Nicholas visit

Here are Robyn and Pete, right off the plane.  They stayed in the extra Porthstrasse apartment (between bedbug investations, but don't tell them that).

We had a great vacation with them in Rüdesheim

Ronnenberg,

and Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Not all German tourist towns begin with the letter R.

Music Box Museum was delightful and Pete earned the right of Organ Grinder:

Almost half the souvenirs I bought in Germany were with them - great shoppers!

We spent a night in Colmberg Castle - a royal night

    Nuremberg is rich in history.  Nazi rally grounds and documentation museum were sobering. People were incredibly caught up in Hitler's propaganda machine.

Then we left them for their Danube River cruise

Zollikofen and Berne, Switzerland

 I miss our Frankfurt temple so much that we planned a March team trip to the Swiss temple and Berne.

Us, Stephen and Elaine Biddulph, Denis and Jackie Hawkins, Ken and Marlene Matheson, Diane and Jim Hawkins. Jan and Sterling Piepgrass were still inside.

Rand was our navigator. 

Berne's famous clock tower

Shop owners use basements to sell unique goods. Marlene took photos of a delightful antique store before we were told not to.

Speaking of Marlene, she is always doing a knitting project.  Ken is her loving and supportive sidekick.

Jim Hacking is always tied to his phone. He is one of the most selfless, conscientious missionaries we knew. 

The Cathedral of Bern (Das Berner Münster) is Switzerland's largest ecclesiastical building. 

The view from the tower was breathtaking.

and stained glass windows galore!

Berne is a great city with covered sidewalks and Swiss flair

After yummy waffles, 

we headed back on the ICE (Inter-City Express) train

Haßmersheim

Marsha organized an overnighter to a town that hosts a festive song, eating and drinking night once a month.

Sterling and Jan Piepgrass and Janet and Jon Jensen joined right in.

Dancing concluded the evening.

And the next day we explored Bad Wimpfen where we bumped into Mitch and Yvonne Bausman and Jensens again,

also Denis and Jackie Hawkins and Carlene and Gordon Walker.

Several performers played German music

and some American favorites as well.

Copenhagen

Lovely January visit to neighbors and friends Janet and Jim Williams, the temple presidents in Copenhagen.  They have served 8 of their last 10 years out of the country - great leaders!

Their temple is very inviting and has unique Scandinavian touches.

Area Presidency member Tim and Jill Dyches' daughter helped paint the murals in the Baptistry. They're amazing and truly reflect Danish artistry.

The Little Mermaid

  Bertel Thorvaldsen's Christus statue, located in the Church of Our Lady.

Our new Canon Rebel camera makes everything look good.

Danish pastry - the real thing

One of many Hans Christian Andersen statues. This one looks toward fun in Tivoli Gardens.

Here's the statue of Kristina that LDS sculptor Dennis Smith created. She represents the many saints who left Europe. Between 1850 and 1900, over eighteen thousand Danes joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and immigrated to Utah.  Dennis wrote: "I  wondered about birth and death and the more-mysterious thoughts we all harbor about crossing over—like Kristina must have wondered—and of the hopes we all hold dear of maybe going home someday to a place we struggle here to even comprehend, let alone remember."

Thankfulness

Niece Jenny Nicholas joined us for a few days in November.  We loved visiting Colmar, France's Christmas Market. (Notice who bought things)

There are St Nicholas shops everywhere in Europe - great name! 

(Now look whose arms are the most full)

Lovely temple visit

Experience of a lifetime - the Matterhorn!

The earth's beauty truly glorifies His name 

Thanksgiving traditions of turkey (enchiladas, that is)...

 and a movie. 

1950's dramatized version of climbing the Matterhorn

We parted ways in Geneva.  Jenny is a delightful traveling companion and very patient, as I vowed to make a video of all our photos and haven't begun.

A new favorite German city

 We had a great time in Heidelberg with Janice and her sister, Pat.

Doesn't this remind you of Monty Python?

Junggesellinnenasvschied (bachelorette party). The soon-to-be-bride roams the streets and gets people to give her money for candy or a kiss on the cheek. 

Guess what we bought for Rand? 

 It was one of three nights per year when they "burn the castle". They make the castle look like it's on fire, then have a fireworks display.  Notice all the people - festive night!