Marcel Jansen

Right after work in the evening heading from Frankfurt Main to Norstemmen which lies just about 60km south from Hanover and inbetween of Hildesheim and Hameln. I was able to get a ride with Melanie and Stephan who picked me up at home.

On arrival in Norstemmen, were we've rent a vacation home which is located in one of the adjoining historical buildings belonging to a farm house, we join Elke, Imke and Hannes who already arived earlier that evening.

The vaction home "Hof Ruehmekorf" is located at the first floor and offers a three room apartment with a large living room in one of the bedrooms, two bathrooms and a large kitchen.

After having a big breakfast we visit the nearby castle Marienburg which is built from 1857 to 1867 by the architect Conrad Wilhelm Hase in a neo-gotic style. The castle itself was a birthday present from King Georg the 5th of Hannover to his wife Queen Marie of Hannover in 1857.

In the midday we drive to Hanover were in the evening the 15th international firework world championship is being held. This evening Germany is presenting its fireworks programm. As we arrive around 15.00h in Hanover we decide to do some shopping and find a nice restaurant in the old part of Hanover as the fireworks first starts at 22.00h.

After having dinner there still is time left until the fireworks start so we play some pool at Piccolis Roadhouse were this evening a promotion team of campari offers some fine drinks in return of a picture which they will place on their website.

After playing pool we head back to the "Herrengarten" where the fireworks will take place. Offcourse we arrive just in time. Elke and Hannes watch the fireworks from the inside of the Herrengarten. Imke, Melanie, Stephan and I watch the fireworks, which last for about 20 minutes, from the low budget ranks. (Outside of the Herrengarten, the Dutch way)


Back in our residence again we enjoy a cosy evening

   

On Sunday we visit the natural park Steinhuder Meer. Unfortunately the weather is kind of chilly today.

We visit a barn village (Scheunenviertel) and walk through the village Steinhude which is just as crowded as Volendam in the Netherlands. After warming up in a small coffe house (drinking hot chocolate with cream) Melanie and Stephan are heading back to our vacation residence. The rest of us make a walk tour through the moor where we even encounter a huge meat eating plant with the incredible size of a medium postage stamp.

After walking about two hours we also drive back to our residence.

After packing all our luggage in the car we drive to Hameln which is famous for its story about Pied Piper.

In the legend, Pied Piper promised to free the town of a plague of rats and mice for a fixed sum of money. The citizens of Hameln pledged to pay him his fee, so the visitor produced a pipe and began to play. Soon all the rats and mice came running out of the houses and gathered around the Pied Piper in a teeming mass. Once convinced that each and every one followed, he went out of the town straight into the River Weser where the vermin plunged after him and drowned.

After visiting this lovely town which is really worth while a visit we head back home to Frankfurt Main were we arrive around 20:00h.