Part 3 – Germany:

    From Heiloo, we boarded the train to Siegburg in Germany, a town just north-east of Bonn, the old capital city of West Germany. The train trip was great. Holland looked so beautiful with its neat little houses and towns, but as we crossed into Germany, it wasn’t as ordered, which surprised me. Thomas, our lovely German friend, and husband of Petra (also known as Nella), was waiting to pick us up after work at 5 pm. He took us back to our Hotel Streng, located in the beautiful little town of Rheinbach, just south-west of Bonn, where Thomas and Petra are so lucky to live.

    After a delicious hotel breakfast, Thomas collected us and took us on a sight-seeing tour of Bonn and its surroundings, showing us the historic Ludendorff Bridge, famous for the Battle of Remagen, in which the bridge was captured by the Allies before the Germans could destroy it, allowing troops to cross the River Rhine into the Ruhr District, Germany’s industrial heartland, helping to hasten the end of the Second World War. We drove up the big hill to Petersberg for a view over the Rhine and to see the hotel where many monarchs, heads of state and other VIP’s have stayed. Coming back down, we then crossed the river by car ferry to the Bonn side. We drove around the area where Government and United Nations buildings were located and then into the beautiful, old part of Bonn, with its Christmas markets in full swing. We had a drink in a bar and saw the elegant Town Hall and Beethoven’s birthplace. In the evening, we had a lovely meal together at Thomas and Petra’s place in Rheinbach.

    I woke up early the next morning, still jetlagged, and went for a walk around Rheinbach before dawn, enjoying the newly fallen snow. I had the whole town to myself, except for a few shopkeepers getting ready for the day’s trade. It is such a pretty, old town, complete with a tower where witches were kept before being burnt at the stake during the mediaeval times. On this day, we travelled south to the Dernau wine-growing district, where the grapevines grew on incredibly steep slopes above a beautiful valley with its pretty town nestling at the foot of the hills. Later on, we enjoyed a wine-tasting, and visited the beautiful, traditional, walled town of Ahrweiler with its picturesque, mediaeval architecture. What an absolute delight. While there, we enjoyed a pizza for lunch in the “Puccini Restaurant” and then wandered around the Christmas market stalls, before heading home.

    The next day, Petra and Thomas took us to their favourite spa, Ahr-Thermen, with natural, warm mineral water from an underground spring. The pools were magnificent, with fountains and whirlpools. The steam baths and saunas of varying temperatures, plus icy-cold plunge pools, completed the experience. After having got in and out of a 90*C sauna, three times in a row, with a cold shower in between, we were completely relaxed, and lay on the deckchairs for a while to just flop and enjoy the tranquillity. Such a healthy thing to do for mind and body. That evening, we shared a Chinese takeaway dinner together, and then Oki and I had a stroll around Rheinbach in the dark.

    At 4 am, Thomas and Petra went out of their way to collect us and drive us all the way up to the airport in Cologne, north of Bonn, so we could catch our early Ryanair flight to Britain. Talk of the European Union came up. Thomas is a great believer in the European Superstate, whereas Petra, Oki and I believe in national sovereignty. Despite our different beliefs, we all got on like civilised people, and had a very happy time together. I respect and admire Thomas’ knowledge, and was so grateful to him for showing us so much of the area. How can I thank you both enough for all the effort you put into giving us such a memorable and wonderful time in Germany. I will do the same for you two when you come to visit me in Tasmania. Come soon. XX