Abu Dhabi and Dubai

December 27th Andrew, Birgit and I flew to Abu Dhabi

They live in a large (2500 sq. ft.) apartment with 3 balconies.  Here we are  on the balcony from the dining and living room.  Those high-rise buildings were not there 4 years ago.



The view from the opposite direction.  That's the Arabian gulf in the background.

Andrew and I sitting on the balcony.

This is the dining room.  The picture above is one of Birgit's creations.

Andrew is seated in the cosy living room.  The two afghans I knitted for them are proudly displayed.

The full dining room.
 

It's New Year's Eve and out comes the champagne!

Guests, Dave and Lynn arrive to help us celebrate.

There goes the cork!  We went from one balcony to the other two to watch the fireworks coming from all directions.



Welcome 2013!!!



Christmas in Germany

This post is about Christmas Eve traditions and Christmas Day.

Birgit by the Christmas tree

We attended a candlelight service at the Lutheran Church on Christmas Eve.

Rolf standing on guard ready to challenge anyone who should not be admitted

Rolf's assistant keeps out of the weather

Mrs Santa Claus rings the bell to allow the family to open presents.

Birgit, sister-in-law Annette, and Gudrun

Birgit and Andrew's niece Patty (daughter of Frank and Babsi) with Lois



Franzi (Patty's sister)
 

Birgit's brother Frank


 

Yurek (Annette's husband) and Andrew

 

Patty and Babsi look on while Andrew is soaking (???) his Christmas present from Mom.



What!  She's still buying him underwear!  (Love the cows :)

It was a great Christmas day!



In Germany they still put candles on the tree, but they are battery operated.

When you come in from outside it is comforting to sit on the bench with your back to the warmth of the wood-burning stove.

The living room at the Massek home.

 

 

We visited Birgit's cousin Ruth, shown here with her Uncle Rolf.  She and her husband Ron have a beautiful home.  She entertained us royally and later her father took us out to dinner.

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Ruth's husband was having dental work done (implants) and she gave him the dentures above {made of chocolate} for Christmas!  Birgit loved it.

 

Ruth told her husband, Ron, that for the price he paid for the implants, he could have bought two Aston Martin cars.  He told her, "Yeah, but I couldn't park them in my mouth".

Andrew, Birgit and I went for a walk in a park.  The swans, ducks and geese came swimming over looking for handouts, but the sign told us not to feed them.

 

Two typical German folks (Andrew and Birgit) :) trying to pump some water--note the green lawns.  The temperature was about 17 degrees C.


 



The "free spirit" doing her thing!