Germany

After leaving Belgium we traveled down the gorgeous southern Rhine Valley and then across to the former East Germany, where Simon managed to fulfill a lifelong dream by visiting Colditz Castle. Fortunately, our stint playing the board game made us extremely knowledgeable on the tour and we were able to ask some intelligent questions and impress our Scottish guide. After visiting the castle we flew up the autobahn to Hamburg, where we met up with Simon and Ulrike Jackson, friends of Si's from university. We stayed with them for the weekend, golfing, swimming, visiting the sites of Hamburg (including the fish market). We also got to know their kids, Nicholas and Zoe, who accompanied us on our excursions. The weekend culminated in a haircut for Simon -- the results of which will be apparent in photos to follow -- done by my less-than-expert hand. Suffice it to say it was the only haircut he's ever had where the hairdresser was rolling on the ground laughing. It was fabulous to stay in a gorgeous house with a proper bed, although a three-night stay meant we had to spend a fair amount of time finding and re-packing our things at the end of it. On Monday morning it was off to work and kindergarten for them and off to Denmark for us! E

Get Your Own! | View Slideshow