McLays in Europe

Stepping off the train from Frankfurt at Goslar train station, we heard Hartmut calling out to us. Also close behind him was his wike Dorena and dog Sissy. Earlier this year we had hosted them in Alice Springs, and travelled to Ayers Rock with them and we had got on so well and had much fun. Although we struggled with language, our German - Australian dictionary helped with interpreting. As they both grew up in the former East Germany they were made learn Russian at school. After reunification they dropped the Russian like a hot potato and started learning English, so were very happy to have us to practice on. They took us to their house, different to others again. It had four levels and three separate families in it, including an area for their call centre business. A small man-made river was at the end of their back yard and separated them from their neighbours at the back. Doreena had prepared a huge German meal (which we were becoming slowly accustomed to, although much discussion between us on how it sat with Alison's food principals! but did not seem to transfer into overweight population, who appear to be more active than Aussies. We saw some very old people walking the hills and riding bicycles throughout Germany). The night ended with Hartmut in charge showing video and digital photos on a large screen of their recent Australian holiday. And of course we were in it!
We had by the next day developed colds and felt rather miserable, but Hartmut wouldn't hear of it. He is such a character as he struggles to master the Queen's English and managed to keep us entertained despite the colds and proudly showed us his country over the next two days. And what a beautiful one it is. Goslar is relatively small and was therefore fortunate enough to be left unscathed from WWII bombs. It now promotes itself as being virtually the same as it was around 500 years ago. The Kaiser palace sits on the highest ground and the whole old city surrounded by a wall. Lanes all cobblestone.
On the last day Hartmut could not put off work any longer to be with us, so we just walked around Goslar one more time, and loved it. We took a horse and buggy ride and it seemed like we were back several hundred years in time.
That night we exchanged gifts and well wishes and wondered if we would ever meet up again. Ian presented Hartmut with his cat's scarf, which had been the subject of much fun and had been inseperable from Ian ever since the Grand Final day before we left. But Ian had to apologise for the burnt bit one end where a disgruntled Port Adelaide supported put a match to it on Grand Final Day.