Guten Tag sweet friends!

Yesterday was May Day or “workers” holiday in Germany, similar to Labor Day I think, so thousands of locals were out with the kids and dogs roaming the streets, parks and cafes. It was a relatively warm and sunny day so many families were having picnics, riding bikes, roller blading, and simply rolling in the grass having fun together. Adult beverages were plentiful and outdoor cafes were full!

We started my final orientation day walking along the river walk towards the city center and Dom Square. There are herds of sheep on the opposite grassy side of the river that “mow” the banks as they move up and down each day. So funny to watch the dogs running around them. River cruise boats passed by, all full of tourists and locals on holiday. We walked past the Athletica and Olympia Museum and its wood sculptures outside and the Chocolate Museum towards Dom Square. The spires of the Dom loomed overhead offering a glimpse of how truly massive and imposing it is.

I expected the square to be jammed packed but it was not really that crowded. We walked inside the cathedral and I was delighted to hear the organ playing for noon mass. The inside is spectacular and quite literally moved me to tears. Since mass was ongoing, we were not able to walk to the front but had to observe and take pix from the back of the church; nonetheless, it was moving and beautiful with the pipe organ playing in the background. I was thrilled to be able to hear a short concert.

We continued my orientation to familiarize myself with my local “quadrant,” as he calls it, and then set about finding a spot for lunch. It was almost 2 PM and I was feeling weak so eating was a priority! We found a wonderful outdoor café at Heumarkt Square, LyLy Café, that had salad with grilled veggies. YES! We sat outside and watched people go by and listened to a local street band play Dixieland and swing music.

I find it amusing the many references to Hawaii and New Orleans around the city. From pictures, wall hangings, to cafes and bars and food, you will see small touches from both Hawaii and NOLA. I saw the Aloha Café yesterday along with Pommes with Hawaii style sauce, a picture of Waikiki Beach in a shop, Aloha signs in several store front windows, as well as several restaurants that offered Cajun or New Orleans style cooking. Haven’t seen beignets yet, but I’m sure I will!

My orientation guide left me on my own at the end of the day to wander around by myself. I went into St. Maarten’s Church, a lovely small church that is built over Roman ruins that have been excavated in the basement. For a couple of Euro’s you can tour the excavation under the church to see the “athletic park and pool” built in the 1st Century AD and then turned into a storage facility for grain in the 2nd Century AD. The church itself is lovely with unusual stained glass windows and minimal décor, but the Roman ruins were a big bonus! I had not read about the church and no one told me to be sure to tour it, so I thought it was a very good find on my own!

We had dinner with a new friend (new to me) at the Greek restaurant just outside our flat. When the weather is cool, most cafe’s put out blankets at each table for patrons. This is a wonderful custom and I was thrilled to have not only a blanket but a heater as well. When the sun starts setting, it’s gets cold fast so blankets and heaters are a must for outdoor dining. Thankfully, this is another thing the Germans have got going on and I’m loving it!

See all the pix by clicking on the Photos link above. Cheers!