Mini-OE to Germany–Day 11 and 12

Today for the first time we spend some time alone. We did some shopping and just walked around Wuppertal inner city. But we already had the next event planned which was just as in Karlsruhe, a meeting with friends. This time with Lilo’s friends. Since she moved away from Wuppertal quite a while ago there weren’t that many friends invited as at the previous meeting. But we still had a great time.

We met at the Wuppertaler Brauhaus, another pub brewery. This was actually one of the nicer places of Wuppertal but again hidden behind a faced which was so *abweisend*. This is so typical Wuppertal, you have to look for the nice corners and places. You have to put the ugly face aside and look behind it. Then you find beautiful places to sit and enjoy the company of good friends.

When we arrived there was already Thomas, a friend from the time Lilo was signing in the church choir. They haven’t seen each other for 30 years. When Thomas told us he has to attend his daughter’s 22nd birthday later on I was again baffled. He looked no more than 40 to me. After a while we were joined by Baerbel and Peter. Baerbel worked with Lilo at *Steilmann moden*. I knew them from earlier meetings and they haven’t changed a bit. We were soon engaged in laughing and telling stories from old times. The last ne to join us was Karin, who is a nurse and had to work long hours. She is such a warm person and I enjoyed her company very much.

The Wuppertaler Brauhaus is an old indoor swimming pool which was converted into a pub and brewery where there is also room for events and concerts.

The men’s toilets in the Brauhaus

On Sunday Lilo has booked a Zumba class with a Columbian trainer. The idea was to meet with her sister Heike and her two nieces Melanie and Caroline. But as so often, plans are good but reality has her own ideas. That’s why reality is female, or isn’t it? Her niece Caroline slept in. She has a new boyfriend and she said she went to bed at 5 am. I did not ask any further questions. And her niece Melanie didn’t know about the Zumba. It was Caroline’s job to tell her and she forgot. Maybe she is only thinking about the new boyfriend.

Lilo’s sister Heike is a sad story. She worked for a supermarket chain which is known for their poor human resources policies. The supermarkets are bankrupt meanwhile. But some months ago Heike was robbed at gun point. It was actually the second time. I heard that because the company saved money wherever they can that the shops were manned often by ne person. This makes it an easy target for robberies. Heike didn’t get any counselling and so she suffered form post traumatic stress symptom. I don’t want to g into details but she ended up in a mental health clinic and still isn’t ok. Sadly she is pushing away anyone who wants to help her. Only her daughter Caroline seems to be close with her.

After Zumba we spent some time with the girls at Lilo’s Dad’s place. We had some coffee and cake, all very traditional German. Melanie just recently gave birth to Jerome and her husband was with us as well.

If the Germans sell you lemons they show you lemons. Honesty till the end.