Wir gehen zu Deutchland...hopefully!

After a lot of maneuvering and begging, Tony finally got approved for an R&R the last week of August! Because of contract and bonus issues we are going to have to plan it at the last minute (and anyone who knows me knows I like to plan!) but if everything works out we should be spending about 9 days in Germany!


I haven't gotten my Rick Steve's book in the mail yet (I love that APOs are cheap to mail to, but it takes FOREVER to get stuff), but right now Tony and I are planning on driving around the southern and western regions of Germany and visiting castles, wineries, and small villages (we don't want to be in any big cities-we live in the city now and are dying to see trees again!). Our goal for the trip is to only stay in a hotel the night we arrive and the night before we leave Germany. The rest of the nights we are hoping just to meet people in whatever town we end up in who will let us stay with them for the night. So if anyone has any friends in Germany we would love to meet them...and stay with them for a night!

Keep your fingers crossed it all works out! The Muegels have forgotten what the color green looks like!

4th of July at the Prince's Crib

Every year the American Business Group of Abu Dhabi hosts a Fourth of July Celebration at the Emerites Palace. The Emerites Palace is without a doubt the most beautiful building in Abu Dhabi. Besides being a hotel it is also actually the palace of one of the Princes and it is absolutely gorgeous!

After the cocktail reception, we sat down to an...interesting buffet dinner. We actually got all dressed up for dinner at the Palace and what do you think they served in celebration of the 4th of July? Hamburgers, hotdogs, corn on the cob, ribs...you get the point. It was a little absurd to me but not bad at all.

After dinner we went outside to the beach and watched a fireworks display that was short but pretty impressive. Afterward, we went inside for the most amazing desserts I've ever had and then there was dancing the rest of the night.

A bunch of us decided to continue the celebration at a nightclub so we took one of the Palaces personal taxis (unmarked white Mercedes with tinted windows, leather seats, good music, actual air conditioning, and a driver that speaks English...if you new what the regular taxis are like here you would know how amazing that was!)

The band that was playing that night was a Filipino rock band that does the BEST covers of American rock songs. The lead guitarist was the most amazing!

He's holding one of the center pieces from the dinner and did a little homage to the States which was really cool. Afterwards we had a few drinks with him and Tony taught him how to tie a dew rag which was hilarious!

It was absolutely the most unconventional way of celebrating the 4th of July but we had a great time and made a lot of new friends!