Last day in Konstanz and we leave for Crailsheim

24 August 2006

The final two days of our vacation begin today as we leave the loving home of the Kenkels and travel north to visit the Royal Ironworks of Wasseralfingen where the great grandfather Christian Friedrich Laun and his father worked. We will also visit the gravesite of Christian Friedrich Laun 1720-1806 and his wife Barbara Maierin Laun 1718-1797. then we will stay in Crailsheim and have s little supper with Ruth and Romi, Lucas and Elena.

Yesterday was a beautiful day…the sky had cleared and we woke to the silvery waters of the Bodensee. We met the Kenkel family at the ferry and rode to Meersburg. We walked in the town and had lunch at the winery that overlooks the water. Then as Ursula, Peter and Josef took the children home for a nap, Gabi, Jeff, Amy and I toured the ruins of the old castle. Parts of this castle date back to the 600s and we enjoyed Gabi’s guided tour. We also visited the place where Annette von Droste-Hulshuff, a Westfalian poet, wrote many of her poems.

We returned on the ferry for a little nap and then went to Gabi’s at 6 for our final visit. Ah, we will really miss them all, but there is no question that Ramona will miss her Amy. Ursula explained to her that we must leave to go home and that Amy lives far away, farther than from Vechta to Konstantz. Her little eyes widened as she tried to understand…it broke our hearts…she is a little precious child and it will be hard to wait 5-6 years before we see her again. We hope that they will come to see us when the children are a little older.

Jeff prepared a little slide show of our trip and we enjoyed looking at Gabi’s album of all the cards from the Laun family to the Kenkel family. Then they presented some kindereggs for us to take home as well as several gifts...books on Konstanz, a keychain for Amy that Gabi picked out with a memorial beer stein ;-) and a wonderful keepsake from the old iron werkes. Gabi is so pleased that we want to visit and connect with this part of the Laun family history. The bronze statue she gave us was from the fairy tale of the Frog Prince. Peter reminded us of the story. It is a treasure that we will keep and give to Amy to pass down to the next generation. Big hugs and kisses…and near midnight we left for our pension. We will miss them all so much!