The Adventures of Jesse and Seth

February 2023

While I spent time in Florida with my family in February 2023, Jesse's friend Seth came to Germany for a work trip extended into a guys/reunion trip. Since I was not there, Jesse is the author of today's blog.

Enjoy!

Feb’23 Best of the Best 

Written by: Jesse Kiste

In February of 2023, Kelly was in Florida with her parents, so Jesse and Zoey were in Essen alone. At the same time, the best man of our wedding, Seth, was in Southern Germany for his work. After Seth’s work trip, he flew up to Düsseldorf to spend a few days with Jesse. 

Naturally, Zoey and Jesse met Seth at the airport with a much needed big hug! The evening was spent catching up with each other and all the exciting things of our lives. It was really great joking, laughing and reminiscing! Of course sharing of many pictures of his boys, their property and his trip to southern Germany and Austria! 

The next morning we woke up early to start the drive to Brussels, Belgium. Along the drive, we stopped in Aachen, Germany to visit the shrine of Charlemagne in the Cathedral, eat Printen (the local version of gingerbread) and pick up a few bottles of Printen liquor for the fans in the USA. We then continued onto Brussels. Upon entering the city, we drove pass the embassy district and Parc de Bruxelles before reaching the hotel. Hunger was setting in, so we started to determine the best way to get from the hotel to down town: bus, taxi, scooter, and walking were all options. After a few failed attempts of getting some scooters to work for us, we finally found two scooters that worked without issues. We took off for the city center, trying to navigate the traffic rules, the cobblestones and the pedestrians. To curb the hunger we found Lil Bao, Seth’s first time eating bao, plus it was 100% vegan. (Baozi, or simply bao, is a type of yeast-leavened filled bun in various Chinese cuisines. There are many variations in fillings and preparations, though the buns are most often steamed.)

After some food, it was time for beer. We started at one of Jesse’s favorite spots, Moeder Lambic for a few fresh pints. Of course between the first bar and the second, we stopped to see the famous peeing statues, Manneken Pis and Jeanneke Pis, along with some delicious chocolates. The second bar was the Delirium Cafe where we went for the beer flight. Great beers and a cool atmosphere, with each floor of the bar having a different vibe. And naturally Seth had to try the Belgium special of Kriek (Kriek is a type of fruited sour beer flavored with cherries, originating in Belgium). We ended the night at Wolf Food Market for some food and one last beer before getting to bed at 9:30pm.

“We ain’t as good as we once were, but we’re as good once as we ever were.”

The next morning was a bit slow, making it to a late breakfast at a local classic, the Woodpecker . Great chicken and waffles! We then hit the road back to Essen to make the Sunday afternoon coal mining tour. The tour is a Jesse/Kelly favorite for those visiting in Essen. You get to learn some history of coal mining in the Ruhr region and walk through the coal processing facility that sits above the mine. Amazing to see the size of the machinery and the amount of coal it could process. After the tour, we had dinner with Jesse’s German friend, Philip, to tell stories and share laughs. 

The last day of the visit Jesse and Seth took the train from Essen to Cologne (Köln). Jesse gave the “Kiste city tour”, starting at the Cathedral. I have been there a dozen times, and am still amazed by the size and architecture. We also visited the treasury and climbed the 533 steps to the top of the cathedral. Luckily, I was in 1/2 marathon training and Seth was hitting the stair master at the gym...so it was not too difficult. After the decent, we saw a few other cool sites in the city like the love locks bridge, the original cologne maker (perfume), and the old fish market. Finally, we replenished from all the touring with Kölsch beers and traditional German food (Schweinshaxe and Schlachteplatte). 

It was a great long weekend catching up with a longtime friend. Reminiscing on old stories, drinking great beers, and making new memories. Thanks for stopping in Seth! Hope the new job allows for a few more visits!