Day 13-14 Travel, Bottendorf, Cologne, Kerkrade

Day 13 found us leaving early and heading out for a long bus ride.  But the destination was really something - Bottendorf.  A town of about 2000 in rural Germany turned out in force to hear us play.  They were enthusiastic and apprectiative.  They out on a huge party for us including a performance by their own brass band, an outstanding oom-pah band, specialty foods and of course probably the best bratwurst in the world.  What hospitality.

After our stop in Bottendorf, where we could have stayed for a week, we landed at the youth hostel in Wetzlar.  Again, our accomodations and food have surpassed all expectation!  We had a brief rehearsal in the morning, working on parade technique then loaded the bus for the historic town of Cologne.

One of the old cities, full of history, the cathedral of Cologne is one of the great buildings in Germany, and the students marvelled at it's sheer size.  After Cologne we loaded the busses and arrived in Kerkrade at Campus West.  Although we now have to share classrooms with cots, our accomodations and food is again proving to be outstanding.  Our first meal started with traditional Dutch vegetable soup, and concluded with mash potatoes, meat, corn, brussel sprouts, and yogurt for dessert!

We had a brief rehearsal out on a grass field for the first time in a long time, and after a few bumps and grinds we got into a good groove.  We have a few more rehearsals left to polish things up!  Tonight we also handed out the prizes for the amazing race, which was a lot of fun - it will be something to see the combined footage in a montage!!! Tomorrow is a big day... we head to Vimy Ridge and other important Canadian sites in Belgium and France.