Sommerzeit 2016 Woche 2

We have definitely settled into our little routine; Frühstuck, trip, lunch, movie, tea, soaps, bed/chat to GO, read, bed.

We have continued to revisit places of the past and have discovered new, exciting places.

Botanische Garten

During the Weihnachts be such we visited the tier park in Bielefeld, passing a sign for the Botanische Garten, promising that we would return in the summer.  We we have returned.  It was a lovely walk up (uphill) and around the garden.  There were lots of native plants but also some more exotic flavours.  We didn't see the whole garden, both the rents are unaccustomed to that much walking, but we saw enough. Again it was free to visit, what is loved was watching the could walking around planning which plants they wanted.

Mamilein and Papichen wanted to relive last years dramatic summer so they took me to the Kurpark in Bad Oyenhausen, it was lovely, very peaceful.  Everywhere you looked there were little groups of people walking or sitting and conversing.  It was very easy to forget that most of  these individuals were probably recovering from some recent trauma or medical condition.  It is most definitely in the German mindset (at least those of a certain generation) that there is nothing that can't be cured by a nice long walk in the fresh air.  I tend to think I agree with this sentiment wholeheartedly.

Sommerzeit 2016 Woche 1

First week is always busy, papichen is excited about having me back so is enthusiastic about going out.

We pottered around Bünde

Taking in the fields of green and saying hello to all the ponies and birds.

Mamilein even stopped to tell the pony "Dirk" that she had hurt her arm when she fell over.

Herman's Denkmal

Unlike his cousin Wilhelm, getting to Herman is so much easier as you park at the summit and then stroll along.  Much like lots of sights in Deutschland it was free of charge to walk around but if you want to go up you need to pay.

Shops

We also made the usual rounds of the supermarkets, I love to see what new things the Germans have come up with, things that initially I scoff at.  You know given a couple of years, I'll love it.

We also tried the new BBC Hulahoop challenge of hooping for sixty second and being interviewed, just hula hooping was enough of a challenge.

A visit from a very dear friend and her gorgeous family

"What are you doing over Christmas?" H had a plan.

As GO had no job to go back to, we were able to are with Mamilein and Papichen for the whole of the festive season.

H, wanted to come to Bünde and reminisce about the good old days.

Papichen booked her into the local hotel, I didn't hold out much hope. I was a bit worried, it didn't have the best trip advisor reviews. I have learnt not to pin everything on those kind of websites. Especially as the room was absolutely fantastic.

We met up and were introduced to all three girls. Who are gorgeous. We bimbled around Bünde with the intention of going to the park, not realising that the sun would set so quickly it being mid winter and all.

We made out way to the Italian and just had a lovely time catching up on all our news.

The next day I suggested a visit to the Tier Park in Bielefeld. I had seen someone mention it on Facebook and was curious, even more so when I found out it was free!