Seattle: Ronnie and Jordan tie the knot!

My niece Veronica (Ronnie) (my sister Cindy's daughter) and her longtime beau Jordan were delightfully married in a private garden in South Seattle in September. The garden is acreage shared by the houses that border it, and you won't find it labeled on any map. Ronnie's uncle and aunt live on that border, and a garden wedding was planned! It was creative, it was casual, it was chill (only in attitude, it was an exceptionally hot day for Seattle). In short, it's the kind of wedding all should have.

Ronnie's magnificent dress was handmade by my sister Cindy out of satin and vintage lace. You won't find it in any bridal shop. Here Cindy and Chad lead their daughter down the garden path.

We came together for a pizza dinner served on compostable plates (Ronnie is a certified master composter) under a long tent, next to a barn with floral paintings by Ronnie's aunt Niki (you can see more of her work at the Seattle Art Museum!), with a rocket sculpture to the side.

Nearby was an artist's bungalow that has been built around an Airstream trailer. Here my mom and her youngest granchild stand in front.

And here you see the Chesslers toasting with some of our new mugs. We were invited to choose a pre-owned mug and give it a new home. (But of course not before filling it with some local wine or beer. Rainier beer anyone?)

For myself, I snagged a mug from 1989, celebrating the first one hundred years of statehood for Washington.

As it started to get dark, a DJ turned on the tunes, with a twist. Starting at 8 pm, so as not to disturb the neighbors, everyone was handed a personal headset. You could dial your music station, with the headset turning blue or green or red, depending on your musical selection. You really did dance to your own tune.

Thank you Ronnie and Jordan and all who helped you create this magical wedding and evening.

Munich - Biergartens and an old hotel

Remember our travel theme for Munich? Beer and cars? While we spent many hours at the BMW museum, we probably spent an equal amount of time enjoying the beer. They hold Oktoberfest in Munich for good reason. Look at the bucolic garden above in which Benjamin is enjoying a liter (?) of beer. And look at me below enjoying a stein.

We also enjoyed several Bavarian desserts that looked like large fried pancakes. Beware, each dessert serves about a dozen.

As it was becoming clear that we needed a mob to finish our dessert, the skies opened up and hail pelted down. We made a dash for the covered patio, but even that covering couldn't hold out this summer storm. So we made a dash for our hotel while everyone else sensibly went inside and we got thoroughly soaked.

That hotel is the Torbrau, the oldest operating hotel in Munich. It's been operation since - wait for it - 1490. They have updated the interior; the showers and faucets work very well and it is all modern chic in each room.

The hint that it's old is the miniature elevator which fits two comfortably and had to be shoehorned in between the stairs, and the scene of drinking debauchery that has been recreated at the base of the stairs, I guess to illustrate your stay at the Torbrau had it been 1490. It's like the Torbrau version of the Disneyland Pirates of the Carribean ride.

Munich - BMW Museum and Deutsche Museum

Our theme for Munich was cars and beer. For cars, we chose the BMW museum. Based on Benjamin's animated discussion with the BMW staff about the prototype M3 station wagon (pictured above), I think it was a hit. And as we exited, the line to get in was around the building, so it's not just us.

I'm no car aficionado (just ask Benjamin) but even I found a lot to like about the BMW museum. My favorite was the BMW Isetta, otherwise known as the "bubble car." Manufactured after WWII, it held just two passengers, and there was only one door, hinged to the front. This little car saved BMW from bankruptcy as it struggled to rebuild postwar. This gem got about 78 miles to the gallon, perhaps because it was only 4.5 feet wide and 7.5 feet long. I'm sorry to say they ceased production in the 1960s, but you can buy used ones on eBay. All cars should be so fun.

The building housing BMW offices and the museum are iconic as well.

While it was a time squeeze, we also made it to the ginormous Deutsche Museum on the same day. It is the largest museum of science and technology in the world. We couldn't see it all, so we focused on aviation, space travel, bridges and robots. For the most part, exhibits are life size, hence the feeling you are in an airplane hangar.

Of special interest, since Benjamin works with robots, was the Helpmate Service Robot, circa 1990. The first robot of its kind, it was designed to be used in medical clinics to deliver medication, laboratory samples, and medical devices. It was designed by Joseph Engelberger, considered the father of robotics.