We have rules for a reason

And it's not because they are meant to be broken. Consider me rule-breaker-number-one. David and I self-imposed a three gluehwein limit (see earlier post) in order to protect ourselves from ourselves. Boy did we blow it. Actually, we didn't just blow it. We shattered it. I blame a lot of it on our friend, Marta. Although, to be honest, David is also partly to blame. And maybe me a little bit, too.

We decided last week that it would be fun to go to the Weihnachtsmarkts on Friday and drink a few gluehweins, absorb the festive atmosphere, and smell whatever was roasting on the open grills. So, as scheduled we arrived at the first markt where feuerzangenbowle is available (see earlier post). The crowd around the feuerzangenbowle (boy, is that hard to spell) stand was obnoxious and it is hard to manage four cups of feuerzangenbowle without spilling or burning bystanders. But, we perservered and for our troubles, we were heartily rewarded. A few times.

David decided we should move to different pastures and give gluehwein mit schuss (with a shot) a try. Everyone agreed and so we did. A few times. At a few markts. The train ride home is pretty foggy and David tells me that the conversation was pretty entertaining. I'm not sure about that. I do know that Saturday thoroughly sucked, at least until 3pm when I got out of bed.

It seems like every few years I have to remind myself why I NEVER drink any quantity of hard liquor. Somehow in between I forget. Gluehwein and feuerzangenbowle brought it all back in vivid, painful technicolor. Bleh. I should be good for a few years, anyway.

And now, modest readership, I am going to take a short winter break. The blog will be offline for two weeks. I know. I know. The horror. What will you do with yourself? I imagine you'll manage and I'll try to stay away from the gluehwein.

In the new year, we'll have tales of family visits, trips to the east of Germany and others. So stay tuned.

Of course, I still love Hamburg. But seven gluehweins mit schuss, I definitely do not love.