Guten Tag Sweet Friends!

My weekend in Chicago was wonderful. I was able to reconnect with old friends – people that I have known what seems like all my life and who know me better than anyone, except for maybe ex-hubby #1. It was wonderful to see them and enjoy the sweet fruits of their labor. They are enjoying such success and I was happy to be a part of that for a short time. They hold very special places in my heart and always will. I left Sunday feeling sad but uplifted at having spent time with them.

The Lufthansa flight from Chicago to Dusseldorf was uneventful. I learned that a second bag is costly! $100 for my second bag!! Ouch! But couldn’t be helped and it was better than paying $150 for one very heavy, over-weight bag. Jeez!! Managed a few hours sleep but not more than 3, so I arrived very tired but excited in Dusseldorf where my dear friend Doc met me. Only one very fortunate mishap – someone mistook my second bag for theirs and took it by mistake, leaving their bag. After going through the contents of his bag and finding nothing exciting (just kidding), Lufthansa contacted him/her and arranged to have my bag delivered to our flat in Cologne! Bonus! One less heavy bag we had to deal with on the train, so it was fortunate indeed. Bag was delivered in less than 2 hours. Very efficient indeed!

Spent a few hours unpacking and then went out strolling a few streets near the flat. My friend is trying to orient me to the city so that when he leaves on Sunday I can get out and about on my own. The flat sits on the Rhine river overlooking a lovely and long promenade down the river. It sits between the two main bridges in Cologne and river barges are a constant moving visual as are people and dogs. Overheard conversations can be amusing. The flat is pretty awesome! Lots of space and very well appointed with amazing views!!

My lovely bedroom in my new place.

The view outside my bedroom window.

The walkway in front of my flat. Note the different colors of brick in the sidewalk. This indicates walker/biker lanes. Very bike friendly here.

This is the view out my back door! Rhine river and promenade is a few steps (or leap) away. Really lovely!

At one end of the apartment building is a Mediterranean restaurant where we had our first meal together. It was simple and wonderful with very good olive oil, braised greens and fresh salad. YUM!  We will frequent this place a lot I’m sure!!!

The bio-market and hardware store were next on our list for a few staples and more hangers. The bio-market is like the health food stores in the states so I was in a very happy place exploring aisles of new products with German labels. More on that later.  Picked up some breakfast staples and fruit and plan to hit the farmer’s market today for veggies and more fruit. Juicing is a must today. I have to start making a routine and this is a must!

Today we will make a quick trip to neighboring community, visit the farmer’s market and perhaps swing by the cathedral. Lots of little things to take care of but everything is a learning experience for me so I’m excited about everything, even a trip to the hardware store!