{"id":4711,"date":"2026-01-19T15:58:34","date_gmt":"2026-01-19T20:58:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hoperoth.com\/blog\/?p=4711"},"modified":"2026-01-19T15:58:36","modified_gmt":"2026-01-19T20:58:36","slug":"a-quiet-new-years-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hoperoth.com\/blog\/a-quiet-new-years-day\/","title":{"rendered":"A Quiet New Years Day"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fun fact: basically everything in Munich shut down at 4pm on New Years Eve and then didn&#8217;t open back up until the 2nd. Honestly? Good for them. Enjoy your holidays!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It did make it rather hard to find something to do on New Years Day. Luckily for us, Kristian is a resourceful man.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1422\" height=\"553\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.hoperoth.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/3-AF1371E8-C992-4522-B72C-2999F189C24D_1_105_c.jpg?resize=1422%2C553&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"A panoramic view of a pier extending into calm waters, with a sunset illuminating the sky. People are seen along the shore, enjoying the serene landscape.\" class=\"wp-image-4708\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We took the train out to <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Starnberg\">Starnberg<\/a>, a popular destination for spending time outdoors. Our plan was to get lunch and walk along the lake. Unfortunately, almost all of the restaurants were observing New Years Day, which is how we ended up back in Boston.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Well, the Boston restaurant. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" data-id=\"4707\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.hoperoth.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/2-51B5A70C-935C-4032-95CB-3E6C39798C76_1_105_c.jpg?resize=1024%2C768&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"A sign displaying the name and services of the establishment &quot;BOSTON,&quot; which offers dining and drinks, is prominently placed outside a building surrounded by greenery.\" class=\"wp-image-4707\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Shipping up to Boston<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"4706\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.hoperoth.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1-37F70C5A-9F03-4BC1-B16A-6420AB04A120_1_105_c.jpg?resize=768%2C1024&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"A glass of dark-colored beverage garnished with a slice of orange sits on a wooden table, with blurred background elements suggesting a casual dining setting.\" class=\"wp-image-4706\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Another Mezzomix<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There&#8217;s something so cozy about sitting in a warm pub on a cold day. Especially if it&#8217;s full of people enjoying a leisurely day off with friends and family. One of the reasons we wanted to move to Europe is because of the pub\/restaurant culture. You can sit and enjoy your conversation and they (generally) don&#8217;t hustle you out. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We played the game &#8220;Essence.&#8221; Each of us takes turns picking someone we all know. Then everyone else asks questions about their essence. If they were an ice cream, what would they be? If they were a pizza, what toppings would be on them? If they were a book, what would they be? It&#8217;s amazing how you can figure someone out after just five or so questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After lunch, we went for a walk along the lake. It was pretty windy, but we&#8217;d dressed for the weather. There were a ton of families out and about. We stopped to let Lilian play in this pretty awesome playground. I&#8217;m still working on my video editing skills, but here&#8217;s a little video I made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">German playgrounds really do go hard. Not a rounded edge in site. It looked like it&#8217;s an absolute blast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We took the train back to our Airbnb as it was getting dark out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"4709\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.hoperoth.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/4-86300D3D-6BD9-4A36-9A80-14040F88CF6F_1_105_c.jpg?resize=768%2C1024&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Lilian stands next to a large, colorful ice cream cone sculpture, wearing a warm jacket and scarf, with a camera in her hands. The background features a shop window with various gelato flavors displayed.\" class=\"wp-image-4709\" style=\"width:auto;height:350px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">It was too cold for gelato, but not for a silly photo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" data-id=\"4710\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.hoperoth.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/5-91143335-32D5-452E-B4C0-98E74C9F9CFA_1_105_c.jpg?resize=1024%2C768&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"A vibrant sunset casts hues of orange and purple over a train station, silhouetting the buildings and tracks below. The scene captures the tranquil transition from day to night.\" class=\"wp-image-4710\" style=\"width:auto;height:350px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Our train station at sunset<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For our last full meal in Germany, we went to another beer hall, the <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Augustiner-Keller\">Augustiner-Keller<\/a>. This one is a lot more open, with long tables and communal seating. It serves traditional Bavarian dishes. Kristian looks unimpressed in this photo, but that&#8217;s more about me making him pose for me and less about the food.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.hoperoth.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/6-69492BA8-921B-4685-956A-16E8F1B07CBA_1_102_o.jpg?ssl=1\" alt=\"A panoramic view of a bustling restaurant filled with diners, featuring Kristian sitting at a table adorned with flowers and various dishes. The warm lighting and wooden beams create a cozy atmosphere.\" class=\"wp-image-4705\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We got up early the next day to take the train back home to Lyon. It ended up being a little bit too much of an adventure. Our train out of Munich was cancelled, so we ended up on a later train. The only way to get a TGV connection was to pay for an upgrade to First Class (allegedly, we&#8217;re getting a refund on this). We ended up with a two-hour layover in Mannheim (where we enjoyed hot drinks and played Qwirkle). <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then, the kids sitting across from us on the TGV ran absolutely <em>wild<\/em>. I&#8217;m talking, running around barefoot, climbing on top of each other, banging their table open and shut, <em>swinging from the luggage racks<\/em> level of wild. Thank all that is good and beautiful for noise cancelling headphones. I try not to judge other parents, but <em>eesh<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">How were your holidays?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Fun fact: basically everything in Munich shut down at 4pm on New Years Eve and then didn&#8217;t open back up until the 2nd. Honestly? Good for them. Enjoy your holidays!&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4708,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[8,10],"tags":[72,71,73],"class_list":["post-4711","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-family","category-travel","tag-beerhall","tag-germany","tag-newyears"],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p5yggS-1dZ","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.hoperoth.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/3-AF1371E8-C992-4522-B72C-2999F189C24D_1_105_c.jpg?fit=1422%2C553&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hoperoth.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4711","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hoperoth.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hoperoth.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hoperoth.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hoperoth.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4711"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.hoperoth.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4711\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4714,"href":"https:\/\/www.hoperoth.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4711\/revisions\/4714"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hoperoth.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4708"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hoperoth.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4711"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hoperoth.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4711"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hoperoth.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4711"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}