I must be getting old but all this sightseeing is pretty exhausting and although Joe and Ingrid seemed to be loving it, they did agree with us that we should all take a day off on Wednesday. We did very little all day except relax, read and visit a shop for a few essentials. We also managed to get them to agree to us catching the bus into town on Thursday and met them at the bus station. We had told them we wanted to buy some sweet chilli sauce so we all set off through the town to the Chinese deli. Next stop was the residence, where they have the most beautiful painted ceilings that almost take your breath away.
Joe had promised it would and we were not disappointed. Sadly you are not allowed to take pictures so we cannot show you many but if you ever get the chance we can thoroughly recommend a visit. See photo lovely isn’t it?
It was a very hot day so naturally we followed this with a visit to a very smart beer garden for an excellent lunch and of course a radler each, smashing. I could go on itemising every little thing they did for us but I would be here for days so I will cover the main highlights, although some things just have to be put on this blog as they were just magic!On Friday morning we moved to Veitshockheim, their village, and after a spot of lunch Joe and Ingrid came with a special pass from the town mayor so we could park here for three nights, (they usually only allow you one night).
Our next stop was this huge castle overlooking the city of Wurzburg
and then we returned to visit their railway station which the local mayor has bought for the village and turned into a brilliant library. From there we went down past the Baroque summer palace built for the Prince-Bishops, 
through the wonderful formal court gardens with lots of pleasant walks through cooling avenues of trees. It goes past a lake which is filled by natural springs, and the water then flows down to the river.
The walk-ways criss-cross all over and every now and then there is a little stone gazebo where at the foot of the four pillars is a seat and in the middle a table. Some had bench seats facing each other. All of these were excellent to pause in the shade as it was again so very, very hot. We did not stop though as we were going to be introduced to Joe & Ingrid’s favourite beer garden near the river. (zwei radler, bitte!).
Finally we rounded off another lovely day by having a meal at our van, chicken with sweet chilli sauce, peppers and noodles, finishing with one of Joan’s German Apple cakes, which was of course delicious. It was after all Ingrid who introduced us to the Remoska in Spain and she was delighted and even paid Joan the compliment of asking for the recipe.
They had told us that on Saturdays they did a bit of walking through the vineyards and tasted some wines plus eating a few snacks. This sounded great to us so we had said we would like to go with them.
Just before they left us on Friday night Joe asked us to meet him by the church in the village at 10.30
the next morning and stressed that we should not eat too much breakfast, very mysterious? We naturally thought that we were going to walk in the vineyards but maybe not, so Joan was worried that we would not have the right clothes. I should explain that I always carry something she can slip into if we should go into any place of worship so as not to offend. So I loaded my rucksack with a little top our walking boots and a couple of litres of water and off we went, still wondering what this mystery trip was to be? At ten minutes past the appointed time Joan suddenly burst out laughing and said, you know Joe’s sense of humour, He told us to be outside the church at 10.30am but he didn’t say he would be there! Gosh I haven’t got the mobile phone he gave us so he can’t contact us either.
Just then, a very out of breath Joe appeared and apologised for his tardiness, and I pulled his leg by saying in a very bad German accent. Joe ver ist der German efficiency!! Oh dear replied Joe, I am getting smaller and smaller. Please follow me he said. But where is Ingrid we enquired? Oh she is waiting for us around the corner, it’s ok, said Joe.
What followed was just the most magical thing and I know I will struggle to put it on paper. If we never went away ever again, we would remember this day above all others we are sure.
We followed him up through the village and into the formal gardens of the palace. It being a Saturday there were lots of people just strolling around and at several points we came across stone gazebo’s where newlyweds were having professional photographs taken. It was a beautiful day and red hot. Suddenly another couple, Ingaboord (sorry if this is not the correct spelling), and Peter approached Joe and he said, oh good you came, follow me, and after introductions they did...... curiouser and curiouser? (said Alice). Just then we came around a corner and there was a smiling Ingrid in a stone gazebo, the stone table covered with a beautiful white table cloth and the spread you can see in the attached picture!
The Gazebo had four stone chairs so these two crazy wonderful people had carried two chairs, six cushions and all this food to a lovely secluded spot in the middle of the gardens. Add to that the food that Ingaboord and Peter brought and we had a feast fit for a king.
We started of course with a bottle of excellent local Champagne followed by a bottle of pink Champagne, both suitably chilled and brought in a cool box, amazing!!
Then after the initial toast Joe says, oh here is your newspaper, he had driven to Wurzburg station first thing this morning to get it! Yes, and when we first got here one of the brides came for photographs and read it, said Ingrid.
After two hours of chatting and eating we were amazed to see as we packed up that all the meats had been kept fresh by being placed on large freezer blocks under a huge silver platter. During our time there many of the groups passing made comments, but always with smiles and banter, we just raised our glasses and said “prost”!
We helped them to carry things back to the car and along the way they took us to a sort of grotto with many statues all made out of snails shells. Joe invited us to see the England Germany match but we declined and returned to the van where we sat under a tree in the shade. We were parked by the river and next to a footbridge so there was quite a lot of passing traffic and lots of friendly shouting at us when they saw our GB plates. A couple of times we heard the shouts so we knew Germany were doing well but most of the people we spoke to afterwards apologised for winning and were quite indignant that the second goal was disallowed as it was actually a goal. We know now from talking to Andy that we didn’t deserve to win.
That night we went back to Joe & Ingrid’s and watched on ‘U’ tube their favourite TV sketch which is English but is shown every new years eve here. Then we recommended “four candles” to them which they enjoyed. Then it was time for dinner, some lovely German beers for me and excellent wine for Joan. White asparagus, which we’d never had before, served with ham for a starter, a delicious chicken dish with green beans then even more ice cream with fruit compote. If we don’t leave Germany soon we will need to be pushed around on wheels we’ll be so fat, but the food is so good!!! Especially at chez Loeckmann.
Sunday 27th of June
This is our last full day here as we will leave first thing in the morning. Today Joan will fulfil her wish to go to mass with Ingrid & Joe. They are taking us to the big church overlooking the city, the Kappele with huge onion towers.
We all decided it would be nice to walk up to it using the stairs pilgrims use as there is a grotto just behind the main church where pilgrims go to pray.
On the way up you pass several terraces with chapels marking the Stations of the Cross. When we finally arrived at the top we were amazed, how do they do it? Having expected a normal simple service we find that Joe has arranged for the Mozart choir and a small orchestra to be there!!!! He swears it was not his doing but we are not so sure, anyway it was a really delightful service and so moving for everybody. This is turning out to be a perfect day to end our visit.On our return to the village, it being another scorcher we just had to visit a beer garden.
As luck would have it there was a festival on so we had a drink and a snack to keep us going until our final evening meal together at 7pm. Those of you who have read previous editions of this blog will know that it has been very difficult to get Joe to let us pay for anything. Well tonight we have booked a table in a nice riverside restaurant and he has promised NOT to bring his wallet or his car.
Our trip to the restaurant went very well the food and company being first class.
Joe & Ingrid, not content with everything they had already done for us, brought us a bottle of local white wine which we will enjoy when we can chill it properly. On the Friday we had managed to nip to the supermarket and so were able to present our dear friends with a bottle of single malt for Joe and Calvados for Ingrid as a parting gift and even that doesn’t repay them for what they did for us. Monday 28th June
We left next morning early and headed for a little site by the Rhine. So here we are sitting watching the boats, trains and ducks (none of whom is a plasterer!), go by. While talking about the last eight wonderful days and remembering bits here and there together, we sip our cold beers in 35° temperatures and raise our glasses to our VERY good friends Ingrid & Joachim, thank you both very much XXXX
Lots of love to everybody
Joan & Bryan XXXX
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