Fastnacht in Dienheim Germany

FASTNACHT 2009

From Left: Wolfgang, Elfriede, Thomas, Christiane, Jörg, Annette, Rita

FASTNACHT: Mardi Gras in Germany

Every year Cousin Rita in Dienheim hosts the Fastnacht Parade Party. This year it rained before and just for a few minutes during the parade but overall it was a great success. There was a total of 50 floats, bands, and dancing groups.

Here is the window where we watch the parade. I think it is perfect because the parade goes right in front of us and we are as high as the wagons and the candy throwers! Also, we can stand inside where it is warm and eat Kreppel (jelly donuts, a Fastnacht tradition) and drink wine or warm tea. It's the best seat to have for the parade.

The Fire Department started the parade. Notice that almost everyone is dressed in a costume. It is like Halloween. The children all have their candy bags ready because everyone in the parade throws candy out to the crowd.

Here is a float or a "Rolle" from a club. Their job is to throw candy to the crowd and yell "HELLAU, HELLAU, HELLAU" (hello, hello, hello) which is part of the Fastnacht Tradition.

Here are a couple of clubs and dance groups. They also yell "Hellau" and throw candy. Oh, yes and in all cases everyone, with hopefully the exception of the float drivers, drink wine and beer along the way. This includes those watching the parade. Dienheim is a wine town so EVERYONE drinks wine.

It was a wonderful day and we hope that everyone has a good time next year.

The Geinsheim Storks are here!

These are the Geinsheim storks. The male stork has been coming to our town since the birdclub put up their first nest in 1999. They put up pole with the nest on top at the end of February and he arrived on the 10th of March and has been coming back every year since. The female is our guy's second wife. His first wife was found dead three years ago.

Both the male and female storks arrived on the same day, Friday, February 13, 2009. Normally the male arrives two weeks before the female and prepares the nest. What a guy!

Yes, it is exactly what you think it is. They are making babies and we got it on film. Once the female lays her eggs, they both take turns sitting on the eggs for 30 to 35 days. She doesn't lay all the eggs on the same day so they don't all hatch on the same day. Over the last 10 years, we have had a total of 21 baby storks born in the original nest.

Now here's the interesting part, our club put up a second nest a year ago and this year our storks moved nests. They are now making a new nest on the frame provided.

This is the new nest located in our birdclub garden. It is an telephone pole that has been secured in the ground. Poor storks had to sit it out during another day of snow and cold weather. Notice in back left corner of the picture is the original nest. We hope that a new Stork family will move into the original nest.

New Years In at the Felsengrotte, Geinsheim Germany 2009

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2009!!!!!

This year we celebrated New Years at one of our favorite party locations, The Felsengrotte, Geinsheim Germany. It was an all you can eat and drink evening that began at 7pm on the 31st and ended at 3:30am on the 1st.

Trying to be shinier than the walls. Maybe a little more wine will do it!

Our host and DJ for the evening, Jürgen. He made sure that we enjoyed music and entertainment throughout the night.

Of course, the evening wouldn't be complete without the town's best bartenders, Johann and Olaf. Keep on pouring the beer and wine boys.

OK ladies, everyone out on the dance floor. Women really know how to party!!

Oh, maybe Willi has had a little too much German beer. He is tranforming before our eyes!

Oh and Willi's wife Giesla seems to be transforming too!

WOW, Sarah and Rosi seem to be changing too. What's in that Champagne?

Boy that Günther is truly a lucky guy!

Are they dancing or do they need to go to the bathroom after all that alcohol?

So it was a great evening and a wonderful way to start 2009. Hope you all had a great start to your new year.

A Note From Us

Hi everyone

We hope to use this Blog site to share our adventures over the next year. We hope you enjoy the things we share with you and let us know what you think.

Wolfgang & Sarah
2009