First Post aus Deutschland!

Sunday was an extremely eventful day in Wesel. It was my first full day with the Kiefers, so we decided to go biking into downtown Wesel. We stopped at Konrad-Duden Gymnasium (KDG) first, so I could get a first impression of it. The campus is huge, two stories, with tons of bike racks and cement ping-pong tables scattered throughout. Plus it has brick walk, no asphalt or cement except on the basketball courts.

Next we followed the red brick road (aka bike lane) downtown. We took one quick circuit around the line of shops, and then settled down at an outdoor seating area for Italien ice cream. The ice cream shops were the only ones open, because all the other stores are closed on Sundays. The ice cream, some chocolate mix, was the best I've ever tasted (which is what I say every time I have Italien ice cream). Apparently, these ice cream shops are closed in the winter and the owners go back down to Italy. Who would want ice cream in winter anyway?

Jutta and I with "die Esel von Wesel", a

donkey with movable tail, mouth, and ears.

Next we visited the Rhine. It is a kilometer (0,63 miles) from the Kiefers. We climbed a support of an old railway bridge that used to span a mile across the river. The actual bridge was blown up by the Germans on D-day, so the Allies could not cross into their country. It was never rebuilt. Barges are constantly going up and down the Rhine, from Rotterdam, in the Netherlands, to Duisburg, the largest inland port in Europe, which also happens to be the city where I got off the train to meet the Kiefers. It is about half an hour out of Wesel. These barges are required by law to fly the flag from its country. This makes it easier for the water police.

The Rhine, and the rest of the railway bride

across the river

Earlier, while eating ice cream downtown, we had heard a band playing music in the distance. Someone there had mentioned that there would be a performance in the marketplace later, so we came back around 2 o'clock. It turned out to be a parade, celebrating the election of a queen and king (for what I'm not sure). But there were about 4 bands and a string of VW bugs (German auto company), along with horses and men marching with sabers.

When we were waiting for the parade to organize, the president of the club asked if I would sit in one of the cars and go through the parade with them. Unfortunately, I couldn't, because I couldn't leave my bicycle. But I did get introduced to the king and queen, and took lots of pictures with the Kiefer's camera (mine was out of batteries).

I am meeting the queen, king, and princess.

I counted some of the instruments as the marched by. The largest band had 23 piccolos! Plus 18 snare drums, 12 bugles, and 4 loud, lyre-shaped bells-like instruments, along with others. All the bands played traditional German songs, most of which dated back to Kaiser Wilhem. Right before the parade the big band stopped in front of an old-persons' home and played their selections for the elderly, and they were clapping along. So much German culture and identity! It was great to watch.

The band with 23 piccolos

In the evening some children and teens from the neighborhood came by for some 2 1/2 hours. Amelie, the girl I will be biking to school with, her older sister, Matthias from down the street with his younger sister, and Amelie's friend, Christine. They talked with Jutta for the most part, and whenever she had to go off to work on something, we would bravely try to make conversation with each other. Most of the time, it was nice to be able to smile at each other across the table and laugh with them whenever everyone else laughed. Even better were the few occasions when I got to laugh and mean it because I actually understood what was said.

Tonight was the debate between the two candidates for chancellor, Angela Merkel and Gerhard Schröder. I couldn't understand a word except the occasional "Euros", they were speaking so fast. Oh, and once someone mentioned New Orleans because of Hurricane Katrina. Elections are of September 18th! I'm glad to have the opportunity to witness this event.