Friends Reunited

We arrived safely in Regensburg and were met on the platform by sunshine and by Walter.  I ran up and gave him the biggest hug!  It was so wonderful to see him after 6 years away from Germany. It was interesting, the train station literally turns right into a huge mall that we had to walk through to get to the parking garage and Walter's awaiting car.  It only took us about 15 minutes to get to Wolkering, where Walter and Uli live with their daughter, Miriam.  Both were at home, and both received equally big hugs from me.  It was early evening and we spent quite a bit of time walking around outside, enjoying the natural beauty, and the artistic landscape touches that the Nowotny's have done to their absolutely stunning yard.  they have a garden, with strawberries and a few other items, but they are just beginning to produce fruit.


The backyard is surrounded by a wide variety of trees and a plethora of flowering plants, both climbing up the walls, and potted all around the wood deck and walkways.  So quiet, except for the birds, who kept up a constant cacophony of whistles, chirps, tweets, and chattering.  So peaceful and relaxing, especially after a couple of days in BUSY big city Paris.

Walter had planned an special BBQ dinner for us.  Uli already had a beautiful table set up for us outside, in preparation for a delectable meal.  The men started off with a bier from the Regensburg area, while the women chose a white wein, also from the region.   Walter prepared different kinds of sausage, marinated turkey breasts and pork steaks were the meat of the dinner,
which Uli
accompanied by a green garden salad, some grated carrots in a vinegar dressing, potato salad, a huge basket of bread, caprese salad, green olives, baby corn, and a huge variety of condiments.  The most delicious was a homemade butter with white garlic... oh my goodness.  After everything was brought out, Walter served the grilled meats, while we filled up our plates until they were overflowing.  And we ate, and ate, and ate...  Hey, I remember this from the LAST

time I was in Germany.  Great food, great friends, great conversation sitting in a place that looks like Heaven.  Couldn't image a better willkommen (welcome) from our dear friends.  We sat outside and talked until we were chased inside by some black clouds and a storm, which 10 minutes later was dumping hail outside on the patio!

Then we all gathered around the dining room table and continued to entertain each others with stories and jesting.  Walter is famous for his evening apertifs and brought out about 10 varieties for which he explained what each one was, where it came from, and he even had some that he had made himself.  Did I mention that Walter is a very talented guy?  Anyway, we tried a few of the collection and talked for hours more.  It was about half eleven (eleven thirty p.m.).  We were all tired from our 7 hour train trip from Paris, full of great food,  happy with drink, and surrounded by the love of our friends.  Guten nacht!  Good night!