So the story begins

It all began with this story
In the story a donkey, a dog, a cat, and a rooster, all past their prime years in life and usefulness on their respective farms, were soon to be discarded or mistreated by their masters. One by one they leave their homes and set out together. They decide to go to Bremen, known for its freedom, to live without owners and become musicians there.
On the way to Bremen, they see a lighted cottage; they look inside and see four robbers enjoying their ill-gotten gains. Standing on each others backs, they decide to perform for the men in hope of gaining food. Their 'music' has an unanticipated effect; the men run for their lives, not knowing what the strange sound is. The animals take possession of the house, eat a good meal, and settle in for the evening.
Later that night, the robbers return and send one of their members in to investigate. It is dark and he sees the eyes of the Cat shining in the darkness. He reaches over to light his candle, thinking he sees the coals of the fire. Things happen in quick succession; the Cat swipes his face with her claws, the Donkey picks up his hooves and kicks him, the Dog bites him on the leg and the Rooster crows and chases him out the door, screaming. He tells his companions that he was beset by a horrible witch who scratched him with her long fingers (the Cat), an ogre with a knife (the Dog), a giant who had hit him with his club (the Donkey), and worst of all, the dragon who screamed in his voice from the rooftop (the Rooster). The robbers abandon the cottage to the strange creatures who have taken it, where the animals live happily for the rest of their days.
I was going to look this up, but Anne from http://elmilagrostudio.blogspot.com/ beat me to the punch so I borrowed hers! Hope you don't mind!!

So, (a little throat clearing here) ahem....30+, ok, maybe 40 years ago while going to school over in Germany we took a class trip to the town of Bremen. I finally found these photos after searching for them, and you know, they are always in the place where you looked first! Here is the statue those many years ago.

All of the classmates gathered around. One of our teachers took the photos, I believe it was Frau Mueller.

The Roland statue (a statue of the city's protector erected back in 1404 after the wooden one from 1366 burned )

Another group picture of some of us.

I have no idea where this windmill is, but I remember it was taken in Bremen

A fountain that intrigues the boys especially since it had money in it!

Oh we were all excited to see the chimney sweeper otherwise known as the schornsteinfeger. You were suppose to shake his hand as it would bring you good fortune! I wonder if I ever shook his hand? Nah...

Here is just about all of the classmates together. If you notice the girl in the very back next to the boy sitting on the statue, well, that was the first, and only time, that I had a classmate with my name!!!!

Now, many, many, many moons later here is what it looks like today

Hubby had to get in the picture too

And me

And this is as hubby said what we traveled 4,000 miles to see, along with family of course, but I wanted the photos as it would bring back memories of so long ago of a childhood class trip. Oh yes, could you pick me out in any of the photos?