We've been talking about traveling to Europe since the second day we got together...now it is finally time to consummate it! We have 10 days to spend there, and we're going to head to Paris and Berlin, spending some time in the low countries (Antwerp or Rotterdam) inbetween. Did you know: Tobi's never visited the Louvre? Marie's never been to Germany? We will do our best to catch up on all the culture we've been missing, and to introduce each other to parts of Europe that we know well individually.

Marie has carved out a good chunk of time from her job, so we will have plenty of time to let both cities sink in. For more flexibility, we're going to rent small apartments in each city: this will let us make our own meals when we want to and let us stay in areas away from the big commercial centers. Hopefully, this will also put us within walking distance of multiple neighborhood cafes and Konditorei. Aside from the many pastries we will encounter (savory! sweet! algerian! turkish!), we will wander around a lot, sometimes in museums. Marie will surely explain medieval culture to Tobi in some out-of-the-way church. Tobi will nod appreciatively. Given all the gardening that's happening in El Cerrito, some gardens will certainly be toured--perhaps even the mother of all gardens in Versailles.

Let Tobi visit for the Louvre for the first time on Marie's arm! Let Marie discover at Tobi's side that there's more to Germany than sausage and beer! Ein ganz kultiviertes voyage tres romantique!