Aaaachooo - Gesundheit!

Actually its been more of a cough, cough, wheeze, wheeze.... I have been fighting this dreadful upper respiratory infection for two weeks now.  For one week I lost my voice completely and now I just have that raspy smokers voice.  Despite my condition I managed to squeeze in very nice trip to my dad's in Northern Germany.  The kids had spring break so I took my youngest daughter Olivia with me.  Here we are enjoying the 6 hour train ride

Part of our train ride took us along the Rhine River where we saw so many castles and ruins perched up on the hillside.  It was such a romantic sight and a reminder of Germany's fuedal history.

We went to the German town of Bremen where my dad & my step mom live.  Bremen is best known for the Bremer Stadtmusikanten or town musicians.

We enjoyed the local cuisine & sights

This the the Knight Roland - he stood for the eveyrday man.  During the time of his life he fought against the power over and oppression of the general population by the Catholic Church.  His statue faces the front doors mighty cathedral of Bremen -  symbolic of his lifelong crusade.  

Here is a pic of Olivia & my Stepmom Margaret sitting along the Weser River.

One night we had dinner with my cousin who I have not seen since she was 11 and I was 16.  We were introduced to her husband and sweet little daughter Anouk.

If that was not enough, I spent Saturday afternoon at the Sampler Museum in Celle.  What a treat!

I am going to be very cruel right now and stop - The Sampler Museum & all the pictures will have to wait for another time - very soon ... I promise.