Trip Day 22 - Singen Mon

Monday October 3

I can't remember when actually my sister Ute had to catch the train at the station. Must have been around 9 am. Needless to say James and I had been so grateful that she had journeyed south and joined us for a few days so we could spent time together. After all, ha-ha, she is my older sister. (by evening we knew that her trip had gone very well too)

I had gone with Corry who was the driver of course. She and I both had to go to the bank so we walked from the station across into the city. 

This day was a holiday in Germany. German Reunification Day. The reunification happened in 1990 and was just an incredible day making a lot of difference to my family. But anyway, the city was very quiet because on German holidays nobody really works AS IT SHOULD  BE!

So, when we were looking for the banks I came across this: trashcans to keep the city clean. But ... they have very clever and funny sayings. Every one a different one.

This: Du bist einfach SAUBERHAFT. Play with words: if the S was a Z = "Du bist einfach zauberhaft" that would mean "you are magically". But using the S makes it the word Sauber which means clean. I love play with words.

Gib's mir! = Give it to me! (yes, put the trash here)

Eine MÜLLde Gabe bitte (another play with words) =  "Eine MILde Gabe"is asking for a donation but MÜLL is trash. Very clever I think. It sounds so similar. 

Wenn ich groß bin, werde ich MÜLLionär. It should be: Wenn ich groß bin, werde ich Millionär. = When I am grown up I become a millionaire. Remember: MÜLL is trash but it sounds so similar.

Sorry, play with words is something I really like. 

The city was nice. And so German. I enjoyed it.

We also had to drive back to the celebration venue. Somebody had left a bag with keys and stuff and somebody thought it was left by our group and sent to us. We brought it back. The door was locked. The owner was gruff on the intercom. We just left it in front of the door.

When Corry drove though I saw several photo opportunities ... and couldn't help it.

In the afternoon we were invited to Corry's oldest, Sebastian and family for lunch. He and his wife Melanie had just moved from Munich close to both of their parents. They were lucky to buy a really big house and had already done a lot of renovation but still had a lot to do. It is something though they can already be really proud of. And, they did this with three young children. We all know that life with young children is not easy at the best of times. But those three Marlene, Jorin and Jasper are really cute.

Melanie made a most delicious pumpkin soup (one of my favorite) with several "trimmings". After lunch we decided to take a walk. The weather was so nice. AND we hoped that the really tired Jorin and Jasper would take a nap riding in strollers.

But Marlene and Jorin wanted to ride their bikes. Little brother Jasper (soooo tired) didn't want to ride in the stroller either. He wanted to walk. And oh my goodness, he was an incredible walker with those little legs.  

Suddenly daddy Sebastian had to run because Jorin was a little bit too fast on his training bike and it was a busy street. Yup, parenthood.

Meanwhile Jasper still put one leg in front of the other and did not want to get into the stroller.

The area was so gorgeous. 

As all children do, Jorin has his likes and he loves trees. He ran ahead and sat under the tree. He needed his time there and wasn't easily persuaded to continue with the walk. I didn't blame him. It was so pretty there ... but only one stump to sit on. 

There is nothing so good than to sit on your dad's shoulders. 

After a while we came to the daycare Jasper would go to after the summer break. It seems a very special place. It's all about nature and in a beautiful countryside. 

The next two pictures are from a string along the trail of corn cob faces most likely done by the children.

We enjoyed our time with the young family but then it was time to go back. Corry did stop at a special place. It is called "Der Aachtopf" also Aachquelle. This is the biggest spring in Germany. 

Most of the water of this spring (River Aach) comes from the River Danube where it disappears underground at the Danube Sinkhole, 12 kilometers (7.5 mile) north near Immendingen and about 14 kilometers {8.7 miles) north near Friedingen. It was interesting and a very nice place.

At 8:30 pm we ate some dinner, thanks to Corry ... again. 

Then she brought us to the train station. We had decided that we really REALLY  had to get up too early the next morning to catch the train (and the connection) to Zürich to catch the plane home. We decided to rather get a hotel room close to the airport. We were very glad we did. It was way less hassle for Corry and for us. The evening train was very relaxing and easy. 

We found the hotel shuttle easily too. After we had checked in we went and got a glass of wine in the bar.

At the reception we also got the schedule for the shuttle in the morning. We booked it for 6:30 am.

We decided that it had been a very good decision. 

Trip Day 21 - Singen Sun

Sunday October 2

Did I already say how awesome our friend Corry is? She decided we needed to get-together with the out-of-town guests again before they leave. She invited them to a breakfast/brunch.

 

She even had put glasses and champagne on the coffee table. And juice if a mimosa was wanted.

Here she is preparing the Weißwürstchen (white sausages), a specialty of the area.

James, Inge, Ute, Martina, Corry, Renate and Wolfgang. Ha-ha, we had a lot to talk about!

Another good-bye! Renate and Wolfgang had quite a drive to do. But it had been very nice. Thank you, Corry!

Inge and Martina had a week of vacation and after receiving the invitation decided to do it in this area. They rented an Airbnb in this village and we will see them in the evening.

James, Corry and I decided in the afternoon we really needed a walk. Somehow I thought I should have a really good photo of the Hohentwiel.

Not bad. So we continued to walk.

At the edge of the village we came to a field were a family with two young boys tried to fly kites. We even sat on the bench for a while to watch.

Funny thing was that we could see the back of the house were Inge and Martina had rented the apartment and had told us about their arrival, walk over somebody's veranda and a spiral staircase. 

Another lovely dinner. 

Another great day but tomorrow morning we have to bring Ute to the train-station to travel back home. Got to use the time you have.

Trip Day 20 - Singen Sat

Saturday October 1

The day! Today we will get together with family and friends and celebrate with James. Corry is amazing. A nice German breakfast and then she had to drive quite a bit to pick up Werner from the rehab for the day. It would have been awful if he could not have been part of the celebration.

 

Ute had brought some cards from the rest of the family who could not come. So nice. 

Of course James had fun to open and read them.

Even though we had declared "no gifts" Maren could not resist. That book of adventure routes is so special.

While the three of us had fun at the table, Florian did his baking.

The result was super. Damson plum cake as it should be. 

Sweet lunch. Perfect!

I think Ute forgot that you have to hold the whipping cream dispenser totally straight down.

Short before 5 pm it was time to call a taxi. After a hic-up first (availability) we were on our way.

We had a nice private room and the view would have been so nice ... if the weather would have cooperated. 

And then the guests arrived. The excitement, the hellos, the hugs. James lived in Singen for 7 years and went hiking and skiing with his friends in the Alps. Corry and I from the north (I think 400 miles) had 3 months of dating before James and I left Europe 47 years ago. Keeping in touch was not always easy. But how wonderful was this reunion!

We had some champagne to start with.

Franz did compose a poem for James and read it. So nice. We were so surprised.  Here is is:

Lieber James,

Du hast geladen zu Deinem 80-sten Geburtstag heut,

uns Leut.

Für die Einladung und before es gibt Speis und Trank,

unser herzlicher Dank.

Schön, dass Du feierst mit uns diesen Geburtstag im Hegauland,

wo Du einst beruflich gewirkt und - durch Corry und Werner - Christa Deine Frau fürs Leben fandst.

Uns hat die Alu zusammengeführt welch ein Glück,

sonst könnten wir heut nicht blicken auf die Zeit mit Dir zurück.

Beim Skifahren und Wandern haben wir mit Dir erlebt schöne Stunden

die heute in unseren Köpfen noch drehen ihre Runden.

Auf Zebra-Skiern bist Du gewedelt in Schwüngen groß und klein,

da schauten wir Flachlandtiroler ganz schön drein.

Egal ob in Gstaad oder Osttirol

wir hatten stets Freude und fühlten uns wohl.

Doch dann warst Du entschwunden unseren Blicken,

es bot sich Dir eine neue berufliche Chance in USA auf Amerikas Landrücken. 

Geheiratet und rüber in die “neue Welt”,

so wie sie Dvorak musikalisch hat erzählt.

Aus den Augen seid ihr uns zwar entrückt,

jedoch in unseren Gedanken bleibt ihr präsent zurück.

Gesundheit, Glück und Erfüllung in Eurem jetzigen Heimatlande,

lasst aber nicht versiegen zu uns die Bande.

Translation:

Dear James,

You invited to your 80th birthday today,

us people

For the invitation and before there's food and drink,

our heartfelt thanks.

Nice that you are celebrating this birthday with us in Hegauland,

where you once worked professionally and - through Corry and Werner - Christa found your wife for life.

Alu brought us together, what luck

otherwise we could not look back on the time with you today.

We spent wonderful hours with you skiing and hiking

that are still making the rounds in our heads today.

On zebra skis you are weaved in turns large and small,

we looked quite nice there.

Whether in Gstaad or East Tyrol

we always had fun and felt comfortable.

But then you disappeared from our sight

You were offered a new professional opportunity in the USA on America's backcountry.

Married and over to the “new world”,

as told musically by Dvorak.

You are indeed removed from our sight,

but in our thoughts you remain present.

Health, happiness and fulfillment in your present homeland,

but do not let our bonds dry up.

Dinner was a la cart and the servers were so nice. The owner was not there and everything was set up perfectly. 

This VIDEO (1:59 minutes) is really special. Our friends are singing in German of course but I will try to manage a translation.

I am not sure how to tell you what melody it is, but here is the text:

Listen here you people

Hear what makes us happy

James will soon be 80

Is that not great?

That's why we're here

celebrate with you

And wish you stay healthy

With good reason

Let it ring loud

from Mount echoes

James, long may he live

three cheers for him

For he's a jolly good fellow, 

Which nobody can deny

and so say all of us!

I was so busy talking with everybody that I didn't take many photos. This was one of a few.

But there was a call for a group photo. Ha-ha, it was a bit of a kerfuffle until everybody was organized.  

I didn't organize a cake ... but dessert. 

Ha-ha, the fruit on James' birthday dessert: Kapstachelbeere 

... Cape Gooseberry (also Peruvian ground cherry)

Of course we had to google and had a lively conversation.

Well, and then came the time when I (the hostess) was approached that it was closing time. Oh, what a good time we had. James and I feel so blessed. Having wonderful family and wonderful friends, that's what every human needs. Thanks to the Lord!

*  *  *  *  *  *

Some photos from friends are already in the above blog But more photos from friends. Inge shared a whole bunch which I did not find in my computer until now. So, here is a addition: