We felt really blessed when the young couple who lent us their car while we were in Germany invited us to stay a couple extra days with them before coming home to England.
As we left the Refresher Course site, we took our time driving to their town, trying to take in all the beautiful scenery and stopping in a couple of villages along the way, just to walk around. I never got tired of admiring all the old buildings and just love the way the streets are laid out. 
We pulled up to their house around 3:00 p.m. and soon were learning lots about Russian/German culture. After being there for just a few moments, we found ourselves sitting down to a scrumptious meal - roasted potatoes, chicken Kiev and salad. Oh dear, why did we bother with that German Bratwurst at noon time? There wasn’t much room in our tummies, but we did manage to allow our taste buds the opportunity to experience those savory dishes.
Our meal the following day - another typical Russian/German dish. 
Just a few hours later we joined another group of friends for more yummy food. 2 young men whom we got to know quite well while they did their social year in the Philippines, lived in a town about ½ hr. away. They are both married now, with families, have finished their education and plan to come for further study at North Cotes this year. It was great to see them again, and meet their families as we are excited about being their neighbours again this coming school year. 
2 young ladies who just graduated from North Cotes were also part of the hosting team.
The following evening our hosts took us on a tour of their town - we saw 'Herman the German', had coffee in a unique spot, walked around the Princely Castle and later went out for a good old fashioned German meal. 
'Eisbein mit Sauerkraut' Pork knuckles, served with sauerkraut. It was a favourite when most people still worked hard in the fields.
The next day we continued to learn even more of German history as we walked around The Detmold Open-air Museum with friends we have known for several years. Over 100 historic, rural buildings were transported and reconstructed there, including schools, farmhouses, thatched cottages, and windmills. More than 200 acres of rustic fields and paths are available for horse-drawn carriage rides, walking tours, and picnicking.
We were sitting in the kitchen area of this huge building. Right in front of us were stables for the horses. While the men were out working the fields, the women were cooking and watching the animals.
We followed our noses to the bakery - no wonder we could smell it so far away.
Our meal at the museum.
In some ways it reminded me of Sherbrooke Village (where I worked for a few summers to put myself thru school) yet this dated back much father, was alot bigger and more spread out. You could spend several days there.
In the evening we went on to enjoy a scrumptious barbecue. What great hosts! Those few extra days were so enjoyable and relaxing. It is always good to get caught up with friends - and we have many scattered all over Germany.
The next day we continued to learn even more of German history as we walked around The Detmold Open-air Museum with friends we have known for several years. Over 100 historic, rural buildings were transported and reconstructed there, including schools, farmhouses, thatched cottages, and windmills. More than 200 acres of rustic fields and paths are available for horse-drawn carriage rides, walking tours, and picnicking. 
We were sitting in the kitchen area of this huge building. Right in front of us were stables for the horses. While the men were out working the fields, the women were cooking and watching the animals. 
We followed our noses to the bakery - no wonder we could smell it so far away. 
Our meal at the museum. 
In some ways it reminded me of Sherbrooke Village (where I worked for a few summers to put myself thru school) yet this dated back much father, was alot bigger and more spread out. You could spend several days there. 
In the evening we went on to enjoy a scrumptious barbecue. What great hosts! Those few extra days were so enjoyable and relaxing. It is always good to get caught up with friends - and we have many scattered all over Germany. 
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