Kassel City and Wihemsthal

Today the 21st of May 2011 the beautiful Mrs Nicolay once again laid the dining table with different kinds of German breads , cheeses , corned meat and beautiful brewed coffee. It was a big German breakfast and we were getting so pampered because back home we just take 2 slices of bread and a cup of Nescafe. .David really enjoyed the breads. And today it was Mr Nicolay's turn to take us out for half the day. He drove us to Kassel City to visit The Markthalle....which opens on Thursdays , Fridays and Saturdays. What a clean market...the stalls were so well presented. Most of it sold pork as Germans love their pork..some sold vegetables..and yet others sold fresh flowers. Mel bought some fresh flowers for Mrs Nicolay..the perfect host. We were there for about an hour and later we made a short visit to the Salvation Army next door. Then we walked about Kassel City...with Mr Nicolay giving us a brief history of some of the places. He even pointed out a place where he first saw Hitler when he was about 7 years old. Then he took us to City Point Shopping Centre so we ladies could take a quick look around. And as we drove home...there was a bit of a traffic jam at one point...and Mr Nicolay being the practical man he is ....made a U turn on some beautiful grass patch...and headed the other way....so we could beat the jam....we had a good laugh all the way home.

The markets in Kassel

The vegetable stalls

One of the many pork stalls

David and me with Mr Helmut Nicolay

Mel with Mr Nicolay

Mel and me with a volunteer of Salvation Army

Mel and me in Kassel City



Then we went home and Mrs Nicolay had a big strawberry tart and coffee waiting for us. The tart was really very nice and rich...and we chatted for awhile..then it was Mrs Nicolay's turn to take us out for the afternoon. They are such a great couple..married for 53 years...David and I learnt a lot from them.

So we headed off to Wihemsthal Palace in Calden. Landgrave Wilhelm VIII, the founder of the Kassel art gallery, had the Wilhelmsthal palace and park built from 1743 onwards in rural surroundings as his summer residence, pleasure grounds and hunting lodge. Unfortunately, however, he died before the project was completed . Each year the palace and park form the backdrop for the official opening of the “North Hessian Cultural Summer“, a series of staged events which are launched with a concert and picnic in the park. The palace building is one of the region’s most important monuments and one of the most outstanding examples of the rococo period still in existence. The best-known artists of the 18th century were involved in its construction. It was awesome...the interior of the palace was so tastefully decorated and some of the pieces were about 200 years old...and the cost of upkeeping the place must be really expensive for the local councils. They had a room for everything...from dining to dancing . It was a one hour tour and it was so informative. We could not take photos inside but I did get some postcards for rememberance.

The Wilhemsthal Palace

The back of the palace

The grounds of the palace

Mel and one of the 'Cupid' figurines

We headed for home in the evening...Mrs Nicolay cooked us a typical German dinner of Bratwurst Sausages and Sourkrat Cabbage..it was yummy...and for dessert strawberry and cream which we had outside the house on the balcony in the cool German weather.... another beautiful relaxing day for The Nettos in Germany.

Strawberry and cream

The view from the home balcony

David tremendously enjoyed the company of Mr Nicolay