Honest, we have been so busy the last few days we have had no time to Blog. (Or we would have been blogging after two in the morning.) Our wonderful hosts in Flensburg have created a fantastic program for us. I feel like I can't describe it all and yet it is hard to know what to leave out. I guess one of the real highlights was the Nautical Simulator at the Maritime Center of the Flensburg University of Applied Sciences. This is used to train captains, pilots and other large ship officers. We climbed into a room that was like the bridge of a large freighter (They have 6 in all and split us into two groups on two ships.) It had controls and displays like a real ship and you looked at computer-generated screens that made it look like you were at sea. That had us take control and maneuver the ships into the harbor and locks, so you were steering and engaging the throttle. There were other moving ships to contend with, both large and small, and various other hazards. It started out calm and then conditions started to change with fresher seas, then dark clouds then bigger waves until suddenly these enormous waves were breaking over the ship and somehow, using the video display that made you feel that the ship was rolling and tossing in the sea - some people had to leave the room because they started to feel sea sick. Even though you knew it was only a simulation, you couldn't help feeling just a bit nervous. It was fantastic. I don't have the best picture of the rough sea now but you can get an idea and maybe we can post a better picture later. Later that day we have a great time bowling and eating pizza then the "kids" went out to a disco and the old team leader home for a quiet drink with his hosts and bed. Maren Weiße  joined us and it was great to see her. Yesterday we had a very interesting tour of Glücksburg Castle and ride over the border so we can say we were in Denmark. (The Danish hotdog with the traditional toppings was fabulous. Last night Eric and Ursula hosted a "Munich" dinner and evening and we stayed up until One AM drinking and singing. Franziska's husband Toby plays a mean piano, Erick played guitar, accordion, harmonica, and percussion. And Arthur blew us away with his hot guitar playing. What a great night. This morning Ich bin ein Schlafmütze (sleepyhead).

Ashley and I getting ready to chow down during our visit to Schleswig.

Eric took me to Schleswig for a great visit with my good friend Claus Nielsky.

A shower during our walk around the nature preserve at Holnis.

Ashley in front of Glücksburg Castle.

Agus and her host mother Maren in Denmark.

And now today we move on to Plön!!!!