Waiting for Bea, Swen & Eva to arrive

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It’s Friday morning and I thought we were going to sleep in, oh no….. we’re up and heading to the bakery.

Today was supposed to be an easy day because we’re waiting or Bea, Swen and Eva. It’s not starting off like an easy day.

We get to the bakery, Kirsten and her sprecken the Deutche and I standing there Ga-Gaing over the pastries. As we were leaving, Kirsten says we’re coming back before everyone arrives to purchase cake and pastries. We’re going to have cake and coffee when everyone arrives, WOO HOO.

After breakfast Kirsten says let’s go to Berchtesgaden today is Market day. Cool, this is when all the merchants come to town and sell their stuff. You remember the chicken man and the guy that sells the roasted pork and all the stuff you could possibly want. It’s always like a farmers market on steroids.

Ok, we come around the corner, Kirsten finds our parking spot and she whips it in and I’m half out the door before the car stops rolling. As I’m running toward the market I yell over my shoulder, “I’m going to get in line for the chicken man”!!

The last time when Lori and I were in France, the line wrapped half way around the plaza. Kirsten watches as I head toward the plaza. I round the corner and enter the plaza; I come to a screeching halt! There are only three venders in the plaza. Count them THREE, I drop to me knees and hold my head in my hands.

Kirsten causally walks up behind me and says I should have told you but I couldn’t, the big market was canceled because tonight is the 200th anniversary for Berchtesgaden.

Get up and I’ll buy a bratwurst over at the café for lunch.

Well it was around 9:30 and I was still full from breakfast and the market was a bust, so Kirsten and I decided to walk around the city.

Our walk took us around the city and it lasted about 2 hours. We ended back where we stared and I was ready for my bratwurst. We had a great German lunch and headed back toward the house.

I had just started my nap, when they arrived. We all hugged and decided we all would walk to the bakery. After selecting about 8 different pieces of pastries we all enjoyed our cakes and coffee.

Our visiting lasted until it was time to go the 200th anniversary of Berchtesgaden.

We all piled into the cars and headed to the 200th Oktoberfest at the Haufbrau house. Kirsten drops Hedi and Bill off at the front door. Kirsten, Bea, Swen, Eva and I go and park the cars. The parking lot was filling up quick.

Everyone was dressed in their traditional wear and I knew it was going to be a great evening.
For the next four hours we ate and drank while watching the town folks entertain everyone in the beer hall. The band played and played and played; I don’t think they took a break for at least an hour. Lots of folks were dancing.

Every table was full and everyone had a great time, young and old. Great food and beer.

Around 10:30 PM we decided it was time to turn in. Bea was very tired and needed her sleep, so we headed back to our house.

As I’m falling asleep, I was thinking of everyone and wished you were all here with us.

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