We made the flight and arrived in Duesseldorf. Our rental car turned out to be a Mini Cooper, which we thought would be cool. And it is, but it's not called a mini for nothing. If there had been one more of us, we never could have gotten all of us and the luggage in the car.
We checked in to the hotel that we stayed in when we first moved to Germany and we even got the exact same room. It's nice to be in it without the jet lag. Skip and Maddie went off to the store Real to buy items on a list that we had crafted together. They were semi-successful as they were unable to find or simply forgot several items on the list. While they were there, I met some friends for coffee. By chance, another friend who had moved back to the states was visiting this week to. I had nice visits with friends Mary, Susan, Kathryn, Melanie and Karen.
I met Skip and Maddie up at ISD where Maddie met up with friends Annie and Lizzie. She is spending the night with them tonight. It was amazing how many faces of parents I didn't recognize at ISD. There has been a huge turnover there.
Me with friends Karen Robinson and Jo Tuffil
So after Maddie went home with the Robinson family, Skip and I met up with cousin Torsten and Elke who came down from Dortmund to go to the Christmas markets with us. Holy cow! It is cold here. I can't remember when I've been as cold and I was sporting several layers. It wasn't so bad when you got into a crowd, but between the crowded areas, it was brutal.
It was at the market that Skip's worst fears were realized--he simply couldn't eat everything he wanted to. But he did make a valiant effort. It started out with a cup of Eierpunsch which is this really nasty warmed up eggnog they serve here. Then I stopped for these roasted, candied almonds they have, and Skip had one or two of those. Then he and Torsten both got a bratwurst followed by some Gluhwein (a mulled red wine). There was talk of potato pancakes, but no takers. Then Skip had a piece of my Pflammkuchen which is kind of like a small pizza. Later there were different varieties of wurst available, but he just couldn't do it. We even saw some backfisch and some spaetzle (German noodles), but he had to pass on those as well. Fortunately, by the time we took the train back to Klemensplatz, his stomach had room for his favorite curry wurst, which is a Berliner wurst chopped up and covered in spicy curry powder, onions and hot sauce. So, as I said before, a valiant effort was made. And we still have another market to hit tomorrow and Sunday.
Skip, Me, Torsten and Elke all with our souvenir commemorative Duesseldorf Christmas Market Snowman Mugs
We did do something other than eat--we shopped. Unfortunately in our search for gifts for others, we only ended up with things for ourselves. Perhaps we will do better in the eating and shopping tomorrow. Chalk Friday up to a friend, food and spending frenzy.
Our new painting. Each square has a symbol of Duesseldorf in it, including the radio tower, the Radschlaeger, the crest of Duesseldorf, the Frank Gehry building, and St. Lamburtus church. We love it.
The Christmas tree in the mall at the Schadowarkden.
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