Catching up with friends from Christmas in Estepona

Wednesday 10th March, 1982

On the road again to Bonn.  We lunched in HUMA - a large hypermarket.  Earlier, on the autobahn we decided to go down to the Rhine at Koblenz for a change of scenery and a memory drive along past Bad Breisich and Remagen and on to Bonn.  We found Joe's suburb - St Augustin - then had to find his street - when we did, what a welcome we got - they treated us like royalty.  We thoroughly enjoyed our stay with them - they have a nice family.  Norbert is 18 and a PMG technician and Rolf who is married and an electrician.  They cut their holiday short because Rolf has been made "workless" but on arriving home found he had a job.  Showed us all the slides of his holiday including our Christmas.  We ate German Essen sausage and brotchen.  Breakfast was sausage, cheese and brotchen and for lunch we brought cooked chickens and had chicken and brotchen.  Drink - we had brandy, wine, German milk drink weitbeer - which is raspberry syrup with weetbier-non-alcoholic.  After tea we walked down to the pub, Joe and Margaret's favourite spot.  We had a terrific evening -introduced us to malt beer, non-alcoholic but sweet.  On arriving home, Rolf and Oma arrived.  To bed in a warm van - Joe had put his heater in to warm the van - it was beautiful.  All the German houses built pre-war are similar but adequate (more than) all semi-attached brick constructions with heating - two storey - down stairs kitchen and toilet living room - upstairs three bedrooms ensuite.  Very nice!

Weather is changeable - we had sun, storm, snow and wind in one day as Margaret says "misty but green" a private joke that helps them get through their 300 cloudy days per year.  Wind and rain at nights.

Thursday 11th March, 1982

Up next morning to sunshine - we went for a walk with Joe to the Huma hypermarket.  He wanted to buy us everything.  Sandra had developed a migraine and had to sleep to rid herself of it - we bought three chickens for lunch and had half each - wow the protein we have eaten.

Reluctantly we said Auf Weidershein to the Zeiss’s and headed for Eiskirchen, Joe and Margaret took us about 10 km before waving goodbye.

Lunch time we had a storm - then rain then snow and sunshine - misty but green!

By the time we arrived it was snowing again. 

Eiskirchen, Germany

Very cold - it was great to see the Zopinski's again.  Had sauerbraten, a local meat dish for a welcome for us - delicious - braised meat with apple sauce.  Had a pleasant evening then bed.  Heidrun had to work at the taxi office this evening.  Received a letter from Karen - all well at home.

Ludwig and Heidrun Zopinski

Friday 12th March, 1982                    cold and fine

Awoke reasonably early - breakfast inside the warm house - German style again - Rolls, meat and coffee - I have sneaked the bran in every morning up to date.  Ludwig had to work till 11:30 a.m. so we walked down to Eiskirchen which is a lovely little town - lunched altogether then off for a drive in rain and sleet and snow to Bad Munster Eifel the prettiest town I've seen for many miles.  

Bad Munster Eifel, Germany

Germany is beautiful when the rain clears.  We had our coffee in a lovely cafe and walked a while. With Heidrun leading the way we drove to the Eiffel Mountains through lovely villages and over good mountain roads.  The sun came out for the last hour and we took some snaps -then the snow came again - quite heavy.  A nice tea and shower and settled in with visitors - Rolf and Heidi, friends of Ludwig.  Ludwig isn't well but continues to entertain us with his guitar and Rolf singing - early night.  All collapsed into sleep quickly.  Heavy ice lay on ground all night

Saturday 13th March, 1982                      fine but cold

Up early for breakfasts - going to Cologne - but Ludwig too sick to rise.  Heidrun called the doctor who put him on penicillin and about three hours later we headed for Cologne through driving rain - no one is happy with the arrangements as it's so cold but "best laid plans of mice and men".  Arrived at parkplatz after much trouble looking - poor John was so patient with rain and traffic - he does a good job behind the wheel.  We were freezing, almost crying with the cold and the locals didn't even seem to be dressed warmly, didn't seem to worry them - born to it.

We found McDonald's and hoed into two hamburgers and coffee each - came out feeling a bit warmer.  Walked to the Dom.  On way Rae and I brought a Cuckoo Clock.  The Dom is monstrous; we walked up the Dome past the Glocken (Bell) on to the first level - 300 steps -where Sandra and I declined any further invites to finish the last 200 to the top.  When we came down it was sun shining, lots of snaps whilst the Sun was out.

View from the Dom, Koln, Germany

Shopping in Koln, Germany with Heidrun

On the way home the inevitable rain sleet and snow then sunshine.  Heidrun carried Yulia all the way up to the top and down.

Cologne is the land of 4711 perfume - Margaret Hall's favourite.

Sunday 14th March, 1982           sunny and cold

Lazy Sunday morning - Ludwig feeling a little better -  and had breakfast with us.  Lunch - pork chops etc - very nice, and off to the Kommer Museum.  Here they have old houses from various districts.  Thoroughly enjoyed the afternoon there.  Some of the homes shared the house with the cattle.  In the museum were miniature room settings, furniture and utensils from the old homes. 

Kommer Museum, Germany

In to Eiskirchen for a coffee at the Ital-Eis-cafe, very filling.  Met Heidrun's mother at the Railway shop - car wouldn't start - friendly Germans helped push.

By the end of two days in the van with Yulia and Miryam we were ready to slap or scream.  Home to a filling afternoon tea - rest - Ludwig came down stairs and fiddled with his short wave radio.  A light tea and a restful evening - they are determined to shower us with German hospitality.

Sean has been feeling a little off for a couple of days and today he has developed bronchitis so with his temperature 39° we decided to call the doctor.  He gave him Flufim and Bronco-Binatal and a needle of Vertin to bring the temperature down.  Sean and I slept in the house -all night someone was up, Yulia, Sean or Ludwig.  Decided next morning to get on the road again.

They all eat this raw concoction of meat and onion for breakfast and tea - Swebelmince.

Monday 15th of March                       sunny and cold

Last breakfast with Heidrun and the kids - Ludwig taken to bed with a migraine - methinks the boy is a weakling or running away - anyway we were on the road again.  Poor Heidrun didn't raise an objection as the little one was very ill too.  Ludwig said when a German becomes ill he takes to bed and stays there till he is better - no shower - no Australian visitors will alter his sick routine.

Nice day as we came to autobahn, past Aachen, Liege, Lillie through Belgium into France.  Three countries in one day - not bad.  Stopped at autobahn service station for lunch with German brot.  A home in Belgium was outstanding with aeroplanes on the roof, rockets in front.

Past Armentieres where Mademoiselle originated - down through Flanders country through the French villages of St Sylvestre-Cassel La Neippe, St Omen and many more.

This is dad's (Poppy Joe)World War one country where he stole potatoes for his mates.

Sean lay asleep most of the day.  Arrived at Calais about 7 p.m. at camping area right beside the harbour - no showers, so to bed after a blanket bath.

Worms, Germany to Calais, France