DAY 39 - 42: Cleveland

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Cleveland was all about family. I have been researching my family history for the better part of 18 years and due to a message left on a genealogy site many years ago, I have made contact with a long lost cousin of my fathers, her 3 daughters and their families that I did not even knew existed. I have to admit I was a bit nervous meeting them all but there was no reason to be worried at all. They are wonderful and warm and loving and were very welcoming. 

Mikki and Corrine at the Cleveland sign

Friday night I was invited to dinner at Corinne's to meet her husband and children. 

Saturday I met everybody else at a lunch at Tante Ingrid's home. They brought out the old photo albums and we talked and talked and then talked some more.

Sunday we all went on a Lolly the Trolley tour of Cleveland and then we had lunch at a German Beerhall. Tante Ingrid joined us and she is absolutely amazing. I cannot believe she is still so sprightly at 93!! The food was great (German sausages, mash and sauerdkraut), the beer was refreshing (given how hot the day was) and the music as typical German music that brought back so many memories. And of course the company was what made it very special.

Tante Ingrid, my dad's cousin

The German Beer Hall

Monday Corinne, Mikki and their husbands took me to Amish country. That was very interesting. The Amish  and Mennonites are exactly as they are portrayed, with their horse buggies and woodwork, arts and crafts. The men with their straw hats, pudding bowl haircuts, suspenders and beards. The women with their long cotton dresses, bonnets and clear complexions. Lunch here was also very nice.

Andy and Mikki, Corinne and Chuck

With my two new cuzzies

The Amish originated in Switzerland

Ploughing with horses

The biggest horse I have ever seen
 
Corinne sending a cone with goat food up to the goats on the roof of the petting zoo

And here the cone comes....

Meeting my "new" family was a wonderful experience and I am so glad I got the opportunity to get to know them. I cannot wait for them to come visit me.

Chuck is sending me more family photos that I will add.









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