Taking Mom & Dad to Bremen Cathedral in Germany where Dad sang with his Choir

Campbell Soup kind of forced us to move to Pennsylvania, from Georgia/USA...

Packing up and preparing for the big move, I also did fly to Düsseldorf, Germany on American Airlines, for only $ 195.00 and 30,000 frequent flyer miles.

This to transport some of our plants and other valuable things on October 9, 1988.
So I boarded American Airlines' 767 Luxury Liner in Atlanta, after saying goodbye to my Pieter who himself had a later flight for Campbell Soup to Denver, Colorado...

I'd told Mom & Dad that I would be wearing my black leather jacket and black beret, so they would spot me from a distance at the German airport.

Mom & Dad had been stuck in heavy traffic, thus I stood for an hour outside but they soon found me on October 10, 1988.
Above photos got taken later in November of 1993 but still the same outfit and it's ME!
Still have all pieces but it's rather hot for wearing it now in Georgia...

On October 12, I took Mom & Dad along on my trip to Visbek, Germany.

Delivering the brass mushrooms for Pilzland where I'd done consulting before, and they wanted to purchase my own design Lacquered Brass Window Decorations with their business logo.

We ate our own lunch at the home of Jan Koopmans, the manager, and Pieter's former student.

Next I drove in about 1 hour, to Bremen and its City Center where Dad did perform with the Horster Mannenkoor in 1981 and Mom could not join at that time.
So now she got to walk in Dad's footsteps as well!
This is the famous Sankt Petri Dom, or St. Peter's Cathedral in Bremen (just click the link) where Dad sang with his choir.
Bremen Cathedral is a medieval building.

We enjoyed the Bremen City Hall (click link) also located at the Market Square.

Bremen's Marktplatz (Market Square) just click link.

Of course, we also did see the famous
Bremer Stadtmusikanten or in English Town Musicians of Bremen (click on link) from the well known fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm.
Mom was delighted for finally, after 7 years, having been there herself and it made me of course very happy!

St. Petri Dom Bremen, Tower Topped Romanesque Cathedral from above, with Market Square and top left are the Bremer Stadtmusikanten (Town Musicians of Bremen) all very close together!
Upon returning home I continued with my stops:
Visiting my aunt Mia in Venlo, Dad's eldest sister to whom I have been very close, my Mother-in-law, Pieter's brother Thé and his wife and also my brother Martin and wife. Did not get to see sister Diny and brother Piet during this short 3-night visit!
Next day I flew back to the USA, after Dad did drop me off at the Düsseldorf/Germany airport.  Mom  could not join us, she had to sing with her choir.
Got delayed in Chicago by 3 hours and poor Pieter waited in vain for me in Atlanta. We got home by 2:30 AM and I called Mom to let her know that I'd arrived safely home.

Short and intens trip but with very fond memories!
Thanks for reading my stories and for your comment.

Related posts:
{My Own Design of Brass Mushrooms} | previous post by me
Mom & Dad's FIRST Flight EVER - Part in KLM's Business Class | previous post by me with more links below post

{Curaçao Airport on Coronation Day King Willem-Alexander}

On Tuesday, April 30 was the Coronation Day of the Dutch King Willem-Alexander. We were lucky for being still on the Island of Curaçao, for our family vacation of 10 days at the Santa Barbara Resort. Enjoying our tropical environment, together with daughter Liz and husband Hans, who flew in from The Netherlands to be with us for celebrating Pieter's Birthdays on April 23 and 29. THANK YOU SO MUCH for all the comments on Pieter's Birthday! It meant a lot to all of us and I will be back soon at your blogs.

• By the way, on April 23, Pieter turned 20, as a USA citizen!

• We could watch the Coronation ceremonies from our hotel room via Live TV stream of NOS Journaal; Dutch broadcasting. When we did arrive at 1:00 PM at the airport we were in for a Royal Treat in honor of King Willem-Alexander's Coronation Day.

• Cupcakes with an orange crown made for some great treats to all passengers willing to take one!

Image by Vogue on my Pinterest

King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima in her elegant royal blue gown by Dutch designer Jan Taminiau.

The Dutch have a new Queen of Fashion by the Argentine blonde, Máxima!

• Husband Pieter enjoyed it very much. He ate already an orange glazed Tompouce (Napoleon) pastry and now the cupcake goes down as sweet lunch food! Just click the link above for recipe and historical information...

• The colors of the Dutch flag: Red - White - Blue were shown as well as tiny flags on each cupcake.
• There were two flights going to Amsterdam but the one showing at gate 3 was not the one for Liz & Hans... 
• We got so lucky for arriving almost at the same time; only 15 minutes after KLM landed, we got there on our American Airlines flight for frequent flyer miles. Great service by that airline we must say!
• Our departure was also 20 minutes apart from each other. We departed from gate 4 and Liz & Hans from gate 1...

• Orange balloons on the floor; it looked very festive!

• Very nice presentation...

• At another table, ladies in orange shirts were offering the typical Dutch 'Bitter Ballen' from which I did taste one. Long ago that I had one, typically being served at weddings during reception and at parties.
• Customary these Bitter Balls were being served alongside Bitters such as Dutch Gin or in this case, Dutch Oranje Bitter (Orange Bitter). Click the above link for Dutch Beef Bitterballen recipe and info.

• Another Dutch treat are Poffertjes or Pancake Puffs.
• Click above link again, for recipe of Classic Poffertjes.

So that's why I have been missing several blog posts... We're back home since yesterday morning at 2:30 AM. It took us about as long as it took Liz & Hans for flying home to Amsterdam, The Netherlands. For us with a stop in Miami for going through immigration, re-check of luggage and on to Atlanta.

A very happy Daddy Pieter, who was feeling great for having gifted his girl this nice vacation, together with her husband.

Related articles:
Curaçao Airport | Find out more about this great tropical destination.
Willem-Alexander sworn in as king of the Netherlands after his mother abdicates | Dutch Caribbean Legal Portal
King Willem-Alexander will be inaugurated, not crowned | Dutch Caribbean Legal Portal
Maxima's parents will watch Dutch coronation on TV | Hello Magazine - Royalty
Queen Maxima gives nod to Dutch flag with cobalt blue gown | Hello Magazine - Royalty
Willem-Alexander Becomes New Dutch King After Queen Beatrix Abdicates The Throne (VIDEO, PHOTOS) | Huffington Post
Santa Barbara Beach & Golf Resort Curaçao | Where we were last year and again this year (formerly Hyatt)

{My 25th American Airlines AAdvantage Program Anniversary}

Like husband and partner Pieter, last year in February, I too reached another milestone; literally this time! For flying 25 years with American Airlines. They did send me a very nice recognition. If you click the link to the 25th anniversary for Pieter below, you find out more about our personal life as partner together.

Yep, I am also close to having my 70,000 frequent flyer miles together for another free flight to e.g. Curaçao for two! We have such excellent memories of our last trip; will post more about it soon.

Related link:
{25th Anniversary for Pieter with American Airlines!} | previous post by me

{25th Anniversary for Pieter with American Airlines!}

Pieter has reached another milestone; literally this time! For flying 25 years with American Airlines. They did send him a very nice recognition.

American Airlines launched the world's first frequent flyer program in 1981!
Visit American Airlines on Facebook: AAdvantage ← click it!
You should participate in their Mileage Junkie game for Dream Destinations, see below.

Pieter scored high; it is listed on his Facebook page. Tomorrow I have to try it too...

Pieter has traveled to more countries than I have. Only since 1989 when we worked always together as consultants, I accumulated lots of miles as well.

Let me cite some interesting writing from April 30, 1993 from our local newspaper, written by columnist Bo Whaley who was 'Uncle Bo' for me.

 He wrote about Pieter having become a New Citizen of the United States on Friday, April 23.

Uncle Bo injected a note written by me:

"So that's it. Last night I slept for the first time with an American! It feels great, just as I expected it to be."

 Can you guess how much my "Flying Dutchman" was up there flying all over the world in those 10 years since we came to America?
A total of 784,706 miles, or more than 31 times around the world.
Roughly this means 1,256 hours or 31 weeks. (Like being part-time divorced).
I often joined Pieter up there, though I started out too late and never caught up with him.
My score was "only" 338,221 miles, roughly 541 hours or 13½ weeks of "marriage" up there with him.
Now they cut back on my "wing" time, too, I join him on all flights.
And my favorite song is "I Will Follow Him Wherever He May Go."... just click to see André Rieu in Maastricht, the capital of my Province of birth perform.
Very true so far!