I had a terrible time finding restaurants on this trip. But unless I’m feeling frisky for meat-centered meals (unlikely), I usually target vegetarian restaurants in many European countries.

Spinach sorrel crepes. Prinz Myshkin, Munich. RL Fifield 2012.

Viewing shopfronts on a walk down the street, one would think Germans eat nothing but pastry, coffee, and beer. The Christmas Market in Bonn was swinging with vendors of sausage and baked goods. My little hotel was in a residential neighborhood (always interesting to get out of tourist districts) but there were few restaurants nearby.

Breakfast in Bonn at Hotel Jacobs. Fruit, granola, yogurt, about 15 kinds of jam and 50 kinds of lunchmeat, smoked salmon, cheese, etc. RL Fifield, 2012.

The hotel desk directed me to an intersection in neighborhood roads about .25 mile away, where among houses stood  German, Spanish, and Italian restaurants. A lot of German places close between lunch and dinner, not opening before 6pm, which was wearying to this jet-lagged traveler who had to get up at 3am the next morning. I chose the Spanish restaurant and got gritty croquetas, 5 rings of calamari, and a salt lick masquerading as a tortilla with spinach. Whoops. I don’t like to spend my money on things when I travel, but on experiences. I flunked this one.

Sad Spanish supper in Bonn, at a place that will remain nameless, but oddly, almost all the tables were reserved on a Thursday night. RL Fifield, 2012.

I don’t usually eat pastry, but seeing it everywhere in Germany, I was worn down by all the delicious smells. In New England, there is a Dunkin Donuts every 3 miles. In Germany, there seems to be a bakery every 30 feet (or whatever in meters). Mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter. And now for some fun in the Rewe grocery store:

I love going to the grocery store and seeing the Ja! brand. It might as well be called the LOL brand. I did not eat this. RL Fifield, 2012.