HR | Photoblog

July 9th, 2007 was a very special day: our wedding day! First, Petra headed together with Annette to the hairstylist, while Harald still had some time to relax at the hotel. Then, at 9 o’clock Jürgen drove Harald in his festively decorated, fire-red car from the hotel to Haus Kupferhammer in Warstein. Petra followed with Annette. When we arrived the first friends welcomed us heartily, some of which Harald had not seen since he had relocated to the US. The latest newborns were also there: Peter with Lukas, Kati and Bernd with Julia and Juliane and Ralf with Marit.

After the greetings and the official press photos we were guided to the main room in Haus Kupferhammer, where registrar Mrs. Mueller performed the wedding ceremony. The groomsman was Jürgen and the maid of honor was Annette. Jürgen brought the wedding rings, and both signed the marriage certificate. This was the most beautiful moment, that we will remember for a long time. The occasion, family and friends, the festively environment: everything was perfect!

After the ceremony we were heartily welcomed outside of Haus Kupferhammer on this sunny day with blue skies. Lars and Finn waved German and American flags. Sarah, Miriam and Philip held a band with heart-shaped ballons, that we were allowed to pass for a small “fee”. Ute and Markus offered us a glass of champagne for a toast, before more family members, friends and acquaintances chimed in to congratulate us. Some people showed up surprisingly and did not fear the long trip to Warstein in the Sauerland. That was one happy surprise. Thanks!

Bernd, Ralf and Peter had painted a red heart with our names on linen, that we had to cut out and climb through. Petra was much better using the scissors - she must have had the better pair of scissors. After the group photo we drove in a convoy through the city of Warstein towards the Hennesee - back to the Welcome Hotel Meschede/Hennesee. During the drive our Italian friends - Roberta, Fausto and Daniele - demonstrated how to professionally honk the horn.

When we arrived at the destination we were welcomed in the Kaminzimmer of the hotel and restaurant with a glass of sparkling wine, which we enjoyed with our guests and lots of sunshine on the adjacent patio. The wedding menu made of seasonal produce was put together especially for this occasion and was simply delicous! During the lunch several speeches were given. First we welcomed our guests from near and far (Germany, Denmark, Italy and the US). Heribert, the father of the groom, gave us newlyweds the advise to treat each other with respect in our marriage. Annette cited German poet Oskar von Redwitz and continued with how she had met Petra and how they have become very close fiends over the years.

After lunch many guests took the opportunity to take a stroll on the shores of the nearby Hennesee. Philip, Sarah and Miriam played outside and collected diligently snails. In the afternoon traditionally German coffee and cake followed. We cut the heart-shaped wedding cake made at the Königsmünster abbey and served the pieces to our guests. We also had tasty self-baked cakes, among others a Frankfurt crown cake, as well as a Black Forest cake and a Dutch cherry gateau.

Close to evening the time arrived to say goodbye, and our guests prepared to travel back home, some “equipped” with left-over cake.

Bernd and Moni (left in the picture with Roberta) took pictures during the entire festivities and captured this special day in pictures. Bernd spend a lot of effort to post-process the images, and among others converted them to a music-supported DVD. Bernd, we both are completely blown away by the DVD! You can find their images (and some more) in the photo gallery of our website. Please send us a short e-mail and we’ll reply to you with the username and password.

Finally we would like thank all of you so much for all the good wishes, flowers and gifts. We were especially pleased with all the cards we received by mail - lovely created and sprinkled with citations from wise poets. You made the 9th of June 2007 an unforgettable day!

Petra & Harald Remmert

Also known as La Grande Boucle, the Tour de France is the most famous and prestigious road bicycle race in the world. It has been taken place annually since 1903, interrupted only by World War I and World War II, over the course of three weeks each July. We happened to be in the area (Freiburg, Germany) during that time last year and took the opportunity to see the Tour live. We have not been disappointed!

What you don’t see on TV is the carnival-like atmosphere in the hours before the riders pass. Any amateur cyclist is free to attempt the course on his bicycle in the morning. After that begins a parade of advertising vehicles blaring music and tossing hats, souvenirs, sweets and free samples of all sorts. As word passes that the riders are approaching, the fans begin to encroach on the road until they are often just an arm’s length from the riders.

The 2005 Tour de France was also the last race that seven-time winner Lance Armstrong participated in and won. You can see Lance and his Discovery Channel bicycle team on some of the images in my gallery.

In honor of my friends from Logroño (La Rioja, Spain) who are visiting the Twin Cities this week, I put more pictures from my last trip to Spain online. If you ever thought your town is celebrating your local traditions wildly, think again and browse through the San Mateo photo album.

Every year the people of the La Rioja region celebrate their traditional “Vendimia Riojana”, the Rioja grape harvest, in honor of San Mateo. The firing of the “Chupinazo”, the big bang, from the balcony of the city council initiated the festival of Logroño and the Autonomy Community of La Rioja. When the rocket exploded at noon, the “Plaza del ayuntamiento” exploded with it in a atmosphere of uproar and diversion, strongly supported by the local youth with heavy artillery fire of flour, eggs, ketchup, cola and other sorts of aliments.