Day One and Two

Here are some pictures from our first couple of days here. I am not allowed to take pictures at work (without special permission via form, German-style) so there will probably only be picture spikes at the beginning of each week, after the weekend.

This one’s for Jamelle and Andrea (taken in the Düsseldorf airport). They do exist!!!! I never knew.


On Friday, our day was marked by such significant events as getting gelatos and visiting the Zitadelle, which you can see on this map. The Zitadelle is on the top right and the Hexenturm is the wall that (used to) surround the rest of Jülich. Jülich was actually the most heavily bombed city in WWII, and 99% of what was standing was destroyed. They thought about leaving the city as it was, as a monument to the war, but eventually built it up again (quite unattractively, at least 3 residents have already told me). So only one small section of the Hexenturm wall remains. I don’t actually have any good pictures of inside the Zitadelle, but they’ve converted it into a high school inside, which was very interesting (and a very interesting way of keeping your kids in school, as well).


Here’s Julie, Rehan, and Will, from right to left, in front of the Zitadelle. Julie very unobligingly turned away just as I was taking this photo.


The Zitadelle (citadel). Sorry, bad picture, I know.


On the night of our arrival they had fireworks to welcome us. Just kidding, these weren’t for us. What we got was much better.
Rehan convinced me to try taking pictures of them, and some of them actually turned out pretty well, somewhat to my surprise.


We were standing on the banks of the Rur River when this was taken. The fireworks took place in the park, but it cost 11 euros to get in, which was a bit steep for everyone just for a fireworks display.


Boom.


The grand finale – here I think you can see the river clearly.