Day 17
Today we leave! :)
We have one last wonderful breakfast, pack up and take off for the airport. No problems getting there and check in quickly. We take off for Montreal, Canada. They say our bags will be checked through to Mpls. Hooray!
When we get to Montreal, 7 hours later, they announce we need to pick up our bags there before going through customs. We ask the stewards and they say if we were told they go through then they do. So we go to customs and ask them also. He says the same thing. Then as we go through the final gate, the lady asks us where our bags are. We tell her the story and she says no, we need to get them but now can't go back. So we call Air France and have to wait for them to get the bags and bring them to us. We wait and wait. It is 1 hour until our next plane leaves.
Finally our bags come, we run to the check in area and have to start all over with check in. They are nice and move us to the head of the line and around the back door to customs - second time through customs now. We run because of course our plane leaves from the furthest gate - and make it 10 minutes before it leaves. I guess we don't do these airports really well yet!
Our last flight! 2 1/2 hours and we arrive home. Thanks to VonBergen's for picking us up! It is 9pm Minnesota time, 4am Paris time.
To bed we go - in our own bed, Safely home.
Thank you Jesus for safe travels and a wonderful, unforgettable trip!
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Friday, July 18, 2008
Day 16
Wow, our last day! It is hard to believe all we have done and it is soon ending. It has gone so fast. We can't waste a minute on our last day in Paris and so we head out by 9am and go down to the catacombs of Paris. In 1786 Paris had a typhoid epidemic and they realized people were being buried too close to the water supply and were leaching into the water causing disease. So they started to dig up all the bodies and put them in the caves of rock under the city. It took 30 years working every night to dig up all the graves and transplant them. Millions of bones and skulls are there stalked neatly in patterns and organized. Outside the entrance is a sign: "Weak people beware. Those with cardiac and lung disease beware. This is a 1.7 km walk, down 130 steps and up 84 steps of a windy small staircase." "Beware things to see might be disturbing for children and those with nervous disorder."
The walk is blocks long after going down a windy, narrow staircase. The tunnels are low and narrow and then we enter room after room of millions of bones. Skulls are put in patterns and there are plaques that tell dates of when the bones where placed there. At the end we climb up 84 stairs to the top - I have to stop and sit half way up - wondered if I'd make it but then I had no choice but to keep going...up and up and around and around. Before leaving, they search you for bones. Then we go outside to an alley and have to find our way back to the beginning - about 8 blocks away. On the way back we find a suitcase and buy it since we have bought so many presents we need another suitcase to carry all of them home!
We finally get to our car and go through the Jewish section of Paris. We suddenly feel like we are in Israel! We stop for a fallafel for lunch. Fabulous!
Then we head for the Louvre. Bill knows about the underground parking and we come up right in the middle of the Louvre and can buy tickets to enter very quickly. It is also very near the Mona Lisa painting and so we head there first. This museum is amazing. To see all of these paintings and sculptures that have lasted so many hundreds of years. Really beautiful.
Next we head over to Notre Dame. This church is so incredible. Again Bill knows where to park underground below the open yard of Notre Dame and so when we come up we are at the front door of the church and walk right in line to go through it. Inside it is unbelievably massive.
We end the night with dinner at another fancy french restaurant in Neulliy. They don't speak English and so we are guessing on the menu. Wow, it is so good though! Chicken and Lamb on sticks over thin fried potatoes. The creme brelle is wonderful.
Back home to pack and get ready to leave in the morning. Very sad but grateful for such a wonderful trip. We could not have imagined it to be so good. Everything was perfect and nothing went wrong. A beautiful gift!
Wow, our last day! It is hard to believe all we have done and it is soon ending. It has gone so fast. We can't waste a minute on our last day in Paris and so we head out by 9am and go down to the catacombs of Paris. In 1786 Paris had a typhoid epidemic and they realized people were being buried too close to the water supply and were leaching into the water causing disease. So they started to dig up all the bodies and put them in the caves of rock under the city. It took 30 years working every night to dig up all the graves and transplant them. Millions of bones and skulls are there stalked neatly in patterns and organized. Outside the entrance is a sign: "Weak people beware. Those with cardiac and lung disease beware. This is a 1.7 km walk, down 130 steps and up 84 steps of a windy small staircase." "Beware things to see might be disturbing for children and those with nervous disorder."
The walk is blocks long after going down a windy, narrow staircase. The tunnels are low and narrow and then we enter room after room of millions of bones. Skulls are put in patterns and there are plaques that tell dates of when the bones where placed there. At the end we climb up 84 stairs to the top - I have to stop and sit half way up - wondered if I'd make it but then I had no choice but to keep going...up and up and around and around. Before leaving, they search you for bones. Then we go outside to an alley and have to find our way back to the beginning - about 8 blocks away. On the way back we find a suitcase and buy it since we have bought so many presents we need another suitcase to carry all of them home!
We finally get to our car and go through the Jewish section of Paris. We suddenly feel like we are in Israel! We stop for a fallafel for lunch. Fabulous!
Then we head for the Louvre. Bill knows about the underground parking and we come up right in the middle of the Louvre and can buy tickets to enter very quickly. It is also very near the Mona Lisa painting and so we head there first. This museum is amazing. To see all of these paintings and sculptures that have lasted so many hundreds of years. Really beautiful.
Next we head over to Notre Dame. This church is so incredible. Again Bill knows where to park underground below the open yard of Notre Dame and so when we come up we are at the front door of the church and walk right in line to go through it. Inside it is unbelievably massive.
We end the night with dinner at another fancy french restaurant in Neulliy. They don't speak English and so we are guessing on the menu. Wow, it is so good though! Chicken and Lamb on sticks over thin fried potatoes. The creme brelle is wonderful.
Back home to pack and get ready to leave in the morning. Very sad but grateful for such a wonderful trip. We could not have imagined it to be so good. Everything was perfect and nothing went wrong. A beautiful gift!
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Day 15
This is our first full day in Paris - we have to make big tracks but after getting home so late last night we sleep in until 10:00! After a wonderful breakfast at the hotel of course. All the hotels by the way have a great breakfast included - tons of fresh fruit, yogurts, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, Fried tomatoes, pancakes, and lots of pastries, rolls, croissants, jams, jellies, and wonderful honey! Oh yes, wonderful fresh juices - apple, orange, and mixed juice.
Well, we head to the Eiffel tower! There are thousands of people already there - looks like the state fair! Bill knows back roads and we find a parking spot just 1 block from the bottom of the Eiffel tower. Gustav Eiffel designed and built it in 1899. He also designed and built the Statue of Liberty. There is a miniature Statue of Liberty down the road. When we get to the Eiffel Tower we find hundreds of people waiting in line to go up it - about a 2 hour wait. Bill goes and talks to the lady at the front of the line and we are suddenly going in! The elevator goes up the middle of the tower and has glass sides so you can see out on the way up. From the top we see all of Paris - as far as you can see are buildings representing millions of people who live there. We can also see the Seine River that runs through the middle of the city.
Next we go to the top of the hill of Paris - Montmartre to go shopping! This is where all the artists of Paris paint and sell their paintings. Portrait sketchers are also here. We find paintings for Rachel and Beth. We have lunch at a little cafe and eat French crepes. We walk the streets for a while and look in the shops.
Then we head to find Moulin Rouge - it is in the "Red Light" district and feels a little sleazy. Moulin Rouge is a night club with dancers and fancy costumes that is very famous. There is a movie about it. When Chuck gets out to take a picture, two "ladies" come to talk to him, luckily they are talking French and he doesn't understand and hurries back to the car.
Next we drive through the wealthy area of Paris, wealthy stores, the Ritz of Paris, and other hotels ranging from $1500/night. This area is right on the Seine River and up the street from the Louvre. We stop and have afternoon tea and pastries at a little sidewalk cafe called Les Deux Magots and watch people. The French are just coming home from work and so we see all kinds of fashion statements - pointed leather shoes, high heels, classy suits and short little dresses. Many are pulling small suitcases home from work. Some women are pushing baby strollers and are coming from the stores. It must take an incredible amount of work to live in this city. Nothing is close to their apartments and then they may need to go up 10 stories high carrying their groceries. It makes you tired to think of facing all of the crowds and traffic every day. We also see the classic tourists standing on the corners reading their maps and trying to find out where they are! St. Germain is one main street the is one block over from the Seine River and runs parallel to it. We have driven up this street about 8 times! The Avenue Champs Ellysees is the main street from the Arch of Triumph (where the tomb of the unknown soldier lies). There is a huge round-about that goes around this Arch. Wild driving!
We head back to the hotel for a short rest and then go off to Lily's for dinner. This is a fancy little restaurant in Neuilly. Only a few blocks from the hotel. Then to bed!
Thanks for another Wonderful day. By the way, nearly every day we comment on how perfect everything on this trip has been. The weather has been perfect. We get to sites at just the right time. We don't get lost - Praise the Lord for GPS! We stay safe with all the driving. The sun shines bright when we want to enjoy it outside. We haven't lost anything. The food is great. We accomplish all that we set out to do each day. No one is sick. We continually get along. God has been so good. He truly is blessing us each day.
Thank you Jesus and Thank you Bill!
This is our first full day in Paris - we have to make big tracks but after getting home so late last night we sleep in until 10:00! After a wonderful breakfast at the hotel of course. All the hotels by the way have a great breakfast included - tons of fresh fruit, yogurts, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, Fried tomatoes, pancakes, and lots of pastries, rolls, croissants, jams, jellies, and wonderful honey! Oh yes, wonderful fresh juices - apple, orange, and mixed juice.
Well, we head to the Eiffel tower! There are thousands of people already there - looks like the state fair! Bill knows back roads and we find a parking spot just 1 block from the bottom of the Eiffel tower. Gustav Eiffel designed and built it in 1899. He also designed and built the Statue of Liberty. There is a miniature Statue of Liberty down the road. When we get to the Eiffel Tower we find hundreds of people waiting in line to go up it - about a 2 hour wait. Bill goes and talks to the lady at the front of the line and we are suddenly going in! The elevator goes up the middle of the tower and has glass sides so you can see out on the way up. From the top we see all of Paris - as far as you can see are buildings representing millions of people who live there. We can also see the Seine River that runs through the middle of the city.
Next we go to the top of the hill of Paris - Montmartre to go shopping! This is where all the artists of Paris paint and sell their paintings. Portrait sketchers are also here. We find paintings for Rachel and Beth. We have lunch at a little cafe and eat French crepes. We walk the streets for a while and look in the shops.
Then we head to find Moulin Rouge - it is in the "Red Light" district and feels a little sleazy. Moulin Rouge is a night club with dancers and fancy costumes that is very famous. There is a movie about it. When Chuck gets out to take a picture, two "ladies" come to talk to him, luckily they are talking French and he doesn't understand and hurries back to the car.
Next we drive through the wealthy area of Paris, wealthy stores, the Ritz of Paris, and other hotels ranging from $1500/night. This area is right on the Seine River and up the street from the Louvre. We stop and have afternoon tea and pastries at a little sidewalk cafe called Les Deux Magots and watch people. The French are just coming home from work and so we see all kinds of fashion statements - pointed leather shoes, high heels, classy suits and short little dresses. Many are pulling small suitcases home from work. Some women are pushing baby strollers and are coming from the stores. It must take an incredible amount of work to live in this city. Nothing is close to their apartments and then they may need to go up 10 stories high carrying their groceries. It makes you tired to think of facing all of the crowds and traffic every day. We also see the classic tourists standing on the corners reading their maps and trying to find out where they are! St. Germain is one main street the is one block over from the Seine River and runs parallel to it. We have driven up this street about 8 times! The Avenue Champs Ellysees is the main street from the Arch of Triumph (where the tomb of the unknown soldier lies). There is a huge round-about that goes around this Arch. Wild driving!
We head back to the hotel for a short rest and then go off to Lily's for dinner. This is a fancy little restaurant in Neuilly. Only a few blocks from the hotel. Then to bed!
Thanks for another Wonderful day. By the way, nearly every day we comment on how perfect everything on this trip has been. The weather has been perfect. We get to sites at just the right time. We don't get lost - Praise the Lord for GPS! We stay safe with all the driving. The sun shines bright when we want to enjoy it outside. We haven't lost anything. The food is great. We accomplish all that we set out to do each day. No one is sick. We continually get along. God has been so good. He truly is blessing us each day.
Thank you Jesus and Thank you Bill!
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Day 14
Today we leave Vio's and head to Paris. A little sad to be leaving our new German friends. Even Louis looks a little sad as we pull out of the driveway. It is a long drive on the autobahn. We are only 45 minutes to France but then still a long time to Paris. We pass many vineyards and wheat fields. This is Champagne country of France!
We stop in Verdun on the way. During World War I, the Americans joined the French fighting against the Germans. We drive through Douaumont where millions died in the battle in 1914-1918. Andres Maginot had built a wall along one side of Verdun to protect the city but the Germans just marched around the wall and entered and killed millions of people in a very short time. There is a cemetery where there are crosses as far as your eye can see - thousands, maybe millions of crosses. Some have names, some say "unknown soldier" Some say "three unknown soldiers". The Ossuainede Douaumont is a huge monument building where thousands are buried in mass graves within.
Down the road where the battle actually took place, there still are all the fox holes and huge craters where bombs were dropped. This goes for miles and miles. There are white crosses every so often where many died. We stop and walk through the fox holes and fields for a while. Amazing the impact it has to realize so many died there and how they literally crawled from one hole to another trying to survive.
Then we are on to Paris! We get there about 5pm and check into the hotel. We are staying at the Mariott in Neuilly. We have a suite with a big living room, kitchenette, separate bathroom from the main bathroom and large bedroom. Neuilly is a suburb of Paris - a nice, quiet area, upper class. We head into Paris about 15 minutes away to Le Vaubon for dinner about 8pm. Restaurants don't fill up until about 8:30pm on any night. It takes about 2-3 hours for dinner - People eat slow and sit and talk. This restaurant is right across the street from Napoleon's tomb. About 10pm they light up the tomb and it is beautiful. The gold dome is brilliant! Then we drive over to the Eiffel Tower to see it lit up. It is a beautiful blue and gets deeper and deeper blue as the sky gets darker. There are hundreds of people all standing around and sitting on the grass watching it. At 11pm they start blinking bright lights within the Eiffel tower and it is spectacular. Very much worth waiting for! A very memorable first evening in Paris! We are in Paris - hard to realize!
A few thoughts about France and the French:Most do not speak English so much harder to communicate here. Many restaurants don't even have an English menu or anyone who speaks English. Words are nothing like German or English. Places are not as clean as Germany but still not as dirty as in Mexico. Bathrooms are not clean and they do not have the toilet seat cleaners. Yet, Paris is a huge, massive city - millions of people live here. All the buildings look alike with beautiful ornate carvings in white stone. There are rows and rows of apartment buildings - all white stone with rot iron black railings around the balconies. Driving is crazy! They have no designated lanes on the roads - they drive anywhere, with hundreds of motor scooters and motor cycles that weave in and out of traffic and go down between the lanes. And yet there is no smashed cars or bent bumpers. There is no honking or impatient drivers. The huge round-about at the Arch of Triumph is really crazy and wild driving. You have to be aggressive and keep going fast or they will run right over you. There are Smart cars everywhere. They can park two to a parking stall front to back because they are so small.
There are no gas stations! Until you look close and see that they are under ground and so you enter and go down a ramp to them. The fumes are strong down there. There is a strong police presence here - very different than in Germany. At the Eiffel tower, Louvre, and Notre Dame there are military police walking around with machine guns.
Today we leave Vio's and head to Paris. A little sad to be leaving our new German friends. Even Louis looks a little sad as we pull out of the driveway. It is a long drive on the autobahn. We are only 45 minutes to France but then still a long time to Paris. We pass many vineyards and wheat fields. This is Champagne country of France!
We stop in Verdun on the way. During World War I, the Americans joined the French fighting against the Germans. We drive through Douaumont where millions died in the battle in 1914-1918. Andres Maginot had built a wall along one side of Verdun to protect the city but the Germans just marched around the wall and entered and killed millions of people in a very short time. There is a cemetery where there are crosses as far as your eye can see - thousands, maybe millions of crosses. Some have names, some say "unknown soldier" Some say "three unknown soldiers". The Ossuainede Douaumont is a huge monument building where thousands are buried in mass graves within.
Down the road where the battle actually took place, there still are all the fox holes and huge craters where bombs were dropped. This goes for miles and miles. There are white crosses every so often where many died. We stop and walk through the fox holes and fields for a while. Amazing the impact it has to realize so many died there and how they literally crawled from one hole to another trying to survive.
Then we are on to Paris! We get there about 5pm and check into the hotel. We are staying at the Mariott in Neuilly. We have a suite with a big living room, kitchenette, separate bathroom from the main bathroom and large bedroom. Neuilly is a suburb of Paris - a nice, quiet area, upper class. We head into Paris about 15 minutes away to Le Vaubon for dinner about 8pm. Restaurants don't fill up until about 8:30pm on any night. It takes about 2-3 hours for dinner - People eat slow and sit and talk. This restaurant is right across the street from Napoleon's tomb. About 10pm they light up the tomb and it is beautiful. The gold dome is brilliant! Then we drive over to the Eiffel Tower to see it lit up. It is a beautiful blue and gets deeper and deeper blue as the sky gets darker. There are hundreds of people all standing around and sitting on the grass watching it. At 11pm they start blinking bright lights within the Eiffel tower and it is spectacular. Very much worth waiting for! A very memorable first evening in Paris! We are in Paris - hard to realize!
A few thoughts about France and the French:Most do not speak English so much harder to communicate here. Many restaurants don't even have an English menu or anyone who speaks English. Words are nothing like German or English. Places are not as clean as Germany but still not as dirty as in Mexico. Bathrooms are not clean and they do not have the toilet seat cleaners. Yet, Paris is a huge, massive city - millions of people live here. All the buildings look alike with beautiful ornate carvings in white stone. There are rows and rows of apartment buildings - all white stone with rot iron black railings around the balconies. Driving is crazy! They have no designated lanes on the roads - they drive anywhere, with hundreds of motor scooters and motor cycles that weave in and out of traffic and go down between the lanes. And yet there is no smashed cars or bent bumpers. There is no honking or impatient drivers. The huge round-about at the Arch of Triumph is really crazy and wild driving. You have to be aggressive and keep going fast or they will run right over you. There are Smart cars everywhere. They can park two to a parking stall front to back because they are so small.
There are no gas stations! Until you look close and see that they are under ground and so you enter and go down a ramp to them. The fumes are strong down there. There is a strong police presence here - very different than in Germany. At the Eiffel tower, Louvre, and Notre Dame there are military police walking around with machine guns.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Day 13
This is a day with Vio and the little boys. Eric starts to combine the wheat fields and so won't be home until midnight for the next four weeks. He combines all the neighbors fields also so it will take him a long time. His father works with him in the fields. Vio is glad to get away with us today and so we head to St. Martin to walk around and have lunch. I drive with Vio and Louis and Yoseph and Bill and Chuck drive separate. It is so good to talk with Vio and hear how life is for a German family. She used to fly with Lufansa airlines. She gets 4 years maternity leave with one year paid. Everyone in Germany gets 41 days vacation a year no matter how long they have worked or what their job is - that's EIGHT weeks vacation and also holidays! Wow! Louis will start going to a preschool called a "forest school". These schools have more hands on teaching. Kids go to school 11 months out of the year - only getting August off. When they are in junior high they are tested and depending how they score they are then placed in a college track or a trade school track for high school. If they are not placed in a college track they can not go on to college. All trades - waitressing, banking, child care, farming, etc go to school for 5 years after high school. So people feel all jobs are just as important and are not just a stepping stone to another job.
When we return home, Chuck and I walk down to the fresh water creek by the farm/hotel. German's believe it is refreshing and healthy to walk in very cold water. A German doctor discovered that cold spring water helps circulation and rhumatoid arthritis. All over Europe are man made ponds of cold spring water that they walk in to improve health.
We eat dinner again out in the back garden of the Klostermuhle. Wonderful end to a very nice relaxing German day.
A few final thoughts of Germany:
German food is fabulous!
Spatzel: white dough cooked with cheese sauce
Putenschnitzel in Frischkasesauce: Turkey breaded in cheese cream sauce
Bruschetta: French bread with tomatoes and basil and other wonderful spices
Salat: salad with shredded carrots, pickled beans, cabbage with vinegar, UNDER the lettuce covered with a vinegar dressing
Weinerschnitzel: Veal pounded with spices and breaded Sauerkraut
Suppen: soup - fabulous creamed mushroom soup, beef soup, etc
Scweinemedaillions: pork
Rumpsteak: Beef, steak
Bratkartoffeln: fried baked potatoes
Lochs: salmon
This is a day with Vio and the little boys. Eric starts to combine the wheat fields and so won't be home until midnight for the next four weeks. He combines all the neighbors fields also so it will take him a long time. His father works with him in the fields. Vio is glad to get away with us today and so we head to St. Martin to walk around and have lunch. I drive with Vio and Louis and Yoseph and Bill and Chuck drive separate. It is so good to talk with Vio and hear how life is for a German family. She used to fly with Lufansa airlines. She gets 4 years maternity leave with one year paid. Everyone in Germany gets 41 days vacation a year no matter how long they have worked or what their job is - that's EIGHT weeks vacation and also holidays! Wow! Louis will start going to a preschool called a "forest school". These schools have more hands on teaching. Kids go to school 11 months out of the year - only getting August off. When they are in junior high they are tested and depending how they score they are then placed in a college track or a trade school track for high school. If they are not placed in a college track they can not go on to college. All trades - waitressing, banking, child care, farming, etc go to school for 5 years after high school. So people feel all jobs are just as important and are not just a stepping stone to another job.
When we return home, Chuck and I walk down to the fresh water creek by the farm/hotel. German's believe it is refreshing and healthy to walk in very cold water. A German doctor discovered that cold spring water helps circulation and rhumatoid arthritis. All over Europe are man made ponds of cold spring water that they walk in to improve health.
We eat dinner again out in the back garden of the Klostermuhle. Wonderful end to a very nice relaxing German day.
A few final thoughts of Germany:
German food is fabulous!
Spatzel: white dough cooked with cheese sauce
Putenschnitzel in Frischkasesauce: Turkey breaded in cheese cream sauce
Bruschetta: French bread with tomatoes and basil and other wonderful spices
Salat: salad with shredded carrots, pickled beans, cabbage with vinegar, UNDER the lettuce covered with a vinegar dressing
Weinerschnitzel: Veal pounded with spices and breaded Sauerkraut
Suppen: soup - fabulous creamed mushroom soup, beef soup, etc
Scweinemedaillions: pork
Rumpsteak: Beef, steak
Bratkartoffeln: fried baked potatoes
Lochs: salmon
Monday, July 14, 2008
Day 12
July 14 - Rachel's Birthday!!
We woke Rachel up to sing Happy Birthday! The sun is shining and it is beautiful so we decide today is the day to head up the Reine River on a boat. We drive about an hour to Bingen where we catch a boat to go to St. Goar. It is gorgeous! The vineyards are hanging on the sides of very steep hills - don't know how they can farm them there. And there are small towns along the sides of the Reine RIver. Nearly each one has a castle up at the top of the hills of the town. Rheinestein castle, Falconbush castle, Sonneck Castle of the Roman Knights, Himburg castle - the lowest castle on the Reine, Weinstadt Lorch, Rheingold castle which has a small castle above it, Backroch castle, Gutenfeld's castle in Kaub is called the cat and mouse castle because it has one large castle above and a smaller one below on a little island in the river. There is the Oberwesel town with the Schonburg castle and the Church of the Lady". The "Loreley Rock" is a huge rock at the bend of the river where legend has it a mermaid sat and beckoned sailors who then would run their boats into rocks trying to get to her.
The boat ride takes 2 hours and then we have lunch in St. Goar at a little outside cafe. I bought Anna's coo coo clock here! Then we head back to our car by taxi - we missed the train.
We head to Vio's parents for a birthday party for her mom - same day as Rachel's! Margit and Edmund are very gracious but know no English. A nephew takes us on tour of the vineyards and the town. The French burned part of the town in the French/German war - they have monuments and are still upset over the French. The vineyards are beautiful. Their vineyard is called "Weingut Hinter der kirche" because that is where it is - vineyard behind the church. The church is across the street from the farm house and storage barns for their wine. Half the church is Protestant and half the church is Catholic. They have separate sidewalks heading up to the church doors.
They take us on a tour of their wine cellar where they still store their wines and have candlelight wine nights for couples. About 35 people soon arrive for the birthday party. The people are very gracious and gentle, quiet folks. Margit has four brothers and sisters and they are all there with their families. They have a long table set in the backyard of the farm house. They have fresh cut flowers from her garden on the tables. There is champagne and wine and lots of great food. They have concentrated grape juice from their vineyard that is absolutely the best I have ever tasted. Vio has been working all day on the food and preparations. They have wonderful pork rolled around bacon and ham and dumplings and a horseradish salad. After eating, one of Margrit's brothers sings a beautiful song for her and also for us. They are very proud to have us visiting from America and make us feel so welcomed. Only a few can speak any English though so we just listen to their conversation and Bill and Eric interpret for us occasionally. Very fun to see real German's interacting. Many people brought her beautiful flowers and plants for gifts. It is a wonderful evening!
July 14 - Rachel's Birthday!!
We woke Rachel up to sing Happy Birthday! The sun is shining and it is beautiful so we decide today is the day to head up the Reine River on a boat. We drive about an hour to Bingen where we catch a boat to go to St. Goar. It is gorgeous! The vineyards are hanging on the sides of very steep hills - don't know how they can farm them there. And there are small towns along the sides of the Reine RIver. Nearly each one has a castle up at the top of the hills of the town. Rheinestein castle, Falconbush castle, Sonneck Castle of the Roman Knights, Himburg castle - the lowest castle on the Reine, Weinstadt Lorch, Rheingold castle which has a small castle above it, Backroch castle, Gutenfeld's castle in Kaub is called the cat and mouse castle because it has one large castle above and a smaller one below on a little island in the river. There is the Oberwesel town with the Schonburg castle and the Church of the Lady". The "Loreley Rock" is a huge rock at the bend of the river where legend has it a mermaid sat and beckoned sailors who then would run their boats into rocks trying to get to her.
The boat ride takes 2 hours and then we have lunch in St. Goar at a little outside cafe. I bought Anna's coo coo clock here! Then we head back to our car by taxi - we missed the train.
We head to Vio's parents for a birthday party for her mom - same day as Rachel's! Margit and Edmund are very gracious but know no English. A nephew takes us on tour of the vineyards and the town. The French burned part of the town in the French/German war - they have monuments and are still upset over the French. The vineyards are beautiful. Their vineyard is called "Weingut Hinter der kirche" because that is where it is - vineyard behind the church. The church is across the street from the farm house and storage barns for their wine. Half the church is Protestant and half the church is Catholic. They have separate sidewalks heading up to the church doors.
They take us on a tour of their wine cellar where they still store their wines and have candlelight wine nights for couples. About 35 people soon arrive for the birthday party. The people are very gracious and gentle, quiet folks. Margit has four brothers and sisters and they are all there with their families. They have a long table set in the backyard of the farm house. They have fresh cut flowers from her garden on the tables. There is champagne and wine and lots of great food. They have concentrated grape juice from their vineyard that is absolutely the best I have ever tasted. Vio has been working all day on the food and preparations. They have wonderful pork rolled around bacon and ham and dumplings and a horseradish salad. After eating, one of Margrit's brothers sings a beautiful song for her and also for us. They are very proud to have us visiting from America and make us feel so welcomed. Only a few can speak any English though so we just listen to their conversation and Bill and Eric interpret for us occasionally. Very fun to see real German's interacting. Many people brought her beautiful flowers and plants for gifts. It is a wonderful evening!
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Day 11
Today we leave Heidelberg traveling the Weinstrausse - this is the autobauhn that winds through the wine country of Germany. The vineyards are beautiful and are nestled among the fields of wheat and corn. The sun is shining and we soon head off the autobauhn to travel through the little villages of Germany. Maikammer is a little village with narrow streets that you would think only one car could go through. But they just move over to the edge and everyone can pass. Grapes hang over the streets on wires between houses. There is no grass - just walls of houses running right up to the streets with a narrow sidewalk on in front of some houses. Then we park in St. Martin and walk the streets. There are a few little shops but mostly houses and churches. This is a town dating back to the medival times. There are dates on the homes and wine stores from 1400-1500's. The old wall of the city is still there. We stop in Deidesheir at the Deidesheimerhof for lunch. This has the largest beer cask - stands 2 stories tall. Houses here have dates of 1485. THere is a large flea market going on and so we walk through it and buy a cut glass beer stein and a cup and saucer.
Next we head to Freinsheim - now this is an old town. Wow, these buildings are very old yet they are kept up so nice. Lots of wine stores again. Just up the road is Frankenstein and the famous Frankenstein castle. Percy Bethshelly was visiting here when he was inspired to write the story of Frankenstein based on this castle. It stands high on a hill and the only way there is to walk the long trail up to the top.
Now we finally arrive at Munchweiler where Erick and Vio live. Vio was Bill and Karen's opper (nanny) when the boys were 5 and 7 years old. Her parents are Margit and Edmund Knab who live in Pheddersheim about 20 minutes away. Her brother Oliver, runs the family vineyards there. The family vineyard has been in the family for 4 generations.
Erick's parents are Claudia and Carl-Heinz Jennewein. The farm has been in their family since 1928. Erick farms wheat and sugar beets. Erick's brother David and his partner Valentin run the Klostermuhle Hotel that is connected to the farm. That is where we stay - beautiful new contemporary style rooms. David also runs the resturant there and his mother is the main cook. Wonderful food and wonderful people. Erick also has a two sisters named Astrid and Carla who we didn't get to meet. Erick and Vio have two little boys - Louis is 20 months and runs around everywhere showing us the farm and scenery. He talks constantly when he warms up to you - but all German of course! Yoseph is just 10 weeks old. He is such a good baby - sleeps most of the time and wakes up so happy - never hear him cry or fuss - full of smiles! It is so good to meet a German family and talk with them. Erick spent some time in North Dakota learning about farming and so both Vio and Erick speak very good English. We have dinner with them at the Klostermuhle in the garden and sit and talk for three hours while Louis plays soccer in the yard with some older boys - yes, he is 20 months old and can kick a soccer ball.
Now to bed.
Today we leave Heidelberg traveling the Weinstrausse - this is the autobauhn that winds through the wine country of Germany. The vineyards are beautiful and are nestled among the fields of wheat and corn. The sun is shining and we soon head off the autobauhn to travel through the little villages of Germany. Maikammer is a little village with narrow streets that you would think only one car could go through. But they just move over to the edge and everyone can pass. Grapes hang over the streets on wires between houses. There is no grass - just walls of houses running right up to the streets with a narrow sidewalk on in front of some houses. Then we park in St. Martin and walk the streets. There are a few little shops but mostly houses and churches. This is a town dating back to the medival times. There are dates on the homes and wine stores from 1400-1500's. The old wall of the city is still there. We stop in Deidesheir at the Deidesheimerhof for lunch. This has the largest beer cask - stands 2 stories tall. Houses here have dates of 1485. THere is a large flea market going on and so we walk through it and buy a cut glass beer stein and a cup and saucer.
Next we head to Freinsheim - now this is an old town. Wow, these buildings are very old yet they are kept up so nice. Lots of wine stores again. Just up the road is Frankenstein and the famous Frankenstein castle. Percy Bethshelly was visiting here when he was inspired to write the story of Frankenstein based on this castle. It stands high on a hill and the only way there is to walk the long trail up to the top.
Now we finally arrive at Munchweiler where Erick and Vio live. Vio was Bill and Karen's opper (nanny) when the boys were 5 and 7 years old. Her parents are Margit and Edmund Knab who live in Pheddersheim about 20 minutes away. Her brother Oliver, runs the family vineyards there. The family vineyard has been in the family for 4 generations.
Erick's parents are Claudia and Carl-Heinz Jennewein. The farm has been in their family since 1928. Erick farms wheat and sugar beets. Erick's brother David and his partner Valentin run the Klostermuhle Hotel that is connected to the farm. That is where we stay - beautiful new contemporary style rooms. David also runs the resturant there and his mother is the main cook. Wonderful food and wonderful people. Erick also has a two sisters named Astrid and Carla who we didn't get to meet. Erick and Vio have two little boys - Louis is 20 months and runs around everywhere showing us the farm and scenery. He talks constantly when he warms up to you - but all German of course! Yoseph is just 10 weeks old. He is such a good baby - sleeps most of the time and wakes up so happy - never hear him cry or fuss - full of smiles! It is so good to meet a German family and talk with them. Erick spent some time in North Dakota learning about farming and so both Vio and Erick speak very good English. We have dinner with them at the Klostermuhle in the garden and sit and talk for three hours while Louis plays soccer in the yard with some older boys - yes, he is 20 months old and can kick a soccer ball.
Now to bed.
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