister, my mom, and I outside of the establishment. The differentia of this train station is the rich atmosphere (I’m not sure if that makes a lot of sense, or does it?) Very compact and bustling. Further into the cityscape, people are beaming, socializing, and you can tell that many are living life to the fullest with how infectious the good cheer can be in Germany. Maybe ‘exotic’ sounds better, no?

My dad cheerfully proposed a visit to a local shopping mall and that started to ignite more of my insatiable curiosities and childish glee all over again. We crossed the threshold of a shopping mall called MyZeil and my mouth was agape. The interior was gorgeous and it only gets better because of the unique architecture, striking medley of brands, palatable dining options, eye-catching souvenirs and much more to discover! I know I wasn’t the only one who thought so because Mima and my mom were so thrilled about this experience that they were keen to take more photos of glorious sightings and moments. I did not know what to consider, as I was brimming with joy at this opportunity.

(Again, for more visual appeal, here you go :3)

It only keeps getting better and more exhilarating that nothing seems to dispel the overwhelming urge to go and explore more of Frankfurt (the first city we visited so far in Germany!) Felt even more rewarding after grueling hours for the traveling my family has done already. We wallowed in traversing through the refined culture, its history, the infrastructure, imposing monuments, the natural beauty, traces of wildlife, the smells, the rhythmic sounds, and more that paint a whole 'nother landscape of grandeur and magic.

And now, the next destination is Heidelberg!

My family must board a train to start this next remarkable adventure in Germany, which I was not exactly prepared for.. The oblivion of what I was going to be faced with was like a trail of fireflies guiding me through the darkness that clouded my mind. I think that jet lag was also impacting me at the beginning of this rollercoaster.

Meanwhile, the picturesque landscapes captured my attention in no time at all. From left to right, forward, backward, it was like I had entered a painting.. I cannot exaggerate it. That’s how it felt and it took my breath away. I do wholeheartedly believe pictures can be infinitely more expressive than mere sentences.

(Neptun-Brunnen)

(Bridge over the Neckar)

I feel tempted to go on a short tangent because I didn't feel deserving of any of these travels. I was bound to go since this is not a vacation (you might have reservations about that, but this is only the first phase I am going through..) As bemusing as this sounds, it will make sense near the end of this real and replenishing memory treasure chest. I keep mining gold and I have found more precious stones and that is all because of spending more time with my family.

Well! I did lead myself astray, but not any longer! Now I was bracing myself to discover Mannheim next!

My dad attended university in Mannheim and the reminiscence he cherished was indescribable from what I remember about that afternoon. My mom conjured a few compassionate words while telling me about my dad’s experiences and glories in Germany before they got married. The mysteries you can uncover when you learn more about your parents' past dumbfounded me and maybe to them it was desiderium (an intense longing or desire that has been unattainable), and this was for something intangible. Though later in the evening, it was time for an infinitely special reunion among old friends.

We were going to visit my dad's best friends in Germany (they've been friends for nearly four decades!) It was so heartwarming to think about as soon as we arrived at their cozy home for a hearty dinner of German Flammkuchen (Flatbread Pizza) and savory fruits to fill up our rumbling bellies. They fed our souls with raptures and love. We also met their precious dog, Maxie and he was curious about guests! I was savoring this occasion while stuck in an ataraxy, listening to my parents and their friends talk about the good old days, my sister and I playing with the adorable Maxie. What a beautiful and memorable night.. This is one of the key reasons why I love traveling with my family and I get to stay curious by spending time with their cherished friends!