Going Deutsch: JUIST, GERMANY (and Easter

I might have had a hard time remembering the name of the island we were going to visit the week before Easter, but now I know I will never forget.

Example #1 of Covered Wagon

Juist was a such a cute place! Most of all I loved that it was car free. Christof, Sandra, Mathis, Ilse, and I arrived midday after a 3 hour car ride and 1 1/2 hour ferry trip. The first thing I noticed: covered wagons. There were so many covered wagon taxis on this island, and since I had never imagined covered wagons existed outside of American pioneer stories from the 1800’s, I was loving it! There were horses everywhere, including a garbage cart horse. Our apartment was great, and I got a whole bunk bed to myself.

I couldn’t wait to get Mathis to the beach for the first time, so Sandra and I walked to the water immediately upon arriving. The beach was incredibly close. The water, not so much. I had never in my life seen a beach span so long from the dunes to the waves. I swear it is a couple of football fields. Also, the North Sea has so many mussel shells! The long kind that are pastel colored, that I used to covent when I was a kid.

Mathis before.

So many mussels!

Trying to see Norway.

Mathis after.

The five days went by very smoothly. We took Mathis to his first restaurant, and then took him to two more, since he was so well behaved. (I’m sure all of the patrons thought it was as funny as we did when he made a loud “MMmmm” sound every time he had new food in his mouth.) I walked on the beach with Mathis. I walk to almost the end of the island with Mathis. I got a massage without Mathis. My first ever massage and it was way too short.

In our beach basket.

Sunset and Beach Baskets

I was so lucky to be allowed to come along. These people spoil me I swear. Juist was great, but the green apple soft serve was especially great. Sounds gross, tastes like heaven.

Not as good as green apple soft serve, but Mathis is enjoying it.

Speaking of heaven, Easter was on Sunday! We came back with just the right amount of time to dye some Easter eggs and for me to make a four layer Easter cake, the poor Germans. On Sunday, after finding some candy in our garden (thank you Easter Bunny!), Sandra made us a wonderfully tasty brunch including melon with prosciutto, a new favorite food! Soon the entire family was over eating my too sweet cake, while the little boys ran around naked with intentions of using the 2 feet x 2 feet inflatable pool in the backyard. When no one except Mathis wanted to swim, Sandra set up the sprinkler and I think Sandra, Julia, and I were the only ones to run through it. Before Christof made a wonderful steak dinner to close the deal, I got to talk to my parents and Grandé on Skype, and the whole Niemeier/Kückmann clan waved “Hello!” or “Hallo!”. In Germany, they build giant bonfires to burn on Easter in order to smoke out winter and make way for spring. That night Sandra and I rode bikes to meet up with everyone, and after a short photo shoot with Ben and a tractor, we all enjoyed beers and watching the fire.