A Lovely Day for a Parade

Today was our last day in the Mecklenburg-Vorpormern area as well as what was once East Germany. We have had some great experiences and learned quite a bit on our journey, and while the trip seems like it is flying by, the trip's start feels like it was ages ago. Even so, today was a very amazing and relaxing day.

Today we hit the road to New Kaliss for a Thanksgiving festival. We arrived and hoofed our way to the main gathering area just in time to take in a wonderful parade. It had 120 entries from various farmers, farming groups and other organizations with trailers, or what we referred to as "floats", decorated elaborately with the crops of the region. They were also filled with a variety of, um, beverages. This was also an antique tractor lovers dream as I saw more old tractors of more makes and models than I could have fathomed existed pulling the floats, as well as modern tractors and a couple horses.

All of the McCloy's thoroughly enjoyed the day. We were able to witness something many, if any, other than us, experience when they come to Germany. It was truly an authentic German experience. One that I will not soon forget as we spent the day clapping for the floats, making a couple German friends, and gathering candy (sometimes even booze) tossed from the wagons.

After the parade was over we went and grabbed a bite to eat and then just wandered around and took in the experience and culture. The celebration continued with festivities through the day and a band to come play that night, but alas, it was time for us to head to Hamburg to catch a train to Munster. Our amazing host (a more positive person I have never met) Ralf, dropped us off at the station and we said our sad goodbyes as we hopped a very crowded train to Munster for a night and a day.

When we arrived in Munster, we met our new host Jorn, who guided us to the hotel and then took us out to dinner at a restaurant that was older than the USA. Oh, he also introduced us to German schnapps. Mmm, tasty. Afterwards, it was time for bed as we have a swine farm and slaughterhouse to tour in the morning.



Cheers,

Nick