Now THAT's a pretty sight!

Source: theguardian

In Europe the Olympic Medal Count is ranked by number of Gold medals rather than total number of medals, so right now it looks very good for us German-Canadians, with Germany being in front and Canada as first runner-up! Canada had started very strong, but in the last two days Germany won four Gold and one Silver medals, so they really went ahead in the count.

It is quite surprising how well Germany does at Winter Games in general considering that it is not a country that knows hard winters. But even the All-Time Winter Olympics count is being led by Germany, although this counts both previous German states as one.

One medal that Germany will not take home for sure this time is one for Hockey. For the first time since, like, forever, the team did not qualify for the Games. This is a huge decline since the legendary Bronze medal from Innsbruck 1976 when they managed to get into third place due to a) the absence of Canada and Sweden, and b) a very strange rule that put them ahead of Finland although ending up with the same number of points and a worse goal difference, and having lost to Finland. No problem for us anyway, we say "Go Canada"!

2012 - The Final Year (Part 8 of the 'Magers in Canada' Miniseries)

This will be the final installation of the 'Magers in Canada' Miniseries.

After having run into unspecific health issues Sonja had decided to change her diet, and went (mostly) vegan. We also concluded that with all this beautiful scenery at our doorsteps taking up hiking and kayaking was in order. 2012 certainly became the most outdoor active year in our Canadian records. 

In spring we visited our families in Germany again, and of course we also paid our dear friends in California another visit, and how could we not, as their weather turned out to be splendid and mild, contrary to the chilly dampness of the we(s)t coast. 

Burg, Germany

Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco

Also, as one of the perks of working in a New Zealand company Sonja got sent off to Kiwiland again, where new (moto-blogger) friends were made, and more of the beauty of this country was discovered. 

Kiwi Scenery

Auckland, New Zealand

Street Tripling on Coromandel Island (Photo: Geoff James)

After many miles on his Vespa Roland was ready to take the next step and procured himself a maxi scooter. There were two-wheeled road-trips around the Lillooet Loop, along the Sunshine Coast, and down to Washington and Oregon to meet our moto-blogger friends at the IMBC2012. 

Later the year we had another stopover in Europe with Norway, Sweden and Germany on our list. While Norway was a rather spontaneous decision, our business in Sweden was of more 'serious' matter, as a good friends of Roland's got married. Norway had impressed us, and reminded us dearly of the landscape of Newfoundland, while Sweden seemed to be more like Ontario. Contrary to our previous years in Canada we seemed to become quite the world travelers in 2012.  

Somewhere in Norway

Norway Fjord

Norway Scenery

Sweden

A bit unexpected (for Sonja), homesickness had kicked in for Roland after so many fantastic years in our dreamland. So, on the verge of the new year, the decision to return to Germany had been firm, and we prepared for the move, sold Paolo (Sonja's Vespa) and Whitey (Roland's Maxi Scoot), and got rid of furniture and other items we didn't want to (or couldn't - such as electrical stuff) take with.

View on Downtown Vancouver

Howe Sound

A last ride to Buntzen Lake

Sunset at Burrard Inlet, a five minute walk from home

At Duffey Lake

We said our goodbyes to our friends and the country we had called home for eight years, packed up our belongings, sold some of the vehicles (the red Vespa and the Sportster stayed with us), put the condo up for sale… the rest is history. Will we ever come back? Or settle down somewhere else? In Europe? In Canada? We don't know yet. But we are sure about this:

Found in a bookstore in North Vancouver

2011 - Traveling Canadians. (Part 7 of the 'Magers in Canada' Miniseries)

On our return from the winter wonderland in Germany we were welcomed by a different scenery in BC. Instead of the usual rain and clouds we got frost and sun.

Picture perfect at Pitt River

Back in 2011 we thought, this is it, we have arrived, here's where we always wanted to be. With this in mind we sold our Calgary apartment and purchased a condo with a view on the inlet and the mountains in Port Moody. Little did we know where life would take us only two years later.

The best thing happened to us in February that year. In a festive ceremony we became Canadian citizens. 

Roland, although having put his feelers out on the BC job market, continued working for his employer in Alberta, who had generously approved his commute between Vancouver and Calgary, and partly working out of his home office.

Spring time did reunite us with Andrea and Guido for a recharge of our batteries, and we escaped the rainy west coast by having a splendid time on Maui.

Aloha, Hawaii!

Another highlight of the year came in form of Roland getting into motorcycling. Sonja had meanwhile a lot of two-wheeled solo travels under her belt, or went off with a riding buddy. However, when Roland fell in love with a certain red Italian beauty, he insisted that Sonja should get a Vespa, too.

Going Vespa - Bella & Paolo

With our newly acquired Canadian passports at hand traveling to the US of A became so much less cumbersome, and so we decided on a trip down to Oregon. Oregon had inspired us on previous visits and we had secretly voted it our most favourite American state.

Columbia River

Some time in May we swapped our Merc against a small Audi, which was so much more fun to drive on the twisty roads of the BC hinterland.

Route 99 at Duffey Lake

We also explored the local scenery on our newly acquired scooters. It was fun, and Sonja thought that selling her Beemer was an acceptable decision. However, by summer she got a craving again for a real motorcycle. This is how this most beautiful American Iron came into her life.

Hear me roar! A sportster purchase.

Vespa-ing through Washington

Solo on a Harley

The Summer in BC turned out to be awesome, no reason to go anywhere else. We spent a lot of time riding in the hinterland, hiking in the rainforest or walking on the beach, all available at our doorsteps. Life couldn't be better!

Our main vacation would take us once again to the US of A. We had planned a Best-of-the-West tour that included as many national parks as we could find along the route. Road-tripping America certainly is (almost) every European's dream.

Arches NP, Utah

Grand Canyon, Arizona

Death Valley, California

We really made good use of our new passports this year. Countless business trips would send each of us to the midwest of America mostly. But we also got to explore Washington and Oregon some more, and meet with friends. 

View on Portland, OR

Pike Market, Seattle, WA

Becoming Canadians was the very last step in our immigration process. We had moved to BC, made Port Moody our new home, traveled a lot, and felt fully integrated in the Canadian society. It was another perfect year.

Lower Mainland Winter