A Jenny Day

We visited the two walled cities of Germany today. First, Dinkelsbühl. Keith and I walked around on our own and admired the old.

We went to a church with a fancy skeleton. Someone stole the fancy skeleton’s leg in 2010. Who does that? Mike says it happens and the people put it on display in their church and say the saint wanted to be on display in their church. WHAT?

Dinkelsbühl is having Kinderzeche – a town festival celebrating the children saving them from the Swedes during the 30 years war. I might not have any of that right. What it meant for us was that there were lots of people dressed in period costumes (or they just dress like that all the time) and the Swede encampment was going up outside of town.

We ran into Becky and Sally and Jenny and all decided to go to the crepes and waffles place for lunch. We sat outside and Jenny read a sign on the wall, “Bubble waffles.” No sooner had she said than the waiter popped out and pretty much shouted, “NO.” Ok. No bubble waffles. She started reading the menu and said something about sandwiches and he reappeared, “NO.” Okay. We decided to stick to crepes. She and Keith ordered the same – Nutella, vanilla ice cream, and sliced bananas. When they arrived, there was a bit of whipped cream, but no ice cream. Jenny really wanted the ice cream and asked about it and was, not surprisingly, told “NO.” She was not pleased. The others were talking about something else entirely that included compromise. Jenny said there could be no compromise about the ice cream, but she never got any. Sad.

We all wandered our separate ways. About half an hour before we were to meet to leave, I got a text from Jenny that said, “I’m lost.” Accompanying the text was this picture. I should not have laughed as hard as I did.

Then I got a text that said she was lost with Mike and Mary. Then I got a text that said she’d found the bus, was 30 minutes early, but had lost Mike and Mary. I should definitely not laughed as hard as I did. The three of them all beat us to the bus.

Next stop, Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Stacy really wanted to go to the Christmas store. It is quite expansive and has quite a reputation. It was closing at 6, and we arrived to outside of the walled city about 4:45. She and I zoomed to the town square. I showed her the store, then we read “Christmas Museum”. We looked across the street and there was the Christmas store. I was not impressed. LOTS of really expensive ornaments. Some cute – but I am more of a Hallmark ornament girl. I did find a terrific Advent calendar (I ❤ Advent calendars) that sang and lit up and had little guys go around when you opened one of the little advent doors. It surprised me when it started to go and I really liked it. There are only two of these stores in the world (in the WORLD); one in Rothenburg and one in Stillwater, MN. So, I can always shop at home.

Our men had been transferring luggage to the hotel. Our room is super cute, and comes with a fan! The keys could alternately be used as boat anchors.

When I finally got to our room, I said I wanted to sit in the little rosemaling chair in the corner. Keith said, “Be careful of your head in that corner.” I said, “Ow.” He didn’t say anything, because he was busy shaking with laughter. It’s been a laughing day.

Eventually, Keith texted that he was in the Christmas store while we were out on the street. He was lost and looking for an exit. Jenny texted that she was coming, then texted “Nevermind. I think I am locked in my room.” (You have to spin the lock on the inside of her door twice to get it to open. It is not intuitive. We are in separate hotels tonight – too big of a group for one hotel.) Eventually, we all made it to the Christmas museum, which turned out to be a small part of a realllllly big, cool Christmas store. I found a BEAUTIFUL nativity scene that was so me – but so many expensives. (The camel was most most most expensive. $164) ($164!!!!) I looked at it a lot. Please look at the picture a lot. It was very soft.

Joachim organized group pictures again. He is a wonder. Oh! I forgot to tell you. While we were waiting for the group to gather in Dinkelsbühl, Sally let Joachim in on the secret that we love when he sys, “Please come.” He gives us the scoop on everything we are going to do and see, then ends with “Please come,” and there is not anyone on the bus that doesn’t find it charming. He was flabbergasted that we all like it so much. He was willing to say it so Sally and Keith could make a recording. Tee hee.

Dinner was schnitzel and french fries, and second helpings of french fries. Dessert had just been served when Jenny got stung by a wasp IN HER MOUTH. WWHHHAAAAAT? She got stung three times. At first, we thought it was a bee – and she has had mild allergic reactions in the past to bees, so ohmygoodness. She iced it a lot and eventually it calmed down a bit.

We went to the nightwatchman tour, but on the second stop, Keith and Jenny and I left. Jenny and I couldn’t keep our minds on what he was saying and we ended up just going to her room to hang out and chat (and ice her mouth).

I just got pictures from Daniel of the exploded/burned down garage from last week – back when we lived in the United States. He went for a walk and checked it out. WOW!