Notice that the coats are off! This was one of the nicest weekends yet. Hopefully many more are to come as Spring and Summer arrive.
Outdoor eating, pedestrian only shopping, and artwork, including some pretty cool fountains, are found in almost every place we visit.
This is a view from a castle at the top of the hill overlooking the Mosel River. We can be king and queen of this castle without worrying about the Huns attacking at any moment.
In fact we could sit down and have a nice peacful meal if we wished. There is an operating restaurant inside the ruins of this castle. Quite a climb to get up here, but worth it. The hills in the background are covered with grape vines which have not yet leafed out. They are each artistically shaped into hearts. Not bad now, but this would be a spectacular view in Summer and especially in the Fall when the vineyard leaves turn color.
Mel looking down on the city from where arrows might have been shot in a former day.
This is the St. Katherine house for the sick--one of several local hospitals. Mel had a fast growing tumor appear on her side. We are awaiting an official report, but all indications are that it is benign and no longer a worry. The tumor was about the size of the doctors fist and growing in the network of muscles on the side. It was removed on an outpatient basis, but required general anethsesia and a very sore side for a few days.
Our LDS docs were very happy that Herr Professor Doktor Ulrich Finke did the surgery. He is not a member but has helped missionaries in the past and speaks good English. He is the head of surgery at St. Katherin's.
Opps, sorry. Probably one of the grandkids could fix this photo for us, but a little too technically challenging for grandpa at the moment. This is Melody pre-operation. Someone told her German hospitals didn't have gowns. She was a bit concerned how that would be. We had to be at the hospital about 6:45am but the actual surgery didn't happen until 3:00 in the afternoon. We got home about 8:30 making it a pretty long day.
She feels (and looks) like she's been kicked in the ribs by a large horse ...but is healing fine.
I loved driving through the Mosel river valley last January. I too want to return when everything is in full bloom. We ate lunch at Bernkastle before we traveled up the hill to the Hahn airport to fly back to Milan. Wonder if we ate at the same restaurant? Hope Mel is on the mend. Fast growing tumors are scary.
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