May 2 -- Helmut's cousin Ursula - met us at the Duesseldorf airport. Extended a very warm welcome to us and provided lodging in her suite for us during the time that we spent in D. She was one of the few relatives that has been to Canada & I had met previously.

We settled our things in her bedroom which she had fixed up to accommedate us. It is only a room for one person but she had placed a single roll-a-way type bed in it so that each of us had a bed. (she planned to sleep in the living room.)

Then she gave us a walking tour of her neighborhood. It is an area that has been built up since the early 1950's so there are very few old old buildings. The terrain is hilly but not real steep - plenty of a challenge for a flat prairie walker. One really has to pay attention to where you are going in order to get back home because the street system is not on a square grid. Helmut had printed from the computer very detailed maps of the areas where the cousins live - so he kept this always handy so that he wouldn't get too much lost.

Supper is tradionally eaten between 7:30 pm. and 9 pm. Lots of people have tea time about 4:30 pm when they will serve cake or other sweets and tea & coffee.

Cousin Renate & her husband Wilfrid live on the same street as Ursula, just about a 3 minute walk. She had invited us and U. for supper. Her welcome was so warm and made me feel right at home immediately. she struggles more with English than Ursula does. Despite communications problems for me we had a lovely visit. Helmut speaks very good German still and it was commented on by many people that we met. Plans were laid for the next few days.

Ursula is going for a reunion of the retirees of the company that she worked for and it will be an overnight affair from Thurs. to Fri. Renate is available to be our tour guide into the city of Duesseldorf on Thurs. At first she wanted us to take the S-bahn (fast train) but Helmut wants to drive. We will pick her up in the morning at about 10. She volunteers at the local school and has to do something there before wwe can leave.

We returned to Ursula's so that all of us could get a good nights sleep in prepration for a busy day ahead.

Both Renate & Wilfrid are retired teachers so have many things in common with Helmut. R. does volunteer work now and W. is tutoring students in his home.