I’ve been blogging about my 60th Birthday Trip to Germany last June, and I’ve finally reached the last day, Friday, June 21.
I had another wonderful breakfast at Waldhotel Heller, packed up my little Fiat 500, and headed north on the 63 Autobahn – the same one we drove so many times going to the airport, that wasn’t even connected up to the other Autobahn when we first moved there. (So a new, straight, flat Autobahn with very little traffic began near our house. I got used to driving at high speeds on that road. When it was connected up, it was a little sad to lose that, but it was also quicker to drive to Ramstein.)
My flight didn’t leave until 5 pm, so I went to Hofheim, right near the airport, where my friend Jeanine lives. Back in 1998 or so, Jeanine and I were both married to members of the USAFE Band, and we hit it off when she and her husband moved there. And then she got a job at the base library where I was already working, each of us sharing a job, so working 20 hours each. And we got to know each other better. Jeanine ended up marrying a German and staying in Germany – I always envied her a bit for that. But it was delightful to see her!
First we had lunch there in the Zentrum of Hofheim.
I’d actually gone all that time without eating Schnitzel. This one came with a green sauce that was delicious.
Jeanine’s apartment overlooks Hofheim.
And then Jeanine took me on a lovely walking tour of the Altstadt.
The old city wall of Hofheim is still standing in spots.
Since it’s a fortification and over 100 years old – built in 1352 – I decided to count it as Castle #175.
I still love those onion dome churches so common in this area.
And then it was off to the airport and flying back to America.
It turned out that my 10-day trip was just about perfect. I’d been able to remind myself of the many things about Germany that make my heart happy, see friends, make new memories, and I was coming home refreshed.