Sweetness & Strasbourg

It didn't start out too well. Mom's (mine) first trip to Europe heralded grey and rainy skies and fog. Lots of fog. Her 2nd day here we went to Luxembourg to find the Valley of the Seven Castles. Disaster. Rain, cold, and construction meant everything was closed or impossible to enjoy. Sigh. But the weather did improve last week and German locals came through... Mom met many friendly, wonderful people.

• Eli's teacher, who tried so hard to impress her.
• The local flower shop owner, who presented her (and Mary) with a single rose one morning when we stopped by (which caused me to buy more flowers for my porch).
• My elderly neighbor, who begged us to come for tea and then presented, on fine china, a homemade, incredible cheesecake, several teas, and good conversation.
• Our good friend from the local bank, who came over for dinner and brought mom an autumn bouquet.
• My German language teacher, who gave us several ideas of places we could go and see.
• The pastor and his wife at church, who engaged her and a British couple in conversation for half an hour.
• and more....

I think she's ready to move here permanently. The people, rather than the sight (which have improved, see below) seem to have won her over - just as they have me this past year.

Nanstein Castle was our first foray into tourism after Luxembourg and she was impressed with her first ruins romp. Then Saturday we decided to dare the skies and head south and east into France. It was fog soup the whole way there and then, as we reached the city limits, sunshine! Lovely, 75 degrees, cathedral and carousel and riverboat tour and street performers galore. Saw a few cute villages on our way home, as well. I may dare again this Friday and Saturday.

Note to Self: The next time we move to Europe and expect visitors, buy a minivan. Guess who gets to sit in between two large car seats filled with cranky attention-hungry children in her own car? It's more than worth the mental pain and physical bullying (Mary does NOT like it when I touch her armrest, like I have a choice)... but I also need a good 2-hour break from my kids afterwards.