Day 72-Mi día en Lübeck con madre

Today Ann-ca had to work one more time which was a little bit of a bummer, but her mom said she would spend the day with me!  She also wanted me to have the best experience I could, so she took me all around the city and paid for everything!  It was so sweet!  I also could not believe how much better her English has gotten over the few years; like we were actually able to have conversations!  First we started by having breakfast at Ann-ca's place.  Then we headed out to one of the famous church's where we got to see where a huge bell had fallen and cracked.  It is still just laying there, and it is cool to see how huge it is and how it just completely broke.  Then we headed over to another church that we got to go up to the very top and 

 look at across all of Lübeck!  It was such a beautiful view because we could see the water, other churches, the houses, and other buildings.  We saw another church as well where she went around and asked the guard to explain different stories and hidden things to her, so she told me some fun facts, especially like where there is a hidden mouse in some of the art work.  Afterward, we headed to the Holsten Gate, which was huge and beautiful and was used during a lot of the fighting that took place in Germany.


 Next, her mom and I went on a boat tour.  That felt so nice because we got to ride on the water and have a tour at the same time!  Afterwards, we headed back to the Niederegger factory, and I got a marizpan lattee and a piece of marizpan cake.  I could not believe how amazing they both were!  We sat for a little while and then her brother came and joined us.  He was absolutely hysterical!  His english was great as well.  He told me about this story of the only time he came to the United States.  He had been living in Mexico (so he speaks Spanish too) and he needed to leave for a

 few days to make sure that his visa and everything stayed okay.  When he got there, the patrol was awful to him.  He made fun of him, called him a nazi, would not let him go through, sent him to look for money without knowing where to go, and then sent police out looking for him.  The way he told the story was so funny!  I was so glad he came.  Then I looked around at the little market they had and we went to visit Ann-ca.
After a little, we went to Ann-ca's mom's house, and I began to write Ann-ca a little note of thanks and encouragement and to show her how much I love her!  Then Ann-ca showed up and we had a

big cook out with her family, grandparents, and some family friends.  Some of the friends were really great too and tried to include me.  The food was delicious as well.  Her grandparents could not speak any English but they were so sweet to me and bought me a book all about Lübeck and a mug full of marizpan candy.  Then we just spent a few hours talking.  I had a good time, but it was a little hard because they all talked in German and I could barely understand anything.  Occasionally I was able to understand something, but Ann-ca did not translate too much, which does make since that would get old for her.  It was fun, but we had talked about going to a club, but it actually was probably good because that's not something I need to do.  Anyway I started to freeze so they all made fun of me because I had so many blankets piled up on me.  I was getting so exhausted, so after a little while we headed home, hung out for a little and went to bed!