marienplatz.

My junior year of college, I made my first excursion to Europe. I went to Munich, Germany to visit a boy who's now ancient history, but the memories of Bavaria at Christmastime are some of my favorite. There was snow, of course, bitter cold, and the enchanting Christkindlmarkt — a glittering market full of nutcrackers, glüwine (warm spiced red wine), and pastries. While I can't wait to go home this Christmas, I sometimes wish I could spend it somewhere a little more magical.

 I also went to Neuschwanstein. I like to imagine my ancestors lived in those hills. They've been referred to as "black Dutch" but no one can tell me what that actually means, just that it was somewhere in Germany.