Last year in Vienna we met Ralph and Angelika, and after a pleasant evening drinking wine, we invited them to stay with us if they ever came to the USA.
This August they came for three days.
What do you try to show them in Northern California in two days? They wanted to see Lassen Park, number one. Other interests were the Sundial Bridge, the old ghost town of Shasta, Whiskeytown Lake, Shasta Lake and the city of Redding itself.
OK then.
The first day we hit Lassen Park, and did four hikes. I was hoping to take in wine tasting in Manton, but we were late getting out of the park. They liked Bumpass Hell best of all.
As we drove and talked, it was interesting to me the things that were new or unknown to them. For example, driving in my truck was a totally new and exciting experience for Ralph, and we had a lot of fun getting photos of him driving around. Our stores were a wonder to Angelika, I think it was the amount and variety of stuff (except yogurt. Where is the selection of yogurts?)
The next day we did a quick tour of the rest of the list, and the most impressive thing to them was Shasta Dam.
That evening we threw a B-B-Q with the help of our friends Jay, Tracy and Remy, Aura, John and Kate, Carl and Martha, Cory and Shawnee, Katie and Bill. It was a great evening, the food and drink flowed as free as the conversation, and everyone made new friends. Thanks, everybody!
So now we owe them a visit in their home town of Neuss, on the Rhine. It looks beautiful, and we can't wait to go.
Upon their return, Ralph wrote and said, in part:
" Hi Ed & Gail,
we are back in Germany and everything – including some nice surprise again – are all right. It took us some time to get used to all things here again. Especially our “new - old” bio rhythm.
To describe our feelings: we are sad that we had to leave you and the US – and we are glad to see our house and – yet – 2 of the three daughters.
[in New York...] Still I could realize another dream: next morning !! I went jogging in Central Park. Really great. The Sunday before I was already crossing Golden Gate Bridge! Really great !! Evidence by photo will delivered.
Besides that we really enjoyed our time in SF. Again – we visited so many things. The excellent Young Museem (I really enjoyed the American paintings from 18th and 19th century. Interesting – even for me- to realize the differences in style to European painting ) Or the impressive boat tour to Golden Gate Bridge, passing Alcatraz. And the whole City itself. And ……
Among the many items we like to remember is of course the BBQ with you and your friends! Please give our greetings to Carl and his wife and John and Jay and the others. We were really glad about the very warm welcome they gave us!
Of course we are about to start our planning for your visit at our place!! You really should come to us!
And how about going with us to Austria after staying here at our place – and climbing and touring in Austria in the Alpes with our friends down there? You should think about that as well!
Being back here we had to tell so many people about so many of our experiences. So now I think the US can expect a lot of German tourists to experience themselves! It was so great!"
I will go with that. It was. So. Great.