We travel north to Kiel to reunite with our dear Tabea, who we haven't seen since our last trip to Germany in 2011. Ben was Tabea's American driver's training instructor when she visited us for a month in 2009. Tabea will show us the artsy side of Kiel over our weekend visit.
After French pastries and coffee at her stylish new apartment.
Tabea introduces us to her accordion (color coordinated to her dress)!
Nico has taught her a simple tune which she plays for us quite well.
Ben gamely gives it a try. We get a nice little video of both of them to share with Tabea's dad Ulrich who we will see in Stuttgart.
Next stop is the "Pop Shop" opening - a new venture that a group of Tabea's friends have been working hard to create. Formerly a curry wurst shop, the building was in dreary condition on a charmless street in Kiel's small red-light district. The intrepid group performed a small miracle to turn it into a trendy gathering spot. They plan to sell comics and host art showings. They "wallpapered" the exterior with a graphic print of the historic face of the building, using standard 9X13 computer paper print-outs.
For now one can buy drinks and a few novelties, like these cleverly packaged condoms.
Next morning we meet Tabea and her outgoing friend Gazi at the Bike Coffee Bar at Farmers Market.
Beautiful cappuccino in a festive spot. We were glad to meet Gazi again after being introduced at the Pop Shop. He was an exchange student in Marin County years ago, and a delightful conversationalist. Gazi also shares office space with Tabea's start up company.
More pastries from Tabea's favorite neighborhood bakery, and more coffee back at her place.
We want to see Tabea's favorite places, so she takes us to her office space, which is in her art school's former buildings. She and her two partners love being part of this elclectic community of artsy start-ups.
Their office has its own garden area which Tabea says offers both inspiration and distraction. We see Gazi again helping a volunteer work crew set bricks for a new courtyard. The collective is teeming with activity.
A walk through Tabea's university lets us see some student constructions.
Tabea and I have a date to make her very favorite American sweet - good old chocolate chip cookies. It is a challenge because we only have the German equivalent of baking powder not soda. Most Germans don't make cookies at home like we do (except at Christmas).
Sunday we board a ferry to visit beachy Laboe. It's a pretty, popular area with delicious fish and chips.
Back in Kiel,we finally get to watch Tabea practice vaulting. This sport combines gymnastics and horseback riding. Tabea's been a vaulter since childhood, with her Mom as coach. She practices this demanding sport 3 times a week, but their team horse, Jack, is sidelined with a hoof injury.
Her team is practicing on the wood horse for now. That's Tabea in the pink tights.
on galloping horseback!
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