Leaving Dusseldorf

What a night! Did not get to see the concert, but had a terrific time with my host Christine. There were no tickets to be had at anything like a decent price so decided against going. We walked the Rhine River bank and stopped at a couple of places for drinks.

Then we went to dinner at a restaurant with Morrocon food. (Spell check does not work so well when the computer is checking my English against its German dictionarz, so please allow your very tired reporter some slack.)

Aftet a great dinner we came back to her apartment and I met her friend Judith who was watching the kids, Aaron who is 5 and Luna who is 2. They were asleep but we stayed up talking until 3AM. It is now 7:30. My eyes have not opened yet. Christine said the children would come into my room and wake me, it I would like. So they did. Just now remembering I forgot to get their pictures. Drat.

Aaron has a bunch of hand prints on the wall of his bedroom. I was given the honor of adding mine. It is in blue, near the top, in case you visit.

Our discussion centered around politics but it was a very friendly and easy discussion. What was tough was listening to Christine describe her last "visit" to the US. She was connecting thru Atlanta on her way to Mexico.It seems Immigration, or someone, felt as though she was a threat. So they handcuffed her, searched her and then put her in a room for 5 hours with no communication or chance to make a phone call. People were meeting her in Mexico but she was not allowed to contact them.

She then had to stay another 11 hours in the room with nothing but a clock before being escorted to the plane. She has no idea what they thought she did or why she was treated this way. No explanation, no apology. Just get on your way. I wonder if the people doing this have any thoughts about how they or their family might be treated in a similiar situation.

She could not have been nicer or any more welcoming. They have all left for the day and I am here alone. Very trusting. She speaks German, French, Spanish and English and studies literature and linguistics at the University in Dusseldorf. She also performs translation services for local businesses.

I would like to write more but my brain refuses to work. I am heading for Stuttgart where I hope my luck will be better with tickets. It could not be better than my welcome in Dusseldorf. It was an amazing visit with a very remarkable young lady.