Day 3…
Up “bright undt early”…breakfast and then on the bus to the Flower Island, Mainau and Meersburg. I MUST say that Caroline and Elizabeth can get ready for the day in RECORD time!! Good going girls and all those who got them breakfast for the road!!
Our weather is beautiful and it was a breath taking drive to beautiful Lake Constance! Our tour of the Flower Island Mainau was amazing. Many of us were taking notes for our own garden. Now if we only had those mowers and that staff!!
Penny decided to “free wheel” it around the island. This is definitely her thing…wheelies, screaming stops and chauffeuring several of us around in the
beautiful scenery. Someone was heard reminding “we’re not in Newberry anymore!”
Up “bright undt early”…breakfast and then on the bus to the Flower Island, Mainau and Meersburg. I MUST say that Caroline and Elizabeth can get ready for the day in RECORD time!! Good going girls and all those who got them breakfast for the road!!
Our weather is beautiful and it was a breath taking drive to beautiful Lake Constance! Our tour of the Flower Island Mainau was amazing. Many of us were taking notes for our own garden. Now if we only had those mowers and that staff!!
Penny decided to “free wheel” it around the island. This is definitely her thing…wheelies, screaming stops and chauffeuring several of us around in the
beautiful scenery. Someone was heard reminding “we’re not in Newberry anymore!”The island has a beautiful chapel…the acoustics were am
azing
! GYC sounded like angels…was that John S. at the confessional??
azing
! GYC sounded like angels…was that John S. at the confessional??While waiting to enter the Butterfly House
, we entertained everyone in the cafeteria. (The acoustics were really quite good, don’t know about the food!!) My curly hair has been missing the FL humidity, but felt right at home with the butterflies and tropical plants! Many of the kids 
were treated to a butterfly “landing” moment. Magical!!
We loaded the bus and headed to the ferry...off to Meersburg! Jalia heard something hit the water and thought it was her camera. Not to worry...it was only her glasses...(Mia, sunglasses that is)!
, we entertained everyone in the cafeteria. (The acoustics were really quite good, don’t know about the food!!) My curly hair has been missing the FL humidity, but felt right at home with the butterflies and tropical plants! Many of the kids 
were treated to a butterfly “landing” moment. Magical!!We loaded the bus and headed to the ferry...off to Meersburg! Jalia heard something hit the water and thought it was her camera. Not to worry...it was only her glasses...(Mia, sunglasses that is)!
We lunched, shopped and strolled through Meersburg, marveling at the medieval castle above us. How the kids can find so many different flavors of gelato I have no idea!! They have truly mastered that art! 
Back onto the bus and heading back to the hotel with a little time for shopping in the Cuckoo Shop or resting before dinner. The weather has turned rainy and our concert tonight has been moved inside. No problem!! I know it will be wonderful!!
Back onto the bus and heading back to the hotel with a little time for shopping in the Cuckoo Shop or resting before dinner. The weather has turned rainy and our concert tonight has been moved inside. No problem!! I know it will be wonderful!!
11:15 PM and we’re home…GYC is in love with the kids from the Black Forest (even the “womanizer”)! I had no idea how wonderful tonight would be!! We were even blessed with a visit from Andreas’ s parents, Manfred and Gisela Brecht all the way from Manheim, Germany!! 
The evening started with a greeting from the Buergermeister (Lord Mayor) Andreas Hall and a reception with traditional German dancing from the Black Forest region in the courtyard of the Town Hall of Kirchgarten. The fortress was built in the 11th C. and they still use the original fortress although it has been
restored in the last 10 years. .
The JVAS cultural exchange concert was fabulous!! Folk dancing, cow bells (honest!) accordions, and GYC’s usual eclectic concert program rocked the house, ending with “Rockin’ Robin and Rock Around the Clock”. Julius (aka Womanizer) joined in with his guitar while his side kick, Fabian “walked it out” before it was all over. Rick and Frau Carmen (Lou’s German sister) were jitter bugging by the stage while the crowd went wild! We ended the evening with GYC and der Kinder dancing the Clapping Dance together in the courtyard…fun
, doesn’t begin to describe the evening or the friendships forged 
through music.
Tonight we pack and we're off to Switzerland...greater heights, cable cars, cruise on Lake Lucerne...also COOLER weather!
The evening started with a greeting from the Buergermeister (Lord Mayor) Andreas Hall and a reception with traditional German dancing from the Black Forest region in the courtyard of the Town Hall of Kirchgarten. The fortress was built in the 11th C. and they still use the original fortress although it has been
restored in the last 10 years. .The JVAS cultural exchange concert was fabulous!! Folk dancing, cow bells (honest!) accordions, and GYC’s usual eclectic concert program rocked the house, ending with “Rockin’ Robin and Rock Around the Clock”. Julius (aka Womanizer) joined in with his guitar while his side kick, Fabian “walked it out” before it was all over. Rick and Frau Carmen (Lou’s German sister) were jitter bugging by the stage while the crowd went wild! We ended the evening with GYC and der Kinder dancing the Clapping Dance together in the courtyard…fun
, doesn’t begin to describe the evening or the friendships forged 
through music.
Tonight we pack and we're off to Switzerland...greater heights, cable cars, cruise on Lake Lucerne...also COOLER weather!
It's now 1:25 AM (German time) and Linda and I are in the bathroom (the electrical plug is there) and fininshing this up. Linda, you are such a great sport!!! Be back soon...I think we're getting the hang of this (maybe!)
