INTRODUCTION:
I (Heike) have been a flight attendant for 37 years and as Harald shares my passion for travel, he often joins me on my flights to different continents. Heike's background is checked yearly due to working in the airline business.
We welcome couples but please do not apply if you plan to sit with children or your own pets. Our house is not safe for children and our cats would not welcome an "intruder" in their territory. Thank you for your understanding.
We are looking forward to your detailed applications as to what your experience is and why you would like to sit for us. We then would like to video chat with you to decide if we're a match.
LOCATION:
Downtown but in a quiet, traffic calmed, dead end lane! Grocery stores, two smaller Supermarkets, Cafés and Restaurants as well as other shops are in 2-5 minutes walking distance. Good connections to all major train and bus stations and to Frankfurt International airport, which is only half an hour drive away.
Dieburg train station is a 10 minutes walk from our house, partly on cobblestone streets and the nearest bus stop is just around the corner.
OUR HOUSE:
Our house was built in 1840, and although it has been remodeled several times during the last 25 years, its charming character has been preserved. That’s why we call it "Modernistorical", as it’s both modern and historical. A few years ago a small loggia/patio was added to the new roof, from which you can enjoy a beautiful view over the rooftops without being seen by the adjacent buildings. There are four floors, including the ground floor, which are accessible via a wide spiral staircase. There is central heating in all rooms and A/C in both bedrooms.
We do welcome couples, however, as one bedroom is equipped with a Queen size (one mattress) waterbed, it’s up to the sitters if you will be able to sleep in it together. There is another bedroom with only a single bed. So sleeping separately also is possible.
Our kitchen is well equipped with microwave, filter coffee machine, Nespresso machines, kitchen aid, water heater, dishwasher, steam oven, blender, toaster, sodastream, and probably a lot of things I forgot to mention. We have a wide range of spices in case you love to cook and cooking pots as well as pans in various sizes are there for you to use.
We certainly have a vacuum cleaner, brooms and iron. On each floor there are fire extinguishers (locations in the welcome guide) and smoke detectors in each room. If you work online, there are several desks to set up your computer, and we have a good wifi connection.
On the roof patio there’s a gas barbecue with a hood, a foldable table and two comfortable chairs. An electric retractable awning keeps it shaded during hot days.
NEARBY:
Although the location of our house is in the oldest part of downtown, there is one small park and one larger park within 2 minutes walking distance. Dieburg is located between Darmstadt and Aschaffenburg, about 40km from Frankfurt, Odenwald and Spessart are close. Heidelberg, Wiesbaden, and Mainz are not far.
Two world heritage sites, "Grube Messel" and in Darmstadt the "Mathildenhöhe" are easy to reach by bus or bicycle, depending on the weather and your fitness.
CAR:
The use of our electrical Mini Cooper is up to discussion.
Please let us know if you will arrive with your own or rented car, then we will provide you with a permission to drive through the traffic-calmed street to our house. We will clear the (rented) garage opposite the house for you to park in. There’s also a large parking area within 2 minutes walking distance, but parking there costs around 3€/day. Free parking areas are also available if a little bit further to walk to, but not more than +/-5 minutes.
We have two electric bikes, which you are welcome to use anytime.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Food & medication for the cats twice a day every 12 hrs, which they take easily, litter cleaning once a day, watering indoor plants on stays longer than a week, in summer watering the outdoor plants 1-2 times daily, depending on the weather (5 minutes) and keeping the house clean. A cleaning service to be paid by the sitters, can be arranged.
THE CATS:
Herr Lehmann will want cuddles at the most inconvenient of moments and he won’t give you much choice in the matter, whereas Tante Käthe likes to be around but chooses not to come too close most of the time.
Both cats may go outside whenever they like and there’s a catflap in the basement window. They certainly are neutered, microchipped and registered at "Tasso" in case they don’t turn up at home, which thankfully has not happened yet. They usually stay close to the house and frequently come back inside.
OUR CATS HAVE ACCESS TO ALL ROOMS IN THE HOUSE AT ALL TIMES!
They usually sleep next to us on the mattress. By the way, Herr Lehmann snores! So if you don’t feel comfortable with them sleeping next to you in bed, you either don’t apply or prepare for an ongoing cat concert during the night.