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My German Host Family - The Reichels
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We met on the plane from Singapore to Auckland, New Zealand, inn 1994. Mrs. Reichel and I talked the whole 8 hours there. From that time on we corresponded almost monthly. So of course I promised to visit as soon as I could. From left to right: Malte (17
Date: 09/06/1996
Views: 78
09/06/1996
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'The Castle'
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This is one of the more modest castles, really more of a large nobleman's estate, really. Still, it did have its own moat, as you can see. It's located not too far away from Minden. Just a note, a large part of the property has been turned into a golf cou
Date: 09/07/1996
Views: 78
09/07/1996
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Downtown Minden
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A few feet away from the town museum is this little alley. The building on the left is only about five feet wide -- the narrowest in all of Germany. But why take that picture when the tiny alley next to it is so much more scenic?
Date: 09/07/1996
Views: 71
09/07/1996
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Downtown Minden
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Minden is the little town near Hannover where my German host family the Reichels live. Luckily, the city wasn't bombed during the wars so much of its Medieval charms remain. The three buildings you see here are now the town museum.
Date: 09/07/1996
Views: 66
09/07/1996
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Downtown Minden
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My host mother and brother were surprised that I kept taking so many pictures of the town, but it's so charming! There's not much of nationally significant historic or cultural value in the city, I was told, but I found the town to be delightful anyway.
Date: 09/07/1996
Views: 75
09/07/1996
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Munster Street Scene
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On another day, the Reichels took me to visit the city of Munster -- yes, the one with a cheese named after it. I didn't buy any while I was there, but we did make it to a locally famous restaurant for some sort of German delicacy involving dried blood sa
Date: 09/07/1996
Views: 75
09/07/1996
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Munster Cathedral
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If you look closely, you may be able to see the three cages hanging from the tower. The story goes that during the Middle Ages, three men were caged up there for being heretics against the church (I think). Gotta love theocracies!
Date: 09/07/1996
Views: 82
09/07/1996
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Hamburg Canal
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Hamburg was almost completely flattened during World War II. From the photos I saw at a museum, there was hardly a single brick intact. These buildings along the canal were some of the few to survive, somehow. The boats toward the rear are hosting a littl
Date: 09/11/1996
Views: 73
09/11/1996
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Fountain Boy - Hamburg
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This is of one of the figures on the gorgeous old fountain in the courtyard behind Hamburg City Hall.
Date: 09/11/1996
Views: 80
09/11/1996
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Courtyard Village
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If you've ever been to Europe, you're familiar with those large apartment buildings that take up an entire block. Ever wonder what was in the courtyard of one of those buildings? I couldn't resist the temptation so I took a peek and this scenic little str
Date: 09/11/1996
Views: 72
09/11/1996
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"Only males above the age of 18 are allowed beyond this point"
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I don't remember if that was the exact wording, but... As you may know, prostitution is legal in Germany (and there is even a union), but only in regulated areas like the one above. Of course I took a peek beyond the gate, but only a peek!
Date: 09/11/1996
Views: 77
09/11/1996
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Accordian Player - Hamburg
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While wandering around Hamburg one day, I happened upon a little festival on the canal, so I stopped down to take a closer look. This picture turned out pretty well, eh? (Hamburg)
Date: 09/11/1996
Views: 79
09/11/1996
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The Ivy Tower - Lubeck
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One day, I hopped on the train and took a day trip from Hamburg to Lubeck. Everyone in Minden was telling me I had to visit. I'm so glad I did! It was gorgeous, as you can see. This is one of the towers on the original city wall ringing the oldest part of
Date: 09/14/1996
Views: 74
09/14/1996
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Aerial View of Lubeck
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Although heavily damaged in World War II, I rode an elevator to the top of Lubeck's oldest cathedral for this delightful view of the city.
Date: 09/14/1996
Views: 85
09/14/1996
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Cobblestone Street - Lubeck
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Most of the streets in central Lubeck are cobblestone. This narrow little street was so pretty. I think the building on the right is a puppet theater.
Date: 09/14/1996
Views: 72
09/14/1996
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Dortmund Friends
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We met on a ferry in the Mediterranean in August. Michael & Karin offered to let me crash at their place if I was in the area. So I stopped by Dortmund on my way from Minden to Koln. (Dortmund)
Date: 09/20/1996
Views: 71
09/20/1996
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Medieval Gate - Stromburg
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I actually took this picture a week after I left Hamburg. My friend Verena took me on some cool sightseeing trips around Cologne and her hometown of Stromburg. In front of the lion in the foreground, there is a small cemetary with headstones dating from t
Date: 09/21/1996
Views: 80
09/21/1996
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Cologne Cathedral
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Here I am sitting on the bridge across the river from the famous cathedral in Cologne. I paid for a little day trip tour around the city that took me here. Sorry you can see only a little bit of the view, it was lovely.
Date: 09/21/1996
Views: 79
09/21/1996
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Verena and Anthony
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This is my friend Verena. Verena is now a doctor! At this time, though, she was just finishing up her med school exams. Bless her heart for hosting me at that time, though! Verena was an exchange student my senior year in high school. She's fabulous -- I'
Date: 09/22/1996
Views: 74
09/22/1996
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Oktoberfest in Munich
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After visiting the Reichels, I made my way to visit Verena (below) in Cologne. After her exams ended, she & I headed to Munich for a few days to visit her brother -- just in time for Oktoberfest! The woman in the red hat escaped from East Berlin! (Mun
Date: 09/28/1996
Views: 75
09/28/1996
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