Thursday, 6 to Saturday 8 July. Frankfurt to Melbourne

Getting home took 44 hours but fortunately all flights were smooth and on time.

Frankfurt to LA in a lovely Lufthansa 747 - 10 1/2 hours

Transit in LA - 10 hours

LA to Sydney in a horrible QANTAS  A380 - 15 1/2 hours

Sydney International to Domestic and then to Melbourne - 4 hours

There were problems with transport between terminals at Sydney and I only just made my flight.

The journey would be even longer if I counted 3 hours from check-in at Frankfurt before the flight left.

It was wonderful to have Rob and Judy waiting for me at the airport and chauffeuring me home.

I’ve loved my 7 weeks of travel but it’s good to be home in wonderful Melbourne.

Taking off at LAX

Wednesday, 5 July. Frankfurt

Jochen and Ingrid Freytag picked me up at my hotel and with them were two great nieces from Adelaide who also know my lovely German teacher, Sue. They are here visiting family in various parts of Germany and they both speak excellent German. Fortunately most of today’s conversation was in English.

We drove to Wiesbaden and an amazing winery in an old monastery. Can’t remember the name of it and it doesn’t seem to be in my photos but their Riesling was delicious. They have won international prizes with it. We had a great walk around the place and it is huge. It is now owned by the state.

The next winery was not far away and was called Schloss Vollrads. It had an old tower, the original building, surrounded by a moat full of carp. There is also a considerable manor building. It is used for exclusive events these days and may also be a hotel.

From here we went to Schloss Johannesburg, which has the really really special Riesling, including an Eiswein made from frozen grapes. The price was eye wateringly high.There was a terrific statue of a man on a horse holding a bunch of grapes and a document. Way back when, the people had to get written permission to pick the grapes so he rode off to get the permit but stopped for a drink or 6 on the way home. As a consequence the grapes were picked later than they should be but with a happy result. They became the first vintage of spätlese wine. Spät means late.

We had lunch in a lovely restaurant with a view across the vineyards and the valley and towns below. Then it was on to Rudesheim to see a gigantic monument to a war between the French and Germans. It was pretty clear that the Germans were victorious in that one. The view of the Rhein from here was spectacular and it was great watching the activity on the water.

We drove down into the town of Rudesheim to walk along a little lane that is full of wine and beer halls. Apparently it is also full of drunks later in the evening so this was a much more pleasant time to visit.

A good trip home despite the missing bridge on the autobahn, which necessitated a major detour. What lovely people to take me out for the day, especially when they already had overseas visitors.

I have been instructed to give Sue many hugs from each of them so I’ll be attending to that in a few days.

Tuesday, 4 July. Kirchheim Unter Teck to Frankfurt

It didn’t take long to get ready this morning so I set off for the station half an hour earlier than planned. It only took me about 20 minutes to walk there and I had allowed at least half an hour with luggage so I was exceptionally early. 

I am so grateful that Martine had told me about the construction work at Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof and that the local train now stopped some distance away. Because of that I decided to catch an earlier train so I could find my way with plenty of time. My even earlier train from Kirchheim meant that I had a full hour in Stuttgart, so once I knew where I had to go I stopped for a coffee. A good plan as I could feel myself wanting to close my eyes and I mustn’t fall asleep on a train. Who knows where I would end up?!  Two sets of stairs today and two kind men who helped this old lady with her case. I really must look the age I’m about to turn. I am never again going to allow myself to travel with such a heavy case, over 16 kg. Too many jumpers!

The train to Frankfurt was a fast one and it took a little over an hour to get here. I arrived at about 1.15. There is a shuttle bus from the airport to my hotel, free from the airport to the hotel but 6 euros the other way. It took ages to find the right stop but I got there in the end. Then when I checked my information from the hotel I discovered that the shuttle takes a break from 11.35 until 4.20. Can you believe it? They have 5 hours off in the middle of the day!

I couldn’t check in to the hotel until 3.00 anyway, so I decided to have some lunch at the airport and wait for the free shuttle. Had a very nice tuna roll, went off for a wander and am now back at the cafe having a hot chocolate and starting today’s blog. There is a guy at the table opposite mine being interviewed for a job. He looks nice so I hope he gets it. I’m trying to look absorbed in my iPad while I really listen in. It’s at Starbucks, judging by the number of times the interviewer’s mentioned it.

Later …

Am now fed and settled into my room and oh joy! oh rapture! I’ve got a proper shower! I’ve spent the last three weeks climbing in and out of partially obstructed baths and trying not to squirt water all over the room.

I spoke to Jochen ( Sue Wood’s cousin) on the phone this evening and I’m being picked up at 11.00 tomorrow for a little tour. He mentioned Wiesbaden so I’ll have a look at Google maps after this. How lucky I am to be introduced to such generous people.

The statue of the green man is to celebrate 25 years since reunification of Germany. I think he looks like Ampelman from Berlin.

Monday, 3 July. Kirchheim Unter Teck

Last day in Kirchheim. I did a bit of sorting, found the rubbish bins, and planned my times for tomorrow’s trains. I decided to be ruthless and threw out the top which had gone peculiar after I put it in the drier at the laundromat.

There was another market in the town today, mostly clothes this time. It’s on once a month according to Daniel, who I bumped into as I came into the old town centre. Today I completed the walk to the far end of town that I had started yesterday but I didn’t see anything earth shatteringly wonderful. Then I headed to the shopping centre with the huge Edeka supermarket. I found the best ham and salad roll there the other day but I was too late today and had to make do with a pretzel and a cappuccino. 

At 4.00 I met the Szumanskys and we returned to Neidlingen for the last time. Sabini, Lott’s mother had organised a tour of the water driven mill that makes spherical stones. It was a very interesting contraption and our guide did a great job. I think we all bought one of the stones.

Sabini and Jack live directly opposite the workshop and we were invited to dinner at their place. Sabini had made another typical Schwabish meal, a wurstsalat or sausage salad. There were also some of Jack’s delicious cherries. A lot of wine and beer were consumed before the schnapps came out. I declined this time. Sally and Joe performed a duet and a few others sang too. Alex excelled himself with a love song for Lott and James had a good go at his song but couldn’t remember all the words. That might have had something to do with the schnapps.

Finally it was time to say goodbye to our wonderful hosts and new friends, and to the little town of Neidlingen. Tomorrow Kate and James fly home, the Szubanskys drive to Switzerland and I catch the train to Frankfurt. I hope our wonderful hosts get some rest now as they have not stopped cooking and entertaining for at least a week, on top of doing all the wedding preparations.

Jack’s first taste of Vegemite.

Sunday, 2 July. Kirchheim Unter Teck

Spent most of the morning snoozing on the couch after the dramas of last night. When I finally did venture out I met a lady in the driveway with a vase of fake flowers. I made a comment about the flowers and she told me she now had nowhere to keep them after the fire. Turns out it was in the cellar and started from some sort of fault in a motor of some sort. Didn’t understand all the detail. We both agreed that it was good no one was hurt. There is a big pile of smelly rubbish in the driveway that the firemen pulled out of the cellar last night and the window they broke is right near my apartment.

I wandered into a different part of town and stopped for a cuppa and cake, my healthy lunch. Couldn’t eat it all which is most unlike me. Should have bought something at the supermarket yesterday when it was open. Sally sent a message about going to Lott and Alex for the afternoon and leftover food from the wedding. 

Went home and checked bus times etc then headed to the bus stop and caught the bus to Neidlingen. Sally met me at the bus stop and we walked up to the house where we had a very relaxed evening with the family. We said goodbye to Martine from Belgium, who heads home tomorrow. So does Laura.The Szubanskys kindly gave me a lift home again and I am now looking forward to an uninterrupted night’s sleep.

The only photo I took today because I wanted to work out how they made the layers go vertically.

Saturday, 1 July. Kirchheim Unter Teck

It was a beautiful day for a wedding. The hair appointment went well, especially the massage chair while she washed my hair. It was market day in Kirchheim with all sorts of food and flower stalls, and people queuing at the most popular ones.

At 2.00 I met the Szumanskys (Angela) and we drove to Neidlingen. People were gathering outside the church and soon it was time to go in. The ceremony was lovely, not too long and not too preachy. It was mostly in English so that Alex could understand and that worked out rather well for us Aussies. There were two amazing singers, both of whom are friends of the couple.

A really special part of the service was when all the siblings took part in a sort of prayer of their wishes for Alex and Lott. Lott’s sister Stini spoke first in German, then each of the Kelly kids did the English translations. Very emotional, especially for Alex.

Once they were well and truly hitched we all went outside for champagne and nibbles and thousands of photos. Had a brief respite in the Kellys’ little apartment and then it was downstairs for the reception. The little hotel was right beside the church so it was all very close and convenient. Lott and her friends had done an amazing job with the beautifully decorated long bench tables. Both in the church and on the tables there was a considerable presence of blue gum leaves to acknowledge Alex’s Australian background.

It was a buffet meal of generous proportions and was delicious. The owner of the place made a little speech of welcome and said that they had never thought of setting the tables up that way but they would be doing it in future. Lott’s mother, Sabini, had made the wedding cake and each tier was layers of sponge cake with different fillings.

The dancing was still going when we left at about 1.30. I think Sally will be totally crippled today.

I decided to skip the blog and go to bed, but was no sooner tucked in than there were sirens and lights and voices outside. It was a fire in one of the apartments in the section beside mine. I wasn’t too sure whether we would all be evacuated but that didn’t happen. I did pack pretty much all my stuff ready to get out if necessary. I even got dressed and ended up sleeping half dressed. This morning I have the windows open to air out the apartment as it got a bit smoky last night. 

So not a great night’s sleep but a wonderful wedding celebration and a memory to treasure.

Friday, 30 June. Kirchheim Unter Teck

The rain came today but it didn’t dampen anyone’s spirits and held off during the important moments. Angela, Theo, Daniel and Jack kindly drove me to Neidlingen. We all met at the town hall at 11.45 and then followed the bride and groom up many flights of stairs to the top of the building, which is where the ceremony was to be held.

No sooner were we all seated than a marvellous old clock struck 12 and a couple of little wooden (I think) figures moved in their window. Lott had timed the wedding specially so that we could see the clock in action.

This was the legal wedding and there was quite a lot of official stuff which was read by the town hall official and translated by someone they hired. I thought it would be a few bits of paperwork and that’s it but the town hall official gave us the whole story of their relationship and the difficulties they went through to get the marriage officially approved. She had really done her homework and made it personal and meaningful. It was a lovely ceremony and naturally there was not a dry eye to be seen when they were finally declared man and wife.

Then it was downstairs for bubbly and photos before we headed to Alex and Lott’s apartment for a long barbecue lunch. It was a very happy day.

Back in Kirchheim, thanks to my chauffeurs, I decided to see if I could find a typical German meal. I was seated at an outside table at the restaurant I chose. I was offered Maultaschen but said no as we had them the other day and instead had beef with a rich onion gravy and spätzle, a local noodle specialty.

While I was eating a rather bizarre thing happened. Two young men came up to me and one of them asked me if he could sing a song and see if it would earn him the price of a drink. Or at least in hindsight I think that’s what he said. I said I didn’t speak much German but he said he’d sing in English so I let him go ahead and he sang a religious song. Afterwards he asked me what I thought and I rambled on about not being religious. “But how much was my song worth?” he asked. I found a two euro coin in my purse and gave him that, hoping he would go away, which he did. A few minutes later back he came and told me he was getting married soon and his mates had given him a list of tasks to complete. It must have been his bachelor party. He thanked me, gave me back my two euros and we had a good laugh. I told him that I had come to Germany to attend a wedding tomorrow, wished him all the best and away he went again. What an amazing end to an amazing day!

Thursday, 29 June. Kirchheim Unter Teck

Tino, Lott’s brother-in-law, picked me up at 9.00 and drove me to his and Stina’s (Christina) apartment (below Alex and Lott) for a special birthday brunch for Joe. Sally and Joe’s niece, Angela and her family arrived from the US during the brunch. They drove straight there from Frankfurt Airport, a mighty effort on their behalf. It was a relaxed and delicious brunch with wonderful bread rolls, meats, cheeses, bratwurst and eggs, as well as a birthday cake for Joe.

Angela and co. drove me back to Kirchheim. They are staying about a five minute walk away from me. This morning at 8.30 I popped in to the hairdresser over the road but had no luck getting an appointment for Saturday morning. So this afternoon I tried a couple more and third time lucky, I have an appointment for a blow wave - I hope. Had a bit more of a wander in the town and an iced coffee when the heat had sapped my energy.

The men had organised a surprise bachelor party for Alex. They were taking him go-carting and then for dinner. So the girls came to my apartment for nibbles and a glass of wine. I provided the venue and Sally, Lott, Kate and Laura brought the goodies. Angela came too and we had a nice relaxed evening, not late as Lott still has things to do. By the way, Lott had had quite a hens’ night with friends and family a while ago.

Tomorrow is the civil ceremony at the town hall and Saturday is the church wedding.