Nonetheless, they were very good to me. After what seemed like a very long taxi ride from Heathrow (itself following a 45-minute stand in line to get through immigration, England not seeming to be very welcoming to visitors!), Katy, Dan and I said brief greetings, Katy fed me well, and I tumbled onto my fancy air bed for a sound sleep.
The next day, I'm afraid, was not too coherent. I read, Katy and I watched a cooking show on TV, Dan and I went shopping for some food, and we (or I, at least) generally took it easy. All three of us actually ventured out to the local commercial area and had a tapas lunch in a Spanish cafe: very pleasant. The following day involved the trip to a play downtown: "Handbaggers", a play about the time of Maggie Thatcher with Queen Elizabeth, and their relationship, sort of. I loved its politics, and the audience clearly was having fun. Dan had more trouble, since he did not know the history. And Katy was with me on having a good time with it.
Followed by a pub supper where we all met up with the rest of Katy's family - her parents, and their dog (a Katy replacement, perhaps?). My hearing was difficult, so I didn't follow all the conversation, but in general, I really enjoyed the outing.
On the Sunday, Dan and I went for a longer walk across the Tower Bridge and around that part of London and the South and North Banks of the Thames. Weather actually cooperated. Rain was called for, but didn't arrive. And in the evening, Dan and Katy had organised a get-together of friends at their place, and again were great at making me feel welcome.
Monday was a travel day. My anxiety manifested by denying me a lot of sleep, so I was already doing well when I got up. Katy had left for work (her first time there in a month) and Dan woke me to say good-bye before he left on his bike for work as well. The long trip to the airport was begun, and fortunately uneventful. And the flight was fine. Getting from the airpot to the town was another thing. And so begins the Kultur Klash!
I had to ask for directions to the train station from the airport. Turned out to be pretty easy, made of course more difficult by my bag being the last off the plane, so time was not on my side. I knew which platform I was to leave from, but I couldn't find that platform. So I went down one which seemed okay, heard some people talking a bit of English, and asked them. They didn't know where the platform was either, but they said I could get a ride from this station to the central station, which was what I needed. However, the platform I was on had trains going in the opposite direction, so I hauled the bag up the stairs and down another platform, got on, and tried to slow my breathing on the train, keeping fingers crossed I would get there in time for my connecting train. Of course, the platform I needed in the Hbf (Central Station) was at the other end of the station from where I arrived, so speed became important. I made it to the needed platform....just in time to see my train pull out! Damn!
So ask directions again, this time of a police officer, and was told there was another train in about forty minutes from the same platform. Okay, so I wait.
German trains are generally very exact in their timing: if it is supposed to arrive at 1704, it pulls in, loads, and leaves very close to that time. So when the police officer told me the time, and the time it would arrive in Hückelhoven, I was set, or so I thought. The train did arrive on time, I got on, and I checked my time to be sure I got off in the right place. There was supposed to be a taxi waiting for me at the station. But then, the time the officer gave me came and went, and I was not near any station, much less the one I was needing. I almost got off, then felt I would give it one more station, and it turned out to be Hückelhoven. Phew! Haul my bag down the thirty steps, and the taxi was there. I was in good hands, even though I could not talk to the drive in any words he could understand.
The next four days are a bit of a blur. We were put up in a hotel which has "theme rooms". Mine, for instance, is a Buddhist theme.
But we were not relaxing here. We started our days by leaving the hotel at either 7:30 or 8:30 to travel to the home, usually arriving back at the hotel between 6 and 8 in the evening. A de-briefing session (with snacks and wine) followed, in turn followed by dinner, then bed. Repeat times three.
Fortunately, the home we went to was wonderful.
When we met after the days, we would check to see if anyone had found the major flaw that had to be there. But it didn't show up. Our time at the home was busy: interviews with various workers or administrators; observing the home in action; walking around. We were here over their May Day, a much larger celebration of Spring and workers than it is in Canada. The trees are filled with streamers, all residents were invited to a party where the punch was decidedly alcoholic, and a general good time was had. It-the home-is a wonderful example of what can be done, and a place I would not mind residing in myself (as far as we could tell).
Yesterday was a tourist day. The weather finally cleared, and although it was cool, we were happy. Headed off to Koln (Cologne) for the day, by train. Their Hbf is right beside the Dom (Cathedral), so you come out of the station to see this magnificent structure from the thirteenth century.
Well, in fact it's not all the thirteenth century, since it too until the mid-nineteenth century to finish it. And there are some interesting facts about its finish. The workers who finished it were actually Protestant, working on a Catholic cathedral. Which may explain why the newer part is not as ornate as the older part. And the final part was done by a series of donations from Germans who felt it was their patriotic duty to support the Germanic church architecture - which they did, mistakenly thinking that the style was German in origin, when in fact it was French. So it's kind of interesting that it actually came together, after six hundred years, to make a very impressive place.
The rest of our day in Koln included a boat ride on the Rhine, dinner in a brauhaus, and some walking around. I was terrific, even if we didn't get to visit the Roman-German Museum.
Today, we went into Aachen, the seat of power for Charlemagne back 1200 years ago. We visited the church that was built in his time, saw his throne, and walked the town where he lived. it was magical, in a different, but also wonderful way, from what we had seen in Koln.
This trip has been good for my prejudices: I have seen Germany in its better light, and have a better understanding for what it can be and has been. I am much more sympathetic, and I hope, understanding, of the people who live in this quite unusual and pretty country.
Now let's see what Norway has to offer....
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Location:Brassertstraße,Hückelhoven,Germany
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