Ok, not soccer. Badminton. These people love badminton!We pulled up in front of the "sports pavilion" in Offenburg. Meike asked us what we called such a building in America. My answer was that we didn't have such a building in America. But, then again, we live in the big city. Maybe in the real America there are such places. The fascination with sports and fitness in Germany is amazing.
We walked into a giant building filled with badminton courts (?) from end to end. Two of the Discher boys were competing in this championship. In between watching the matches we ate delicious food and practiced badminton ourselves. The girls liked learning a new sport except when daddy whacked Marni in the mouth with the racket. Moving on...
A short drive later we were at the foot of a small mountain topped by a ancient castle. Access to the castle was via a precipitous path covered by slippery wet leaves. Deep breath. The sure-footed Dischers helped us up the path with no fatalities. Once up top the girls ran off in search of new dangerous places to be. They ran up spiral staircases that ended at breathtaking views and breathtaking danger at the top of the crumbling castle walls. Despite my anxiety, the girls enjoyed themselves to the maximum allowed by law.
At the foot of the mountain was a quaint restaurant where we ate a late lunch outdoors amongst geese, chickens and snails. The girls devoured their soups as I ate possibly the most delicious and unhealthy meal of my trip. And so ended the official program of day three. Once the kids were asleep, Meike, Claus, Lisa and I slipped out for a drink in downtown Offenburg. I ordered a traditional Long Island Ice Tea.
Day four was a doozy. We met up with more Dischers and with the Schmid family in Freiburg for a day on a farm. Chickens, pigs, cows, horses, goats, cats, dogs and bunnies. All on a working farm. It was great fun watching the six new children, who didn't exist during our last visit to Germany, all play with each other despite the language barrier.
After terrorizing the barnyard residents, we made our way to a fantastic playground in the back of the farm. We spent hours there playing and eating. Stella and Marni even ascended the 10-foot high, inflatable "bounce mountain". Without exaggeration I believe that 90% of the playground would be deemed illegal in the U.S. due to safety concerns. Which is why this playground was so much fun.
After the farm we visited the Schmid and Baier family homes where we ate (of course) and where the ladies played with their German counterparts without international incident. Beautiful homes and wonderful families.
Day 5 was kid-free as Lisa and I slipped out of town and headed for Paris before the girls awoke. While we were away, Meike took the girls on a train to an indoor swimming pool. Later in the day was a nature walk and art time.
On day 6 Meike bravely took the girls grocery shopping. This is never a pleasant experience. Later, a trip to another farm where Stella and a goat butted heads (almost). That evening the girls came to pick us up at the train station as we returned from Paris.
Today was Europa Park! The Disney World of Germany.
This place was huge! And fantastic. We were accompanied by Meike, Samuel and Simon. The girls worked their was across the park from ride to ride to ride. At one point we brought the girls to a giant indoor playground. Inside the building was a large play structure, several stories high. Kids could go in, but parents had to watch from the sides. So the girls headed in.
And this is where we lost Marni.
We watched them run into the play area and saw Marni scamper up and up and up to the higher floors. A few minutes later Stella came out. Alone. She told us she couldn't find Marni. We were sure she would show up soon, so we waited. Several minutes later, no Marni. We looked and looked but couldn't find her. Now we were beginning to worry. Lisa described Marni to a worker and then persuaded her to allow Lisa to go into the structure and search. Lisa took Stella with her and began the rescue mission as I stood by the entrance. A minute later I looked down and saw two boys holding Marni's hands and bringing her to one of the workers. The boys spoke English and explained that they found her crying on one of the upper levels and brought her down to safety. I asked Marni what happened and she told be that she got scared. Lisa and Stella returned and we were reunited at last.
We ate and played our way through the park for a few more hours and made our way out just as the fireworks began. Marni hooted and howled. Then we shoved her in the car and took off for home. Day 6... another success.
