This morning
we finally got to meet Liz (also studied at Uni with Simon) – the second half
of the flat we have been sleeping in for two nights now! She has been in Berlin
and travelling all over the show but only returned late-ish yesterday. Bray met
her first as he emerged from the bathroom clad only in a towel – thanks for
having us! This morning we had a relatively later start after Roni ventured to
the supermarket to find ‘thank yous’ for the people we stayed with.
Liz had
prepared a breakfast table that was MOST exciting – bread, SO many toppings and
all set up with candles etc. We had a lovely start to the day with her and Ralph
– sharing kai, hearing about their holiday in Hallig Hooge (made us want to go
there) and learning about each other. Looking across the courtyard we didn’t
see any signs of life from the other flat until we were into our after
breakfast coffee. By that time Ralph & Bray were in the midst of a
music-swap while Roni & Liz talked dance and theatre.
The crew
from the other flat came over for a cuppa and chat after they finished brekkie.
Then out we went for an appointment filled day planned by Simon & Maren.
Firstly we
met Steffi and her 10 month old daughter Sophie (AMAZING big blue eyes) at a
local second hand shop. They had some funky stuff but we managed to escape with
only Maren purchasing a pair of awesome wee boots. We set off then to explore
more of Darmstadt with Steffi & Sophie...to the Mathildenhöhe
(amazing!), past the only other building in the central city to escape serious
bombing in WW2 (Krone) and back to the Luisentplatz to use an ATM. There we
farewelled our wandering companions – Sophie asleep by this stage – and hopped
on a bus to go and visit Conny. She is another of Simon’s Uni buddies who even
came to NZ to visit while he was here! We met Simon Friday en route then
entered Conny’s kitchen of wonders. Blue candles lit (even a roof candelabra
version), fresh apple strudel with cream, hot coffee and so many antique and
funky kitchen things!
Best of all
we got to chat to Conny and even meet her husband Mohammed when he arrived home
from work – he is from Egypt and they are expecting their first child next
month. We had a fantastic time and left after dark to head out for dinner.
Dinner was
delicious Ethiopian food at the Baobab Tree restaurant. Liz met us there and we
were joined after dinner by Maren’s friend Thomas from school days and his
girlfriend Julia. The food was amazing and Bray definitely enjoyed his first
experience of African food (that he could remember). A walk home through the
mild night after this and we spent time playing caromme (finger snooker) with
the two Simons over some beverages while Bray and Simon Friday began their
music exchange. Bed before 3am.
