Ernst, President-for-Life, is the official organizer of these events. Who else could do it?? He keeps up with everyone, relishes all the organization and is a great master of ceremonies. This time, we met in Westerstede, a town one hour from Bremen.
Unlike all other reunions, spouses were invited! Wow! (Imagine having a reunion in the USofA without the spouses! Would not happen.) Not everyone took advantage, but four of us ladies did, and we all had a good time! What a deal: room, breakfast, dinner, sauna, pool, complementary cocktails, plus a chocolate greeting in the room. We did it all.
Friday, we met up at the highest point in town for Coffee and Cake. It's not a big town, so the highest point was only 8 stories up, but enought for a nice view. And only the beginning of a full weekend. (Our hotel was right next to the church tower there in the center.)
There was a little time after cake and coffee and before dinner to look around, so we took in the local church and its charming bell tower. I don't know that I've seen a bell tower like this before - multi-storied with large openings.
The church, started in the 12th c (OK, I am still flabbergasted at how old things can be here!) still has many elements from the 13th-14th centuries, though some of the windows are, as you can see, very modern and very beautiful. This one looks like a watercolor.
The altarpiece from the 15th c. still has much of its original paint. To the right you can make out the remnants of an old fresco. It tells the story of St Wilgefortis whose father betrothed her though she had vowed eternal chastity. She prayed to God to make her unattractive to the man, so naturally she grew a beard - how much more unattractive can a girl get? Daddy was not impressed with her defiance and had her crucified. Guess that showed her.
Later, to the bar! Complementary champagne!
I avoided taking pictures of food, but it was just yummy. First night - chicken breast with a chocolate cherry sauce. Werner had pork with chantarelles. We shared, of course.
Day 2. Rain. Rain. More rain. But you have to do something, so after the breakfast, generous enough to last us at least the whole day, we headed to Apen, an even smaller village than Westerstede! But they have a very old church, too, and a similar bell tower. Next year, the church will celebrate its 775th Jubilee.
Such exertion requires refreshment, so we headed to Bad Zwischenahn to eat more. Then the group split, some heading back to the comfort of the hotel, and others braving the rain to walk a bit around the lake. And refresh ourselves with coffee. And cake.
Then it was time for chocolate cocktails and a trip to the sauna. What a relief!! Sweat and cold shower and sweat and cold shower and rest and rest. It got us ready for dinner.
This time it was turkey with chocolate chili sauce, and fillet of beef with Rösti and gravy. Then we had our pictures taken. Aren't we lovely! (I think my camera is set on wide angle distortion.)
And it was lovely! We had lots of time to chat and catch up and share stories and pictures and start planning for the 55th reunion. Maybe some of the slackers will make it next time.
But the weekend was not quite over. Taking Mackie back to his apartment in town, we got stopped, as in turn-off-the-motor-and-walk-around-on-the-overpass stopped, because it was car-free Sunday in town! There was a parade of bikes toodling all around and we had to let them pass before we could continue on our way. Just a short delay.
Looking forward to the 55th. Thanks for all the work, President Ernst!
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