Berlin, Germany. Great family reunion

Reunion of the Dilthey/Michelsen family (cousins) : Tilo, Ulla,Alexander, Daniela – Dilthey, Chris, Kathleen, Jost, Anci Michelsen; and our dear friend Ulrike Einsenberg (Neuro Surgeon) and her family. Ulrike found this most interesting restaurant, and entertainment for the next day. Our firt was Lubitsch, dedicated to :


Ernst Lubitsch was a German American film director, producer, writer, and actor. His urbane comedies of manners gave him the reputation of being Hollywood’s most elegant and sophisticated director; as his prestige grew, his films were promoted as having “the Lubitsch touch”. Born January 29, 1892, Berlin, Germany

The next day, facing the cold brisk weather, we visited

The Berlin Zoological Garden (German: Zoologischer Garten Berlin) is the oldest and best-known zoo in Germany. Opened in 1844 it covers 35 hectares (86.5 acres) and is located in Berlin‘s Tiergarten. With about 1,380 different species and over 20,200 animals the zoo presents one of the most comprehensive collection of species in the world





Late afternoon came our big surprise organrised by our dear Ul
Salon music which was a popular music genre in Europe, this  concert by Douglas Vistel, a famous Cuban Cellist and a pianist, his German wife . (www.vistels.com). Each of us present could give him a request for a particular piece we wished to be played. Like Bach, Saint-Sens, Drovak…..

That evening it was already time to say good-bye, till next year we hope.

Another meal, another restaurant, more drinks to our “health”

Next destination : Prague, Czech Republic to Berlin, Germany by train!

Too soon, time came to say goodbye to that part of the family, and that country.  Belgian family returned to Belgium; 

Jost and I took a beautiful train ride from Prague to Berlin, along the Vltava and Elbe, I could hear Smetana’s: Ma Vlast and the flowing river of the Vltava. Then watching the castles, bridges and villages along the Elbe before reaching Berlin and meeting with Chris and Kathleen Michelsen who made their way from South of Germany; also Jost’s and Chris’ cousins : From Dusseldorf Tilo, Ulla and Alexander Dilthey, and from Berlin Daniela Dilthey. Organising dinner and a surprise outstanding, private concert : Ulrike Eisenberg that was joined in the reunion by her husband and daughter. Great company, great food…..more eating and drinking. Berlin’s street Christmas decoration were superb.

We visited the Zoo in below “0” Celcius. A colorful Mandrill and a sleepy Panda………just part of this beautiful zoo.

After two days we all went our ways. Some returning home in the same city, others to the other side of Germay. The Michelsen split either back to the USA or to Belgium (where we flew to spend Christmas with Anči’s family ).

Graduations – Michael Raiglot and Loic Vandenhende, my two grandsons.

Unfortunately Michael’s graduation was in October and we were not able to attend. He still gets our full recognition for a great accomplishment.

Loic’s graduation happen to be delayed to December and it gave us the opportunity to arrange trips to see families in three countries.

This year’s graduation at the ULB – Lawyer’s graduate decided to choose their mentor as Kofi Hanna and the speaches were all directed to the sadness of immigrants, very touching subject for us.

That same night Loic, his father Waldo, his sister Alexandra and his brother Maxime joined us in an Iranian restaurant. Fascinating food, great entertainment that Jost enjoyed (as per picture), excellent choice Loic.

Starting with our European trip in December 2018.

First Stop : Belgium

Arrival: December 13, settling in a beautiful apartment in Nivelles, Belgium, near my children and grand-children who live in Petit-Roeulx-Lez-Nivelles. That first night Ralph and Natacha invited us to a surprising, fascinating restaurant called Le Lieu, in a small village in French Brabant province, one of the 11 Provinces of Belgium.

I tried to describe our visit, but I found Gault & Millaud’s (authorities on food) description to be just perfect : From the entrance, we are taken by the special atmosphere of the place: a beautifully renovated barn with, at the entrance, an unexpected system of roasting coffee … and its aromas. The reception is attentive and very pleasant. The service meets the same standards of attention and efficiency. Among the appetizers, we enjoyed a hot-cold crab coffee. A trout mousse is covered with a slice of peaches: pleasant flavors. The red mullet bark escorts salicornes and peppers and is completed with an unexpected mousse of raw mussel pulp. The overturned tomato is home to shrimps and fools-the yeast of chickens, a land-sea association just as surprising. The very fragrant raspberry sorbet and lychee  finished the meal in beauty.