A visit from Ann !!

Sara's sister, Ann, came to visit for a week. We were so grateful to her family for sharing her with us and to Mom for helping with her kids while she was gone. It was a wonderful week! Here are some highlights...




Ann left Friday midday (Iowa time) and arrived early Saturday morning (Germany time) so our job on Saturday was to keep her awake until early evening so she could crash and get adjusted to the time zone here for the week. So we tried to stay outside and moving. We started with a walk through the Hauptstrasse, some coffee and cake and then headed to the castle.













































We ate at a hotel/restaurant famous because Goethe tried to get a room here long ago and was told they were full. The restaurant/hotel is now known as the place where Goethe almost slept! Does Ann look sleepy here - she was! We got here in bed right after filling her up with a big, hot, heavy German meal.









After church on Sunday we headed to Dilsberg. Before leaving we read the legend of Dilsberg from "A Tramp Abroad" by Mark Twain. It makes the Dilsberg castle more interesting.

Monday through Friday Jeff had to work and the kids had school so I had Ann all to myself during the day! She went to see the kids' school, met their teachers, experienced their rides to school on the street car then we set off on our own adventures. Monday was rainy but that did not stop us from hiking to Heilegenberg. The views were non-existent because of the rain and fog but the hike was great and the mist gave the ruins a mysterious feel that was pretty cool.

When we woke up on Tuesday our legs were remembering Monday's climb. We needed to give them a break but we also knew we couldn't just sit around or they would stiffen up. We also had a lot of miles to make up after being separated from each other and unable to do our 6 AM morning walks since July. So after getting the kids off to school we hopped on the street car and then a bus to Schwetzingen to tour the gardens. We put on a lot of miles but they were flat miles and our pace was pretty relaxed. It was not what Ann expected. She loved it!

I think this was the afternoon, after returning to Heidelberg, that we discovered the world's BEST (I am not exaggerating) coconut ice cream. We made several visits there the rest of the week!

Wednesday, after morning pastries, we took the old train up to Konigstuhl. We took in the view on this pretty clear day and then set off to hike. I wore my pedometer that day and if it is accurate we put on a good 10 miles! We hiked the nature trail down and back up the mountain and then took another trail back down to Heidelberg.

Ann treated us to one of our favorites for supper - Doners (with pommes - fries)! We sat on the Hauptstrasse, ate, talked and watched people stroll by. It was wonderful!

Thursday was a slow, relaxing day. We started with pastries and then did some shopping for some things for Ann's kids. And we took a wonderful, relaxing ride on a solar boat on the Necker. We rode west and back east along the Necker with beautiful views of the castle the old bridge and all of the Heidelberg river front. We ended the afternoon at a bakery along the Hauptstrassehaving a little cake and coffee.

Friday we had pastries (nut horns this time!) and then went to Eberbach with Jeff after his German lessons. We had a nice tour of the company offices then we went out to lunch in Eberbach. The weather was beautiful and we ate outside. After a wonderful lunch we had to visit a fabulous ice cream shop right next door. Jeff was amazed at how we were able to get these down, no problem, after a big lunch. We claimed as we ordered that we would probably need his help but we didn't :) !

That evening, after a (very) light supper, we headed to the Hauptstrasse for neuer wine (new wine) and zwebelkuchen (onion cake) a German fall specialty.

It was a wonderful week! Thanks Ann! We miss you and love you!