How about a Germany Gathering July 8-9

[Hollycrand]

I have only gotten feedback from one person concerning the BIO farm. She, however, reminded me that July 8-9 is the weekend of World Cup final, so perhaps some dh's will be reluctant to come?
My dh isn't a big fan (unless France happens to be in the final).
What about the BIO farm idea?
Should we do it? Or should we scrap it and try for something else?
It won't be much of a gathering if there will only be two families...

Waiting for responses,
Holly

[Plaid Leopard]

Sorry I didn't respond sooner - been under the weather, and just feeling lazy.

As far as I know that weekend is ok for us. Actually any weekend is fine!

While I like the Bio-Farm idea, it would be a little pricy for us, even if Dh doesn't come (which he probably won't), what with the train and the lodging and food etc.

I don't want to be difficult though.

[Hollycrand]

Yes, I'm still trying to find something a bit 'easier' on the budget - something that can accomodate everyone (camping and indoor sleeping arrangements) and also have a grill or public 'cooking' place where we could grill/cook together and perhaps bring our own food/share food.
It's a hard task. So much easier to do it at someone's house.

[Plaid Leopard]

In Leipzig there was a "campsite" - ok, it was a big open field with places for caravans and tents. There were also little huts, with bunks for sleeping, cabins with bathroom, a toilet and shower building, a kitchen, a restaurant, a playground - across from a lake (not for swimming) with a little train, and with easy bus and tram access to the city. It wasn't too expensive as I recall.

I know Leipzig is not exactly central, but maybe there are other places like that somewhere else. Of course, I was planning a trip to Leipzig this summer anyway so I wouldn' mind going there...

I could host at my house - although I should probably ask DH before making that offer. We really only have room to put up one family though if peopoe were to spend the night. There is a family that rents rooms around the corner, and a very nice youth hostel not too far away, and of course hotels.

[Plaid Leopard]

I forgot to mention that I have an American friend here who is interested in coming also. So that makes 3 families....

[wurzelkind]

I'd like to come as well! We are about 40km southwest of Munich, at the Ammersee. Kloster Andechs is just around the corner in case you've heard of it or been to.

As I will be about 30-32weeks preggers then I surely appreciate not having to drive anywhere for a long time :lol be it on my own by car or train or w/dh. So where is this Bio-Hotel, Holly?
Another thing that just crossed my mind is that we have a nice Family Center here in Herrsching that I vistit a lot and I don't think that it would be a problem converting it into a 'hostel' for a weekend. Big garden and kitchen to use, two other rooms to sleep in (on the floor, in sleeping bags) but unfortunately no shower!! Then there is a small camping site and a 'Begegnungsstätte' (similar to a youth hostel but disabled people/groups come are also very welcome there.) Herrsching is right at the Ammersee, there are ferries crossing the lake serveral times a day, Kloster Andechs, Munich.... And surely *no* World Cup, unless Munich host the final which I am not sure about but could find out.
Just have a look here, Holly: www.herrsching.de or www.muenchen.de and www.ammersee.de and www.diessen.net and www.andechs.de

You can always contact me via PM or email: dvfoerderreuther@web.de

[Hollycrand]

wurzelkind,

Your suggestions sound really great. I am not too far away from Munich so don't have a problem with any of the places you've suggested.

Those of you elsewhere in Germany...what do you think? Is Bavaria going to be too far away?
The BIO farm I've suggested isn't too far away from Frankfurt, in Hessen. I chose something in Hessen because I felt it was more centrally located. Here in BW and of course in Bavaria there are countless places to do bungalow/hostel/camping but they are more located at Lake Constance, next to the Alps or in the Black Forest.
But I am really up in the air as to where to go. I haven't gotten much sleep lately, and with the weather changes I have some pretty heavy migraines. So I'm going to wait to see what input the others have for a gathering this summer as I have no energy to think about this right now.

As far as I know Berlin will be hosting the World Cup final?

[Marijke Rose]

I'm in Northrhine Westfalia, and would prefere to meet in Hessen. We have a friend in Frankfurt, so that might make it easier to convince my husband to go over there, and it's closer than Munich.

Still not sure if we can go.. I completely forgot about it and, therefore, haven't even mentioned it to my husband. I'm sure that if it doesn't fall on some politically important event (he's politically active) and we can afford it, he would agree to it.

[SwissMama]

My husband and I are up for anywhere :p and I think the July weekend is good for us. (i didnt tell him it was a world cup weekend though :wink )

He says if any of the places you have in mind dont pan out, he knows a nice place in the Pfalz (i think thats somewhere up towards Frankfurt or Duesseldorf?). I dont think its a bio farm, its just a place with cabins that he says is good for kids AND camping is there as well and lots of trails. I hesitate to throw that out there though, because i dont want to be responsible if it sucks. :o

[Hollycrand]

Swiss Mama,

Does this place your dh knows have a website? It sounds like it could be good. I don't really care if the place sucks...it would be nice to just have a gathering and meet all of you in real life.

[Marijke Rose]

Pfalz, or Rheinland-Pfalz is the state directly south of Nordrhein-Westfalen, where I live. Düsseldorf is in Nordrhein-Westfalen, and Frankfurt is in Hesse (which is directly south-east of Nordrhein-Westfalen).

On this map (http://www.uni-flensburg.de/sesam/images/map%20of%20germany.gif), Nordrhein-Westfalen is in green and Rheinland-Pfalz is the pink one right below it, whilst Hesse is the light brown/tan one to the south-east.


Hope that didn't upset anyone.. I wasn't implying anyone's dumb... just wanted to post exactly where those places are in case anyone is not sure. (I didn't know exactly where Rheinland-Pfalz was, actually.. I knew it was south of me, but I didn't know it was directly south.)

[Hollycrand]

So, what's the verdict? Where should we go for the gathering? Should we even have one? If not too many people are interested or tell me where we should go (out of what has been suggested so far) then I'm not going to spend any more time on it.

[Plaid Leopard]

I'm still interested. I can go anywhere. (helpful aren't I?) I bookmarked a couple of places, I'll dig up the links in a bit...

[babyblue107]

Sorry it took me so long to respond. My electricity wasn't working, as for this trip thing Frankfurt would be much easier for me. Bavaria is way to far for me. I would definately love to get togethor and July will be better for me because my baby still isn't here and won't be till the end of May.



:belly with first :boybaby: and will have a :aqua: in May!!!! :nocirc2

[Plaid Leopard]

http://bio.de/biohofurlaub.php?m=d1&o=&hid=DE-67705-HOR&f_1115=rp

http://bio.de/biohofurlaub.php

http://www.urlaub-anbieter.com/urlaub-babyurlaub-urlaub-mit-baby-kassel-waldeck-edersee.htm

http://www.urlaub-anbieter.com/Bauernhof-Ritz.htm

[Hollycrand]

PL,

I took a look at the links you sent. This one below looks really interesting (it's in the right area too), but on the website, it says that they are full until the end of October 2006.

http://www.urlaub-anbieter.com/urlau...ck-edersee.htm

This one may be possible, but we need to check if they'd have enough accomodation for 4-5 families.
http://bio.de/biohofurlaub.php?m=d1&...-HOR&f_1115=rp
Should I call and ask?

[Plaid Leopard]

PL,



This one may be possible, but we need to check if they'd have enough accomodation for 4-5 families.
http://bio.de/biohofurlaub.php?m=d1&...-HOR&f_1115=rp
Should I call and ask?

Sure, if you have a moment.

[Vicitoria]

I think we are out of this excursion. Things are a little crazy here and we will have been back from the states for only a few weeks. I hope you all have a great time!

[Hollycrand]

Vicitoria,

Sorry to hear you won't be there. Hope things calm down for you soon.

PL,

I contacted the place, but need to try again Monday. I'm kind of giving up hope that we'll find a place to meet. We're all sick here with bad colds (even the little one) and I have no energy.

[JustJamie]

I know it's a little late, considering this arranged gathering was/is supposed to occur this weekend, but I live about 45 minutes from Frankfurt, and if the gathering is occurring anywhere near there, I'd love to pop in.

Is it still happening? Where?

[Hollycrand]

I don't think it's happening.

[Marijke Rose]

I won't be able to go (even though it looks like the thing is generally not working out). My husband was up for it, but our finances and schedule are not. Maybe if there is another meeting another time.