Ludwigsburg, Baden-Württemberg, GermanyLudwigsburg
A day with Martin and Beate
They both are off today, and they
said all they would like to spend some time with us, we had a nice breakfast
together and then decided to drive to Lubu and visit the Bluehende Barrock,
Martin was super and did all the driving – going there was not complicated,
parking was, but we kind of found a “free” unofficial parking.
The Bluehende Barrock
- it is a famous and beautiful garden around the residential palace in Ludwigsburg
- when the palace built by Herzog Eberhard Ludwig in 1704 he also started to built the gardens
- in 1954 to the 250 anniversary, they redesigned the gardens partly new and partly in baroque style and it opened in 1954 as the “Flowering Baroque”
colorful Spring bulbs
we started out and discovered,
that they are preparing for an exhibition for garden – we wandered around and
could already see a bit of it but what really was amazing was seeing all those
beautiful colorful springbulbs in flower. Also walking between and enjoying the
flowers is a perfect way to talk a lot. From there we went around to the
Baroque garden in the back which was also amazing.
In the fairy tale garden
- this was made in 1959 and yes you can see that it is old-style, but this retro in our modern time is super cool, overall they have 40 scenes from fairy tales
ok Gine loves this, I think I am
the one who is the most excited about this, but the others went along and
looked to and hopefully also had fun in this retro-fairy-tale yard.
Lunch at the lake
As where Gine forgets to eat
when there is a lot to do, other people are not like that and so we went to get
something for lunch, it was near a little pond in the sunshine and we had a
yummy German style bratwurst, talked, enjoyed the sun and had a great time.
On the way back we came by one
more greenhouse or the old orangerie and checked it out to find some super cool
displays on indoor flowers.
We had a wonderful day, where tired
at the end of the day – so we decided for a Pizza đŸ˜Š
Visiting the Goats on the
Calverbuehl
It’s amazing we are here for a
whole week and we haven’t gone on the Calverbuehl, a sunny day so that is on
our plan today to enjoy some sunshine (or not): I mean the sun was shining and the
sky was blue, but as we went to the top it was super windy – after a short
enjoying the view, we decided to go out of the wind and went down the back,
that is when we discovered all the goats around the hill and we spend some time
to watch the goats here – they were super cute. After we did some more shopping
– I know it is amazing on how often we go to a supermarket – but then we check
them all for their different deals and on what we want to take hom.
Busy organizing:
As Gine didn’t want to make
plans unless we knew nothing will go wrong with our flights and after talking
with Uli & Martin on their plans, so that they are our #1 priority she
started to What’s app around and to make a lot of plans and so we went around
to visit a lot of people:
In the Buchhalde for Coffee
On Sunday afternoon we went to
visit with our cousins Margret and Erich, it was super cool that Manfred also
had time and Daniel – and the best of all they also picked up and brought Aunt
Anneliese. It was super nice to see them all. Erich had in his basement a huge
Family tree he is working on, which looks amazing and makes you realize on tiny
you are. With some homemade yummy German cake we had a wonderful afternoon
Super in Koengen with the
Kirchheimers
We couldn’t even remember when
it was the last time I met them, but we could make it possible that Regine,
Doro and Petra met with us in Koengen in the old Vogtei a super typical German
restaurant in the oldest house in Koengen. Not only was the super nice, but it
was so super to see them all and talk to them and that Paul is not left out
Petra’s husband Joachim was also there and he was very good in entertaining and
making sure we slow down when we talked to fast in English. It’s amazing all
their kids are now adults, as well Regine & Doro still work together and
still have the now busy 24-hour-shifts.
Breakfast with Nici &
Regine
As we didn’t had enough
evenings, Nici and Regine came to Metzingen and we had breakfast in the Bakery
Mayer – and did update Gine on what is all going on in their lab, on how some
of the people leave and look for different jobs, how they miss being a team and
sometimes look back to the good old times. It is so cool, to keep up with them and
get a bit an inside on what all changed. And it makes us appreciate on how
fortunate we are, that Gine could already retire.
Icecream with Sandrina &
Carina
Carina came early and we wanted
to spend some time with her, as the weather is still so super nice and sunny,
we decided to pick up Sandrina from the train station and then we go together for
supper yummy icecream. We had a really fun time together – they are so wonderful
and welcoming, as we moved into Sandrina’s room and she had to sleep in the
basement for a night.
Rahmkuchen with Ricci & Sim
Our very special friends here,
it was not so easy to find a time as Simone’s grandfather passed away, but they
made it possible so we could come to them for Saturday lunch. Ricci got
recently a stone oven and made us Rahmkuchen. Beforehand we went to check out
Saddy’s new house which is in construction: it’s amazing and big and has
amazing views. We had not only a super yummy lunch but also it was so amazing
to spend some time with them including Salome and Tabea. We couldn’t believe it
on good Salome is in her English – wow, she is so smart. Tabea was also full of
fun and took a shine to Paul and was holding hands with him. We played together
a game having more fun and had to make a we-were-here-and-had-fun-picture.
The Capewalk Revival Party
Originally Martin wanted to celebrate
his 50th birthday a bit late after Corona restriction are over, only
now the FT had refugees from Ukraine. Martin had the idea of making a Capewalk
party and invite all the guys with their families. Beate did an amazing job in
planning it and making yummy super. Sandrina and Carina went out of their way
to make the Capewalk- Revival invitations as well made sure all was super in
Capewalk style decorated and that we all had “propper” clothes – and Gine got
curls made by Carina to be in the 90s style. We even had to do a photo session
with our cool set ups.
It was so super cool to see
them: Markus & Laura with their kids: I mean they are for sure a handful, Josy
with family it was fun to catch up too, Dani K. also with children, it’s
amazing how people change and get older, but are still super nice. Dani &
Claudi are like always super welcoming and nice and we had some nice talks as
they are also into Camping, Simone came first alone and later Nette came after
another birthday party, it was like in the old days. Boeff even brought Anette,
which was a big surprise as a week earlier she had a skiing accident and broke
her hip-bones, even in pain she came. What a wonderful surprise. At some time
the kids left with their Moms and it was like in the old days the core of the “let
sit around” and talk people was here. We did remember some good old times, like
when Josy came to the band, how we were all different people and everyone
brought their unique skills in. I think looking back we appreciate on what each
of us did and what a great time we had together. This was a unique and special
chapter in our lives. Even the life of each of us changed – it was like time
never left.
Time
never stops in this merry-go-round
All these living colors make you lose your vows
Live is the ticket a ride to allow on this merry-go-round
Round and round it goes
Just like any second moving on and on
Time never stops like is the ticket to this merry-go-round
Sunday “bring & Share” in
the Friedenskirche
Today was a special service at
Martin&Beate’s church with a bring & share, we explained that it is
considered a potluck. We visited service and then afterwards met with some of
the people we met in the previous week and got a super great lunch and met more
wonderful people who loved to talk to us in English.
A Walk to the Florian
Our last day here – Paul wanted
to relax, Martin, Beate and I decided to go for a walk, as we can’t sit around
the whole day when we eat so much and in the sunshine up between the vineyards
on the top of the Florian with some great views and lots of people as it is May
1 and a STAT holiday today. This gave us a lot of time to do a whole lot more
talking. We will miss the times.
German supper of us siblings
For our las evening Gine said,
maybe we can all go together for a nice German Supper – and we met in
Reutlingen to have some great German meals and a last evening with us 3 siblings
and spouses.
2025-05-22