Our six weeks whirlwind visit back to Germany has come to an end tonight. We celebrated our time here by cooking dinner for Steph, Felix and some of their extended family.
But not before we did some last minute touring and buying today.
Firstly Steph, Mathilda and I head out to buy meat and fruit and veges for dinner. We have decided on devils on horseback (my version: dates stuffed with goats cheese, wrapped in speck and oven baked) as an entree then roast beef with gravy, mixed roast vegetables (potatoes, butternut and jap pumpkins, carrots, spanish onions) and zucchini. We will finish with the Persian Love Cake.
The local butcher did a fabulous job of trimming the silverside roast of every bit of sinew and fat. Just over 3 kgs should feed the 13 of us and maybe have a bit left over for Steph's freezer. And it did!
Started off with the cake and then thanks to Steph's two ovens put on the roast!
We had some lunch - flammkuchen made by Steph (dough with fried ham, eschallots mixed in to creme fraiche and spread over and baked - BIG yum). Cake is out and the syrup applied so we then decided to head into town for one last visit.
We had long looked at a church on the opposite ridge but had not yet had a chance to visit it. On quizzing Steph and Felix, they tell us that this the St Salvator Chapel site and that it is accessed by a not insignificant climb up the hill.
Michael heads off to explore while I wait below. This pilgrimage site is a traditional crossroads with sculptures and chapel houses with life-size figures leading up to the St.Salvator pilgrimage site. 
The church sanctuary, the St. Salvator Chapel, was built by the church builder Caspar Vogt after 1617. He built existing cave grottoes into a lower and upper chapel. All very dramatic Michael reports, but also very popular as I observe a number of groups exiting the route while I wait.
Michael also discovered a little carved man in his own little niche!
Back into the city proper. Past the 'Spongebob Squarepants' building - the Gold and Silver Forum that doesn't try to meld into the surrounding building types!
Over the past six weeks we have been past a Jewellery store very regularly. And for the better part of those six weeks, I have been admiring a particular necklace and debating with myself whether I (i) need it or (ii) want it enough to buy it.
Well, today I did!!
Went into Delta Schmuckgestaltung and asked to see it. The jeweller was on hand to tell me about it -including that it is two necklaces, not one. "Really", I said, "they look so good together". Her reply? "Yes - I thought so too when I put them in the window!" Martina Peter-Eckle has been a jeweller for more than 30 years and trained here in Schwäbisch Gmünd. The City has a history of gold and silver smithing for jewellery that dates back to medieval times. Martina is thrilled that some of her work is travelling home to Australia with us. She also gives us complimentary key-rings - a really lovely touch.
So a few euros poorer, but very happy with my double purchase, we leave to stock up on Hussell nougat to bring home. Sorry guys - they are out of the one I wanted - will try at the airport.
Back to Stephs about 4 pm and I adjust the roasting meat temp and prep the vegetables and get them into the other oven. Cake now cold enough to ice. Gravy made. All ready to go.
The family arrives just before 6 pm.
Felix's dad Dieter, Steph's aunt Olga and uncle Rudi, Steph's cousin Ulli, her husband Andy and their twins Mara and Anneka. We remember them as the 8 year old little girls we met last visit - they are now confident young women of 17!
Steph and Felix have done a great job of renovating an old home into a modern living space for an active family. It was lovely cooking in a very up-to-date kitchen too!
Tomorrow morning we will leave by 7:30 am to drive to Munich and board our Thai Airways flight home. Wonder how much an upgrade to Business might cost? Will ask in the morning.
A couple of long days ahead before we are home.
Hope you have enjoyed travelling with us!
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