;Europe 1997 - France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium
This was a trip to reward Daina for graduating from college in only FOUR YEARS! (It took Dick15 years and Norma's still working on it!). Daina wanted a black dress from Paris, so the plans were made. Walt (who was now retired from the Navy) and Becky would fly MAC Standby to Europe a week ahead of Dick, Norma and Daina. That would give them plenty of time to hitch a ride and get a rental car and meet the Dawdy's when they arrived at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris. The flight on US Air was uneventful and marginally pleasant (it certainly did NOT compare to the service we experienced on TWA).
So we all met and headed off to Strasbourg France for our first night in Europe. It was the Christmas season and the Christmas Markets were in full swing. After a shower and a change of clothes we walked the two blocks to the market.
We had a wonderful breakfast in a small cafe in Strasbourg that was highlighted by Walt asking for some butter for his roll. His French obviously was not opening any doors so Daina finally had enough and used sign language to show them what we wanted. It was a hoot!
From there it was on to Oberammergau for a stay with Frau Rudhardt, Christmas Services and a wonderful Christmas meal at the Larchenhugel.
We stopped in Rothenburg, o.d.t., to stay at our favorite inn and explore the famed walled city again. Norma, Daina and Becky hit the famous Christmas store and Walt and Dick had a beer. Everyone stopped for a warm drink at a wonderful little cafe we had visited in 1994. We couldn't sit in our favorite little corner table because a couple were occupying it. We chatted and talked about Rothernburg and then the woman at the corner table, who had overheard some of our conversations, asked Daina what her name was. She replied, Daina and spelled it and the other girl shrieked....her name was also Daina, spelled exactly the same way. They hugged and laughed and talked about what an unusual name it was and then Daina Dawdy and Daina Dawkins what her middle name was, and when she replied "Marie" they both shrieked again. Two DMD's meeting in Germany, with the same exact first name and middle name - small world huh?
 
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