On Thursday 26th May at around 19:30 a coach carrying a number of Great Barford residents was seen leaving the village to begin our biennial visit to our twinning partners in Wöllstein Germany. The party, including the coach travellers, totalled 36 in number made up by other participants flying and travelling by car. The coach arrived a little earlier than expected at 8:30am GB time. However, word soon got round with the reception gathering pace with eats and the obligatory glass of local wine or beer. Entertainment was given by the local school orchestra and was appreciated by all.
Ballet Appplebach
Sunday was a free day spent with our hosts who had each made their own arrangements to entertain us in one way or another.
On Monday morning 2 coaches left Wollstein for a trip along the majestic River Rhein past historic castles and of course the Lorelei Rock to arrive in Koblenz. We visited BUGA, a renowned garden show which takes place biannialy in different places in Germany. Our entrance was met by wonderful marquees full of orchids and flowers. Perched on the edge of the Rhein gorge was a cable car taking visitors across the Rhein to Koblenz Dreieck where the Mosel joins the Rhein and further areas of the Buga festival.
Orchid.
Hover your mouse on the picture below. Then click play for the slide show. To view individual pictures click the forward or back arrows.
As with all good things they must come to an end, our farewells said the coach left on Tuesday 31st May at 09.00am. We meet again in Great Barford in 2012.
Extreme
This was the 33rd meeting of the 2 villages and on Saturday morning the whole group of guests and hosts were welcomed by the Jungk family to their Arboretum sited close to their home and brick factory. Mr Jungk spoke excellent English and is well informed on all matters regarding the special trees and plants he has grown from all over the world. His wife provided a picnic lunch and liquid refreshment. Mr Jungk`s work before retirement, took him to Stewartby L.B.C. some years ago. On Saturday evening we were welcomed officially by the local town mayor Lucia Muller and the regional Mayor as a guest. Celebrations began with dancing by a local dance group “Extreme” and the “Ballet Applebach”. Formalities over we all tucked into an excellent buffet dinner followed by music and dancing.
Cable car on the River Rhine.
Monument to Kaiset Willhelm at the junction of the Moselle and the Rhein rivers
The exceptional heat at 36°c some drained faces upon our return home, however spirits rose with provision of pork steaks and bratwurst from a Bar-B-Q and local beverages, the evening was spent with teams from both villages competing for the Edmund Petri trophy, playing carpet bowls, darts and skittles. The games are played each year to take the place of the football match which used to be played when the members of both sides were much younger.