We ride bicycles from their home on the edge of town to the restaurant near the center of town. We ride on back streets to avoid the main street through town. It’s a pleasant ride. The GSE Team has talked about how often we have seen people on bicycles on our trip. It is common in Northern Germany because the land is relatively flat, the weather is pleasant, and most roads easily accommodate the cyclists. Bicycling is less expensive than driving a car.
The Reichshof is an older restaurant that was first opened during imperial Germany (over 100 years ago), hence the name that may seem out of date today. The furnishings are very plush. The walls and ceiling are all paneled in sumptuous woods. The rooms are relatively full, but we are able to find a nice table.
The evening is very special. We each start with a glass of sparkling wine. This seems to be done often here in Lower Saxony. We order dinner. I order a big salad with lots of vegetables. We also share a bottle of merlot wine with the meal. The dinner and conversation are very pleasant. Robert and Gaby have become special people for me this past week. I have felt so welcome in their home.
After dinner we walk next door to a lounge that is a part of the restaurant. We have an after dinner drink to celebrate. I try something called Mozart Gold. It turns out to be a cream liquor with a chocolate flavor. The conversation continues. Afterward, we return home on our bicycles. The bics each have a headlight, so that we can navigate in the night. There is a chill in the air as we make our journey back home.
Norden is a quiet town. There is real community here. I have found this out during my conversations with Gaby. It seems to be an ideal place to raise children. It feels safe here.
The Koester Family, Sophia, Robert, Gaby, and Steffen
The next morning the GSE Team heads to Papenburg. We miss our new friends from Norden and meet our new hosts. We all have lunch at a local restaurant that is also the oldest building in the city. There are displays showing the history. Robert, who is originally from Papenburg, explains to me what we see.
After lunch, we settle with our new host families. I am staying with Guido and Margaret Lueppens. They have two teenage girls. This family is very nice, too.
In the evening there is a welcome reception for us at a dining room with an outdoor area next to a small lake. This facility is part of a local school similar to a community college. It is a beautiful location. The air is a bit chilly, but we enjoy meeting the other families who will now host us as we have a grilled dinner, the Papenburg way. Before dinner the adults enjoy a toast with sparkling wine. The children are in row boats on the lake. Another fine evening…
Just as we start to get to know our new hosts, we will be whisked away to Berlin for three days! The next morning we have to wake up early to depart Papenburg, near the Dutch border, at 5:00AM.
Vielen dank to all the Rotarians and families in Norden for giving us an incredible experience!
Posted by Stephen Beer
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