Everybody got together on Tuesday, Oct. 3rd. Claire and Bette arrived there the day before, and had already familiarized themselves with the town. We went to a restaurant across the street from the hotel when we got hungry, and decided to wait for the late arrivals there. Goofy went back to the hotel twice to look for the chatters who were still missing until everyone was seated around two tables pushed together.

It was a whole lot more fun to talk offline than to chat online. It was also much louder, and more animated. No one had to type cute little smiley faces, or LOL. Instead we really "laughed out loud" and had a lively conversation going with voices, instead of fingers typing. Let me tell you something. It got LOUD that way. Thank goodness I had Advil on hand when I needed it.

Janko, one of our newer chatters, arrived from Munich, and joined us. He had to go back the same night, unfortunately. We strolled through the town after we ate until we landed at an outdoor cafe where we sat down for something to drink, and to decide what to do that evening.

Then a strange thing happened. An attractive woman approached the table, came up to me and asked if this was a group with a "Gabi from America". Thinking that this was a joke that one of them was trying to pull, I emphatically said "no". As she turned away in disappointment, Bette asked her who she was. Needless to say I felt like a really big fool when she said "Katze". She already told you all about the rest of it.

Würzburg liegt
am Main in Franken.
More photos.

That evening at dinner at Riemenschneiders we were all around one big table: Janko, Chris (Unikate), Bette, Manfred (Manwolz), Manuel, Gudrun (Katze), Claus (Flieger) and Rejane, Nilto, Goofy, Claire and myself. Ayse and Erdogan (her husband) did not join us, but opted to retire early.

I think eveyone knows by now that I hate having my picture taken. Well, all that changed in Würzburg. Camera flashes were going off left and right, as someone was forever taking pictures. I can hardly wait to get back and have my films developed, or to see Bette's report, which she is going to put together.

Claire's birthday was on Oct. 2, and Bette's on Oct. 5th. We celebrated with champagne (that Bette had brought) earlier that day in the hotel, as well as drinking a whole bottle of Ayse's homemade cherry liqueur, that she had brought all the way from Turkey. I am really surprised that no one complained about the "loud bunch" sitting in the hotel lobby. We were such a diverse group, and the only thing we all had in common is german.about.com chat and forum.

At the end of the evening Chris and Janko had to return home. Nilto had such a good time that he decided to spend the night, and was fortunate enough to get a room in the hotel.

I will write about day two next Monday, when my sister and her husband are at work. We even came up with a toast when we clinked glasses. Instead of saying "Prost" it was "Chat-Chat" for the remainder of our time together.

One more note before I quit posting for today. Everyone talked about their experiences in other chats, and we all agreed (again) that we here, at german.about.com, have the best! So, if any of you want to know what it's all about, come to Chat Room 1 any afternoon of the week about 4:00pm Eastern. Or join beginner's chat on Monday nights at 9:00pm Eastern. Be prepared to be greeted warmly by everyone there, and find out what fun it is to chat with people who are literally from all over the world.

Gabi
Manager: German Language Chat
Winner of the 5th Wooden Spoon Award

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My thanks to Ayse, Brigitte Dubiel, Gabi, Gudrun (Katze), Manuel and the other chat/forum members who provided photos and/or information for this feature. - HF

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