27 March 2013 (Wednesday)
We picked up Derek, Alexis, and the twins at the
Frankfurt airport this morning.
Had a
bit of a hassle getting their rental car, but eventually they rented a van and
we drove back to our apartment in the two vehicles.
We let them shower and rest for a couple of
hours, while we went back into the office and worked.
Then we got them up so they would sleep at
night, and acclimate to the time zone quicker.
We walked to a small park close to our apartment and to show them the
house where Anne Frank was born and spent the first two years of her life.
We also showed them the bomb shelter whose
walls were so thick that it was cheaper to leave it standing after the
war.
It has been converted to a warehouse.
The twins enjoyed getting to run around and
play on the playground equipment at the park after sitting so long on the
airplane.
After walking around the
neighborhood of where we lived and worked.
We took them on the Strassenbahn to down town Frankfurt:, and showed
them the city center with its interesting shopping center with the glass roof
with a hole in the top, the Main river, and Leonhard Street.
After a wonderful afternoon we took our tired
troupe home had dinner and put them to bed.
Derek and Alexis in our room, the twins in the office, and we slept on
an air mattress in the living/dining/laundry room.
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| To play a little after that long airplane ride |
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| Downtown Frankfurt |
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| Riding the Strassenbahn |
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| Frankfurt with the family |
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| Family on Bridge over the Main |
During their visit we also drove to Wuerzburg and Derek
showed his family where he lived and we all played on some of the playground
equipment that Derek played on. He
showed them his school and where he lived, the chapel where Holly and Owen were
baptized, the hills that he used to run as a member of the cross country team,
and of course the bakery where he and his siblings would frequent (this
activity was not shared with the
parents). We looked through the gate
into the old post, and walked through the Skyline housing areas of the
post. He showed his family where as a
child he went to church in downtown Wuerzburg, and walked around the town of
Wuerzburg and over the “All Saints” bridge over the Main River. We walked through the market place and bought
a Broetchen and brat wurst. Alexis
especially enjoyed seeing some of the places Derek had talked about, as he
shared some of his life with her.
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| Our sleeping beauties |
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| Greta and Opa on All Saints Bridge |
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| Derek and Dad in front of their old apartment building at Leighton Barracks |
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| Playing where Daddy played with Opa and Oma |
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| Derek's High School |
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| The Residence |
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| At the top of the stairs in the Residence |
After seeing Wuerzburg we drove onto Rothenburg (the famous
old, walled city) we saw the city fountains with their beautiful flowers and
the old shops. We climbed up the narrow
steps and walked along the city wall enjoying this lovely view of the
city. The local citizens take great
pride in the appearance of their city.
Later that evening we took the “Night Watchman Tour” walking around the
city and learning some of its colorful history.
We spent the night in a B and B just outside the old city.
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| A fun walk on the old city Wall |
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| Here we are at the most photographed house in Germany |
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| A fun break for hot chocolate and pastry |
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| Rothenburg decorated for Easter | | | | | | | | | |
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