It has been a busy week! The sun came out to play and so did everyone else! Tuesday evening Charlotte and I participated in the very professional all city rollerblading event. A couple hundred participants were involved and they were all decked out in the top gear with the newest skates. I was using Charlotte's twenty year old blades that only have three worn wheels. Led by a police escort, we bladed throughout Frankfurt and outside of the city: in the middle of the main streets of the city, on side streets, and on the autobahn. After the second hour I was ready to cry. Let's just say, old skates with three worn out wheels don't really match up with everyone else w/ four/five brand new wheels. positive note: I never feel. Yipee! I had my wrist guards and helmet on just in case though. Definitely was not up to par with the rest of the participants rocking all of the other protection - I even saw a guy with what looked like a bullet proof vest on. We would stop for a two minute break or so every 10km and Charlotte and I would always scoot up to the front only to end up at the back being pushed by other participants - ok that was just me literally having someone behind me pushing me so that I could go faster. All in all it was a fun evening and I will probably participate again - maybe with newer blades though next time. I learned my lesson!
Wednesday was normal lunch with the women. We went to Bar Celona where I ate this amazing potato/vegetable grill. So delicious. Thursday the women (well, just Charlotte, Ning, and Marlene) and their men and Katie and I drove out to Rüdesheim, did some delcious wine tasting (FINALLY!), then we jumped on a boat to do a Rhein River tour. It was a 6 hour tour in total and we were able to see all the old castles and ruins along the river. It was perfect weather and the company was great. The last stop on the tour was Loreley where (Katie says it is famous) there is a story about a mermaid luring all the sailors into the rocks or something. We took a bus up to the top of the rock to see the "mermaid's" view before jumping back on a boat to head back.
Me on top of the Loreley rock.
Marlene and a ruin in the background.
Yesterday I went to Katie's guest family's lake house with her and the kids. Got a little burnt, swam in the lake, and had a jolly good afternoon. My guest fam went horse riding from Wednesday evening till last night with some friends. It was a holiday on Thursday so no school Thurs or Fri. Yay for long weekends with 70/80 degree weather!!!!
Charlotte and her very fashionable stroller.
Ning, Charlotte, Marlene, and of course baby Leanne!
In front of the casino - everyone lost their 2 euros on the first round. Oh well!
