New Years day

Although we didn’t have a late night we all managed to sleep in this morning. After a lazy breakfast we let the house mid afternoon for a walk around the city. We headed to Atocha train station to buy some train tickets to Barcelona. OMG! It cost $1000 Aussie dollars for a two and a half hour train trip to Barcelona. Not much different than if we went by plane but less taxi hassle. And less taxi cost.

We walked to the main park in Madrid which is huge. We weren’t the only people as it was packed. I would hate to see it in summer. We fed some birds, then we fed some ducks, then we fed ourselves with some cheap hotdogs. It was nice to have a casual look around without waiting in lines to visit a tourist attraction.

At home we had a quiet night playing  card games and eating toasted sandwiches. Cheaper than what is available. Love the options in the city but for 5 people it gets a bit expensive.

31 December - new years eve

It seemed like a great idea to go to the prado art gallery which was not far from where we are staying. There was a long line, so we joined to que as it was only 11am. By 12.30 we were still in line and the staff were coming to tell us that we may not get in as it closes early today at 2pm. If only we had realised. A quick search showed the other art galleries were also closing early today.

When we finally got in at 1pm, Peter had decided he was going for a walk instead and left us to tour the gallery. It was an amazing building - I think I was more impressed with it’s size and architecture. The art work was amazing - many old world painters in an immense collection. We really did have a power walk through - but most people there were also on time restrictions. We only had 50 minutes to see the lot! We didn’t manage to see them all but we saw a lot.

Today the shops shut early, so we returned to our apartment for a quick rest. The kids were tired so we got some easy food for them from some local cafe, and they stayed hio e with the 8nternet. Peter and I went up the street to a local bar for a cou0le of drinks. We then went on to a different restaurant for some tapas. It was very nice and relaxing.

30th December - Spain

An emotional morning as we said goodbye to our German family. Jim had organised a taxi van to take us to the airport. After all the trouble with Vueling airlines changing the flight day, we hope it all works well. Easy book in and all our luggage is below the maximum weight of 23kg.

A four hour flight to Barcelona (so pretty flighing into the city) and then a short wait till we flew onto Madrid. The taxi was only €30 so we took that option although the trains would have been cheaper. But with Peters sore ribs it is easier than him having to carry his luggage. He borrowed a roller bag from Jim as he couldn’t carry his backpack.

A quick phone call and we were met at the apartment. The first accommodation is very small but we only have it for a night. It is very central and after getting the kids some food, Peter and I headed out to have some wine and tapas. The first place we went to had great wine and we had some patatas with picante sauce, and then we went to a more upbeat place where they canned the ham (Jason ) in front of us and the cheese platter prepared at the front counter from a display case chockers with cheese. It looked delicious.

Christmas Day and beyond

A nice sleep in for Christmas Day and then we walked to the Franz family home at Liebenberg. We walked through the forest and along the golf course (that Jim helped to design). It was not raining although it was overcast.

Tim Stubig parents called in, so we got to meet them. They also gave us presents - a board game for the family and some sweets for the children. I handed to the Franz family their Aussie gifts. For Hartwig some Aussie spices, for Katrina some T2 tea, a china mug with a koala on it and a indigenous design candle holder. For Judith and Henrike resin bracelets with Aussie flowers embedded - very pretty.

The young ones went upstairs to play skip-bo, while the adults stayed with tea and biscuits downstairs to talk. For dinner we had pasta, pork in cream sauce and salad. All delicious.

On Boxing Day we had planned to go to Hildesheim to the pools but many of us had colds and were not feeling very well. So instead we went for a walk through the forest near Jim’s house with the Franz family. At the end of the walk we stopped at a small pub hidden in the forest, and had some drinks.

In the evening we went to a Christmas service at Edith’s local church. It is a Lutheran church with a lovely organ. The service was in German but we were able to sing some of the songs in English as they were familiar Christmas songs.

We were really lucky after church to drop in and visit it Gisela. She is 92 and looks so youthful. For dinner it was just us with Edith and Jim for soup and meat/ cheese with bread. Delicious as always.

27th - We we’re lucky to have Tim and Henrike take us to Wolfsburg to Autostadt to go ice skating. We pond around the buildings has been frozen and smoothed out so that people can go skating. Peter and the boys loved it as after the ice skating they could walk through all the autostadt buildings to see all the amazing cars. Not quite my style.

After the skating (where Peter had a belly flop after showing off how well he could skate) we went to The Christmas market to grab a bite to eat.

28th - We went with Tim, Henrike and Judith to Brunsweig shopping to look for aa ski outfit for me. Most of the clothes were very expensive and I was despairing of finding something that was affordable and that would fit. Finally we went into Devathqlon and was able to get a jacket and pants, each for €79. After our shopping we headed back to Salzgitter-Bad to have dinner at Jim and Edith.Jim has a racelette cheese melted which is like a portable grill that melts this massive 2kg of cheese and then you scrape it off onto your meal. We had cooked potatoes and marinated vegetables. Such a filling meal but the novelty was interesting.

29th - we met with Tim’s parents this morning to take two cars to the Goslar metal mines. We hadn’t been before and found it very interesting. We travelled deep into the mine in our hard hats and was able to see how they mined hundreds of years ago. They have been mining here since the Bronze Age. Of course the technologies have improved and we were able to see the massive wheels ( up to 8.5m) that were turned by water and helped the miners raise the rock and metal from inside the mine. Peter and the men were so interested in the motors and engines.

After the tour we drove to Goslar which was swarming with people enjoying their holiday break. It was difficult to get a park, but after that we headed to the Christmas markets to grab late lunch. As we are leaving Germany tomorrow everyone was trying to get their last taste of German food. Peter and addi  went for a swim, at the Salzgitter-Bad pool where the water is direct from the ground and because it is salt6 it is very healthy - maybe it will fix Peters ribs! For dinner we went to Jim with everyone for take away  pizza and the kids all played the new game they got for Christmas. It is called Catan and is in German. I was able to find an English version on the internet for them to help play. They still managed to do really well and Addison ended up winning.