12/21
On the road to Dortmund
The snow-covered icy road conditions. Thankfully, the road was
well-travelled, and the rental car had snow tires, so the drive posed
no dangers... except that the windshield water pump outlets would
freeze, and we couldn't wipe off ice forming on the windshield -
nothing that Christine's earring and little ingenuity could not fix at
gas stops!
12/21
The Scholz's favorite Kneipe (bar), Dortmund
Peter, Henni, and Christine enjoy a Bitterbier (bitter bier),
while Toli samples a Kinderbier (childrens' beer;
non-alcoholic).
12/22
Hohensyburg
The ruins of Hohensyburg castle lie south of Dortmund in the
mountaintops. Within the ruins is a World War II memorial dedicated to
the fallen soldiers of the region.
12/22
Hohensyburg
The World War II memorial.
12/22
Hohensyburg
There is a beautiful vantage point from Hohensyburg, showing the Ruhr
river valley, the Sauerland, as well as some interesting industrial
works. This is a diagram of the south-east view.
12/22
Hohensyburg
The south view (panomara).
12/22
Hohensyburg
The south view (panomara).
12/22
Hohensyburg
The south view (panomara).
12/22
Hohensyburg
The south view (panomara).
12/22
Hohensyburg
The south view (panomara).
12/22
Hohensyburg
The south view (panomara).
12/22
Hohensyburg
Christine, Peter, and Henni standing between Chancellor Otto Bismarck
and Kaiser Wilhelm.
12/22
Hohensyburg
The south view (panomara).
12/22
Hohensyburg
The south view (panomara).
12/22
Hohensyburg
The south view (panomara).
12/22
Hohensyburg
The south view (panomara).
12/22
Hohensyburg
The south view (panomara).
12/22
Hohensyburg
A diagram of the south-west view.
12/22
Hohensyburg
The south view.
12/22
Hohensyburg
The south view where the Ruhr (left) and Lenne (right) rivers meet.
12/22
Hohensyburg
The south view where the Ruhr and Lenne rivers meet.
12/22
Downtown Dortmund
Christine, Peter, and Henni stand in front of the world's largest
Christmas tree at Dortmund's Christmas market. It is, in fact, many
trees put together to form one large tree.
12/22
Downtown Dortmund
Christine, Peter, and Henni.
12/22
Downtown Dortmund
The world's largest Christmas tree.
12/22
Downtown Dortmund
The world's largest Christmas tree.
12/22
Downtown Dortmund
The world's largest Christmas tree.
12/22
Downtown Dortmund
The statistics for the Christmas tree, showing that it was made from
1700 individual trees and weighs more than 30 tons.
12/22
Downtown Dortmund
A coinmaker at the Christmas market stamps out coins using an old
method of dropping weights on top of a stamper. We got our own coin,
of course!
12/22
Downtown Dortmund
Inside a tent at the Christmas market where children learn to make
Christmas cookies. Parents need to make reservations well ahead of the
holidays to get their children in!
12/22
The glass walkway at the Galleria Kaufhof, Downtown Dortmund
The Christmas market (panorama).
12/22
The glass walkway at the Galleria Kaufhof, Downtown Dortmund
The Christmas market (panorama).
12/23
Sven's House, Recklinghausen
Franka, Sven, Christine, and Toli in front of the Christmas tree (with
real candles)
12/23
Hallenbad U-Bahn stop, Hombruch
The sign at the Hombruch Hallenbad (indoor swimming pool)
stop, where we ended up when Toli missed our designated
stop.... Bad luck! His pitiful excuse was that he got
confused because the underground runs overground in this part of town.
12/24
Living room, Doris and Uwe's flat, Hombruch
The living room of Doris and Uwe, friends of the Scholz's.
12/24
Dining room, Doris and Uwe's flat, Hombruch
The dining room.
12/24
Bathroom, Doris and Uwe's flat, Hombruch
The modern bathroom.
12/24
Bathroom, Doris and Uwe's flat, Hombruch
The modern bathroom.
12/24
Office, Doris and Uwe's flat, Hombruch
Nadine's snake, after a delicious Christmas Eve mouse. Nadine is
Doris' daughter (Uwe's step-daughter).
12/24
Kitchen, Doris and Uwe's flat, Hombruch
Peter, Toli, Christine, Uwe, Nadine, Henni, and Doris in the kitchen.
12/24
Living room, Doris and Uwe's flat, Hombruch
The modern fireplace.
12/24
Living room, Doris and Uwe's flat, Hombruch
The modern fireplace.
12/24
Living room, Doris and Uwe's flat, Hombruch
The modern fireplace.
12/25
Dining area, the Scholz's flat, Hombruch
Christine enjoying a Christmas breakfast.
12/25
Dining area, the Scholz's flat, Hombruch
Henni, Christine, and Peter.
12/25
Dining area, the Scholz's flat, Hombruch
Henni, Christine, and Peter.