Here are some brief highlights of our rather uneventful, but nice, week.
Wednesday
In the late afternoon on Wednesday we went for a longish walk (about an hour) along the Rhine. It was cold and windy but very enjoyable. We hope to walk all the way to Bonn sometime soon, which would be about 3 miles. Then we can take the tram back!
Boats, ducks, and the village of Mondorf in the distance
Warning: road ends, rather abruptly.
We walked as far as the Mondorf ferry, a friendly and simple affair that takes cars and people back and forth across the river.
Thursday
Thursday we went into Bonn to get David some new shoes and have another look around. We didn't stay long since it poured rain almost the entire time, but we made time to eat hot pretzels from the Christmas market, see Beethoven's house (just the outside), and pick out some good shoes at the Karstadt department store.
Rainy day at the Bonn Christmas Market. Note city gate or something on the left - we haven't learned what that is yet.
The house where Beethoven was born.
Sign in a department store window reminding shoppers that December 6th is St. Nicholas' Day. In Germany, St. Nick visits on December 6 instead of Christmas.
Today
Today I got some housework and web work done and went for a river walk. After a very stormy start, today was quite sunny and I really enjoyed my walk.
The path, which I had all to myself nearly the entire time.
No swimming, by order of the Burgermeister (mayor)
A nice little beach
A few minutes ago, our doorbell rang and I couldn't figure who it could possibly be since I don't know anyone here. At the door was a man in an orange reflective suit who said something to me in German. (They have a habit of doing that here.)
I asked in German if he spoke English by any chance, he said no. I said I could speak a little bit of German, but then he just pulled out a note from his pocket and gave it to me. Happily, it was within my language skills to read it: "We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Your Garbagemen."
So I said "Ah! Danke." Then I didn't know what else to do so I bid him Auf Wiedersehen and went to close the door, but he indicated through pointing and a sentence that included the word Frau that he was waiting for our landlady to come to the door. I suspect that it must be customary to give him a Christmas tip. More cultural learnings.
Meanwhile, David has driven through four countries today in order to attend the Led Zeppelin concert. He is safely in his Dover hotel now.
