Happy Birthday in the Aldstadt!

What do you want for your birthday Maciek?

Maciek's birthday present



A peugoet 307 and a trip around Europe please!  Voila!




In the moat

We began Maciek's birthday with a stroll around what used to be the moat surrounding the town.  The wall still exists around 2/3rds of the town (4kms) and the outside moat wall still stands for most of it, so in parts on either side of you are walls centuries old, 10 metres high or more, and there you are on the floor of the moat surrounded by huge beautiful trees, and masses of greenery.  And every so often is a small childrens playground.  Awesome and very surreal!

Weeee!!

Later in the morning Frank and Sue took us to Mohnesee, about a 10 minute drive from their house.  A stunning area surrounding a lake where there are childrens playgrounds, a couple of cafe's, volley ball and tennis courts, a giant chess board amongst many other things.  The kids had a ball on the flying fox and huge winding slide.  I took video footage only to realise later that i'd pressed the wrong button so didnt actually record anything at all!  WELL, its new, and I hadn't had a chance yet to work it out!

After lunch (bratwurst and chips, what else?), we walked around the old town and stopped for coffee and cake and then a drink at one of the many restaurant/pubs, sitting outside in the lovely sunshine.  Soest is steeped in history.  The oldest restuarant dates back to 1304, and in places you feel like you've stepped onto the set of a shakespearean film, without the mud, pigs and chickens!  For those interested, Soest as a village was first documented in 836AD, and the first town seal was created in 1140, one of the oldest in Germany, and it became one of the most important Hanseatic towns of the Middle Ages.  Its quite strange to see such old buildings housing such modern businesses and shops!

Prost!



Milly playing in the old town



Don't touch the Bins!



As i write this the kids are finally sleeping and Maciek is watching the French Open with german commentary!  I am looking forward to a cup of tea with lemon and honey as i am losing my voice!  All the yelling at Noah to stay away from the bins!!  And then we have to pack, because tomorrow morning we leave on our journey to Austria, stopping along the way at Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria. 

I BIN in Soest





Amelia's Daisy Chain...Hello

I will miss Tante Sue and Onkel Frank's hospitality and help (and shots of Shnapps!).  I will miss shaking my head everytime I step out of the front door as I'm reminded of where I am.  I will miss the birds that tweet (instead of squawk!), and the church bells!  But can't wait for more beautiful places to see............



Sue and Frank...Anyone for shnapps

Post by Melanie