Dogs

Dogs in Germany."...   Nearly everyone has a dog, and they are very, very obedient, just like their children....Eager and happy kids.

More in Munich

Munich

The Munich Rathskeller...the Hoftsbrau..We stayed for four, YES, 4 hours, meeting people from around the globe.   I, Karla, had an Alcohol free beer..YES..!!!

Hotel . . . .

The hotel in ILlertissen has a fabulous breakfast.

Dinner with Helga and Sepp....They were fantastic hosts!!!

Sailing away....l

Q

Cousins...Helga and Josef

They call their sailboat, Sega, for their names...Sepp, and Helga.  Sepp is short for Josef!!!

Sailing

We are going sailing.......,

After a nap

We got to see grandpa Herbie's church......".

This afternoon

Cousins in Illertissen

Helga and Josef

Helga and Josef are awesome tour guides.  They made everything as easy as pie.  Check out the STEINLE grave. Josef waters it daily., when he and Helga are home.

On Tour

Our cousins ​​are kind to everyone! They approach people in the friendliest manner, and will knock on a door to ask for directions. They love dogs, so stop as Josef can say hello and pet any pets we encounter. Imagine, then, the heartfelt welcome for newly found cousins ​​from USA We are feeling overwhelmed, honored, and loved.

We arrived sweaty, safe, secure in the care of Josef u Helga

Coffee, excitement, Karla's adrenaline, and the phenomenal help of co-travelers got us to Ulm happy. We received a call on the cellphone from Josef u Helga saying they would pick us up in Ulm instead of Illertissen and drive us there. Yay! Cousin Helga tells a fascinating story to the relatives about expecting and then connecting with us outside of the train station, each of us on our Handies and me saying, "I see you!"

Air Berlin: what a find

Karla and Teri's Prep. Tip #1

Enjoy the terrific advice of your world- traveler friends. Mom knew to invite Karla ' s best friend, Meg Montaperto, over for coffee. Waiting for the limo is so much more fun this way!

In Transit

Meet pre-fight at Camp Gram for fuel and fun. Learn how to say "We are having a party" in German; "Wir haben einen Freier."

What a wonderful time visiting with cousin Kathleen Baker and her awesome 3 1/2 year old, Jack, in town from CA to see her parents, Ken and Anna, who we totally enjoyed seeing. (Jack looks a lot like Anna now!) Tom Boone and Caroline (Yay!!!) were in town from Texas for a CT wedding, plus Caroline's cousins from Belgium (Fred, Nadine, and 2 gorgeous kids Roman And Lucy). Dave and Sue were also in the area, so pulled up on their motorcycle. Dear friend Suzanne joined us, too. We all love her!  Great impromptu party.

Karla and Teri's Prep. Tip #2

Pack prints of family pictures to share rather than counting on technology to do the job. When going through an old bin, you may actually discover pictures previously overlooked, like these of Grandpa Herbie and the homes he loved.

Karla and Teri's Prep. Tip #3

Karla and Teri's Prep. Tip #4

Place in the handbag with essentials like passport (Reisepass) THE journal started by Nana; continued by Mom and Karla; to be continued shortly by us!  

Where is Illertissen?

We are flying (by Flug) to Munich, then taking the train (Bahn) west.
Illertisssen is on the river Iller, a tributary of the Danube.

Prep. Tip #5

Practice like you would a soma cube to fit the Everything you must have for the trip, Use a plastic bin instead of that familiar suitcase so the dogs don't get depressed.

It feels like a lot of people are smiling down on us.

Grandpa Herbie with the ladies; i.e. Nana (Erika), twin sister Tante Elfriede, their mother Mutti (Lena Grosse Kuhnt), and younger sister Tante Ilse. The three sisters married men who had emigrated from different parts of Germany and became best buddies while in America. At a mixer, they met the lovely girls and paired off. After marrying, they lived near one another in homes gifted to them by their father's sister, Helen Suelen. They stood by each other for the rest of their lives. 

A dare gone wrong...

Grandpa Herbie, when he was a teenager, dared his brother to put his finger on the chopping block, for the wood he was splitting.  His brother took the dare and duly placed his index finger right on the chopping block........

Our grandfather stowed away on a ship that was leaving for America.  He felt so bad about cutting his own brother's finger off!

No one knew.....

Geneology

             This is Grandpa Herbie (Hubert Steinle), son of Sebastian Steinle.
                   He stowed away on a ship headed for NYC when he was 16.
                            Grammy got her phenomenal smile from him.            
               We hope to track down some family history while in Illertissen.

I CAN'T WAIT!!!

Teri and I are going July 20, 2015.

We're Going

Teri and I are going to Illertissen, Germany to meet Josef Steinle and his wife, Helga.  Teri found them on Genealogy research!  Our maternal grandfather, Herbie Steinle, lived in exactly the same house!!!   Teri E-mailed Josef, and, sure enough, our mother had the same grandparents as Josef...!

Hello people!!