Our Trip Part 1

We have made it home!  Thanks to God for watching over us and keeping us safe.  He surely guided us through out our trip as we had all sorts of adventures!  Our trip was to see the relatives with a bit of scenery along the way and that is certainly what we got!  Here are a few more pictures from our trip that I had on my bigger camera and can now down load for you.  The above picture shows snow on the ground in Germany when we started our travels so we felt at home.

Visiting with Aunt Lydia was enjoyable and we felt that we were able to "talk" with her even though she mostly spoke all German and we spoke mainly English. Again it was an adventure to find her home via train, bus and walking when neither of us could speak the language, understand what they were saying on the overhead speakers on the trains or read the signs!  Plus it was dark out by the time we reached her home so that added another "mystery feeling" to the trip.

The Brandenburg Gate in Berlin was awesome.  Standing on the spot where the Berlin wall was overwhelming in that people were trapped and were killed if they tried to leave.




Cologne Cathedral

 My Camera is unable to capture the magnificent architecture of the cathedral in Cologne Germany.  Parts of it was built in 1248.

 



Marksburg Castle

 

We were able to see one medieval castle along the Rhine River.  Since we only had our feet for transportation up the hill we went.  History just oozes from everywhere you are.  Parts of this castle is from the 1200s and the structure is very sound... just lacking a bit in the heating department. 

Eric, Alex, and Marvin Helgeson (Mike's cousin) with Mike on the streets of Brugge, Belgium

Jan and Alex Helgeson walking in Brugge

The narrow streets in Brugge

The Black Sea were no matter what type of weather it is you always have to stick your toes in the water!

Eric with his stash of sea shells.

Marvin, Jan, Annika, Eric and Alex Helgeson who were so great to put up with us for 12 days!  I think they are having a party today to celebrate our leaving.

Biking with Kristin Scholten (my niece) in Zwolle, The Netherlands.



Kristin showing us around.  It was a unique environment as bikes have the right away and more people own bikes than they do cars.