The Continuation of Derek and Alexis Visit

We returned home on Saturday to get ready for the Easter Bunny's visit and a spiritual East Sunday.

On Easter Sunday we went to church in Franfurt with Susan wearing one of her dirndls and Evan dressed in Derek’s lederhosen and Greta dressed in Heidi’s lederrock.  They all looked super.              When they flew into Frankfurt they all were not feeling well, but they improved a little as time went along except Derek.   When we took the family to see Burg Eltz, and the city and castle of Cochem Derek stayed home to sleep and try and to feel better before they flew onto visit Alexis’ Parents in Doha

Taken in our apartment

Look at these cuties

 On Monday, we drove to Berg Eltz and Cochem. Derek was very ill that day so we left him home to rest and recuperate. So we missed him but glad he could just rest and he was better the next day.

Taken in Front of Berg Eltz

Look at those smiles, even on a cold day

Market Square at Cochem

Opa and Evan checking out the knight at the Castle

Tuesday– We packed the van and drove to Berlin stopping at Eisenach to tour the castle and see the beautiful country side.  This castle and area were in the former East Germany.  We drove through Berlin on our way to the hotel which was in the former East Berlin just a few blocks from Check Point Charlie.  While in Berlin we saw remnants of the Wall, the Reichstag (parliament building), the site of the former SS headquarters, a museum to the Jews and the concentration camps.  We walked along the famous Blvd.  Unter den Linden, and toured several museums on Museum Island, and walked through the Berlin Cathedral, climbing to the top of the dome and walked around the outside of the dome.  This provided a spectacular view of the city with touches of it beauty prior to the war.  Each morning we would walk to a little bakery where we could buy a well-balanced breakfast.  As we walked around the city we witnessed the Evan holding up a Mini Cooper (don’t mess with our grandson).  This was Derek’s 2^nd visit to Berlin the first under armed guards as we walk carefully through Check Point Charlie, and this time walking leisurely with no guards and no guns.  Upon driving back to Frankfurt Derek enjoyed driving on the Autobahn with its no speed limit.

Great Girl, Great Hat

Breakfast at the Bakery each day in Berlin.

They were such good travelers.  Time for a little nap

Berlin Cathedral

We returned  home to Frankfurt for a day or two before they left.  We had fun at Oma's and Opa's

A hug at Opa's desk in the office

Fun with Oma in the Kitchen

Working on a craft with Oma

Fun on the playground with Opa

We had a wonderful visit and tried to see and do as much as possible in the 10 days the kids were with us.  They did amazingly well to hold up so well with the schedule we had planned, and it was wonderful for us to share some of the many beauties of Germany with them.  It was special for us as we watched the children experiencing being in a real castles, and in cities and buildings older than our country.

We missed the children as we put them on the plane to fly to Doha, and are grateful for the experiences we have shared with them.  We are grateful we could share some of Europe with Alexis and the twins and for the memories created during their visit.  The Lord has greatly blessed us with the children and grandchildren we have.