We spent one day in Bonn after the harvest... we were so happy and comfortable in Eltville that we forgot that we might need a break, so we didn't schedule one. Also we were afraid that our friend of a friend would get annoyed with us constantly changing our plans!

We stayed with Sonja, but we got to spend some time with Britta this time, which was nice because she had been gone the last time we were there. She was just back from several months in Africa so we got to hear some of her wonderful stories! But we didn't hear them all, so next time Britta, we want more!

We also took a side trip to the nearby village of Bad Honef. This is where the Birkenstock factory is. We took the U-bahn 30 minutes down the Rhein and then walked through the center of the pretty little German town. One thing we did that day I would highly recommend to any traveller: we took half an hour and wandered around a cemetery. It is a fascinating way to learn a bit about the people, the culture, the history. It was a special experience.

I had been needing a pair of light comfortable shoes as an alternative to my wonderful, but slightly too narrow, walking shoes since we left home. I had found nothing up to this point. The Birkenstock factory store is huge... quite overwhelming. I walked in and grabbed a pair in my size, and quickly had about a dozen pulled out to choose from. Cheryln found some cool purple suede Birks, but her feet have never really worked with Birks. We spent almost THREE hours there!!! But in the long run I got the first pair I had picked up. They cost $25. At home the same pair would be well over $100!!!!

© Copyright Mark Canizaro 2000