We visited the Kennedy Space Center. We saw the Vertial Assembly Building (VAB) where the Apollo spacecraft, and now the Shuttle spacecraft are assembled in vertical position prior to being transported to the launchpads. We saw the two launch pads, 39A and 39B, where the Apollo missions, and now the Shuttle missions, are launched from.

We indulged in a Medieval Feast and show the last evening. The feast included soup, half a chicken, potatoe, and pastry, all without utensils. The show had a story to it and lasted throughout the meal. It included all manner of medieval battle--sword fighting, jousting on horseback, maces, Happily, the good guys won.

We visited Trier--oldest town in Germany. It was a major walled Roman town about 2000 years ago. There are ruins of a gate, a bathhouse, and a stadium (still in use). It then became a walled medieval town that dates to some 1000 years ago.

We saw "Rhein Aflame", a re-inactment of a castle burning and fireworks show. We visited the Dom, in Cologne--highest cathederal in Germany. It took 700 years to build. We visited the Muengstener Gebrueke--highest railroad bridge (350 feet) in Europe. We toured Schloessburg, a medieval castle. We visited Villa Huegel--residence of the Krupp Family (steel industrialists).

We visited several German families. Russell's host family is LDS--Brother Barluschke is bishop. He served a mission in Mississippi. They have four boys (5 to 14) and a newborn daughter. They had us for treats, and we took them to McDonalds (for the kids' sake). The boys will miss Russell--their 'big' brother.

We visited Russell's program coordinator and her daughter (who tutored Russell in German). A ward family (mother and daughter) had us for dinner. We met up with Benedikt (our German exchange student from six years ago) and his girl friend Sibel, and toured his budding software development company.

After 22 years we saw some things changed, some the same. There are more American influences--a lot of advertising and commercial signage in English, McDonalds, Burger-Kings, Staples, Woolworths. There are a lot of foreigners. The Germans still drive horribly fast on the autobahns. They are rude and impatient when driving. And they are terribly warm and friendly when you get to know them.

A gala time they had at Christy's gorgeous, newly-remodeled, BETTER HOMES & GARDENS home with the big jacuzzi and bay windows overlooking a Garden-of-Eden yard. They talked, laughed, bonded, cooked and ate together for three days, went to a museum (Ft. Union) shopped and paid a visit to Canada one day, the border only 45 miles distant. They were mermaids in her big jacuzzi bathtub and, on their last evening there, watched a darling movie "Peter Pan." Afterward, much to their surprise and wonderment, Christy, the ever gracious and thoughtful hostess, presented all with gifts. To say the least, they were speechless at this unexpected generosity. The evening was topped off by a foot massage for each sister by Linnea. At the next Sisters' Rendezvous, they are all looking forward to full-body massages by Christy who recently completed her schooling to become a licensed massage therapist.

Hats off to Christy and to all the sisters who made this first rendezvous a success. They plan to make this a tradition.

This from Murray:
We just got back from Paris and Disneyland Europe. Daven was thrilled with his surprise, and Dusty has taken a million photos with her new Nikon D-70 (Megan, we just can't imagine another lens - it's awesome). Russell is coming down to Reichenbach this evening (fri) and staying with Jackson with us til Sunday. It's going to be a full house. Then we all go up to Wuppertal and see a few things up there before flying back out of Frankfurt on Wed.

See you all soon - and expect to watch 4 hours of vacation photos!

Murray

This from Russell:
Last Friday, I took a train to Aalen, a small town close to Stuttgart, where I was met by my brother Murray, his wife Dusty, his son Daven, and his close german friend Jackson. We drove back to Jackson's house, where Dusty's sister Kasey had stayed behind. We mostly caught up that evening and just went to a club for a couple of hours.

The next day we Murray, Jackson and I drove to Stuttgart to watch a soccer match between Stuttgart and Frankfurt. Normal tickets were no longer available, so we had to sit with the Frankfurt fans. It was great all the same. German soccer fans are the best. Some them brought huge flags, some close to 20' across. There was even a man that sat on the fence to the field with a megaphone, screaming and leading all the fans in chants. Of course there was also the other fans, who spilled beer on their comrades, passed out in their own laps or just plain screamed at their team to play better. We got a Wurst, which is the german equivalent of a hot dog, and some cokes and enjoyed a great game of soccer.

Sunday we drove up to Wuppertal and ate a delicious meal with my host family. It was already pretty late by this time, so Murray and his family turned in. The next morning we drove to the Müngstener Brücke, the largest railway bridge in Germany. It was built at the same time as the Eiffel Tower and is 107 meters tall and 500 meters long. It was a pretty day, though a little cold, and we wandered around under the bridge for a while. We then drove about 30 minutes to Schloßburg, a large and old castle. It is built on a small hill, which we ended up hiking to the top of. Everything was closed at the bottom, so we feared the castle would be closed also, but luckily it wasn't. We toured the entire castle and took tons of pictures. It was really cool to see some of this really old stuff and actually see how it was, to be right next to a two handed sword, larger than yourself, which is hundreds of years old. After several hours at the caslte we headed back to Wuppertal and had ourselves a Kebab Döner, which resembles a Gyro.

I then took them on the Schwebebahn through Wuppertal, because, as the motto says, Ein Mal ins Leben, schweben, Once in your life, hover. Schwebebahn literally translated is the Hover Train. Kind of amusing. After we had traveled back to the car and said our goodbyes, Murray and his family went on their way to Frankfurt to fly home and I went home.

Russ

I just got a letter from Christy. She also mentions a reunion this summer and offered her place. We will have to plan a time. What are the best times for you?

Sounds like Russell is doing exciting things, and I'm glad he is going on a mission. It's hard for you with your mother so old and needing care. There's not much you can do but what you are doing.

Chris and Vida are going to be transferred to Argentina this summer, maybe in June. They are excited to go there. Chris will be going to a school, I'm not sure what for.

Rhodes and Alison had the ultrasound on their baby. It's a boy...that will give them three boys and a girl. At least they have one girl.

Well, so long for now. Write again.
Love, Marie