Last week was a wonderful week!! We had Papa Bob and Grandmy Etcy here with us!!!!! What a thrill to have family here - and be able to speak and listen to English so much:) It was not an error-free trip by any means, but everyone was so positive that it turned out great! The funniest "error" was that we had to drive around a BEAST of a car...a true Transit Bus..b/c the German rental companies don't really believe in the mini-van or SUV ---it's a small car or a BUS --- so we drove a MANUAL bus! Wait...let me clarify --- LINDA DROVE A MANUAL BUS!!! That's right folks - I drove that beast around on these small streets and parking areas - with no dents to show for it!! Absolutely hiliarous- but actually a great way to travel to Holland and back!
 |
| The Transit bus parked outside our Apt. |
 |
| Mommay Linda & the Girls in the spacious backseat! |
 |
| Tim - our main Chauffeur in the Transit Bus |
Tim, I, and the girls took the train from Ladenburg to Frankfurt to pick up Mom and Dad. It was a fun way to travel - easy and fast!
 |
| Waiting for the train in Ladenburg! |
After their safe arrival in Frankfurt, we spent the first two days around here. We spent Day 1 in Ladenburg. The hightlights:
-enjoyed ice cream at the local shop
-toured the town
-attmepted Dinner at the Weinheim (error #2 - it was closed for this night), so enjoyed a meal at the Piano Lounge -quiet and nice!
Day 2 was spent Heidelberg. The hightlights:
-shopped at the local Bakery for baked yummies for breakfast
-went to the Outdoor Market on the Marketplatz
-attempted to exchange the Transit Bus for something small (error #3) with no luck - OH, and did I mention that the AIR CONDITIONER didn't work in this bus??? YEP - and no easy fix, so we had to make due!! (Lucikyly, God answered prayers with cooler weather during the week!)
-Took the Tram up to the Heidelburg Castle - and enjoyed a picnic lunch on the courtyard grounds with our fresh purchases form the market!
-devoured apple streudel, ice cream and milch cafes at Kulterbreie (one of the hotels Tim stays at often)
-Dinner at our local favorite Die Kartoffel (The Potato) where we cooked our own steak/shrimp on hot stones!
The next day, it was off to our HOME COUNTRY of Holland!!! We had a short stop in cologne where we toured the Cathedral there! Upon arrival, there was a service in session so we listened for afew minutes. We then went off to get some lunch at the bakery where Dad tasted something 'new"...a jelly donut!! But, it WAS good! Then, back to the Cathedral for more tour.
After our Cathedral Visit, it was off to HOOGEVEEN Holland. We knew we entered the Netherlands when we saw flat land that went forever, more water and dairy cows everywhere! We also noticed that Mom could decipher the road signs better then Tim!!!After a few hours,and major hail storm that turned the autobahn white, we arrived in Hoogeveen. We were sure we'd become famour vistors, but NO ONE seemed to care! Dad tried showing MANY people his ID but with no luck! WHAT? No dinner at the Mayor's home?? Ok - fine we'll go downtown to T'Olde Schippershuus and enjoy some puffertjies!! We drove around town to see our first windmill up close and enjoyed some ice cream. Then, after some futile attempts to find a playground, we returned to the new Bowling Center at the Hotel! Fun Day for sure!!
The next morning began with a 12 mile run for Tim, Dad figuring out how to connect to the internet on the hotel computer all by himself, and the women all relaxing! After a wonderful "european-style breakfast' of breads, jams, meats, cheeses, fruit, yogurt, juice and coffee, it was time to head to Zaandam (just outside of Amsterdam). We spent about 1/2 the day at Zaanse Schans - a cool traditional Dutch Village with windmills, wooden shoe shop, pannekuchen shop, restaurants, and more! Very fun time!
 |
| We toured the middle windmill - it made chalk! |
 |
| Some of the Zaanse Schans Village |
 |
| Don't they look good in wooden shoes??? Later that day, we went to our Hotel and enjoyed some italian dinner at pizzeria Porto Fino. The following day, we were off to a Concentration Camp. It was a highlight and yet lowlight for all of us. Camp Vught National Memorial located at s-Hertogenbosch was emotional for sure - too much to write here -maybe more later! After a long ride home thanks to some bad traffic, we arrived back in Ladenburg.  THANKS FOR THE VISIT GRANDPA BOB AND GRANDMA ETCY!!! WE LOVED EVERY MINUTE!!! |
Sounds like so much fun! I'm so impressed with your parents for coming to visit you! Can't imagine the concentration camp. When you see something like that in person, there aren't words to convey the emotions. On a brighter note, wish I could have been on that bus with you all. Bet it was a crack-up!
ReplyDeleteJen