Meckelfeld

 Hello!

We spent a lovely week with Carsten's parents.  It was so good to be with them, playing many card games, visiting some sights in the area, doing laundry and eating WAY too much!

We went and saw an old (like 100 years) wooden dam called a needle weir.  To regulate the flow across the weir, slats are added or removed.  A lock was built around the weir to allow ship traffic on the Ilmenau River.  To facilitate salmon spawning, a fish ladder was also built on the side of the weir.





We must go THAT way: to the cheese maker where we sampled and bought local cheeses and salami (Metwurst).

On Tuesday, Carsten's parents treated us to lunch at a nice restaurant for Carsten's birthday.  On Wednesday, we went and saw Tante (Aunt) Ute in Hankensbuettel.  We had lunch at an Otter "Museum" and then went to her house where we (again) ate too much and played cards.


Yesterday morning, Ulf took us on a driving tour through the Harburg harbor.  In the afternoon, Carsten and I borrowed Ulf and Heike's e-bikes and had a nice ride around the Meckelfeld area.  For those of you who do not know, Carsten grew up in Meckelfeld - moving to the States when he was 12.  It is always nice to see the school and the woods where you played as a child.

After laundry and packing today, we stopped by Ulf and Heike's former neighbors, Fritz and Jutta, for coffee and cake (and champagne and wine). Tomorrow we board the train for Vienna with Falk & Svenni!  We are excited to explore new places!  It is easier to leave Ulf & Heike knowing that they can finally come to Texas for Thanksgiving and Christmas!

Take care and GO ASTROS!!!

Sheri & Carsten



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