Wertheim, Germany

 After receiving a warm answering letter and email from Willi and Helga Schwind, we planned my trip to Wertheim, Germany, the hometown of our great-grandfather Gustav Schwind.  This area has a number of little villages which have joined and separated as towns over the years.  Wertheim has become a rather large city, and our cousin Willi lives in Freudenberg, a small village about 10 minutes away. 

First the empty platform at Ostbahnhof, then the arrival of the ICE for the start of my trip.  I was nervous, but really, when you have to take 3 different trains, and the first one decides to sit on the tracks for a half hour to let other trains go first, then you know you're in for trouble.

The last train was this cute little one from Aschaffenburg to Wertheim.  My relatives called me just as the train was pulling into the station, and though they had been there TWO HOURS EARLIER to pick me up, they were coming back now to try again!  What kindness!

 

Following Willi into his house.  The flowers along the balcony added such a touch of color and coziness.

 View from their balcony into the town below.

My room at the Rose Gasthaus.  So simple by American standards, but pico-bello clean.  Everything one needs.

 Gertrud, Sandra, Helga in the sunroom

 Gertrud, Sandra, Willi in their sunroom

 Helga and Sandra at Gasthof Rose

 Helga and Willi

 Sandra in back yard

 Willi and his sister Gertrud.  What a sweetie she is :-)

 Willi on the swing in the backyard

 Sandra and Willi

 Helga and Sandra in front of the Rose Gasthof

 Evening meal (Abendbrot

 Willi's back yard garden house

 The house viewed from the top of the back yard

 Side entrance to the house

 Willi's koi pond

Willi's greenouse and tomato/pepper garden

Too soon the visit was over and I was on the way back to Berlin, but with WONDERFUL memories of meeting my German cousins!  Auf Wiedersehen!