I also was surprised at how close some of the villages were. I was in Hessen and had been looking at maps and was wondering how my ancestors met all their mates when they were from different towns. I got over there and started driving from village to village and they were sometimes only one mile apart -- easy walking distance. Now if I could just figure out where my Becker family came from in Obersaulheim. Becker is a very common name over there, but every Becker in Obersaulheim is mine. The first one just showed up with a wife and had children. She died and then he shows up with another wife. Neither wife nor he was born there, but where? I love visiting Germany. The people have been so helpful. Of course most of my time is in churches and cemeteries, but the people in charge of the cemeteries have taken time and went with us to the city hall to show us records or get a copy of a town book for us. Of course in German - and still trying to read -- but what friendly people. We try to visit at least once a year as we have had a lot of exchange students from there and have become friends of all the families. Besides I love the food. Jerilyn