On the morning of 16th of June, started me and Tommy together with one other member from Lions Club Jönköping a trip to Germany and to Minden.
We was invited to Minden by Lions Club Porta Westfalica, who is a friends club to Lions Club Jönköping. We were invited already last year to visit the club and take a part clubs journey, but when was my health, what was put a stop to the trip and to other planned trips as well. So, this time we tried to do everything, so that we could participate the clubs journey as well for us, to meet the members from our friend club. The roots goes back for so many years and it would be sad, if the clubs would loose that connection.
After 12 hour on the road, we arrived to Minden. Hotel was placed in quiet area even thought that bigger roads was quite close to it. We got really warm welcome, when we arrived and after we settled into the rooms, we went down and met some members with partners from Lions Club Porta Westfalica and got something to eat. After that was football match we looked and some beer. Germany - Poland. The game ended 0-0, even thought that Germany was close to goal, couple of times.
After good night sleep and good breakfast, it was time to meet other members and enjoy the trip together with other members and their partners. First visit for the day was company Bayer in Leverkusen. It was interesting to get a insight about that company. We all have got the contact with the company one way or another way. Outside of the buildings, they had a beautiful Japanese garden.
After that visit, we went further to Cologne. We visited Panorama and on top of the roof, we got a overview of Cologne city. I really liked to see it and enjoyed the view. After that took we walk towards hotel. Hotel itself situated near by Dom in Cologne. Nice and fresh hotel. After arriving to hotel and before dinner, me and Tommy went to fast shopping. Since next morning we had exercises on the schedule in the morning, and I had forgot my training tights at home, so, I thought to shop new ones. It took bit time, but I found at least and we hurried back to hotel, so that we could change the clothes and get ready dinner.
Dinner on Friday evening was in restaurant Früh. Good beer and good traditional german food. The beer in glasses was not more than 0,2 l, but it was always kept fresh. Interesting experience. After good dinner, we spent bit time in the city with part of the group. By walking by the houses, it felt like we are in old town in Tallinn.
After the glass of beer, then everyone went to back at hotel, me and Tommy took a small walking by the Dom of Cologne. It was magnificent by the evening lights.
Next morning, the ones, who wanted, could to some exercises. Gesine had planned a nice morning training for us and we, who was there, really liked it. After that was time for well deserved breakfast. When bit food was filled the stomach, we were divided to 2 groups. One group visited cellars in the Dom of Cologne and other group the towers. Me and Tommy divided us and he saw cellars and I the towers and saw the beautiful city again. It was so nice to see the city from the top of the tower. Totally interesting and good experience.
After this visit, was time for lunch. This time we got a pizza. It felt good to try a different food. We took different food every time and shared between us, so that we both could taste some different dishes.
After lunch, was shopping time or some other activities. Free time. Me and Tommy took a walk around the city. Bought some presents to my father-in-law and sent postcards to our families in Estonia and Sweden. A small tradition I have had since I started to travel abroad. After our free time, we decided to join with others and listen the organ concert in St. Peters church, but we could not find the entrance. That church was built quite interesting way and later came out that it only had a small door, what did not look at all as church doors, we are used to see in churches.
In the evening we had a dinner in another local restaurant. Beer was ordered on that restaurant by special bins and could be choose between 3 or 5 liters. Another interesting experience for us, who had not seen those kind of things before. We had wonderful time in Lions spirit. Lots of good conversations and laughs.
Sunday morning after the breakfast, it was time to pack the bags and make us ready for leaving the Cologne. Before we started our journey back to Minden, we had city-tour with bus. We saw many places and got to know information about the city.
After that, we visited Carnival museum in Cologne. A tradition, what has been kept alive since beginning of 1820-ies. That tradition is still alive, even thought that there has been discussions about to end it, but people does not want that. Total length of carnival equipage is 7 km and usually held in February. Interesting was that some of the equipages are destroyed after the parade and will be build up again during autumn, just before new carnival. After that visit, we started our journey back to Minden.
It is very impressed how quickly the city has been built up, since on the WWII it was 70% bombed down. Some pieces perhaps did not fit into the city picture but it looked nice anyway.
On Monday, me and Tommy got the guided citytour in Minden centrum. We saw a part of it and it was interesting as well. It came out that local Cathedral has a long name, but everyone who lives in the city knows the church just by name of Dome. So even local people got to learn something new.
After good lunch, Tommy went to buy something local to his dad, since we wanted to thank him, that he had Sally with him, during our trip and I was driven to one Lion member, who first fixed my ankle, since I sprained it. After that we drove to Imperial Wilhelm 2 monument. We were very lucky to have one member with us, who knew so much of history and also about the are. We got to see view over Minden and over Porta Westfalica. After that we were invited home to one Lady Lions. There we could speak Swedish language. She had been learned it on the evening course and practice it in Sweden every summer. In the evening we had last dinner together with some of the members and their partners. After that good dinner said we goodbye for this time, since next morning after breakfast, me and Tommy started our trip back to home. In the morning we said goodbye to other members, who had came to hotel to wave of us. Hopefully we will see them soon again. If not next year, perhaps on year after that or year after that.
That trip to Germany was very interesting, it gave us a lot. We saw much, we learned much and we enjoyed good time with members from Lions Club Porta Westfalica. We really loved that time and also enjoyed our vacation together. It was really good time and gave so much memories. Memories, what will take us back in those times, when we are looking pictures or thinking of those times. One thing is sure. That trip was our first, but not a last.
Have a nice afternoon,
Love,
Ingrit
