American breakfast

During the next days we all learn what that means. First thing every morning, we have to choose among four breakfast menus at the "Bob Evans" next door.

The »Bob Evans« restaurants look alike all over the place

. An opportunity to brush up our English: Soon everybody is familiar with "sausage links" and "homefries" or knows the difference between "scrambled eggs" and "fried eggs".

Start on our first excursion

The sky is clear and the sun is shining: that will be "our" weather for the rest of the trip.

Group picture. All awake? Some were disturbed by the air-conditioning, but we have not come here for sleeping, anyway

Sunday Service at Northlawn United Methodist Church

Today, Stan and Betty Finkbeiner take care of us. Most of us know them from the reunion back in 1995. Stan had organized that trip for the American Finkbeiners. Now he takes us to the church where he spent his last four years as reverend, before he retired about a year ago.

Northlawn United Methodist Church. Northern United Methodist Church from the inside

The members of his former community give him a warm welcome. During service, Stan's successor expressly salutes the German guests.

Lunch at the Old Country Buffet

What an astounding eating-place! It's far too soon after the "full American breakfast" for us to be hungry again. But who can resist these temptations! So we help ourselves - once or twice or several times - at the enticingly arranged buffets. There is no alcohol, however, no more than at so many other places that we'll visit.

Gerald R. Ford Museum, Grand Rapids

Gerald R. Ford was president of the United States from 1974 to 1976. He is the most famous son of Grand Rapids. He followed Richard Nixon in the presidency after the latter had to resign because of the Watergate affair. He ended the Vietnam war. The Bicentennial fell into his term. In the same year 1976 he lost the election to Jimmy Carter. A highlight of the museum is a reproduction of the "Oval Office" in the White House: sound and light effects let you experience a typical day in the center of American political power. Since some years there is a genuine piece of Germany in front of the building: a citizen of Grand Rapids has presented the museum with a concrete slab from the Berlin Wall.

Frederik Meijer Gardens

The botanical garden has been open to the public since April, 1995, only. It is also an exhibition park for sculptures. We visit it in two groups.

Dinner at the Grand Rapids Brewery

Before leaving us for the day Stan has this brilliant idea. They don't brew beer any more at the "Grand Rapids Brewery", but they serve many varieties, some in glasses half a yard high that have to be supported in wooden stands. The food is rustic or exotic - as you like it.

Inside the restaurant. The first evening together

We are in high spirits, some start to sing. Four stand out as especially good singers. Gretel and Gretel and Manfred and Heiner are members of the same glee club. Here they are an excellent quartet who will stand us in good stead.