Leonie went up to the mountains for some days with a friend and hers family (thanks to the Wood-Family). Skiing was the goal but the weather is much too warm here, ether for North Carolina. To be honest, I’m not sad about that. Nonetheless she and her friend had a lot of fun in the mountains as well as there was a lot of snow (white slopes and green surrounding) fortunately she had rental skis.

The rest of the family started the break with a full packed Saturday: 10 mile run in the morning and right after piano recital at the Steinway piano gallery. Joelle is a respectable piano player but what the grand piano made out of it was magic. I think we really have to start with a responding savings plan, my ears would be very happy. In the evening we joined the raclette event from the Swiss society of Charlotte. I still enjoy speaking a whole evening in my mother language without thinking too much and always the right word in the mind. And of course eating cheese and chocolate or much better both together.

The Sunday we spent at the Historic Latta Plantation in Huntersville, a cotton plantation from around 1800 and a living history farm (Ballenberg lässt grüssen). The 62-acre farm of James Latta consists of the original home and smokehouse, enhanced by 11 other outbuildings, as well as fields, farm animals, gardens and interpreters in period clothing. Todays special event: World War Two Living History  with the battle of the Bulge. This battle (December 16th, 1944 – January 28th, 1945) was Adolph Hitler’s last attempt to split the Allied Forces, protect the German boarders, and destroy the Allies ability to supply themselves. So the plantation was transformed into Belgium (late 44 – early 45) with Allied vs. Axis patrol demos, camp life, weapons demos, field hospitals and not to mention the big battle with a lot of noise, shots, fumes, shouting and fantastic actors.

After some quiet days at home with play dates, shopping, zoo visit in Columbia SC and a jolly good romp at sky zone we enjoyed the last days of the break in Myrtle Beach (a 3 hour ride from Charlotte).

The beach fun at the grand strand (around 60 miles) started 1901 with the construction of the areas first hotel the Seaside Inn. During this time you could by ocean front lots for $25, and buyers received an extra lot if they built a house valued at $500 or more. Today you have to dig deeper in your pockets but first you have to find a free lot… With the nearby railway and the first road for automobiles the region starts rising constantly and today Myrtle Beach is one of the major centers of tourism in the United States because of the city’s warm subtropical climate and extensive beaches, attracting an estimated 14 million visitors each year. Due to the extraordinary warm weather in February we could already enjoy the sea (to be honest it was a men and kids thing), the pools, the endless beach and the boardwalk and all this without millions of other visitors.

It was a relaxing weekend, we had a lot of fun! Thanks to the Johnson-Family. Now back in daily life but still some sand here and there…