We arrived in Frankfurt to meet up with our second cousin Olga for a few days when for some reason we couldn't get her cell number to work. So, with no way of communicating with her 
besides with emails Laura and I stayed in a hostel our first night in Frankfurt. Apparently there was a Music Festival going on in the city so most of the accomodations were pretty much full. We lucked out and got 2 beds in a hostel just accross the street from the train station. Olga had tracked us down in our hostel and we were finally able to touch base with her. We met her the next day at the train station as she had to go to school and she directed us to her flat. It was so nice to be able to settle in someone's house for a bit. It was a nice change from being at a hostel. We settled at her place for a bit caught up on some emails, did some laundry, and met Olga downdown later that day. The last time I had seen Olga was a
bout 5 years ago when she had come to Winnipeg for the summer, so there was much to catch up on! Olga took us to the University where she attends and we grabbed some lunch, we wandered the downtown streets for a bit, checked out a really old church, and of course stopped for some Ice Cream ! We went to this cafe that has a full menu on all the different types of ice creams you could get. They had some really fancy items there, I'd never seen anything like it! We also went to a Film History Museum that was pretty interesting. It displayed some of the first cameras used, they had a set set up that you could check out, and they had an interesting display of costumes and stage makeup ! That evening Olga took us to her Bible Study group that she attends every week. It was just a small group but it was nice to meet some of the people that Olga knows and hangs out with here in Frankfurt. Laura and I finally sent home a box home with stuff that we've picked up along the way and didn't need. Wow, that helped a lot and cleared up some space in my bag! Our visit with Olga was really fun and our next stop was in Buren to visit the Derksens, also second cousins of ours. There's our Uncle Johann and Tante Sara and they have 5 kids Victor, Peter, Klara, 
Willy and Daniel. They were all able to join us and spend some time with us over the weekend! They are such a friendly family it was hard not to feel at home there. Johan took Laura, Klara and myself to this Castle that is not too far from their house. Apparently Hitler wanted to make this castle the centre of his empire, as it's the centre of Germany. There is some really amazing history just in their backyard! After that we stopped at Klara's apartment not too far from Buren, did some shopping, stopped for some coffees and that evening we watched Deutschlands Super Star!! 
On Sunday we went to church with them. It was nice because we haven't been to church this whole trip so far and with Easter coming up it was nice to be there. We stopped in to meet Johann's mother (who was married to my Opa Derksens brother) and she was quick to tell Laura and I how much Laura looks like a Derksen and that I look more like my moms side! The Derksens in Buren didn't speak any english either so my german got a good workout for the weekend. It's tricky when I have so many things I want to say but can only say half of it because translating it is kinda difficult, but I made the best of it. Overall, we had a great visit with our relatives in Germany and it was probably one of the highlights for me. Our next stop will be in Czech Repulic to see Cesky Krumlov and Prague! So until then, Take Care in Winnipeg !
besides with emails Laura and I stayed in a hostel our first night in Frankfurt. Apparently there was a Music Festival going on in the city so most of the accomodations were pretty much full. We lucked out and got 2 beds in a hostel just accross the street from the train station. Olga had tracked us down in our hostel and we were finally able to touch base with her. We met her the next day at the train station as she had to go to school and she directed us to her flat. It was so nice to be able to settle in someone's house for a bit. It was a nice change from being at a hostel. We settled at her place for a bit caught up on some emails, did some laundry, and met Olga downdown later that day. The last time I had seen Olga was a
bout 5 years ago when she had come to Winnipeg for the summer, so there was much to catch up on! Olga took us to the University where she attends and we grabbed some lunch, we wandered the downtown streets for a bit, checked out a really old church, and of course stopped for some Ice Cream ! We went to this cafe that has a full menu on all the different types of ice creams you could get. They had some really fancy items there, I'd never seen anything like it! We also went to a Film History Museum that was pretty interesting. It displayed some of the first cameras used, they had a set set up that you could check out, and they had an interesting display of costumes and stage makeup ! That evening Olga took us to her Bible Study group that she attends every week. It was just a small group but it was nice to meet some of the people that Olga knows and hangs out with here in Frankfurt. Laura and I finally sent home a box home with stuff that we've picked up along the way and didn't need. Wow, that helped a lot and cleared up some space in my bag! Our visit with Olga was really fun and our next stop was in Buren to visit the Derksens, also second cousins of ours. There's our Uncle Johann and Tante Sara and they have 5 kids Victor, Peter, Klara, 
Willy and Daniel. They were all able to join us and spend some time with us over the weekend! They are such a friendly family it was hard not to feel at home there. Johan took Laura, Klara and myself to this Castle that is not too far from their house. Apparently Hitler wanted to make this castle the centre of his empire, as it's the centre of Germany. There is some really amazing history just in their backyard! After that we stopped at Klara's apartment not too far from Buren, did some shopping, stopped for some coffees and that evening we watched Deutschlands Super Star!! 
On Sunday we went to church with them. It was nice because we haven't been to church this whole trip so far and with Easter coming up it was nice to be there. We stopped in to meet Johann's mother (who was married to my Opa Derksens brother) and she was quick to tell Laura and I how much Laura looks like a Derksen and that I look more like my moms side! The Derksens in Buren didn't speak any english either so my german got a good workout for the weekend. It's tricky when I have so many things I want to say but can only say half of it because translating it is kinda difficult, but I made the best of it. Overall, we had a great visit with our relatives in Germany and it was probably one of the highlights for me. Our next stop will be in Czech Repulic to see Cesky Krumlov and Prague! So until then, Take Care in Winnipeg !
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