Monday 3rd October 2011 – Essen

We had another lazy morning this morning.  Breakfast was a 9:30 so we had the opportunity to skype Bradley and Damian beforehand.  Technology is amazing and it’s great that we can make visual contact with family from the other side of the world.

Breakfast was scrambled eggs plus cold meats, cheese etc.  Eva’s mum lives downstairs and she joined us.

Jill is no better so we are making arrangements to get her to a doctor today.  It’s a public holiday in Germany so we thought we would have to get to an emergency centre somewhere.  As it turned out, when Eva made contact, the ‘emergency’ doctor was making a home visit not far away and said that it would be easier if he came to Jill.  You no longer get that sort of service in Australia!  About half an hour later he turned up and after an examination prescribed some antibiotics, some probiotics and an expectorant.  She can now have a nice restful day and hopefully will be a little better tomorrow.

After lunch Eva, Eckhard and I went for a wander in the ‘old town’ of Kettwig.  The village is situated on the Ruhr River and thanks to not having any important major industries, emerged from World War II largely unscathed and with most of its medieval old town still intact – lots of lovely half-timbered houses. 

The 'old town' of Kettwig

We wandered among the cobbled streets and along the river and back through a wooded area.  Lots of other people were out enjoying the sunshine as it’s another beautiful day with the temperature around 25 degrees.  The trees are now beginning to turn and there are lots of leaves falling so it’s probably not to far from the last of the warm weather for the year.  They are so fortunately to have an area like this so close to the city of Essen.

The Ruhr River

Back to the house for a nice restful rest of the afternoon and rest of the day.