Sunshine, rain, sunshine, rain, sunshine, rain....etc.

This seems to be the weather forecast for our week in Meppen,unfortunately, but when the sun breaks through there is a real warmth to the otherwise chilled air. Ah well....best laid plans, right?

Anyway we started off the day with a visit to our host families Lutheran church where Mrs. Pradel gave a small update on their efforts to erect a church in Tanzania. Although all in German I asked for a translation later and was instantly fascinated. I must admit to my utter shame that I didn't know where Tanzania was, but Mrs. Pradel was the epitomy of tact and simply told me East Africa under Kenya. Thank you for educating me Mrs. Pradel :)

We had some tea and coffee and off to tour the town of Meppen. Hans Pradel gave the tour with some help from Mr. Finkenbush our GSE coordinator. The town of Meppen is built in a star formation for fortification against enemies as you can see form the picture below. Some of the fortification is left to visit and see.

The tour was information was interesting , but most fascinating to me was a church that has been preserved
After the tour finished we came back to the town hall or Rathouse and had a lovely supper, where I was a little overly hasty in order two entrees (really I thought one was an appetizer, but I should have known from the waitress's expression!)

As we left lunch Mr. Finkenbush informed us that we should accompany him to to vote for the EU. It was small building with a simple sign saying vote here I believe. There were more than 30 parties, one being the Pirate Party or Piraten...it was very interesting that there was no campaign AT ALL, only signs on lamposts as you drove through town. Very different from home.

From there we made our way to the Kunst Markt or Artist Market. There were about 15 artists displaying there wares and bought a lovely pair of Celtic earrings and some artist designed cards. Small and light, but infinitely beautiful :) I was pleased to have gone to the markt as it gave me a chance to see some of Irena's sculptures displayed. I think she was pleased to show them off too.


After our markt trip we were off to our very first German castle Clemenswert... well really a hunting palace, but it was still amazing. They made us wear slippers over our shoes so we would't mar the marble floor. All the walls were covered in silk wall paper, so beautiful. And....about half way through the tour of the grounds I heard music in the distance, like a Jane Austen novel... the beautiful (learned) woman is always alone and looking for something different....(I should have been a writer, huh?) Anyway after some searching I found a 10-piece orchestra playing on the grounds of the estate on a beautiful patio overlooking the lawn. It was a great way to end the day.