Off to Wasbuttel to See Johanna Finke

Again, we left late for our next destination...it's always so difficult to leave one place and go to the next.  This trip has been amazing, but I do feel as if I'm on an emotional roller coaster -- relishing the hellos and fearing the goodbyes.  This time we said goodbye to Monika (she and Mirko may be planning a trip to New York in the next year or two, and we'll see them if it all works out, but I'm afraid it may be another eight years before we say hello again) and hello to Johanna Finke.  I make a distinction with Johanna's last name because we had two Johanna au pairs (the other is Johanna Zetterlund in Sweden).

The ride wasn't bad -- maybe two hours.  Johanna lives in a small town called Wasbuttel not far from Braunschweig, Germany.  As we drove along the road with our trusty GPS, we knew the house immediately by the huge American flag hanging from the second floor window.

The American flag hung from the window when we arrived.

Johanna and her entire family -- mother, father, sister, brother-in-law, brother, friend, and downstairs neighbor/landlady (a third grandmother, really) -- came to greet us at our car and to help carry our luggage to the third floor of the home where we were staying.  I must mention here how truly remarkable it has been staying in European homes and the extent to which all of our host families have gone to make our stay comfortable.  Most of the homes are much smaller than American homes, and families have given up beds for us.  Johanna's family was no exception -- her parents slept on makeshift beds in the downstairs living area so that our group could have the entire bedroom area to ourselves!

After showing us our sleeping rooms, we joined the family with a champagne welcome toast on the back deck and enjoyed a huge spread of potato salads, green salad, barbecue bratwurst, chicken and other meats.  The conversation was lively and the wine flowed....  Dessert was what seems to be a German specialty (although with slight variations from place to place) of whipped cream and mascarpone cheese on top of fresh or thawed berries.  It's quite light and refreshing after a big summer meal.

A champagne toast for our arrival.

The next morning we headed to Braunschweig for a little tour of the city.  The kids, Johanna, and I visited a very cool mall that is built behind the facade of an old palace -- called Schloss Arkaden (castle arcade if translated literally).  Hannah and Daniel were dying to get a Starbucks Frapuccino, and we all enjoyed a bit of shopping.  Hannah is especially fond of H&M!  My mom and Terry went with Gerald (Johanna's father) to an old church.  The kids are understandably less interested in historical sites and more interested in more contemporary attractions!

The Schloss Arkaden in Braunschweig.

Johanna and Hannah at a German Starbucks!

We returned to Johanna's home in the afternoon for some cake and coffee -- a German afternoon tradition that I find particularly civilized.  

Homemade blueberry cake -- an afternoon treat.

From there we headed to Wolfsburg, home of Volkswagen Automobiles.  From what I understood, the Volkswagen "City" was built as part of a World Exposition held in Braunschweig a few years ago, and it is really amazing.  There are plenty of activities for children (kids spend 45 minutes learning road signs and then how to drive a toy car before receiving a "real" drivers license, they can build a virtual car, and, for younger kids, they can ride around an indoor track in a small vehicle), a vintage auto museum, restaurants, a lighted laser water show, and much more.   It was a real hit with the kids!

A bird's eye view of the driving test course for kids at the Volkswagen facility in Wolfsburg.

Adam in his car taking his driving test.

Daniel waiting his turn to park his car.

Hannah following the German street signs.

Adam receiving his license!

The kids had fun designing their own cars.

A view of a portion of the Volkswagen facility.

Our group enjoying an Italian dinner at the Volkswagen facility.

Dorothee, Johanna, and Gerald.

On our last day in Wasbuttel (we stayed for two nights with Johanna -- from Monday, August 2 to Wednesday, August 4), we took a quick driving tour through the small village of Wasbuttel, went to a grocery story and pharmacy to pick up a few items (and, really, to take a tour -- seeing a foreign grocery store is quite exciting for Terry and me), and the kids went to feed Johanna's chickens (yes, we ate fresh eggs for breakfast!).

The garden at Johanna's home.

Hannah feeding the chickens.

The kids having fun with bubbles on Johanna's deck.

Time to say goodbye again.

As has become our habit, we left in the afternoon for a 4-hour drive to Eckernforde, Germany to visit Frauke and her family.

Another long day....