Sky to Sea

As Fred and Greg have mentioned we are now in Emden - origonally settled in 800!!!

We have been fortunate enough to stay with amzing host families showing us the best parts of this town of only 52 000 residents. Even though this is a small town they deliver some amazing technology, industry, tourism and cluture.

Remmer Edzards is one of our hosts. He is a GM for the local Engery supply company in Emden. He has recenty been a key speaker at the earth summit in Rio De Janeiro - world climate conference. He was commended on Emden being a truly sustainable city.

we've been to the top of a 130 meter wind turbine on the coast two days ago (of which Kim and I climbed all the way down on a ladder!!!!)

Yesterday we walked from the german mainland to the Island of Bultrum through the "Watt Mud". This three hour tour was so interesting as this mud is full of orgamisms and history. Germanys northern sea coastal communities seem to have a reocurring theme of constantly having to maintain shipping channels because this mud fills the waterways and makes the coast impossible to reach. But though 100's of years of practice maintaining waterways is a fine art.

After this was can back and drove to remmers home town (Nueuharlingersiel) on the coat where some buildings still stand from late 1800's then had a wonderful meal at his sisters resturant.

Today we where lucky enough to have one of the rotarians take us on a sail boat tour out of Emden and over across to the Netherlands, where we had a little fun getting interrogated by the friendly police. They enjoyed a nice cup of kaffee with us! We have having the time of our lives seeing wonderful places, learning interesting aspects of germany and their government, history and people! AND I think we are learing some german!! ;)