Bobbie Cars

We were welcomed back to Weisbaden for the neighborhood party. Caroline lives on a hill and the kids ride little plastic "bobbie cars", like scooters that you sit on, down the hill. Once a year the neighbors closed off the street at both ends, bring in bails of hay to make a soft barrier at the bottom of the hill, and the kids use their worn out shoes from the last year as bobbie car brakes. The kids sit on the bobbie cars and fly down the street. We can hardly watch, they go so fast driving straight at the bails of hay. They usually drag their feet the whole way and it makes a really loud noise. The adults are all around on the sides, hoping the little ones can stop at the bottom, bar-b-q ing meat, drinking beer, and visiting.

Apparently, the only hospital visit was had by one of the adults trying to make sure the route was safe for the kids. It seems that it was a bit safer for the kids than the adults. He was discharged this morning in a sling (don't know what the diagnosis was) and was home bar-b-q ing his steak and drinking his beer this morning in the rain. Poor guy, missed the party.

As for us, we enjoyed an evening with the neighbors and stayed out under the heaters playing "Die Siedler Von Catan" with Stefan and Sina. Most of you know Gene is a total Settlers addict and it is originally a German game, so Stefan found it in their game cupboard and off we went with our erz (rocks), wald (wood) , lehm (bricks) and getreide (wheat) or at least that is what we think they are. I got the Langste Handelsstrasse to win the game.

We have two birthdays to celebrate this weekend, Stefan's and Sina's, so Stefan is making tiramasu for us. I guess the German tradition is to make your own cake:)

Gene and I are hoping for a clear day tomorrow as we head out on our own going up?, down?, with?, north? on the Rhine. You pick the expression you like. I think they call it "down the Rhine" to Amsterdam. Anyway, there will be lots of castles and delicious wines along the way.

Bon voyage