Christmas 2003


Greetings from Big Sky country!
       Where did the year go?  Or maybe the mind starts having a problem with recall?  Easter in Longmont with Kirsten and Manuel - trip to Norway and Germany to visit three exchange daughters and their families - back to the Festival of Nations and a leaky waterline - replaced windows - trip to Longmont for Thanksgiving - looking forward to Christmas with family and 'the animals.'
       I guess the big event of the year was our trip to Germany and Norway, 7 weeks in June and July.  We drove to Longmont and spend a day with Kirsten and Manuel before flying from Denver to Hamburg.  Christiane still had classes so we were met by Kai-Arne, her boyfriend.  After getting our rental car and a night's sleep, the four of us left for Norway so Christiane and Kai-Arne could meet Kirsten and Manuel, who had left a day after us, in Oslo. So, the drive was through northern Germany and the length of Denmark and, rather than taking the ferry to Oslo, we take a side trip to Kristiansand.  Christine, the Norwegian blonde, had told us not to come until school was finished.  That was too much of a challenge.  Her parents knew we were coming for a day before going on to Oslo and met us at the ferry landing. Bob in gorilla suit with girls A few minutes before the house, we stopped and I put on the gorilla suit and crawled in the trunk.  Surprise!!!!!!!!


       The next day it was on to Oslo and meeting Kirsten and Manuel.  Christiane and Kai-Arne had 4 days with us - taking in the sights of Oslo including a personal tour of Stortinget - before having to take a ferry back to Germany and classes.      At the end of the first week we met Maren at the airport and the five us drove to a cabin in Sweden, just east of Røros. It was a little cooler and wetter than Oslo, but still very nice.  Side trips to Røros, Hell, Levanger, and Namsos followed.  We saw Dasher and Dancer, Prancer and Vixen, Comet and Cupid, Donner and Blitzen, and all 999 relatives.  We were on the road to Hell and, first, saw this small group of reindeer.  Driving on a little farther, we hit the jackpot. Reindeer all over the place!  On the way back to Oslo, we visited the family that owns the farm where one set of great-grandparents lived.  After a wonderful meal of rømmegrøt and flotbrød, we saw the spot where the cottage stood.
       After the week we said goodbye to Maren, Kirsten, and Manuel at the airport and the two of us were off to spend 2 weeks with Christine's family.  They took us on a 4-day 'power' trip of southern Norway.  A night at a cabin on the coast - a trip on the Telemark Canal - historic hotel in Dalen - a night in a cabin in upper Setesdal - stave church at Røldal - rock carvings - hike to the Pulpit Rock - ferry ride on Lysefjorden - drive through 30+ switchbacks - rømmegrøt and flatbrød in Setesdal.  Fabulous scenery and hosts.  Later we went to soutwest Norway and were given a tour of German WWII fortications and a lighthouse and rock fences unique to that part.  Our guide, the father of Christine's mother's sister-in-law, was 13 when his father was killed during the occupation and remembers watching an air and sea battle off the coast. His house is built on top of a German bunker and he took us underground.
       Back to Germany where I went with Christiane and Kai-Arne to see Sand World at Travemunde.  Very impressive.  Tons of sand are hauled to a beach and students from an architectural and design school spend the summer making sand sculptures. Each section had a different theme and it was easy to recognize JFK (ich bin ein Berliner . . . . ).  Then off to Berlin - the Wall - Checkpoint Charlie - German Parliment - Victory Column.  And then to Lueneburg where Christiane attends a business school.  The last part of the trip was spent at Wannweil in southern Germany with Franziska and her family.  Trips to Heidelburg - Neuschwanstein - concert in an old monastery.  The most different thing was attending her sister Teresa's English class and talking about school and other things in the US.  It was very interesting.
       Back home just in time to get ready for the Festival of Nations - number 53.  All the while thinking about the lack of water pressure, about 9 pounds,  in the house which our housesitter had to endure.  With the help of a friend, the pump was pulled out of the well, cleaned, and found to be working. So, bypassed the waterline with a garden hose and success! Looking at digging through 150 feet of mostly rock, the neighbor's backhoe was a great help.  And, of course, the leak was in the last 5 feet of digging.  Sixteen years ago the installer had used iron couplers in a copper line and the coupler had corroded away.  Uff da, it could have been worse!
       We are looking forward to having a good holiday season.  I met Maren at the airport in Billings yesterday and Kirsten and Manuel will arrive this evening (Saturday).  Great to have them home with us!
Bob

page 2 - Maren, Kirsten, and Manuel

page 3 - Andrea