First stop, the Standesamt Krefeld.
The nice lady told us we had to go to another place 3 km away. Why? They only had new records there.
But serious business was afoot. The goal was to track down their German ancestry.
In the bookstore buying a map from Frau Blucher.
This sign basically says "Kilroy was here."
Finally we arrive at the Stadtarchiv for some real digging in.
"Go down in to the basement and walk under the road, past two homeless guys, and exit by the pretzel stand."
"OK!"
Sign in please. No coats or jackets aloud. No popping your gum. No furtzen.
Deep in the books. Mom's ancestor is Paul Kuster who left for the U.S. around 1685.
We poured through the records but the earliest birth records only went back to 1650 something. It was time to really knuckle down and . . .
. . . go to Holland!
We decided to eat our way through the Netherlands. Here we are sampling Pfannkuchen, a Dutch savory pancake with mushrooms, cheese, ham, and wooden shoe shavings.
- ).">
)." width="225" height="300" />Pretty Dutch architecture. Red windows . . . Tony is asking what's "Behind the Green Door?" (another Marilyn Chambers reference ).
How do you know you are in Holland? Bikes, bikes, bikes!
Monday, December 19th, we celebrated Susan's Mom's 80th Birthday by going to Krefeld, their ancestoral town.
Leaving the Aldstadt, we encountered the cutest dog. How cute was he?
99 44/100% cute!
We stopped at the Weinachtsmarkt of course.
Our house owner gave Mom a beautiful birthday gift, a historic calendar of Krefeld.
Then it was up to dinner in the fabulous Rheinturm, a180 meter high revolving restaurant.
Aloha Mom!!! rather dapper looking group, eh?
After dinner, Sj decided to lean on the window, looking straight down 590.551181 feet.
Tony's afraid of heights. Most real men are (and wear pink underwear.)
Back at the flat, Mom celebrated with some lovely home-made cookies that Lisa, our house host's sister baked. Yum!
The next morning we were greeted with a blanket of snow.
Strolling into town trolling for action.
The old and the new with the riff raff in between.
Another cafe moment.
Did I mention chocolate? It is a wonderful and nutritious energy food. Don't believe me? Ask your dentist!
On the Ko. Known as the one sided Champs d'Elysee of Dusseldorf, the Konigstrasse offers many opportunities to lighten your wallet.
The ghostly Rheinturm. You go lie in one of those windows!
Wednesday, Dec. 22 found us at the aluminum Gehry building.
I've got a feeling we ain't in Knoxville, Tennessee.
A final stroll down the Rhine.
"Ehra oder Kind mit Ball" commemorates the Stinti and Roma who were murdered during WWII.
What is a trip without a quick foray to the mustard museum?
Tip: The Eierpunsch has a lot more octane that the Gluwein!
Mom had a lot of fun!
Macy's German style.
A final group shot.
Even more fun. Here's Mom with her new birthday purse.
. . . . and egg schnipper!
Tony challenged her to an egg schnipper vs an egg schnokker duel. It ended up in a tie, they both cracked up.
4:45 a.m. at the airport the following day.
A final embrace . . .
Aloha Mom!!!
