Bückeburg/Detmold – July 6, 2007

While our days in Germany are numbered, the adventures continue with new and memorable experiences every day; there are yet more chapters to be lived and told. Our 2-night stay with Martin’s youngest uncle, Andreas, is combined with a day trip to Detmold and its surrounding area. Detmold is where Martin spent many vacation weeks year after year while growing up, visiting his grandparents. The boys got a snapshot glimpse of papa’s Detmold. He had many stories from visits with his grandparents. We traced the old daily walk from the grandparent’s apartment into town for errands at the market, into the shoe store with the indoor slide (for kids, while parents (= moms or grandmas) shop for shoes), through the Schlosspark, along the canals (where Martin used to feed the ducks… now verboten, as the ducks were getting too fat), and back ‘home’ via the Palaisgarten with the big stone table. Even Christian remembered the stone table from his last visit there about eight years ago. A visit to the Detmold area and the surrounding Teutoburger Wald is not complete without a visit to the Hermannsdenkmal – the original Herman the German (whose cousin watches over New Ulm, Minnesota). The historical Herman is recognized as the Cherusker tribal chief, who, in 9 AD lead the forces that pushed back and defeated the Romans in that region now just about 2000 years ago.

Uncle Andreas took us on a casual evening stroll and showed us a very unique arrangement of waterways in Minden, where the Mittellandkanal aqueduct crosses over the Wesel river assuring barges and other ships access from central Germany to the North Sea. No matter where we go, there are still unique and cool places to visit and learn about. We are thankful again for great hospitality, great conversations, and a great visit with Andreas.