Back Home at Last

This is the final posting of our German adventure.



We arrived home on Friday 23 May. Unfortunately my (Anne's) father is quite ill and we thought it best to come home a week earlier than anticipated to spend time with him. Fortunately Dad's health has improved slightly since our return but he is still in hospital and not doing all that well.



Our last week was spent packing and organising and therefore is not really worth a mention. The trip home was uneventful, just the way we like it. Unfortunately someone has turned off the heater since we left in early April and we were welcomed back with a morning temperature of 2 degrees.




We are home for one month and then off on our Hede-OzTrek adventure in July. If you are interested in reading about this, which I am sure will be as adventurous as Germany, keep watching this space. The postings will probably be only once a month which I'm sure you will all be happy to hear.






Goodbye for now and we'll be back soon.

We Visit the Burgs (Rothen and Frei)

Back to work for Stephen on Tuesday and a busy day for me with blogging and telephone conversations. Stephen is working very hard and is feeling somewhat tired. We have found a new place to eat, Cafe Fagioli, where the food is very tasty. We've been back a couple of times now and the young waitress, who doesn't speak English, is always very helpful, although Stephen thought he was ordering a tomato salad and ended up with the best tomato soup he has ever tasted - apart from mine of course! A mistake with benefits. The local German food we have had is very salty, so we have been sticking to mainly Italian restaurants.

The weather this week started out quite hot but has cooled a little towards the weekend and is now raining - you know that stuff that use to fall from the sky in Melbourne about 7 or 8 years ago! The one thing we have noticed as we tour around is how green the countryside is. When we first arrived all the trees were leafless and now they are all out in full bloom. How the scenery has changed in only 7 weeks.

Friday night was really balmy so we decided to go and sit up at the centre and act like locals. We vent to a wery trendy bar for a quiet drink. If there are no seats inside or within the immediate vicinity outside simply find a rock or a lump of concrete nearby (approx. 1km) which we did. Friday night drinks took on a whole new meaning!

Saturday Michael and I were back on the road with the hybrid, Prius and off to Rothenburg ob der Tauber. This is a walled city about 1 hour 30 minutes north of Stuttgart, or moderately more for the average driver. It was a beautiful day and we walked around in the sun. There were a lot of tourists in the town and the market square (platz) was doing a booming Saturday morning trade with fruit and vegies. We climbed the Rathaus (town hall) tower for a great view of the surrounding area. I must admit my fear of heights was given a massive work out on this climb, with narrow wooden stairs that were very shiny after millions of pairs of feet had ascended and descended them. To say I was scared would be a big understatement. After I recovered from the trauma and Stephen had stopped laughing, we walked around the town.



The town seems to specialise in wooden puppets and has some large shops devoted to Christmas decorations. We could have spent a fortune but most things were wooden and of course you are not allowed to bring them back into Australia. Everything else was glass or delicate and we are limited with packing stuff into our bags. We walked around the wall and through the gardens and finished in our usual fashion by having something to eat and drink. For those of us old enough to remember our mums using Persil, you can buy it in Germany in bulk.

One thing that has caught our attention throughout Germany is the number of ‘Goths’ with their black clothes, hair and piercings. In Rothenburg there were nought to be seen. However we did find where they all originate from – The Goethe Institute (see photo). Obviously they were all busy attending lessons prior to fanning out across the country. As we were returning to the car the heavens opened up and down came the rain. We didn't have far to go but were drenched by the time we got back to the car - no coats or umbrella. However, before we left we managed to photograph "a vell with a wery, wery vell vorn vooden vheel". !!!! Were you aware that Mark Twain, during a visit to Heidelberg, said "to learn the German language is perfect for the dead as it takes an eternity". Especially the Vees and the Wubblues.

Home to check the footy scores and watch a movie on the computer. So far 5 winners, could we possibly pick 8 this week??

Sunday morning a quick hello on Skype to the beautiful grandchildren and off to Freiburg Im Breisgau. We had been advised by a number of people that if you go to Germany you must go to Freiburg so we were looking forward to the day. The weather was a bit overcast but with sunny breaks. Freiburg is about 2 hours south of Stuttgart and Michael S was enjoying the drive. Would someone please warn the Victorian police that he will be home shortly. We arrived at the information centre only 20 minutes before it closed. The Germans hate to work on Sunday and unless you are eating, everything is closed. No 7 days a week shopping for them. The tourist office was across from St Martin's church so we popped in for the 3rd and 4th quarters. Now we were a little surprised that there was such a person as St Martin because the only Martin we know is no saint, as a matter of fact he is a Demon.

(Aren't they cute!!)

We did a self walking tour of the old town and were delighted at every corner we turned. Beautiful medieval buildings and little canals running through the town, and I do mean little, they would be no wider than about 10 inches. They would be lethal if you had had too much to drink and were trying to get home, not that we advocate doing such a thing!! One street had the most beautiful wisteria trained from wall to wall on either side of the road forming a gorgeous overhead display. Freiburg is quite compact and space is at a premium. One group of young people had taken their diningroom table, music and coffee machine out onto the main street and were enjoying Sunday lunch as the trams whizzed by. Can't imagine doing that in Strathmore.

We arrived at the market square and were surprised to find the Hotel Rappen still standing. We had heard that it had been trashed in the 1980's by some marauding New South Welshmen.

The south of Germany is very Catholic and we were not surprised to find an ordination was occurring in the Munster (Cathedral) when we arrived. The church was full of dignitaries and family and friends of those being ordained. The ordinary folk were only allowed to stand down the back which we were quite happy to do.

From there we sat at the cafe across the road and had an ice cream sundae and some apfel strudel for Stephen. Ever since we arrived we have been amazed by the number of people eating ice creams. They eat it at all hours of the day so it wouldn't have been right if we didn't join in. Unfortunately the weather changed quite dramatically and we headed back to the car to get our coats. We walked in the rain for a while but soon realised we had seen all of the old centre by this stage anyway. So, back to the car and home to the hotel in Stuttgart.

Surprise, surprise we both picked 8 this week along with 90% of AFL tipsters (Essendon supporters excluded).

This week it is happy birthday to Leonie and we wish Meg a great night on 22 May for her confirmation. Love and kisses to Dad.

Ich bin ein Berliner

Was a little homesick last week but have managed to get over it. Just thought of you all home in the cold weather and said to myself, “self, its beautiful weather, there is no housework to do, you have a book to read, you can go for a walk in the park, or if you can be bothered get on a train and go somewhere.” So here I am over the homesickness.

Thursday I went out to the airport in Stuttgart because I was instructed to do so by he who has to be super organised!! In order for one to get on a plane to go to Berlin, one needs plans, directions and timings – apparently. So I got on the train and went for on a reconnaissance mission out to the airport. While this was a complete waste of time, as one gets out of the train station right into Terminal 1 and onto the plane to Berlin, on the way back I did meet a very nice Turkish girl who was lost and I was able to assist – I have become very traveller friendly since arriving. I travelled on the train into Stuttgart with her and managed to talk her ear off about anything I could manage to dribble out of my mouth on the 25 minute trip – talking to people is something I will never take for granted again.

Friday afternoon as we were about to leave for the airport for our trip to Berlin, someone casually mentioned to Stephen that they would see him on Tuesday. “Tuesday?” he replies, “Yes, Monday is a holiday.” Hmmm, plans are immediately revised and we change our return flight from Berlin to Monday. Beauty, three days in Berlin not two.

We arrive tired but excited and go for a walk. The size of the city is quite overwhelming. It is a residential city with shops and businesses scattered throughout. There are beautiful boulevards throughout the city, similar to Paris. The city doesn’t really have a centre like Melbourne and we soon realise we were going to have to master the public transport system if we were to see all that we had planned. Friday night is fairly sleepless as we are in a room at the front of the Hotel California, no we did not choose this hotel, an agent did, which fronts onto the main shopping street and party strip in Berlin - Kurfurstendamm. Saturday morning I ask for a room change and they kindly oblige. I don’t think it is the first time they have had this request.

We find the on again off again bus (complete with guys drinking beer at 10.00 am) and take our first look at the city. We spend most of the morning and early afternoon just looking, however this little excursion was topped off by a visit to Ka Da We, the department store to top all others. They deal only in designer labels and have two floors devoted to gourmet food. Yes we just had to go there! No designer label floors for us, straight to the food. I don’t know how it happened but we had a lunch of Asian food, cooked in front of us and which was delicious, however we were surrounded by the most magnificent looking gourmet cakes you have ever seen. Obviously Stephen’s taste buds outvoted my waistline.

We had arranged to meet with Lara, a German exchange student who stayed with us last year, and her family at 3pm. After greetings and introductions to dad Walter, mum Angelica and sister Antonia we walked and walked and walked (you were right Carole). They were great hosts and showed us many buildings and monuments, explaining their origins and history. The Festival of Cultures was on and we came across a sea of people – Moomba but with lots more bodies. The city is a contrast of old and new, mainly new as much was razed during the bombing of Berlin. One of the photos shows some new apartments being built in the east with the older style apartments in the background. We ended the evening by having dinner on a boat on the River Spree (I still can’t say that Lara) and a great day was had by all.

Sunday we decide to revisit WW2 so started by going to the Brandenburg Gate and then to the Check Point Charlie museum. The weather was quite hot and as none of the buildings have aircon they can be quite stifling, especially when it is a long weekend and the city is full of tourists. The museum was interesting but a little repetitive and self promoting. We were somewhat confused as to what used to be the east and west of Berlin. We eventually figured out where the wall had gone and Mr I Need To Know Exactly Where Everything Is was happy. We went from there to what is the last remaining piece of the Wall. This location has an exhibition called the Topography of Terror and it is situated on what was the site of the SS (Gestapo) headquarters. Wilhemstrasse was the street where Hitler built the Reich Chancellery and many other buildings where all the 'really bad guys' were situated. All but one of these buildings was completed wiped out during the bombing of Berlin. The former site of the SS headquarters has not yet been rebuilt; it is still a hole in the ground. The exhibition which is at the back of the Wall was fantastic but, as it was outside and in direct sunlight, we struggled to read it all and, as fascinating as it was, had to give up towards the end when reading eyewitness accounts. From there we walked to the Jewish memorial then to the Tiergarten (see above). These gardens are in the middle of the city and go for many kilometres. With the weather the way it was I think every Berliner was in the gardens over the weekend, many with clothes and some without! We finally got on the bus and headed to the hotel exhausted. I even forgot it was Mother’s Day. We slept very well that night.

Monday morning we decided to line up to see the Reichstag, the German parliament building. After a one hour wait in the blazing sun we finally got in. We walked to the top of the dome for a very good view of the city but were somewhat disappointed when we realised there were no English tours of the parliamentary rooms as it was a public holiday??? We then caught the bus to the Bode Museum, Pergamon Museum and the Berlin Dom (yes Shirley they still have daily recitals). By this stage we were knackered and headed back via a street market to the bus and our hotel to pick up our case and head home.

(Keeping all the old relics together!)

A great city and a must on any would be travellers’ list but you do need about 5 days with a rest day included as your feet take a hammering.

A special hello to my Dad who is not too well at the moment. We love you Dad.

Mitchell's Revenge and What's Special About Belgium?

For those of you who don’t know, prior to Peter Mitchell’s death last year, a group of us were regular Canasta players. Nola, Peter and Anne were known as the NAPs. The other team are of no consequence so don’t get a mention. Now Peter and I loved each other dearly and, along with Nola, we were invincible at Canasta. However, there was one thing that Peter and I could never come to terms with and that was that he hated Collingwood and I hated Essendon. At times this proved a hurdle too difficult even for us, especially on Anzac Day. Last year when I went to see Pete following the Anzac Day game, which by the way Collingwood won, I was aware that he had been too sick to get up to watch the game however he was well aware who had won. As I walked into the room I was met with the comment, “I’m not talking about the #*#*ing footy, alright!” Here I made a fatal mistake and respected a dying man’s wish. We went onto discuss many things and this would be the last time that Pete and I talked.

If you have been reading the blog you would know that last week I gave the Essendon supporters a basting about their pathetic side, which of course is within the bounds of the football code of ethics, kick a team when they are down. Now I am sure you are wondering where I am going with all this.

On Tuesday night 29 April, the anniversary of Pete’s death, Stephen and I were walking the streets of Stuttgart looking for somewhere to eat and reminiscing about Pete. Suddenly I was hit on the head. I immediately thought someone had thrown something at me and I was bleeding from the head. “Stephen, Stephen, I have been hit!” Stephen investigates. “Eeeeuuuuu, its bird poop, lots of it!” Now the most disturbing part about this story is that I was walking under a verandah that had absolutely nowhere for a bird to be. Now I know one should never speak ill of the dead and maybe no-one else will think this, but I am absolutely 100% bloody sure that this is Mitchell’s revenge from the grave. Let’s face it, when it came to Collingwood, Peter was just plain nasty and if I could have my time over again, this time last year I should have laid the boots in. Consequently we had to return to the hotel to wash my hair, believe me, it was that bad.


Enough about that, last Thursday Stephen and I collected our hire car for the four day weekend and headed to Ostend, Belgium to visit our friend Luc. Once again the Michael Schumacher in Stephen came out as soon as he sat in the Audi A6. This was one seriously nice and very fast automobile. I hate to think how many speeding tickets are coming Stephen's way when he gets back to Melbourne's 100 kph limits. It was a 6 hour drive and we were glad to finally arrive at Luc's flat. Ostend is situated on the coast of Belgium and is a holiday destination for most Belgians, and believe me everyone of them was there for the long weekend. We walked along the promenade and had a beer in the sun before going back and having a quiet evening catching up with Luc.





Friday we spent the morning walking around Ostend and tantalising our tastebuds, you may see a theme with our photos this week. We bought some provisions for dinner as we were finally going to get the chance to cook on Friday and Saturday nights. After many weeks in a hotel, trust me, this is something we were really looking forward to.


We headed for Ieper where many Australian and New Zealand troops took part in WW1 and unfortunately many lost their lives. The Menin Gate is in Ieper and is covered with the names of ANZACS who died in the area. We then took a very sobering trip to Tyne Cot Cemetery where close to 12,000 graves are located. It was a very moving experience. The museum in Ieper had a fascinating exposition on the Commonwealth soldiers who fought in the war. We were surprised by many of the facts about the various countries and their troops of which we had not been aware, a history lesson we certainly won't forget in a hurry.

On Saturday we headed for our favourite city in Europe, Brugge. For those of you who have been, I need not explain its beauty and charm, but for the heathens who have not, this is a town you must see when you have the chance. Stephen and I had been to Brugge on a number of occasions, and each time it had been grey and rainy, but still beautiful, however this time it was a magnificent 21 degrees and the sun, the city and its canals were shinning in all their glory. We ate our very favourite Belgian meal of Waterzootsje for lunch, yummmm, which of course was accompanied by beer for Stephen and Luc and water for me - yeah right! Our trip back to Ostend was via Damme, a lovely little village with a very good beer garden, and other pretty little villages along the way.





Sunday morning we paid a quick visit to Luc's father, thanked Luc for his very generous hospitality and then headed back to the race track, ooopps, autobahn. We had a wonderful weekend. We were home in time to discover that Collingwood had their bums spanked, Melbourne had beaten Freo and that Essendon had been pooed on by Port! So take that Mitchell.

Enjoy the photos because that is about as close to these tantalising beauties as you are going to get. I, on the other hand, am drooling chocolate today. God I love Belgium.





Congratulations this week to the Maruff's on the arrival of Clementine, the Rogers on the arrival of another beautiful grandaughter, Lucy (well done Alison and Mike) and a special congratulations to Rachael and Vince who were married last Saturday. Also a big thanks to Luc for showing us around his home town and being a most generous host.