I have no idea where to begin to share with you our last week. Tim and I played host (and hostess) to pretty much the entire Klaus family. Tim’s Mom, Dad, Grandma, brother Matt, sister-in-law Lori (who is 7 months preggo), and 2 year old niece Makenzie just left us to head home after a wonderful week-long European visit. They arrived last Tuesday very, very sleepy. Apparently, Makenzie did not think sleeping on the flight was all that keen of an idea. They said at one point the entire plane was fast asleep and she was in the aisle jumping up and down giggling. (You cannot even begin to imagine the weekfull of cuteness that followed. “Daddy Hold-ju?” Thought Uncle Tim was going to cry when we had to say goodbye.) So after we got them home, we put everyone down for a much needed nap.
I am just amazed at what we accomplished in the days that followed even though the weather did NOT cooperate! Wednesday we attempted a tour of Regensburg (aka Heather’s Death March) but the rain derailed that one. That night, though, Tim’s aunt, uncle and cousin from Idar-Oberstein, Germany arrived and instantly everyone’s spirits were raised again. We somehow fit 11 people around the Klaus dinner table. So many laughs. But watch your step going to the bathroom, because there were bodies sleeping everywhere! The Klaus Haus was at full capacity!
Thursday the 11 of us took the train into Munich. What a beautiful city. I hadn’t really had the chance to explore it yet, and oh my gosh, I cannot wait to get back. There is a pedestrian mall there built for the 1972 Olympics where 9,000 shoppers shop every hour. Dying to be one of them. We arrived just in time (I’m talking four minutes to spare) to catch the Glockenspiel strike at noon in the middle of the Marianplatz. Realizing we were hungry, Matt and Lolo then treated us to lunch at the Hofbrauhaus, which was just as perfect as I thought it should be: An Oompah band which Makenzie and I polka-ed too, customers in lederhosen, huge steins of cold bier, and I guess the men’s room is equipped with a ‘Vomitorium’ in case you have too much of a good time. From there we wandered a bit then caught a bus tour, which was for me Information Overload. Must go back to make sense of all the buildings we saw!
Friday we decided to take it easy. Little shopping, little tennis, a lot of eating! Tim’s aunt Jeannie took over the kitchen (thank the Lord) and we had Raclette for dinner. Not sure how to describe, but picture something hibatchi-esk, where the grills were on the table and you kinda cook your own meal. Highly recommend getting your hands on one of these things. It was probably my favorite meal all week. But, perhaps that was mostly due to the people sitting around my table.
Saturday and Sunday were spent in Prague. Again, the weather was not totally cooperative; in fact, we had a dusting of snow that turned into rain both days. But, we must have hardened this crowd (poor Lori is from Florida) because this really didn’t slow us down too much. Pretty sure, we left no stone unturned. We had lost Del, Jeannie and Travis (Tim’s uncle, aunt and cousin) on Friday back to their normal life, but we gained three more in Prague. A girl that Tim had grown up with, Karli, lives in Prague with her husband Joe who works for DHL. Plus, Claire Happel, a girlfriend of mine from Quincy is there too studying Harp with someone from the Prague Symphony. So again, we were 11. Magic Number, I guess. I think Prague just blew everybody away. The scale of this city is like no other. Think the view from the Charles Bridge was a highlight once again. Janene (Tim’s mom) mentioned standing on the bridge just slowly rotating 360 degrees. Each view better than the next.
Monday, we needed to do a little retail therapy back in Regensburg after working so hard as tourists all weekend. And Tuesday, it was time for them to fly back. I got home after taking them to the airport feeling completely exhausted, and (you are not going to believe this) a little lonely. Where is everyone? Wasn’t quite sure what to do with myself. Luckily we don’t have to wait long. On Saturday we get the next batch of visitors. Our neighbors from Peoria, Mark and Laurie Baker, are coming with their 20 year old son Andrew and 12 year-old daughter Emma. We practically lived with them all summer long, so very, very excited to see them. Off to do laundry and clean a bit. Where is my Madonna…?
I am just amazed at what we accomplished in the days that followed even though the weather did NOT cooperate! Wednesday we attempted a tour of Regensburg (aka Heather’s Death March) but the rain derailed that one. That night, though, Tim’s aunt, uncle and cousin from Idar-Oberstein, Germany arrived and instantly everyone’s spirits were raised again. We somehow fit 11 people around the Klaus dinner table. So many laughs. But watch your step going to the bathroom, because there were bodies sleeping everywhere! The Klaus Haus was at full capacity!
Thursday the 11 of us took the train into Munich. What a beautiful city. I hadn’t really had the chance to explore it yet, and oh my gosh, I cannot wait to get back. There is a pedestrian mall there built for the 1972 Olympics where 9,000 shoppers shop every hour. Dying to be one of them. We arrived just in time (I’m talking four minutes to spare) to catch the Glockenspiel strike at noon in the middle of the Marianplatz. Realizing we were hungry, Matt and Lolo then treated us to lunch at the Hofbrauhaus, which was just as perfect as I thought it should be: An Oompah band which Makenzie and I polka-ed too, customers in lederhosen, huge steins of cold bier, and I guess the men’s room is equipped with a ‘Vomitorium’ in case you have too much of a good time. From there we wandered a bit then caught a bus tour, which was for me Information Overload. Must go back to make sense of all the buildings we saw!
Friday we decided to take it easy. Little shopping, little tennis, a lot of eating! Tim’s aunt Jeannie took over the kitchen (thank the Lord) and we had Raclette for dinner. Not sure how to describe, but picture something hibatchi-esk, where the grills were on the table and you kinda cook your own meal. Highly recommend getting your hands on one of these things. It was probably my favorite meal all week. But, perhaps that was mostly due to the people sitting around my table.
Saturday and Sunday were spent in Prague. Again, the weather was not totally cooperative; in fact, we had a dusting of snow that turned into rain both days. But, we must have hardened this crowd (poor Lori is from Florida) because this really didn’t slow us down too much. Pretty sure, we left no stone unturned. We had lost Del, Jeannie and Travis (Tim’s uncle, aunt and cousin) on Friday back to their normal life, but we gained three more in Prague. A girl that Tim had grown up with, Karli, lives in Prague with her husband Joe who works for DHL. Plus, Claire Happel, a girlfriend of mine from Quincy is there too studying Harp with someone from the Prague Symphony. So again, we were 11. Magic Number, I guess. I think Prague just blew everybody away. The scale of this city is like no other. Think the view from the Charles Bridge was a highlight once again. Janene (Tim’s mom) mentioned standing on the bridge just slowly rotating 360 degrees. Each view better than the next.
Monday, we needed to do a little retail therapy back in Regensburg after working so hard as tourists all weekend. And Tuesday, it was time for them to fly back. I got home after taking them to the airport feeling completely exhausted, and (you are not going to believe this) a little lonely. Where is everyone? Wasn’t quite sure what to do with myself. Luckily we don’t have to wait long. On Saturday we get the next batch of visitors. Our neighbors from Peoria, Mark and Laurie Baker, are coming with their 20 year old son Andrew and 12 year-old daughter Emma. We practically lived with them all summer long, so very, very excited to see them. Off to do laundry and clean a bit. Where is my Madonna…?
1 comment:
One word: Wowser! Your brother in Kansas City is jealous. Dave
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