Sauerbraten – sour beef. In Saxony without raisins. the sauce is the sweet and sour sauce with wine, vinegar. In the Rhein area they put raisins in it.

There are little garden plots here with tiny shacks on them. You can’t live there all the time but can stay there for the weekend.

Today we travelled to Gorlitz which is on the border with Poland. We are close to the area, Czepow, which the Altwassers originated from. The story the tour director had was that when the Russians took over what is Poland is that if you were half German half Czech, you could stay, but if you were full German who had to leave and were invited to live in Russia. Later they said that to live in Russia, you had to do military service. This may be the reason that the Altwassers left as it seems that many left during that time.

The motherland of Birkenstock!! The factory is situated here in Gorlitz!

German words and our tour directors take on things: Zitzennliebden. To remain seated in school if you don’t advance a grade.

Bikes with basket for kids to sit in while on parents backfiet. $3000euros. she thinks it is ridiculous that kids don’t move themselves.

Today we drove to Gorlitz which is in Germany. Then we walked across the bridge to Poland and had lunch of meat and cheese for an appetizer and then perogies for main course. Very delicious, but honestly, my Ukrainian family and friends have spoiled me. We were the experts in explaining to our table mates what they were. I kept hearing Kathy Hill’s voice in my head telling me how to make them perfect – gentle Pam, gentle Pam!

In our tour of the town, we learned that Gorlitz was never damaged in the wars as they paid off the aggressors to leave them alone. We were allowed to tour traditional homes. In the only here homes, things cannot be structurally altered. They were built in the 1300-1500 hundreds. Very interesting!

We also went to a Christmas store that had the most intricate wooden carvings. So beautiful! It makes one think one should return for the Christmas markets.

After lunch, we had time to shop for mustard which is made in Gorlitz and the area and for Allen to find more beer. I found a cappuccino and a cream puff. It was good, but I think my mom makes them better. ❤️