Tag Archives: Leavenworth WA

Nov15

Nomad On The Move

Posted on November 15, 2016 by iamkaren23

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I was talking to my son the other day and once again he remarked that his mother is a nomad. And he’s right. In the past six years, with the exception of time spent in Guadalajara and Winnipeg, I’ve lived in Culiacan, Irapuato, Rosarito and Mazatlan in Mexico. I’ve been in Leavenworth, Washington for four months and this week it’s time to return to Mazatlan via Seattle and Los Angeles.

Usually I’m chomping at the bit to get back to Mexico, but not this time. I’m looking forward to the warmth and sunshine down south, but I will miss the warmth and sunshine radiating from my new friends and church family here in Leavenworth. To say that the past four months have been a spectacular experience is an understatement. There are no words to adequately express how amazing my life has been here. And it is my fervent hope that I will be able to return next summer.

I was warned that I would find it difficult to leave here. I was warned that I would love the church here and not want to return to Mexico. But back in July that all seemed rather trivial. Until I arrived here. Until I acclimatized myself to living in a small town. After all, my original intent was to stay a few weeks to visit a friend and do research for my current work-in-progress. In my wildest dreams I never imagined the treasures I would find here.

That first night in July driving in to Leavenworth……………I was surrounded by majestic mountains on either side of the highway. Once we arrived in town, the twinkling lights transported me to a fairyland. To me it felt like Christmas, but as I was later to find out, this was nothing compared to what goes on in November.

Yesterday morning I was sitting in church and a swarm of emotion overcame me. I recall the first time I attended a service here and how strange it felt compared with other churches I had gone to in Canada and Mexico. Yesterday I looked around me and saw a sea of familiar faces and truly felt like I belonged here. And I am sad that I have to leave.

The holidays are fast approaching. I wish I could stay here for Thanksgiving and the tree lighting and the Living Nativity next month at church. I hear that the ice festival in January is awesome as well. This enchanting Bavarian town has grown on me.

Although it’s exciting to travel and have adventures, it also means always saying goodbye to people I’ve become close with. Yesterday at church there were lots of hugs. Last week’s Women’s Bible Study was my last and tonight I will bid a fond farewell to my Life Group. I will always treasure the memories in my heart of my time here in Leavenworth.

But now, unfortunately, it’s time to finish packing!

Oct31

Halloween Then And Now

Posted on October 31, 2016 by iamkaren23

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I have always loved Halloween. As a child I eagerly ran from door to door collecting treats. Back then you looked forward to a neighbor’s popcorn balls or caramel apples. The streets were safe and all houses on the street were brightly lit.

By the time my kids came along, it was a different world out there. Adults now roamed the streets with their children. Pins and razor blades contaminated candies and apples. Teenagers would often taunt younger children and steal their bags of treats. I always closely checked all my kids’ candy and apples were always tossed in the garbage. Friends of my kids would often come back to our home for a party. There was always a spooky Halloween cake and colorfully decorated cookies, all homemade.

I haven’t been in Canada for Halloween in several years now. In Mexico, the big event is Day of the Dead rather than Halloween. Last year in Mazatlan I saw only a half dozen or so costumed children on the streets for Halloween and saw none at all in the years I lived in Guadalajara. However the influence from up north is spreading down gradually to those areas in Mexico closer to the USA-Mexico border.

This year I’m in the USA. And Halloween is BIG! We were out looking for costumes last night and ventured into the Spirit Halloween store in Wenatchee. I was totally overwhelmed by all the costumes, masks, accessories, decorations and displays. My friend informed me that the stores in Seattle were even larger. Here are some photos I took:

After about an hour, we headed for the checkouts with our selections. He had chosen a gruesome mask, and I had a colorful wig and makeup. This is what we looked like on Saturday night:

The first party was in Cashmere and was a combination birthday/Halloween party. It was cool out and the fire was most welcome.

The next party was back in Leavenworth and was from the Rotary Club.

We then headed back to Cashmere to Club Crow. The place was packed and there was a great live band.

The afternoon today was spent at church preparing for Light the Night, a huge carnival to be held tomorrow night. Last year approximately 1300 people attended. There will be games, food and even a petting zoo.

Sadly I will not be in Mexico for Day of the Dead this year for the first time in six years. But the kid in me is enjoying every single minute of Halloween this year here in Washington state.

Happy Halloween 2016!

Oct22

Saturday Morning

Posted on October 22, 2016 by iamkaren23

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This morning dawned cloudy and foggy. It has rained just about every single day this month, so it was no surprise to see yet another gloomy morning. The temperatures dip down perilously close to zero degrees celsius overnight before rising to the low teens throughout the day.

My friend Ann picked me up and we headed out to Wild Huckleberry at the golf course. Even on a dull day the view from the restaurant is spectacular.

Of course the fresh coffee and delicious eggs benedict lightened the day as well.

After breakfast we went for a drive to O’Grady’s Pantry and then on to Sleeping Lady Mountain Resort. The scenery was absolutely spectacular here, and the sun came out of hiding and was most welcome. We went for a short walk down to the river and here are some photos I snapped along the way.

We stayed by the river for a while admiring the view and listening to the sounds of the lapping of the waves.

We also saw this amazing glass sculpture by an artist whose name I cannot even begin to spell.

As we headed back to the car, I took one last look at the skyline. It was encouraging to see such blue sky after a dreary few weeks of rain.

Oct2

Oktoberfest in Leavenworth

Posted on October 2, 2016 by iamkaren23

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In my previous posts I have written about Leavenworth, a Bavarian village in the heart of the state of Washington. I have marveled at the quaintness of this town and have been mesmerized by all the twinkling lights at night that adorn the buildings in the downtown area. The architectural style of the shops and restaurants along with the colorful murals painted on the walls makes you forget that you are in the USA.

Friday night was the official opening of Oktoberfest. This celebration will continue for another two weekends. Tourists flock here from the USA and Canada for this popular event. Tents have been erected and there are four main venues, each providing entertainment, food and drinks. There are beer tents as well. Men and women in traditional dress are a common sight. And of course traffic is a nightmare as the streets are narrow and parking spaces are limited.

One of the infamous competitions is Masskrugenstemmen, more commonly known as “Beer Stein Holding.” This is a traditional Bavarian endurance contest where contestants hold a one-liter stein of beer with their arm straight out at shoulder height, for as long as possible. There are separate competitions for men and women. There is a fee of $20 to enter this competition and there is a limit of 20 participants. There are strict rules and contestants are closely watched for infractions.

Entertainment this year includes seventeen bands from Washington, Oregon, British Columbia and as far away as Germany. Music is always a highlight of this event and the tents are crowded with people. During the day children are allowed if accompanied by an adult, but at 9 pm it becomes adults only.

A variety of food ranging from bratwurst to pulled pork is available. Desserts offered include a German style cake with whipped cream and a mug of root beer float. Of course all the restaurants in the downtown area are open featuring typical German food as well as everything from Mongolian barbecue to Italian fare.

There are two locations to purchase Official Leavenworth Oktoberfest Souvenirs. Steins, coffee cups, pins and t-shirts are just a few of the many items available. All the shops in the downtown area are open where an assortment of other merchandise can be found.

And now a word about beer. There is an amazing variety of beer to enjoy, much of it made locally by Icicle Brewing Company. Alcohol content, color and taste vary. Personally I prefer the darker beer as I find it stronger and more flavorful. One of my favorites actually has a chocolate kick to it.

While beer is vital to any Oktoberfest celebration, I am impressed with the way drinking and driving is addressed here. Free shuttle buses are provided from hotels as far away as Wenatchee and along the main streets in Leavenworth. The printed Oktoberfest program has a page dedicated to tips on sensible drinking. And of course law enforcement are out on the streets in full force.

Thirty years after Leavenworth adopted the Bavarian theme, Projekt Bayern was created in June of 1996. The goal was to revitalize a waning interest and to carry out projects to make Leavenworth more authentically Bavarian in nature. There are two major events organized and supported by Projekt Bayern include Oktoberfest and Christkindlmarkt, as well as several other organizations and projects, in addition to the awarding the Annual Spirit of Bavaria awards.

Oktoberfest, aka The Munich Beer Festival, is the largest popular festival in the world and attracts millions of visitors from all over the world each year. Leavenworth, a town of only 2000 people, does an incredible job of staging this celebration. Munich………watch out!

Prost!

Sep26

This Weekend In Leavenworth

Posted on September 26, 2016 by iamkaren23

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This has been a busy weekend. It’s both Homecoming Week and Autumn Leaf Festival. For a Canadian living here now, these have been exciting events for me. Homecoming Week was non-existent where I grew up. And the Autumn Leaf Festival is unique to Leavenworth.

On Friday night we drove out to Peshastin. The high school football stadium is located at the Dryden Elementary School located there. Our local team, Cascade Kodiaks, were playing the Sultan Turks. The first quarter saw our team down 40-7, but they rallied and the final score was 48-41, although not in our favor.

The stands were packed. It seemed like the whole town was there. A great many people there, like us, didn’t have kids in high school but had come out to support and cheer on the team. The enthusiasm was contagious, and every time a touchdown was scored and the fireworks went off, I was right in there with the crowd. A friend was sitting nearby, and his son was one of the star players on the team, so that added to the football fever around us.

At half-time, the lights were dimmed and a makeshift stage was bathed in floodlights where the homecoming royalty were introduced. I thoroughly enjoyed the speeches the students made, and wondered why we never had anything like this back when I was a teenager in Winnipeg. Homecoming Week is definitely a huge celebration down here.

When this part of the program ended, there was a spectacular fireworks display. In all honesty, it put Winnipeg’s Canada Day celebrations to shame. And this is only a high school football game! I was so totally mesmerized by the display that I only took a handful of pictures, very unusual for me.

Vendors in the stands came around with hot dogs, popcorn and candy. I opted for the hot chocolate, as up here in the mountains the temperature drops quickly once the sun sets. I had dressed for the occasion in a long-sleeve turtleneck, a sweatshirt and a fleece jacket on top. Of course I had also brought along a blanket.

Saturday dawned clear and sunny. The temperatures were rising and we headed downtown to watch the Autumn Leaf Festival parade. I was completely overwhelmed by the number of floats and the incredibly huge marching bands. The parade went on for an hour and a half. There were floats and bands from all over the state of Washington. Canadians were also represented by floats from Kelowna, Penticton and White Rock in British Columbia. I took 348 photos, but I will share only a few here.

After the parade we headed downtown to Front Street. Blocked off to traffic, the streets were crowded with pedestrians. The shops, restaurants and bars were all packed. Some of the people were dressed up in traditional leiderhausen. Different bands provided entertainment at the gazebo.

We were able to find a table at Munchausen and enjoyed a cold and refreshing beer. Afterwards we were treated to a gymnastics display a little further down the street.

Our final stop was at King Ludwig’s, a popular German restaurant that has become my favorite. A great band serenaded us with lively tunes as we ate dinner. Pictured below is a house specialty of sauerbraten.

Of course all the locals are amused by my excitement over these events and keep telling me to just wait for Octoberfest next month. That happens for THREE weekends!!!!!

Sep19

Gingerbread House, Kris Kringle and Nutcracker Haus

Posted on September 19, 2016 by iamkaren23

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Gingerbread House, Kris Kringle and Nutcracker Haus

It always feels like Christmas here in Leavenworth. I recall the night I arrived here vividly. We had driven in from Seattle after a long day of traveling, and I was totally mesmerized by what I viewed as Christmas lights twinkling from rooftops everywhere. Steve explained that these were merely the regular lights. Christmas lights were definitely another sight to behold come December. Leavenworth is known as a Bavarian village in Washington and tourists flock here year round.

This past week I meandered through some of the shops in the downtown area. They are quaint and very touristy. They are nestled among bars, restaurants and wine-tasting places. Their products range from souvenirs to leather and everything in between.

Gingerbread House is a delightful bakery tucked away on a back street near the hospital. It is crowded with tourists and has tables inside and out on a terrace. The aroma of coffee and fresh baking wafts throughout the small shop. Display cases resplendent with gingerbread men and other delicious pastries line one side of the shop. I intend to go back to sample their cinnamon roll bread pudding which unfortunately was sold out that day. Impressive products appealing to Seahawks fans were popular items as well.

I had intended to visit the Nutcracker Museum and was disappointed to find that it was closed. However I did check out Nutcracker Haus and was greatly surprised at the unbelievably huge collection of nutcrackers I found here. This is just one of the many shelves that line the walls in this shop.

Kris Kringle is the most interesting and exciting Christmas store I have ever seen in my life. Two levels of displays absolutely took my breath away. Nativity scenes, trees, ornaments, miniature villages and lights are found on two levels. Jostling the crowds here was a challenge. Here are a few of the treasures I found:

Although I’ve been here for almost two months, I know that there is a great deal more to explore in this fairyland called Leavenworth, a Bavarian town. However I was delighted to have found Christmas in September this past week, with an added bonus of no snow on the ground.

Sep16

It’s Fall…………My Favorite Season

Posted on September 16, 2016 by iamkaren23

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Until a few years ago, I lived in Winnipeg all my life and always took fall for granted. Summer was such a short season and I never really looked forward to fall. In fact, fall just meant that the warm weather had ended and that the snow was on its way all too soon. I never really took the time to appreciate the beautiful colors of the leaves. Last October I was in Toronto for a couple of days and it was absolutely delightful to hear the crunching of the leaves underfoot once again, a sound I hadn’t realized I had missed so much.

Now that I’m in Leavenworth, I am taking the time to admire the magnificent colors as they change daily. Back in Mexico the vegetation is completely different and the only season that stands out is hurricane season due to the torrential rain. There are no gorgeous displays of colorful leaves. I am so mesmerized that I keep taking photo after photo of these beautiful leaves.

I realize that summer has come to an end and I am determined to enjoy the fall season as I don’t know when I may have the opportunity to experience another one like this again. As for the snow, I hope to be back in Mexico before that arrives.

Sep3

Wandering Around Wenatchee

Posted on September 3, 2016 by iamkaren23

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It’s Friday and the beginning of the Labor Day weekend here in Washington. It’s also been raining most of the day and it’s quite dreary out there. Instead of going for a long walk to the library I stayed in and baked chocolate chip cookies. Last week at this time it was hot and sunny. I used to think that Winnipeg was the only place where it rained on the weekends.

But the rain is much needed around here as it helps to contain the wildfires that are a big threat at this time of year. The one burning near Peshastin affected over 250 acres of land and destroyed one home. Hundreds of people were evacuated. And that’s just a few miles down the highway from Leavenworth.

The other day I was in Wenatchee and wandered through the historical district. I passed churches, the courthouse, other government buildings and a couple of parks. I came across these statues:

It was quite a dull day as well. The sun needs to return and the clouds need to disappear. Chelan County Fair is coming up next weekend in Cashmere. I’ve never been to a county fair and am looking forward to this one, but not in the rain. Along with the rain the temperature has plummeted. But I’d still rather be here right now than in Mazatlan with the soaring temperatures and the torrential rainstorms.

In my stroll along Wenatchee Avenue in the downtown area I found other interesting statues:

I checked out some of the shops along the way. An old movie theater has been converted into a spacious thrift store.

As election time draws near this was a prominent storefront:

Here is the performing arts center:

There were a variety of other shops with everything from clothing to antiques. Restaurants ranged from a Mongolian barbecue to burgers and everything in between This quaint little soda fountain caught my eye.

I look forward to my next visit downtown to explore more of this historic area.

Aug10

Still A Nomad

Posted on August 10, 2016 by iamkaren23

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I was talking to my son last night and he remarked that I am a nomad. Apparently what I consider a long period of time and what he considers to be a long period of time are miles apart. Fourteen months in Mazatlan to me is a long period of time. The move to Leavenworth for three months is a much needed change.

I glanced back over my blog posts and noted that I had already published Am I A Nomad back in January of 2014. And I have been on the move since then. Therefore I have titled this post Still A Nomad.

I actually did remain in the same house in Tlaquepaque until April of 2015. The plan was to visit my Mexican family in Culiacan and then fly to Winnipeg out of Puerto Vallarta. I was having a book launch for Alive Again and had a few medical appointments scheduled. Then I would return to Guadalajara.

While I was in Culiacan, I received a job offer in Mazatlan. So I decided to check it out. I stayed with a friend I hadn’t seen in years, and it was a great reunion. On the way to Puerto Vallarta, I spent a couple of days in Sayulita with a former housemate from Guadalajara.

Back in Winnipeg, my 10 days soon became five weeks. I stayed with my son and a variety of friends and lived in various areas of the city during that time. By the time I returned to Mexico, I’d been living out of suitcases for almost eight weeks.

I moved in with a family from Mexico and stayed there for 5-1/2 months. I then stayed with a friend for three weeks until I was able to move into a condo. I remained in the condo for eight months before arriving here in Leavenworth almost three weeks ago. I plan on staying here until sometime in October when I will return to Mazatlan for the winter.

I still haven’t found that perfect place yet where I might settle down. And I don’t know if I ever will. But it has been the most amazing experience traveling and moving around after spending decades in Winnipeg. Obviously there doesn’t appear to be any real stability in my choice of lifestyle unless you categorize change as stability. And that is an interesting thought to ponder as I sit out on the deck and enjoy this view:

Aug2

Monday in Wenatchee Via Link Transit

Posted on August 2, 2016 by iamkaren23

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Monday dawned clear and sunny and I decided to venture out on my own to Wenatchee. I have been there several times by car with a friend, but today was a solo trip. A five minute walk away is the highway where I boarded a Link Transit bus. What a pleasure! Air conditioned, up holstered seats, movable floor on entry——-a far cry from the buses in Mexico with the graffiti, gaping holes in the floor, smashed windows and uncomfortable metal seats. I am quite impressed with Link Transit. Service is reliable and regular, and there are even racks on the front of the buses for bicycles. A day pass entitled me to unlimited rides for the small fee of $5 and covered the intercity route as well as all the Wenatchee routes.

Our first stop was Peshastin, a tiny town close to Leavenworth. This was the delightful view from the bridge.

Minutes later we were back on the highway until we came to this stop.

Our next stop was Cashmere, and I know I need to go back and do a post on this quaint town. Another breathtaking view of the river and the hills as we traversed the bridge into town.

We then arrived in Wenatchee and I got off at Columbia Station. Most buses head to this area making commuting both enjoyable as well as efficient.

I then took a free trolley to East Wenatchee Valley Mall.

I enjoyed being back in an American mall, albeit a small one. Macy’s, Ross Dress For Less, Marshalls, Bed Bath and Beyond, Bath and Body Works as well as several other smaller stores are found here.

A couple of hours later I was back on the trolley headed for Columbia Station. I then took a bus to the Walmart Super Center. This has become one of my favorite stores here. It is huge and has absolutely everything, as well as a fabulous grocery section with amazing produce.

On the bus once again returning to Columbia Station where I then boarded a bus back to Leavenworth. Today was merely a preliminary scoping of the area. I intend to go back soon to explore the downtown area including the courthouse, and to delve into the history of Wenatchee.

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