C & C globetrotting around the world…

Christoph’s brother Stephan and Carolin got married and we were very happy to be able to be part of the celebrations. In the morning, when everyone was ready, we took some pictures in front of the house and then drove to Mertesdorf to Schloss Gruenhaus. It belongs to Standesamt Ruwer, so Stephan and Carolin exchanged their vows in this nice castle. Just like at our wedding, it was Herr Werhan to perform the ceremony. He is a really nice man and his speech was very deep and personal. It shows that he doesn’t just do his job, he puts heart into it (at least for the Preusser marriages). Following the nice ceremony, we enjoyed the beautiful setting and had a cocktail. Whenever the sun hid behind the clouds, it got pretty chilly, but we chatted to some people and took lots of pictures.

From there we left with the “Just Married” and rattles attached to the bridal car and drove through the villages honking until we reached Landhaus St. Urban. It also has a nice location with a small lake and surrounded by green meadows. There too we had a cocktail before sitting down for lunch. It was a small wedding with only the close family and the witnesses, so we all fit at one long table. The decoration was nice, fitting with Carolin’s bouquet. We had a exquisite French-style lunch: delicate portions with fancy names and elegantly presented. Everything tasted really delicious and the service was impeccable. We now understand why the owner has earned a Michelin star for his restaurant. After lunch we all went to Preussers for the traditional afternoon “Kaffee und Kuchen”, including wedding cake.

The next day was Mother’s Day, so we woke up relatively early to pick up the bouquet for Christoph’s mom. After breakfast we went for a walk around Waldrach to walk off all the food and get some fresh air. The temperature was so pleasant and it was a nice walk. We also had to pack since the next day we left to South America. It’s weird to pack again for our world trip after 5 weeks in Europe with friends and family. It might take a little while until we get used to it again, but now it’s a different continent and a different world too. We had dinner reservations in Kasel, so some of us decided to walk and meet the others there. It was a beautiful May afternoon and we walked all the way through the vineyards until Kasel. The restaurant is owned by a wine producer. The food was indeed very good and the wine matching perfectly to the dishes. It was a nice Mother’s Day, After-wedding day as well as a nice way for us to end this part of our Eurotrip before heading off again. See you again in August, Old Continent!

We went on a tour to visit friends in the Duesseldorf-Koeln-Bonn region and also saw some wonderful castles. Burg Eltz was on the list of things Christoph wanted to show Cecilia for a long time, so now was the perfect time. From from parking lot we took a 20-minute walk through the woods to reach the castle. When you emerge from the woods and see it’s beauty, it feels like a fairy tale. Burg Eltz (“Eltz Castle”) is a medieval castle nestled in the hills above the Moselle River between Koblenz and Trier. It is still owned by a branch of the same family that lived there in the 12th century, 33 generations ago. Luckily, due to the family’s strategic allegiances, the castle was never destroyed. It is situated on a 70m rock spur, on an important Roman trade route between rich farmlands and their markets. This castle is divided into several parts, which belong to different branches of the same family. About 100 members of the owners’ families lived in the over 100 rooms of the castle. Because the huge rock is the foundation of the castle, the castle and its rooms sometimes have unusual shapes. We did a guided tour through the beautiful castle. The tour guide was really really good in explaining the history and also some expressions from the Middle Ages.

From there we drove through bright yellow canola fields and reached Abtei Maria Laach (“Maria Laach Abbey”). It is a Benedictine abbey on the shores of the Laach Lake. The Laach Lake is a caldera lake which was formed 12,900 years ago after an eruption more powerful than the one of Mount Pinatubo in 1991.  The Abbey was founded in 1093 as a priory of Affligem Abbey (in modern Belgium) by Henry II of Laach of the House of Luxembourg. Laach became an independent house in 1127, under its first abbot, Gilbert. The abbey developed as a centre of study during the 12th century. The 13th-century abbots added significantly to the buildings and architectural decoration, including the monumental tomb of the founder. The abbey structure dates from between 1093 and 1177 and is considered a prime example of Romanesque architecture of the Staufen period. Despite its long construction time, the well-preserved basilica with its six towers is considered to be one of the most beautiful Romanesque buildings in Germany. We watched a movie about the daily life of the monks there and also visited the rich gardens they have. The monks have a hotel where people can come to spend some reflexion time, have the garden where they sell plants, they brew alcohol and they make many different things, such as candles and art.

We arrived at Walter and Petra’s place in Monheim (on the Rhine, between Cologne and Duesseldorf) and it was nice to see him again. For dinner we went to an all-you-can-eat sushi place in Koeln and it was delicious. We were all so hungry that the first 20 minutes nobody talked, we just stuffed our faces. Then we started being more selective in what we take and started chatting, but it was so nice to eat sushi again! The next day, Walter showed us where they will be having their wedding and gave us some info since Christoph will be his “Best Man”. We then went to the Neanderthal Museum in Mettmann, which was really interesting and well made. Located at the site of the first Neanderthal man discovery in the Neandertal, it features an exhibit centered on human evolution. In the evening Petra came back from a business trip and we spent a relaxing evening together. The next day we met Petra’s “Maid of Honour” and helped assemble the invitations before leaving.

We drove to Swisttal where Anne and Christian live. We were happy to see them again and meet their adorable son Johann. The next day we headed to “Drachenfels” (“Dragon’s Rock”) close to the Rhine river. Several legends surround the Drachenfels, the most famous being the one which recounts that Siegfried – the hero of the Nibelungenlied – killed the dragon Fafnir living in a cave in the mountain, then bathed in its blood to become invulnerable. About a third of the way up the mountain is the “Nibelungenhalle”, built in 1913, a gallery of paintings by the symbolist painter Hermann Hendrich depicting scenes from Richard Wagner’s operas. At the top of the mountain was the “Drachenfelsburg” (“Castle of the Dragon’s Rock”) with a nice, albeit hazy view of the Rhine. The castle was built atop the mountain in the 12th century by the Archbishop of Cologne and was intended for the protection of the Cologne region from any assault from the South. The castle was damaged during the Thirty Years’ War and never rebuilt. Erosion due to the continued quarrying undermined much of the remains and only a small part is left today. The quarry also delivered the building material of the Cathedral in Cologne (Koelner Dom). In 1956 the site was declared a national park. On the way down we passed Schloss Drachenburg, a neogothic castle built in 1882. Drachenfels is sometimes called “the highest mountain of Holland” due to its popularity among Dutch tourists. The descent was very steep and difficult, especially with the baby carriage, but Johann slept almost the entire time. We had lunch in Koenigswinter by the Rhine riverside and it was nice because the sun came out. We drove home, passing many white asparagus plantations, and then chilled in the sun on their terrace while sipping a cappuccino and playing with Johann before driving back home after a wonderful week-end.

Our flight was from Budapest to Koeln/Bonn. In Cologne we met up with Lena, whom we met in Thailand, for a beer and a chat comparing our impressions of Asia. It was nice to see her before continuing on to Trier. There, we met up with Katrin and had a pleasant dinner together. We were in Trier for 2 weeks, more than ever before. It was nice to see friends again and see a bit more of the area, but we also spent days on end working on the computer. There were many things that we needed to take care of, so now was the time to do it. But we also had nice walks around Waldrach, where Christoph’s parents live. Waldrach is a village close to Trier located in the Ruwer valley overlooking nice forests and many vineyards. Walking around there is so peaceful and the fresh air is so nice. On sunny days we always went out, either walking in the vineyards, the fields or through the village. We also had great “Kaffee und Kuchen” (coffee and cake) as well as delicious food and amazing wine from the region. It was nice to see Christoph’s parents for a longer time, as we’re usually in a hurry. We also spent some evening playing games (“Romme”) and chatting, so it was a wonderful family time.

Cecilia’s old colleague Alain Patrick from CIBC (who moved to Bonn) visited for 2 days with his family. We showed them the surroundings of Waldrach and walked up to a point from where you can see 9 surrounding villages. The next day, we showed them Trier, the oldest city of Germany. Trier, called Treves in French, is wonderfully located on the banks of the Moselle River, in a valley between low vine-covered hills producing the famous wines of the Mosel regions. Due to its proximity to Luxembourg (20km to the border), Christoph feels great affection to the small neighbouring country and its Grand Duke Henri.

There was a Germanic tribe (Treveri) living in the area, but the Roman Empire subdued the Treveri in the 1st century BC and established Augusta Treverorum (Lit: August (Regal, noble) [City] of the Treveri) in 16 BC. The name is likely to be taken from the title Augustus held by the Princeps or head of state at the time, Augustus Caesar. The city later became the capital of the Roman province of Gallia Belgica and may have had as many as 70,000 inhabitants within its city walls. Due to its history as a Roman city, Trier still has many landmarks also found in Rome. The Porta Nigra is the most famous one and the symbol of Trier. The city is also the oldest seat of a Christian bishop North of the Alps. The bishop of Trier is still an important figure in the city, owning much land and vineyards in the area.

We first drove up Petrisberg, a nice look-out point over the city. There are also maps showing Trier during various periods of its history from the Roman times through the Middle Ages and up to modern times. We then drove past the Roman Amphitheatre, which can hold around 20,000 people, and parked the cars. We walked in the down-town pedestrian area and visited the “Roman Thermal Baths” discovered underground near the Viehmarkt (“cattle market”). During the Middle Ages, the Roman buildings got covered up by dirt and the city was rebuilt on a higher level. The “Viehmarkt” is where cattle was being traded during the Middle Ages and is a now a nice plaza surrounded by cafes. We then continued to the “Kaiserthermen” (The Emperor’s baths), which are a lot bigger and open-air. These baths are the largest Roman baths North of the Alps. Across from them is the “Palastgarten”, a nice garden in front the Rococo “Kurfuerstliche Palais” that used to be the seat of the prince-elector of Trier. Later it was used as an administrative building during the French occupation under Napoleon. Next to it is the impressive Constantine Basilica, a basilica in the original Roman sense. It was the 67m long throne hall of Roman Emperor Constantine. It was built so big to intimidate anyone coming to ask for favours. Today it’s used as a Protestant church.

We went inside the “Liebfrauenkirche” (“Church of Our Lady”), where we had been for Easter mass. This church is really beautiful (more detailed explanations in the “Easter” post). Next to it is the “Dom”, the Cathedral of Trier which dates back to Roman times. We could not visit it because the “Holy Tunic” is currently on display and the line-ups are big. We then went to the “Hauptmarkt”, the main plaza, a nice place surrounded by beautiful buildings and thriving with life. After lunch we continued to the “Porta Nigra”, the best preserved Roman city gate North of the Alps. Luckily the building was used as a monastery during the Middle Ages and therefore was spared from plundering. Many other buildings have been destroyed because their stones were used in the construction of other ones. On the way back to the car, we passed by the house where Karl Marx was born in 1818. We then drove past the “Roemerbruecke”, the 2nd century AD Roman bridge across the Moselle and the oldest bridge North of the Alps still crossed by traffic. We stopped at the “St. Paulinkirche” (Saint Paulin Church), one of the most important Baroque churches in Rhineland-Palatinate Bundesland (province). We finished off the afternoon with a coffee on the terrace of Nell’s Park Hotel, nicely located next to the beautiful and peaceful Nell’s Park.

One day Christoph went to see the “Heilige Rock” (The Holy Tunic), a garment with a recorded history back to the 12th century. In the Catholic tradition it’s said to be the robe Jesus was wearing when he died and it’s exposed in the Trier Dom only 3 times per century. The first time was 500 years ago in 1512. We also saw some friends such as Stephan Thomm with whom we went to Astarix. This place is an institution in Trier and a classic for the guys and we had a good time. It’s funny how we only see Stephan once in a blue moon, but there’s lots to talk about and fun. We also went in the surrounding area to Mehring, from where there is a nice view of the Moselle river and its vineyards. Afterwards it was time to get ready for Christoph’s brother’s wedding.

Our flight from KL to Frankfurt was at 3am, so we spent the night at the airport. We flew with Kuweit Airways, so our flight went from KL to Kuweit and then to Frankfurt. On the flight from KL, there were lots of Indonesians going on a pilgrimage to Mecca. There were all so small and had obviously never been on a plane before. They were also collecting all the salt, pepper and napkins we got, so we gave them ours as well. They were so happy. It was funny to see.

We arrived in Trier on Good Friday and we were happy to see Christoph’s parents after 8 months. The next day we went to the city for some shopping and had “Rindsrouladen” (beef rolls) – Christoph’s favourite German dish, so his mom makes every time we go. On Easter Sunday, we went all four to Trier for Easter Mass at the “Liebfrauenkirche”, Church of our Lady. The big church next to the Dome in down-town Trier has been recently renovated and is really beautiful. It is shaped like a rose, which is quite uncommon. It is also the oldest Gothic church in Germany, dating back to the 13^th century.

We had lunch at a good restaurant in the Ruwer valley with the seasonal white asparagus. Around 3-4pm we indulged in the wonderful German tradition of “Kaffee und Kuchen” – coffee and cake. It was a crisp spring day outside, but it felt bitterly cold for us who came from +40 degrees in Asia. Therefore, we watched the amazing sunset from indoors. We really enjoyed having great German wine from various regions that Christoph’s dad so carefully selects. After a short stay in Trier, we’re off to Romania, but we’ll be back soon!

Our stopover in Europe was to visit friends and family. The time was pretty short and we wanted to see as many people as possible, so we had a very tight schedule. We started with a visit at Karina, Patrick and Julian who showed us around in Homburg and Saarbruecken. The next day was Christoph’s mom 60^th birthday, which she celebrated at the same place where we had our wedding reception three years earlier and we got to meet lots of family members.

Then we headed to our Sight-seeing and Wine Tour in Pfalz, Alsace and Kaiserstuhl with Christoph’s parents. We visited castles and lots of old and cute little villages. For example, at the Hambacher Schloss the Hambacher Fest was celebrated in May 1832. It is considered a milestone in German history because it was the first time that a republican movement had made its mark in the country. It also confirmed the establishment of the combination of black, red and gold as a symbol of a democratic movement for a united Germany.

We also spent some time to wander through St-Martin, a small village full of flowers and Rhodt unter Rietburg with its romantic chestnut alleys.

After a 2 day tour in France, we returned to Germany where we had lots of wine tastings and took lots of pictures of the beautiful vineyards around the Kaiserstuhl. We even accompanied the nightwatchman in Burkheim on his tour through the village. Freiburg was our last stop of the trip, a very nice, medieval city.

After our quick trip to Amsterdam, Cecilia went to Hungary to visit her great-aunt and Christoph got locked in the attic to clean out his old stuff. Afterwards, back in Germany where we visited Walter & Petra where we spent 3 quiet days, chilling and celebrating. We also tried the Segway, which was scary at first, but we quickly got the hang of it. And then it was the grand departure into the big wild world!