The Mall

So it's noon on a Thursday and I am sitting inside Twelve Oaks Mall in Novi, Michigan. It was barely 11 degrees Fahrenheit when I woke up this morning, there is snow on the ground, and the roads are icy, but I had a severe case of cabin fever. Not wanting to sweat at the gym on a treadmill going nowhere, I ventured out, and drove 20 minutes to the mall to join the morning mall walkers. After a few laps, I found an empty couch in the carpeted mall center seating area on the first floor to read. It is well-designed and feels like a large public living room. The couches, chairs, end tables, and futons are movable; pleasantly arranged for small groups of people. The area is carpeted, with over-sized lamps at each of the four entrances, and surrounded by a low wall which prevents people from cutting through the space. Music is playing at a comfortable volume and guests are surrounded by the mumble of chatter from shoppers.

The mall is packed with a few hundred guests. There are those in gym shoes and headphones still walking laps. There are grandparents, childcare providers, and moms with small children in strollers. There are couples of all ages doing light shopping and chatting. There are seniors enjoying coffee and newspapers and even some doing crafts. (There is a women knitting next to me). There are store employees taking a break and mall cleaning staff looking for messes on the floor. There are moms and dads with older children shopping on perhaps special days out of school, and there are groups of middle and high school students. The amount of youth here during the day on a school day is most surprising to me. (I later found out that a very large school district close-by was on mid winter break). 

Maybe this mall is an exception to the decline of the American enclosed shopping mall. It is in the Midwest, which is affected by cold, snowy, and long winters, in an affluent suburb 30 miles from downtown Detroit. As the dominant regional mall, it serves a large population. It has nearly 200 specialty stores and restaurants and five anchor department stores, and it is surrounded by every kind of retail shopping one could possibly need. I do not know what kind of business the stores do, but I know that it is nearly impossible to find a parking space in December and is relatively packed on any given weekend.

Anyway, as I sit and people watch, I can't help but reflect on this experience and what it says about Americans and the American culture. I think we are starved for human interaction! I came to the mall because I knew that there would be people here and I needed to get out. Side note: my cabin fever is more severe this winter than usual because I just finished graduate school and am currently unemployed.

But seriously where else can we go when we have cabin fever? People go to cafe's, restaurants, public libraries, and parks to sit, read, and interact. But in the winter, when you can only be outside for a few minutes before the snot in your nose freezes and your bones start to ache from the cold, and you don't want to purchase a coffee or sandwich, where can we go? Where are the places we can people watch? We don't have to many options to satisfy our craving for social interaction.

The American dream is based on individualism and private property. We own our own land, with our own home, our own appliances, tools, and toys, our own transportation, and even our own pools. We live in little (nearly identical) boxes in sprawling suburbs and we get into our individual cars to go anywhere. Our values do not encourage us to share our individual things, to ask our neighbors for a cup of sugar, to have a conversation with a stranger, or to hang-out in public spaces. We are terrified and intimidated by density, yet our behaviors demonstrate that we crave social interaction. We go out of our way to leave our house and be surrounded by people, just because. Once we are out, we only sit where there is activity to watch, people to hear, and a scene to be part of; where the chance for social interaction is high. But we have to pay for that satisfaction. The only places to go are private businesses. 

This is not new information to planners, but our behaviors suggest that our social needs are not being fulfilled by our daily lives in suburban America.

I imagine a US where there are public places inside and outside to fulfill my need for social interaction when the cabin fever sets in. Or even better, a world where my needs are fulfilled by my daily activities. A world where I can be around people as I walk or bike to work, where I know my neighbors by their first name, where I share a plot in a community garden, swim in a public pool, and take a streetcar with strangers. A more dense urban world where I can sit in a public space to read and write. That sounds like a great community. The mall is a community. It is a place similar to a cafe in a downtown. It can't be the only answer...but then again, I am a Millennial with a thirst for urban life. Suburbia and its cul-de-sacs have cut off "diversity and the casual outdoor experience [I] feel is crucial to meaningful human sociability (p. 207). So I sit here at the mall...

Also, book review: 

I just finished The Great Inversion and the Future of the American City by Alan Ehrenhalt. It's good.

Baltimore: A Seaport and City of Neighborhoods

We arrived in Baltimore late Saturday afternoon and went right to our hotel, a Sleep Inn and Suites, just about 10 blocks north of Little Italy and Fells Point. Now I have to admit that I did not know a whole lot about Baltimore prior to our visit. I knew that it was home to the Ravens, I had heard of Camden Yards, I remembered listening to information about the recent riots on the news, and I figured that it was a previously industrial area.

After checking into the hotel and staying just long enough to freshen up, we left to walk towards food.

It was about this time that I started observing activity on the street. There were numerous tents erected off the street next to the highway, and quite a few people out walking around with carts and belongings. Ryan mentioned that the lot next to the hotel used to be a tent city of sorts, but when we passed, we noticed that it was now more of a park with gravel, some landscaping, and benches. Just down the street we observed a Health Care for the Homeless and after a quick Google Maps search, it is evident that numerous resources for the homeless seem to be concentrated in this area. I am not sure of the homeless situation in Baltimore but it looks like the city has numerous services to offer and I can honestly say that I never felt threatened or perceived any danger or problems staying at the hotel.

We walked through the row houses and brick industrial buildings. Personally, I love this older look for a city and was shocked to find out that over 1,500 buildings were destroyed by fire in 1904. Although the destruction allowed for a fresh start, I can't help but wish that more historic structures were spared. After walking for 30 minutes, hanger started to creep up on me. It reared its ugly head when we were told it would be a hour wait for a table at Ryan's first choice of restaurant (which also happened to be the farthest restaurant away, I might add). Luckily the short blocks are filled with restaurants and we got a table immediately at The Waterfront Hotel. We had a few beers and a delicious dinner with local friends before heading out for round two of drinks as the band was getting set up downstairs. I highly recommend the BBQ Brussels sprouts. I had a whole bowl! The best sprouts I have ever eaten!

Sunday

We enjoyed a lazy morning and late check out of our hotel. Our day began around noon with a fantastic brunch back near the Fells Point area. I enjoyed sitting in the courtyard patio under a very blue sky while dining on a seafood scramble. Then we made our way around the piers. Previously neglected abandoned warehouses, the Inner Harbor area has come a long way in redevelopment. We strolled through the somewhat gentrified area towards the Historic Ships. I must admit that I was a little turned off by the gaudy tourist attractions that can be found in so many cities (Ripley's Believe it or not, Hard Rock Cafe, etc.). But it is important to consider that I have a distaste for chains and corporate entertainment. We considered the aquarium but decided to pass after we learned of the high entrance fees and read reviews that Chicago's aquarium was better. We did however, tour two of the four historic ships (a submarine and 1800 merchant sailing ship).
Then we walked north through downtown to the nation's first cathedral: Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. I have visited many, many churches in Europe so it was an interesting experience to check out a historic church in the U.S. This church still hosts numerous services and one was about to start so we were quick inside. I bypassed the confession line and walked to the front to take a look at the massive pipe organ to the left. Part of me wished that we could stay just so I could hear the organ played.

By this point we were running out of time and once again we had sore feet...so we booked it back to the hotel, retrieved our luggage, and called an Uber for a quick beer and snack at The Brewers Art. Absolutely awesome place! Unique dishes and Belgian style beer in a historic building. I can't ask for more.

Side note on Uber: I really enjoyed our experiences in Baltimore. The drivers were very conversational and I feel like I got a personal experience visiting the city.

After walking around the center of Baltimore for a bit, observing activity on the street, and speaking with a few locals, I feel like I know a little more. One Uber driver highlighted the challenge of local problems making national news. The media has a way of picking up on the negative in a city and broadcasting it. It makes me wonder how different perceptions would be if we heard good stories too: uplifting and motivational stories of people changing their community, stories of successful independent businesses, stories that give hope for a community challenged with high unemployment and homelessness, stories of people breaking down barriers, etc. I would rather my perceptions of places be shaped by these stories.

A Quick Trip to the Nation's Capital

Well, I want to get back to blogging (partially as a productive use of my time that allows me to avoid thesis writing). The most significant thing that has changed since my last post is that I decided to continue my education and am currently in my last semester of graduate school at Michigan State University. I am earning a Masters in Urban and Regional Planning. So...forewarning...future posts may have an urban planning or urban planning related focus. Get excited! I sure am.

This past weekend, I visited Washington DC for the first time. Other than a big of time spent in central North Carolina, this trip was also my first East Coast experience.

Old Ebbitt Grill Bar

Old Post Office Pavilion

We arrived late Thursday evening by plane and took the Metro to Arlington, VA to stay with a friend. My impression of the Virginia Square area: very young, mobile and swanky.

- The metro stop has covered bike lockers for rent and bikes available for the bike share program. The blocks are short and pedestrian friendly.
- The immediate area is mostly high rise condos and apartments.
- I only saw young professionals on the streets.
- The Clarendon area has a full block of restaurants and clubs that are packed on a weekend evening.
- The apartment building where we stayed reminds me of a dorm or residence hall except that it is geared towards young professionals. There are common areas that look like lounges, a coffee machine and vending machine can be found in the hallways, there is a billiard and ping pong room and a video game room, and everything is stylish and modern.

Friday we went to DC proper to explore. Surprise, surprise...I had an itinerary.

1. Unfortunately we spent the first 70 minutes standing on a Metro train. The ride, which should have taken 25 minutes, kept stopping due to traffic control issues and possibly an inexperienced driver.

Union Station

2. Once downtown, we walked to the White House for a quick picture. In all honesty, the building is smaller than I thought. Only after we walked around to the other side of the park did I realize that we stopped at the north entrance first. The image that is more commonly shown is the south entrance which has more dense greenery on both sides of the house. I think the south entrance with the rounded front is a bit of an illusion because you can't see the sides of the house through the greenery, thus making it appear larger than it actually is. Not sure if this is intentional...

3. Also, there was a lot of security everywhere. Not sure if there is always this much security or if it was increased due to the date. We were in DC on September 11.

4. We stopped in the Old Ebbitt Grill for a quick peek. It was founded in 1856 and is Washington's oldest saloon. I think it is a really neat place with a lot of character. The menu is appealing and decently priced considering the location, but since we weren't ready for lunch yet we did not dine in.

5. We strolled through the South Lawn, President's Park, The Ellipse, to the Washington Monument, National WWII Memorial, and Lincoln Memorial.
While we walked I noticed the large amount of cars parked on the streets through this area. They lined both sides and it seemed impossible to be able to pass with traffic in both directions. I was pretty surprised that there was either no underground parking or not enough of it considering the amount of people in the city during the day.

6. We continued to stroll around the area. I have to say that I love the architecture in DC. The cement buildings, columns, modest building height, ornate lanterns, and facade design are very appealing. No where else in the US looks like DC.

7. I read online that visitors can get a great (free) view of the city from the Old Post Office Pavilion so we headed that way next. Unfortunately I had not done all of my research because to my dismay, the building was closed during renovations to become a Trump luxury hotel. According to a NY Times article, visitors will again be able to take an elevator up in the tower when the building reopens in 2016. (I don't want to make this political, but I was not thrilled to see Trump's giant name on the building).

8. For lunch we dined at Capitol City Brewing Company. Believe it or not, the chicken tenders were absolutely fantastic. Something about the flavorful batter and perfectly fried massive chicken tenders dipped in delicious honey mustard really hits the spot.


9. Then we continued to the Capitol Building and checked out the visitors center. It is free and as long as you don't mind going through airport level security to enter, it is worth a quick visit.

10. Finally we walked to Union Station and grabbed a Metro for our sore and tired feet. FYI, everything seems close but it is not. It is very spread out and we probably walked 6-8 miles by this point.

10. We departed the Metro at Dupont Circle to stroll around the neighborhood and historic district rowhouses and international embassies.

11. We grabbed a coffee/iced tea from Jolt n Bolt and then a rooftop beer during happy hour at Rebellion. I highly recommend both!

Notes:

- Nearly everyone in DC is well dressed. Very well dressed, perfectly altered suits and fashionable dresses. Perception is everything.

- There are not many bike lanes at all, even though people are on the street riding bikes. I only found one bike lane but it was done well. The lane was colored, marked, protected, and considered truck stopping and loading.

Dupont Circle Park Bench

- I love the idea of the Dupont Circle Park bench. It is a continuous circle. And people were sitting on it next to strangers. Something about the continuity breaks social awkwardness barriers.

Coming Next...Baltimore

Detroit

Imported from Detroit, Detroit Hustles Harder, One Detroit One Pride, Motown, The D, the one and only Detroit.

This city is my new home, and I want to be part of it, to understand it. Detroit has an incredible history and culture that is still very much alive. It is a city that has persevered and is still fighting through so many challenges. Arson, bankruptcy, crime, and racial tension are just a few of the struggles..

But I am optimistic that Detroit has a positive future and the Heidelberg Project is a sign of positivity here. The organization's tagline "Changing lives through art since 1986" is visible on the roads, buildings, fences, homes, and hearts of those involved. 

The best description of the Project is from the website..."The Heidelberg Project offers a forum for ideas, a seed of hope, and a bright vision for the future. It's about taking a stand to save forgotten neighborhoods. It's about helping people think outside the box and it's about offering solutions. It's about healing communities through art - and it's working!"

I first heard about this project last fall when we first moved to the Detroit area. At that time I visited the colorful street in the late evening and never got out of the car, just slowly driving with the windows rolled up and the doors securely locked. I was very new to Detroit, very much aware of the stereotypes, and informed of the activity in the news. I can't say that I wasn't afraid and my fear was a wall that prevented me from having a full understanding of the Heidelberg Project's message. I was a stereotype, a white, middle class individual from the suburbs coming to Detroit to take something, to say that I had been to the Heidelberg Project, without respecting the project for the hope that it provides for the residents of Detroit. The people that don't drive away in their nice car and leave the city to return to the comforts and luxuries of suburbia. The suburbia that wouldn't be here if it wasn't for the once grand city of Detroit. The suburbia that resulted from people abandoning the city.

This past weekend, I returned to the Heidelberg Project with a new outlook. This time, I parked on the side of Heidelberg street painted with wonderful large colorful polka dots. I got out of the car to explore this reality of Detroit. I allowed myself to absorb the artist's message and try to understand the pain, suffering, and joy in the neighborhood. 

**Art is a form of communication between an artist and the viewer, but it is a one way communication. The following opinions are my interpretations of the artistic message of the Heidelberg Project, not necessarily the message that the artist intended to convey. You have the right to your own opinions of course and my statements are not intended to offend anyone.

I parked in front of the "People's House" a.k.a. "Dotty Wotty". This house makes me smile and I love the color and vibrancy it brings to the street. There was a small child sitting on the porch with grandma that smiled, waved, and repeated hello. His presence completed the image for me of youth, energy, and fun represented by the bright colors. Various different colors and sizes, but all circles nonetheless.

The house next door is also colorful but sends a different message. This house is the "Number House", a white house painted with large colorful numbers. The news is filled with numbers about Detroit...78,000 abandoned buildings, 706,585 residents, 15,263 violent crimes annually, $18 Billion in debt. But this city is more than numbers. You can't use numbers to describe hope, a helping hand, or a smile.

Numbers don't convey pain and suffering either. I walked down the street to the next house and noticed the tree on the sidewalk first. It was black, charred, and smelled burnt. I saw the house, or the foundation that was left of it next, as I turned around and could practically feel the heat. This used to be the "OJ" or "Obstruction of Justice" house. The house first burned in a suspicious fire in May and everything but the front of the house was destroyed. You can read about how people came together to clean up the damage here. The remains became an art project, that was again set ablaze by the same young man in October. The foundation is now decorated by mostly children's toys.

The toys look recently abandoned, displayed in a way that makes the viewer think they were played with just yesterday by smiling happy children. The children whose bright futures were lost in a fire. Or maybe the children who will continue to play despite the fire.

The organization released an official statement after the fire in October, in which they have a message for the young man responsible for the damage..."We want you to know that we understand your pain.  We realize that all you’ve grown to know is destruction and that you see no way out.  This is precisely why we are here.  Our work is not about tangible “things,” it is about the Power of the Human Spirit. We recognize that there is a fire in you and we are here not to extinguish it, but to offer you a better reason to fuel it. Though you have tried, you cannot destroy the Heidelberg Project; it’s bigger  than all of us now. Instead, we invite you to join our family in creating a better neighborhood, a better Detroit, if not for anyone else than for yourself. As Tyree has said, “If you believe, you can change it…” We believe."

These are just a few of the images from the city block of color and art. I would encourage everyone to visit the Heidelberg Project. I encourage you to park on the street, get out of your car, and walk around the homes and yards here. Be open to the concepts and images the artist is conveying. This is hope in a city that needs it! 

How you like them apples?

Today was my first trip for apples in the fall 2013 season. My sister and I stopped at Philips Orchard and Cider Mill north of Lansing, MI. We both share a passion for supporting small independent businesses. Instead of stopping at the orchard giant Uncle John's Cider Mill with a corn maze, children's play area, large gift shop, and hourly activities, we stopped at the barn across the street. And I have to say that I am very happy with our decision. We split a bag of Honeycrisp apples of course and I also purchased a bag of Jonagolds. We also purchased a pumpkin, cider, and apple donuts. I have to say that their cinnamon sugar apple donuts are probably the best that I have ever had. I hate to compare them to my once favorite orchard in Indiana but they were firmer and crisper, and more delicious!

I continued to celebrate apple season by making a batch of applesauce tonight. I have been helping my mother to make applesauce ever since I can remember so I made sure to get my very own apple-pealer-corer-slicer in college. I love my applesauce chunky with brown sugar and cinnamon!

Look out for my next post of fall and Halloween baked goods and treats.

This past weekend, I visited my sister at Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant. The small city with a population of 26,000 is home to the CMU chippewas, a school with 28,000 students. Mt. Pleasant is in the middle of nowhere, but is nonetheless filled with local gems. My new favorite of which is Dharma Mojo Tea Bar and Grill, a vegetarian and vegan restaurant. I personally am not a big tea drinker so I have not tried their tea but I have heard great things. The restaurant is in the same building as a yoga studio on the North end of town. They have a great menu that changes pretty frequently, with very affordable prices, and fun healthy food. I recommend the flatbreads and tofu stirfry!

On another note, I am really happy living in Northville. The city does a lot of fun activities year round. I would actually be very interested in getting on their event planning committee. Last week, Downtown Northville introduced the skeletons. There are tons of skeletons in various poses around the city. I have pictures of a few of my favorites. It is great to see such fun displays for the public, and even better to see them appreciated and undamaged.

Hard Cider Review
Another reason I love Northville is because we live within walking distance of the Northville Winery. To be honest, their wine is not that amazing. I found it to be thin and mild, but their hard cider is very good. Their Rockin' Cock Hard Cider is a wonderful crisp, clean, hard cider with a full bodied apple flavor. Very much so deserving of the awards that it has won. Their berry ciders are decent but my favorite was definitely the original. The Northville Winery also experiments with their cider making a cider with hops and a bourbon barrel aged cider. I appreciate their enthusiasm and willingness to try new fun things.

So I have worked at my current job for 60 days and at day 46 I was tasked with planning the company's End of Fiscal Year Celebration in less than two weeks. I put together an event last Friday night that included dinner in the Amnesia Room of the Motor City Casino Hotel with entertainment provided by The Murder Mystery Company. The Amnesia Room is an old lounge/club on the 16th floor of the hotel with windows from floor to ceiling that look out towards the city. From one end of the room to the other you have a perfect view of the skyscrapers downtown, the river, the bridges and the old train station. For me, the view has a profound impact on my impression of Detroit.

Overall the evening was a success! There was plenty of laughter and conversation as the company celebrated a great year with excitement to meet new goals.

Clearly we have been so busy the past few weekends that I have not been on my bike for nearly a month. I miss riding and hope that the winter cold can hold off for a few weeks so I can get back on the road. Although I do not like brisk cold rides nearly as much, I am not ready for my riding season to be over yet.

Happy Fall!

I miss making my post titles in German...

I am an official volunteer at the Maybury Farm in Northville. I get the exciting job for a few hours on the weekends of collecting tickets, passing out corn maze "passports" and loading families onto the trailer. The farm has a 12 acre corn maze where families run around collecting animal stamps on their passport. Last week was my first time volunteering and if it stops raining I may be volunteering again today. The farm has a few farm animals, activities for kids, a gift shop and the corn maze. If nothing else, I am getting to know some great high school students and senior citizens in the Northville community.

Beer Review

After a slightly irritating day at work, I came home for a very fall dinner with a delicious very fall beer. For dinner I made butternut squash ravioli from Trader Joe's with a homemade brown butter sauce with sage, chopped and toasted walnuts, and craisins. It was delicious! I paired the not-so-nutritious dish with The Bruery's Autumn Maple beer. The beer is a Belgian style brown ale brewed with yams, molasses, maple syrup and spices. It is different than a pumpkin beer but equally fall and full in flavor. I might need to get another one to pair with Thanksgiving dinner. 

Drinks in Northville

I spent an evening in Northville with my wonderful mother-in-law and we did a food and drink tour down Main Street. We started by walking down the street to Bricks but they had a small kitchen fire so they were not making any food for another hour, then we tried Garage but they had a 45 minute wait for a table, so we headed back East to Le George, a Mediterranean bistro where we sat outside and enjoyed dinner and wine. I had been craving some baba ghanoush! We ordered an appetizer with hummus, baba g, falafel, and salad and then split a bean burger. I have to say that I was dissapointed in the bean burger and the two little tiny pieces of falafel, but overall it was a great meal. They need to increase the falafel volume and dress up the bean burger on their new menu.

After dinner we headed to Buckministers, the local pub on the corner for a beer. The family owned place is very eclectic with unique art on the walls. Then we went back to Bricks for more beer. It is a good thing that we did not stay there earlier to wait the "hour" before they were supposed to be able to make food, because the kitchen did not open for three hours and was just opening as we were enjoying beer number two at the bar. I would have been very hungry.

After a great evening of conversation and laughter, we began the two or three block walk home. We came to the corner of Main and the street was completely flooded. Water was gushing from the sewers and cracks in the road. I felt like I was back in Venice, when the water floods the plaza at night. So a pick-up truck drives up and stops in the middle of water, I go "Do you see this? This is not normal. Are you going to call someone?" and he goes "Yeah I work for the village, a water main broke." I said "Thank you." and we continue to walk home, way out of our way to avoid the flooded street. 

Detroit

We got a true taste of Detroit at the Eastern Market on a Saturday. We drove down to the city and tried to find parking at the super crowded market. I had been warned by a woman at work that the market was "very crowded, noisy, and smelly" and no matter how early you get there there are always 100 people there before you. She went once and that was enough. I actually enjoyed the market. We were able to find parking in a $5 lot near Shed 1. For me it was worth the $5 to find parking easily with a relatively short walk to the market. The owners of the lot were trying hard to jam as many cars as possible in their lot but they were also standing near the cars directing drivers. We walked through the food and restaurant sheds, the nick-knacks and stuff sheds, the interesting stores, and through the booths on the street. There would be a significant savings to buy produce from the Market because the prices are much lower there than at the local grocery stores. But when you take the gas to drive there and the time to shop into consideration, the savings are not as significant. We did pick up some gorgeous flowers and enjoyed the sights and sounds (but not the smells) of the market. And when we were leaving, we found a great hidden street with plenty of parking. Next time we go, I know exactly where to park for free. 

Only at the Eastern Market does a policeman ride around on a horse checking with the shop owners and vendors. He was very friendly making his way down the street saying "hey, you guys ok". He spent most of his time posing for pictures, talking to people, and letting adults and children pet his horse.

We really tasted Detroit at Slows. We had no problem enjoying a beer while we sat outside on their new patio waiting 30 minutes for our table. Nothing like pulled pork and brisket, accompanied by green beans, baked mac and cheese, potato salad, and baked beans. The sauces include apple, sweet, spicy, and NC vinegar style. Delicious!

Then came nap time, followed by a long walk around Northville looking at houses. 

Book Review
Sadly it has been a few months since I have read a book. I am now reading Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg.(Thanks Mom!) Although I am only a quarter of the way in, I am enjoying her book about women in the workplace. A few of the topics have hit close to home now that I am back in the male dominated professional office environment. Earlier this week I came home from work upset because there are a few things that I am struggling with adapting my behavior to be "work/office appropriate". I had a meeting with the Director of Finance and General Manager to discuss process changes. In the heat of discussion and debate, I interrupted the General Manager while he was speaking. I stopped myself and apologized so he could continue. I was embarrassed and felt bad, getting angry at myself for not being professional. As I drove home, I was overly critical of myself, making it a promise that I will work on being a better employee.

And then I started Sandberg's book...in which she tells a story of one of her presentations to her employees. At the end of the presentation on gender stereotyping, she told the attendees that she only had time for two more questions. She called on two people, answered their questions and then said she was finished. The women in the room put down their hands following directions, numerous men in the room continued waving and shouting to have their questions answered. Sandberg stayed at the podium to answer their questions. When she returned to her office there was a woman waiting for her who said that she learned a valuable lesson today. Sandberg asked "what?" thinking it was going to be something she said during her presentation. Instead the woman said, "I learned to keep my hand in the air."

My husband told me that the men in his office interrupt each other all the time. I remember the men in my previous professional job interrupting each other during sales meeting and conversations. My mostly male customers would interrupt me all the time on the phone and in person. I consider myself a kind, considerate, and respectful person, who waits patiently for a turn to speak. Is this personality trait going to affect me negatively in a male dominated work place? Is it okay to interrupt? Can I be successful as a leader without interrupting? Or will I go unheard?

All questions that will be answered with time in the workplace. The difference is that I am now consciously aware of these things. I look forward to finishing her book.

Cooking German in the US
While listening to our German music playlist, I cooked German cuisine from my Dr. Oetker German Cooking Today. The dish was Cabbage Roulade with boiled potatoes and brown gravy. Let me just say that it was much easier in the comfort of my very well stocked American kitchen than it was in our partially stocked basement apartment in Germany. And I was able to find cooking string in the stores here so the rolls were much easier to make.

Here is what I made in Germany:

And here is what I made tonight:

I used regular white cabbage today instead of Savoy and just made boiled potatoes. The rolls were bigger and the gravy darker brown tonight. Both delicious!

I can't believe that it is almost October already. Our weekends have filled up quickly since we have been back in the US and I am very excited for a busy fall.

Happy Fall!

After a long relatively uneventful week at work (but let me say again that I am absolutely delighted to be back at work), the busy weekend began. My weekend started with dinner, a concert, and drinks on Friday with some great ladies, one of which was also in Germany this year with us.

CONCERT
We had dinner at Imperial in Ferndale. Let me try and describe the restaurant and bar...all of the tables and benches/chairs are beautiful wood, it's community seating so you seat near strangers, they have fantastic tequila drinks on the menu, the employees do not have uniforms and many of them have fun crazy colored hair, they serve gourmet tacos, hotdogs, and sides served individually. We ordered chips with guacamole and salsas for the table. I was definitely not able to eat two of the salsas without choking and sweating, but I am a wimp and really enjoyed the roasted red pepper salsa. I also ordered their taco of the week for $2.50 which had grilled zucchini, goat cheese, and an assortment of other complimentary ingredients. I paired my taco with a bacon wrapped hot dog in a bun with chorizo chili, cheese, and other things delicious for $4. I definitely recommend the restaurant! And if you go, you have to try an Uno Mas tequila drink with cucumber and a little bit of spice.

After dinner we headed over to the Royal Oak Music Theatre to see the Local Natives. The opening band was decent and played a few quick songs, but the headliner was great. I have a place close to my heart for live music, and sometimes my favorite moments are when I can literally feel the music. There is something about being surrounded by the sound of a great full-sounding talented band that makes me so happy. Even though I was not fully familiar with all of the band's music, I recognized a handfull of songs and truly enjoyed the concert.

BEER
After the concert, we went for drinks and I ordered a Short's Autumn Ale that was on tap. It's a little different than other fall beers because it wasn't as spicey, definitely more malty and bitter. I was happily drinking it until someone at the bar ran into me and dumped it all over me. It was not as delicious on my jacket and dress as it was in my cup. Luckily the bar was not well lit because the dark beer left an awesome strain running down the front of my body.

OKTOBERFEST
Saturday afternoon, we drove the quick hour and a half to Frankenmuth, MI for Oktoberfest. We were dressed in our lederhosen and dirndl, ready to pretend like we were back in Germany. Now don't get me wrong, Frankenmuth is a great little town with family oriented activities, cute houses and shops, and great restaurants, but it is no Germany. It is "Michigan's little Bavaria", just check out the commercial.

*Now the Pure Michigan Commercials on the radio do get sometimes annoying when you hear them repeatedly, but I do enjoy the message they are sending. And then someones makes a depressing parody of the video that sends a very different but real message. Sadly, this is reality. Check it out here.

So back to Oktoberfest, Ryan and I get out of the car and we immediately draw attention to ourselves because of our outfits. Everyone stares and we were 2 of maybe 25 people in a crowd of 400 plus that were dressed appropriately. One woman looked at us and then said to her husband "Yeah I did see some people in costumes." A man took pictures of us. We met a couple who came to their first Oktoberfest and made dirndl and lederhosen. They also asked to take pictures of us.

FRUHLINGSFEST in GERMANY versus OKTOBERFEST in FRANKENMUTH

-Dinner includes a roasted chicken             -Dinner is a buffet of German-American food
-Beer from 1 Liter mugs                             -Beer from disposable cups
-Real plates and silverware                         -Disposable everything
-Delicious giant pretzels                              -American style doughy pretzels (not as good)
-Stage with live music                                 -Stage with live music
-Nearly everyone in lederhosen and dirndl  -Barely anyone in lederhosen and dirndl
-Carnival rides and games                          -A few inflatable bounce houses
-No children in the Beer Tent                     -Children everywher
-Median age in the Beer Tent - 30             -Median age in the Beer Tent - 55
-Everyone dancing on the table benches     -A few people dancing on the dance floor
-Drunk people                                           -Drunk people
-Policemen patrolling the grounds              -Policemen eating the buffet
-Nice happy people                                  -Nice happy people

*At Oktoberfest, I did see a whole table of people playing Ellen's Heads Up Game. I have recently become an Ellen fan. The show is not just for the wonderful middle-aged woman. And the app game looks fun!

After spending some time in the beer tent, we also walked around the downtown area, through a craft fair quickly and around the shops on the river. I wouldn't have minded spending more time at the craft fair. In the shops on the river, I tried beer popcorn. The sign outside the window of a popcorn shop encouraged me to come in and try beer popcorn. It was pretty nasty and just made me want a beer to wash it down. I will not be trying that again.

After our buffet dinner in the beer tent, we went to Frankenmuth Brewery. Ryan enjoyed an IPA after trying their Hefeweizen. I enjoyed good old water since I was driving home. The place was packed so we sat at the bar, people watched, checked out their menu, and chatted. I noticed that they make their own rootbeer so I got a case as we were leaving. Their rootbeer is pretty good, not a "rooty" as others but still delicious. And check out how they spell bier on the label.

I still wonder why one of the events at the Frankenmuth Oktoberfest is Wiener Dog Races, but it must be sponsored by Frankenmuth Brewery because I think they have a thing for Weiner dogs. Interesting.

I would like to return to Frankenmuth sometime to check out Bronners, the world's largest Christmas store and maybe do some other fun activities. We also talked about maybe coming back with some friends and staying in a hotel there to party at the beer tent. Either way, we are living here now and Frankenmuth is close so we will probably be back. It is a very different attitude when you are living somewhere for a longer period of time. We are settling here and making it home so I don'd have to hurry up and do everything I can because we are not leaving soon. It will take a bit of getting used to.

Well I'm back!

So during my month hiatus, I was busy! I am now moved in, settled, and unpacked in Northville, MI. I started a new job, and began life back in the USA. It is hard to believe how much my life has changed in just a few short weeks. I has spent more of 2013 in Germany than in the US.

Here are a few things that I miss from Germany already:
- Delicious bakery bread with a crunchy crust
- Cheap Nutella
- Accessible public transportation (U-Bahn und S-Bahn)
- Hefeweizen in 1 Liter bottles
- Travel and Exploring Europe
- Big FM und Ein Hundred Sieben Sieben on the radio
- How is in the norm to bring your own shipping bags to the store
- Classic Mineral Water

Ok coincidence, as I am typing this, I am watching The Avengers. In the beginning of the movie, The S.H.I.E.L.D. is able to identify the location of Loki at 29 Konigstrasse Stuttgart Germany. Guess where that is? The Schlossplatz in downtown Stuttgart.

- Being able to walk everywhere to run errands
- Shopping carts that move in all directions
- The woods behind our apartment in Boeblingen
- The culture

Nortvhille, MI a suburb of Detroit, has a history that goes back to the early 1800's. To celebrate the history, for the past 25 years, the city hosts a Victorian Festival. Friday night the celebration on the streets downtown began with a small craft fair, mini parade, kid's carnival and food vendors. I was determined to see the parade but sadly I missed it twice. First we walked to the end of the block and the crowd was dispersing because we were told that the parade was over and walking away from town (only 15 minutes after it had began, so I figured it was small and not that impressive.) Then we continued strolling around the downtown area for another 15 or so minutes and then noticed a crowd on the other side of town watching a parade. We caught up to the crowd to catch the last two minutes of the parade before it ended and the people in the parade dispersed. The downtown area is not that big, but still who misses a parade twice? It would have been helpful to know the parade route.

Luckily a fresh homemade root beer float from a street vendor put an end to my frustrations about missing the parade.

After an evening of activity in downtown Northville, we strolled through the neighborhood and passed the Cider Mill and Northville Winery. When we were just half a block from the winery when a car pulled up with an older gentleman who asked for directions to 630 Baseline Road. We told the man that we were new to the area but happy to help if we could. I pulled out my handy phone, typed the address into Google Maps and told him to go back a few blocks, make a right, then a left because that is what Google said to do. He thanked us and went on his way. We continued walking for three minutes only to find that the address of the Northville Winery which was just in front of us was 630 Baseline Road. Unfortunately the man was soo close, but trusted young strangers who rely on technology. I do honestly feel guilty for sending him away and can only hope that he made it to the winery eventually that evening. On the other hand, the Winery should really fix their address in Google Maps...

I am excited to spend some time at this gem down the road during the wonderful fall season. As I went for a walk around our apartment complex tonight I could smell the sweet cinnamon and sugar of homemade apple donuts coming from the Cider Mill.

Saturday was another day of festival fun! Ferndale hosted the DIY Street Fair. Myself and two carloads of our friends headed to the streets of Ferndale for crafts, food trucks, beer and live music. We strolled the streets to check out the tents and tables of unique crafts before stopping for a bite to eat. This craft fair was definitely different than the stereotypical middle aged woman fair and was filled with artistic decor and goods made by a younger more hipster crowd. I loved it! For dinner I enjoyed a Creamy Artichoke Grilled Cheese Sandwich on Sourdough Bread from a food truck. It was cooked and in my stomach within 15 minutes. (Much better than our previous Northville Food Truck experience but I will save that story for another time.) For first dessert I had a few delicious beers and for second dessert I enjoyed homemade ice cream. Not just regular ice cream though...mint chocolate chip ice cream with absinthe.

Most of the beer at the Street Fair was provided by Woodward Avenue Brewery. I did have a glass of Pumpkin Pie Ale from Liberty Street Brewery as well. I was not super optimistic about the beer from Liberty Street Brewery since I have been disappointed before but I had to give their pumpkin beer a chance. It wasn't bad, a thinner beer with a mild pumpkin taste and sweeter flavor with a hint of cinnamon and nutmeg. I have a thing for fall beers, specifically pumpkin beers. I also enjoyed a raspberry beer from WAB and a citra pale ale from another brewery.

We all enjoyed doing some people watching while we drank beer and listened to great live music. I couldn't help but wonder who was people watching me. Here are some of the interesting sights (of many dogs):

- A ginormous Saint Bernard with an interesting name who drooled like it was his job and locked his eyes on our friend's beef brisket.
- A young woman with a recently operated on broken leg with probably the word's ugliest dog in a sweater vest. Seriously I think this dog won the contest.
- Dreadlocks, lots of dreadlocks.
- A man in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Pajama Pants
- The world's cutest Husky puppy with the prettiest blue eyes

So check out the view that I get to wake up to everyday from my apartment window...

Auf Wiedersehen!

Well, I am now in the final hours of Germany! The past six months have been quite an experience. The good times of travels and laughter with family and friends have flown by and the challenging times seemed to last forever. Too much has happened for me to try and recap it here in one post, but overall the combination of experiences have been life changing.

So this past week...has definitely been a blur. Here is what I remember and worth mentioning...

On Wednesday, we joined some of Ryan's coworkers at the Corso Cinema International to see Pacific Rim in English. First Ryan and I took the train into Stuttgart to shop for our super touristy German steins. There is one tourist shop in the city compared to hundreds in more tourist destination cities like Munich. I am very glad that we purchased these awesome stereotypical German beer glasses though. Then we had doner kebab at a different shop downtown and I have to say that I did not enjoy it as much as when we get it at our favorite shop in Boeblingen. It was extremely spicy and the sauces just were not right. The movie was ok, definitely different than the typical movies that I enjoy. My favorite parts in the movie were when the main character Charlie Hunnam was shirtless, which was not nearly enough!

Thursday I waited for the movers to come pack our airfreight, which did not happen because the truck broke down.

Friday they did come and brought a box of candies and gummies to apologize. The box was immediately packed in my carry-on for snacking during our layover this week. The apartment feels quite empty without our extra belongings.

Friday evening we met up with friends at the Schonbuch Brauhaus in Stuttgart for dinner and drinks. Our super over-priced dessert drinks were enjoyed at Sky Beach Stuttgart. I have been wanting to go there since the weather became decent and was very excited to stand at a bar table in sand on a rooftop beach bar. They weather was perfect, the view was great and the sand between my toes was wonderful. Of course the experience begins with clumsy me stumbling on the wooden boardwalk and smacking my right foot. I didn't feel the pain at the time, but the swelling that ensued should have been a sign...After elevating and icing, the size of my foot was now returned to normal and I am trying to ignore the colorful bruises. Thankfully this is the closest we have gotten to a medical emergency since we arrived here in February. Knock-on-wood, since we are almost but not quite home yet.


Saturday was a hot day in Boeblingen with temperatures in the afternoon reaching nearly 100 degrees F. We were outside late afternoon in a paddle boat on the Oberer See for just under the maximum 30 minutes in our rented boat. That was about all our bodies could take of the heat.

Then we cooled down at the city festival Schlemmen am See. The event was much like a small "Taste of Chicago event with five days of drinking and dining on the lake with local restaurants and live music. I had the most refreshing cold bubbling apple juice ever! For dinner we had salmon cooked over an on-sit fire-pit, with delicious "wild potatoes" and a Flammkuchen. We hung out there into the early evening when the temperature cooled down and the people came out. I finally tried an Aperol Spritz while we listened to fun music and watched people eat Ox im Brot. These giant meat sandwiches looked absolutely amazing but I was beyond stuffed and just could not imagine eating one. It only I could try everything!

The next morning was Sunday and we had a double date at the pool and afterwards a BBQ with friends. Even though it stormed all morning, the sky cleared up for a few hours in the afternoon and we were able to soak in the sun at Fildorado outdoor pool. The outdoor complex is huge with volleyball courts, sand areas, grass areas, kids play area, giant trampolines, a snack bar and patio, and numerous large pools complete with an in-pool rock climbing wall, three diving boards and kiddie slides. I could have easily spent more time there this summer if I would have known it was so awesome. (And it only costs 4 Euros per adult.) I enjoyed every minute there and was sad to leave when the sky started to get dark again. Here are a few other observations at the pool:

- Everyone was super happy. All you could hear was laughter!
- There were naked or nearly naked babies running around all over.
- Very few lifeguards.
- Speedos and short shorts!
- Still no paper cups. The snack bar had plastic beer glasses with a deposit.
- The concept of privacy does not exist in the locker room...

As soon as we entered our friend's apartment, the sky ripped oven with lightening and thunder and the torrential downpour began and continued for the next 26 hours (I will get back to that a little later, keep reading.) The couple had prepared a delicious feast of watermelon, tossed salad, Swabisch potato salad, toasted bread, and just about everything you could imagine grilling; shrimp, salmon, white fish, curry chicken, steak, sausage scallops, and bacon skewers. Delicious!

For dessert, I made a strawberry blueberry crisp with vanilla ice cream. It was supposed to be a strawberry rhubarb crisp, but I had to make a last minute change. Rhubarb has been everywhere pretty much since we arrived in Germany and I have been super excited to bake with it but had not had an opportunity to make a large dessert until now. I went to five stores on Friday and could not find Rhabarber anywhere. I tried researching the growing season here and all I could find is an article saying that Germans prefer locally grown rhubarb and choose not to import. My last minute change still produced a delicious product and used locally grown blueberries. Thank goodness blueberries are in season here now!

On Monday, it rained, all day! It literally stormed hard until 6 pm and the lightening and thunder never let up. I was busy in the kitchen beginning at 7 am. The German tradition is for employees to bring snacks and treats for their coworkers on their birthday and their last day of work. Ryan has experienced a fellow employees last day and they brought a kleines Frühstück of pretzels, danishes, etc. For Ryan's last day he asked me to bake desserts for his office of about 50 plus people. I baked the following in a very small oven. The best part is that we don't have a cookie sheet so I could only bake 12 cookies at a time on the oven drip pan lined with parchment paper.

- two 9x11 pans of brownies
- 5 dozen peanut butter cookies
- 5 dozen oatmeal craisin white chocolate chunk cookies
- about 35 oreo truffles
- 3 dinner plate sized sugar cookie fruit pizzas

Ryan and I were introduced to the construction that they began in Boeblingen that morning when I tried to drive Ryan to work. The route which should have taken 20 minutes at the most took over an hour. There were numerous lanes closed in the small city center and the route was detoured out of the way. I wanted the car though in case I needed to run to the store in the rain for any last minute baking necessities. Of course I did have to run out once and had no traffic problems going to the close Real.

After baking and cleaning all day, the plan was to meet friends for dinner in downtown Stuttgart. I left plenty early to run to the bike store to return the CO2 cartridges I purchased before heading to Ryan's office to park so we could take the train downtown together from there. Side note - of course I never got a flat once I was overly prepared for one and TSA does not let you fly with pressurized cartridges. So to give you an idea of timing, I left the house at 5 pm with the plan of catching the 5:45 pm train. Well I tried two different routes to get to the bike store and found them all to be blocked due to either construction, accidents, or flooded roads. Then I decided to forget the cartridges and I drove three different routes to try and get to Ryan's office. FAIL! Then we gave up and decided that I would just park two stops down from his office at Goldberg and we would meet on the 6:00 pm train. FAIL! There was a notice on the boards at Goldberg that the trains were not running through the woods to Vaihingen due to flooding. Ryan was able to make it one stop to downtown Boeblingen, right in the heart of the construction. Since it was pouring and he was trapped, I fought the traffic to go pick him up. Then we were together but trapped, we decide to try and head back to Goldberg to see if there are any changes or if we can take the bus...And two of the routes are closed so we have no choice but to drive to Vaihingen...but there is no where to park there and take the train into Stuttgart and the Autobahn is so overly congested because of the rain and the trains being out of service that traffic is not moving at all. After fighting the traffic for nearly another hour, we decide to give up and head home...But now the road to access our neighborhood is closed so we have to go way out of the way to get home. We finally made it home a little after 8 pm for our last dinner at our Boeblingen apartment.

We polished off the last three beers remaining in our refrigerator on Monday. One from Belgium, one from Copenhagen and a local one from Boeblingen. That pretty much encompasses our  beer travels from the past six months. Unfortunately our freezer burnt pizza, icey frozen mixed vegetables, and super fatty American style frozen chicken wings did not complement the delicious beer, but I was very happy to not be on the road.

Tuesday on the other hand was a great day. The American style baked goods and desserts were a big hit at Ryan's office and everything was eaten. I was able to take the train into Stuttgart in the morning to change our address at the bank and do some last minute gift shopping. Then I met up with the American ladies I have been spending time with the last few weeks for lunch, people watching in the park, shopping, and wine.

I took the train home for the last time and was very tempted for some reason to shout  before my stop "I am an American and I have been trying to fit in here for the past six months and it is really hard!" I restrained myself and instead just exited and walked to our favorite Doner shop to meet Ryan for dinner. We enjoyed our doner and the last walk home. I will not miss walking up 50 or so stairs everyday to get home!

Now for 24 hours in a plane or airport to get home and begin our lives back in the US. I will definitely continue cycling and even registered for a bicycle repair and maintenance class at a local bike store. Hopefully I will perfect my brewing skills and enjoy craft beer from all over the US. Maybe I will even continue blogging as long as I continue exploring. Every day can be an adventure!

Radfahren, Laugfen und Wandern!

This past week has flown by and the countdown is now 10 days until USA!

RADFAHREN

On Tuesday I biked the Stuttgart Radel-Thon. The route is 79 km around the city of Stuttgart. Here is a great link to the map for your reference. I started my route by riding to the Goldberg train station here in Boeblingen to take the train through the woods to Rohr where the route begins. The website advertised the route to be paved and some gravel. In reality, the path is crushed stone, giant rocks, some smooth pavement, road, dirt paths in the woods, and crappy pavement covered in dirt, leaves, and rocks. I was instantly irritated and my brand new tires were not happy. So it was slow going and I had to watch for the signs since the route weaved in the cities and woods. I got lost twice because the trees and bushes were overgrown and blocked the signs.

I convinced myself that my efforts were worthwhile since I really wanted to finish the route. The nice part was that I saw a lot of the area. My favorite part was around Bad Canstatt, and not just because the path was paved, but the view was also spectacular. Here are some pictures from this wine area...










After being four hours into the ride and stuck in the woods going uphill around Gerlingen on a deep gravel path, I called it quits and rode down towards the city center on the road to catch the train back to Boeblingen at Schwabstrasse. I was smart enough to bring plenty of water, GU packets, and snacks to keep me going while I rode, but not smart enough to get off the path when it became unfit for a road bike (which was immediately). Now I can say that I almost finished the Stuttgart Radel-Thon!

LAUFEN

*Disclaimer - I am very grateful to the soldiers that serve and make many sacrifices for the US and I mean no offense. These statements are just my opinion.

So I have been going for jogging/walking/running exercises during the day to be active. There are wonderful paths behind our apartment in the woods on both sides of Panzerstrasse. The American base Panzer Kaserne also happens to be located in these woods. The base is surrounded by fences, barbed wire, trees, and giant signs that say to STAY AWAY so I have always kept a distance. Well last week I was running in the woods, listening to music, and in the zone when I dropped to the ground because I felt like I was being shot at. The gunfire was loud and echoing through the trees. I literally jumped out of my skin in fear for my life. I soon realized that I was near the Panzer shooting range and the soldiers were practicing. I have heard gunfire from our apartment in the residential community on numerous occasions but until recently, I was not usually around during working hours of week days. I understand that target practice is necessary and I would prefer if American soldiers knew how to shoot but I honestly have a problem with a gun range being so close to the community. Germans (and Americans not involved in the military) should be able to enjoy the serenity of the forest near their home without the BANG of guns. The noise is too loud and quite unsettling. I did some more research on the public's opinions and here is what I found:

- Here is an article from June 2012 that highlights how upset the community is. I am glad to hear that the base doesn't shoot on weekends and German public holidays.
- It says here that the Panzer Kaserne has an outdoor shooting range and an indoor firing range.
- I had trouble finding articles in English but would be interested in finding out what our neighbors think of the noise if we were staying here longer.

SINDELFINGEN

The city of Sindelfingen next to Boeblingen had a Great Festival Weekend Saturday and Sunday that we checked out on Saturday. We biked there and locked our bikes at the biergarten at Sommerhofenpark to walk around the park. There were three stations at the park with tents, booths, and presentations. Each station was from a time period when what is now Sindelfingen was occupied by others. Most of the displays were completed by school children of varying ages that have been studying the time periods. It was all put together very well! The city is celebrating 750 years of existence, I believe. We were able to understand and learn quite a bit even though most of it was in German. I have become an expert at looking at pictures, paying attention to body language, and listening for the few words that I do know.

After meandering around downtown Sindelfingen looking at booths, vendors, and historical displays, we biked back to our favorite local brewhouse, Schonbuch Brauhaus. We spent the later afternoon and early evening on the patio drinking hefeweizen, pils, radler, and their brand new pale ale. Yes, they definitely have an American style pale ale and check out the label. It is relatively dark in color for a pale ale and pretty weak on an IBU scale, but an excellent first attempt for a German brewery.

WANDERN

On Sunday, we hiked! Baden-Baden is a short one hour drive away and offers plenty of hiking in the Black Forest. We started on the 60 km Schwarzwaldhochstrasse, or Black Forest High Road in the late morning and stopped right away to do a short hike. We followed the Panoramaweg to the Geroldsau Waterfall. The path is mostly gravel and an easy 1.5-2 km round hike to a small waterfall. I really enjoyed being in the woods and walking along the stream.

Then we drove on the windy uphill road again to stop at a scenic overlook to eat our sandwiches. After a quick lunch in the sun, we continued to a large trail-head with parking possibly near Buhlertal. All of the trail-heads are labeled and the parking lots have plenty of maps with signs. We chose a 4 km hiking path and started in the correct direction. Unfortunately we somehow got off the path in the woods and ended up not completing the round route. The path was a much harder hike through the woods and around giant rocks and just about as wide as a deer path, but quite enjoyable. The viewpoints were gorgeous and very scenic! It we had more time, I could easily spend all day doing some of the longer hikes in the area.