Day 22 Glandorf, Germany - The Royal German Welcome Continues

Joan's View

Yes, we all slept well. The Pues said that they did too even though they were so kind as to give us their bedroom and bathroom. The morning started with 9:00 mass. We were so fortunate that there was a special mass today for the ladies' group of the parish because normally there is no mass on Wednesdays. 

After mass, the Pues took us to the Wolke bakery. There are 2 bakeries in Glandorf, but this one had an apple tart. Tony & I feasted on sweets and the Pues ate bread & cheese, but we all enjoyed coffee in one form or another. It was chilly in the morning, so I wore my original 1978 "Glandorf" jacket from our Glandorf, Germany trip where we all had matching red jackets. 

From there we visited the historical windmill in Glandorf. Hubert Schlottmann, a former mayor of Glandorf was our tour guide. He is very passionate about restoring the windmill. An increasing number of couples also use the windmill as a wedding venue, including Sebastian and his wife who were just married there last week. Children from the schools get lessons on the history of it and how grain was ground for food. It was a huge accomplishment for Glandorf when the town originally built the Dutch style windmill. Hubert took us all the way up to the top which meant climbing several ladders to get there. The town has come so far in obtaining the windmill and renovating it, but they hope to one day get the windmill operating so that it can actually grind the grains. A nearby giant oak tree is an obstacle because it blocks the wind, and much more funding is needed besides the 450,000 Euros that has already been invested in the restoration.

At the top

The view from the top

The grinding stone

The main entrance

At the end of the tour Hubert broke out the special Muhlen Wind schnapps (36% alcohol) for us to taste. 

After our tour, we crossed the street to visit the 2nd newest cemetery in Glandorf. This is where Andreas's parents and grandparents are buried. His brother maintains the landscaping on the plots. Margaret's parents are buried in the newest cemetery. She and Andreas maintain her parents' plots. 

Whole family burial plots

Maybe some of our relatives are buried here as well?

We spent the afternoon chatting and laughing with Margaret & Andreas on their shaded patio. Later, Sebastian arrived with a beer crate on the back of his bike full of, you guessed it, different kinds of beer. 

Hubert & Gabriella Poehler joined the dinner even though they just got back to Glandorf, Germany yesterday from Glandorf, OH. They had visited my mom while in Glandorf, OH just a few days earlier. Sebastian grilled out several different kinds of meats and Margaret served some delicious salads including an awesome potato salad.

Grill master Sebastian

We gave Sebastian and Andreas the only gift that we could bring along on the bike, and the only item that I could find with the word, "Glandorf" on it - hats from Glandorf Lumber that they kindly provided for our German friends. A huge shout out to Glandorf Lumber for a great sense of community!

Sebastian & Andreas sporting their Glandorf Lumber hats!

One other highlight today was getting to speak to Birgit Menke. We stayed with their family in 1978. Birgit is close to my age. I rode bicycles with her and her sister to a saltwater swimming pool in Bad Laer back in 1978. I had been searching for her online before we left, but with no luck. Margaret did her amazing detective work and was able to find Birgit. We got to talk and are now connected again. So many wonderful new memories to add to the already fond memories of Germany.

Tony's Extras

Wow, did we get spoiled in Glandorf Germany. The windmill was an engineering marvel and was fascinating on the inside on how everything worked. 

I did drink my first alcohol free beer today and it was delicious. I told Margret that I was done later in the evening, so she gave me my second alcohol free beer. What a great way to drink and enjoy beer without the alcohol. Every tourist stop they had beer to drink after the tour. You can this see in the picture, As Joan mentioned, we had a shot of the schnapps they make at the distillery in Glandorf.  I really like tours in Glandorf. We are truly blessed to meet such wonderful people.