Bad Windsheim spa and Doppeldecker flip

So Benedikt's Mum's sister and her family gave us an AMAZING wedding present - a full day at a spa. And not just any spa - Bad Windsheim, which is a town 30mins away from Benedikt's parents, has this fantastic thermal spa centre which has EVERYTHING! From saunas and steam baths, to massages and body wraps, to salt seas indoor and out, to jacuzzies to hot pools and cold plunge pools.... you name it! It was Huge. And all in PRISTINE condition with amazing decor. We were truly SPOILT. So thank you Margit and Gerhard!
Our first treatment was a 'Rasul'. Benedikt and I went into a tiled room and smeared volcanic mud all over our bodies and green goo on our faces. We sat and relaxed while the warm room steamed away. Our skin felt so smooth afterwards. Next up was a back massage which was fantastic, with divine oils. The 3 of us went for a lovely healthy lunch after that, sommer in our bathrobes.
In the afternoon we had a full on facial - the girls were ruthless with their squeezing and cleaning! Benedikt and I had exactly the same treatment although Benedikt didn't have his eyebrows plucked. Which by the way, was the most thorough plucking I've ever had - there's that german efficiency again. The girl who did my facial told me I have sun damage and that my skin is very dry. Great! Ever since having Nicolas I have these pigmentation marks on my cheeks which are horrible. Having bloody babies ruins your body! I enjoyed the facial the most out of the treatments, I think mainly because I knew I needed it. Lastly Benedikt and I had a Kaiserbad together. It was a beautiful room with a massive brass(?) jacuzzi bath filled with salts and oils. We were given Champagne and chocolates and half an hours privacy. So divine to sit and relax like that at the end of such an indulgent day.
The one part that did scare me was the NAKED sauna area. Wow, germans are not skaam! There was this whole area which included different temperature/flavour saunas, plunge pools, foot spas, a juice bar and steam baths. And everyone just walks around kaalgat its amazing. And they just sat by the pool with their beer reading the paper in the nick! I was horrified. It was a push to get me to go into the saunas with just my towel! Benedikt and I sat in this cool ultra violet light capsule thingie for 20mins or so, and it had one way glass. So it was like a bad movie going on in front of us. One old lady with her hang tiet and bush proceeded to dry her back etc with her legs wide open in front of our booth!! We couldnt stop laughing!
So ja, I've had enough sausage street for a while thanks.




THEN, our next uber cool wedding present was a flip in a Doppeldecker! Thomas, Nina's husband, has this friend who is a very experienced pilot. He re-built this old plane and now flies it for fun. He doesnt do tourist flips as his business, he took time out of his busy schedule for us. Such a cool, thoughtful and fun present from Nina and Thomas, we'd been looking forward to it for ages. SO THANKS GUYS!!

10 days in Germany

So we arrived in Germany a few days before our tour de france trip, mainly so that Nicolas could get used to his Omi and Opa before we deserted him for a week. But also to get some admin done.

Benedikt had had a dodgy knee for some months and I've had a gammy ankle for YEARS so we decided to take advantage of german efficiency and we both went for MRI's on our respective appendages. We went to a doctor in Würzburg, an hour away. My appointment was completely unsatisfactory as the doctor could barely speak english! After he'd looked at my scan he palmed me off to his assistant who went on google in an attempt to translate the results. Basically she told me I have abrasions on the bone, liquid in the joint and bruising in the area. But I couldnt really trust google translator could I?! Plus I got no info on the injury: why is like that? What is the prognosis? Can I fix it? Will running damage it further? Will it ever get better? etc etc!! Instead I was allocated a very expensive ankle guard and had my feet impression taken for some inner soles.
Benedikt on the other hand had a really meaningful discussion with the same doctor who explained everything in great detail! Benedikt then had to go for a few physio sessions and 5 injections over a certain period of time.
Anyway, I have my MRI on CD so will get it assessed by my future sister in law doctor! Plus my Vet brother in law :)
One good thing about the whole palava was that I had to find my way around the city on my own and speak german to all sorts of people when picking up the inner soles and having them fitted, which was a good exercise. (I used the GPS to walk from A to B like a moron!) But it all gave me a lot more confidence in speaking to these germs and after which I did it a great deal more. Eg going in to a chemist and explaining 'Mein hals tut weh!'

Nicolas had a really good holiday I think. He was so comfortable in his grandparents house by the end that he would run around screaming with delight... especially seeing as he was surrounded by 5 doting adults all the time! He slept through the nights most nights, and his sleeping routine during the day was bit upside down but it worked out well in the end. He ate like a king of course, trying new foods and enjoying Irene's menu. He especially loved his fruit smoothies that he got every day at 5pm, so I've kept that habit up. And he loved all bread that he was fed!

So the week that we spent in Uffenhiem after the TDF seemed to race by. On the Monday we went into Würzburg again for Benedikt to have a knee injection. Then we went for a quick ride, then had the Grannies and family around for nicolas's second birthday celebration. On the Tuesday we went to Munich which is a 4 hour drive in total. And we stopped off at the Adidas factory store on the way home - a compulsory port of call on all of our German trips! Munich shopping was AMAZING! So many cool stores in the beautiful cobbled shopping areas... and SO many people and it was the middle of the week? We got some lovely clothes for ourselves and for Nicolas. On the Wednesday we went for a long ride, it was over 100kms and had tons of climbing in it. That week was my first time riding in Germany and I LOVED it. The roads are just amazing - good condition, no potholes, perfectly painted and wide corners etc... and so well sign posted you could NEVER get lost. And all the little villages you pass are just so pretty. We didn't have to rush off early to beat the traffic either, no matter what time of day we went there was hardly any traffic and the cars or trucks we did come across were SO considerate. I also LOVED all the forests we passed. I always tell Benedikt I dont mind where we live next, as long as there is a forest or 2 nearby I will be happy. And so will the dogs.
On the Thursday we spent the day at a SPA!! How divine. More on that in my next blog. On the friday we went to Würzburg again, and on the way back we went past Media Markt for gadgets, a massive baby shop for a buggy for Nico and Ikea for black out blinds and other odds and ends. Benedikt and I then went for our last ride on decent roads for a LONG time, then Benedikt, Nina and the 2 babas and I went to go and see the grannies one last time.
And on the Saturday we also did something very special...then it was home time. Another amazing trip filled with shopping and running around and lovely meals and nonsense weather!

So the 2 cousins spent a lot of time together which was very special.

Nicolas's first birthday

We celebrated Nico's first birthday while we were in Germany which was great for his Omi and Opa and Aunty Nina. Philip (Benedikt's best man) and Tina came round with their gorgeous little boys - Sebastian and Johannes. And Another good friend of Benedikts, Florian came too with his lovely wife Sandra and their uber cute little boy - Dominic. Benedikts sister, Nina, was also there as I said, and her husband, Thomas, and Nicolas's Great Aunty Ingrid and Dieter too. And of course Omi and Opa. So it was a perfect amount of people. Benedikt's mom, who is the most efficient person ever, very kindly made him a birthday cake, plus prepared the meal and the house for everyone's visit. So lucky me, I just had to be there and enjoy it... Benedikt and I were even still out cycling when the first guests arrived!

So ja, Nicolas had a great time as you can see. He was spoilt too! But not as spoilt as he would have been if we'd had a full on kids party for him here in Nairobi. Which I'm glad about. Kids parties tend to be over the top here!