My brother George suggested that I put a Rhine ferry trip on my schedule, so I did just that. Early Saturday morning I took the train from Worms to Mainz, where I would begin. I walked from the train station to the river, then walked north, as instructed by Google Maps. I eventually realized that …
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Let me introduce you…
Let me introduce you to my new friend, Pascal. Peter and I have been Couchsurfing hosts for a decade or so. (If you don’t know about the Couchsurfing network, Google it.) I was hoping to do a little Couchsurfing on this trip, and I just spent two nights with a kind, generous, interesting CS host …
Several Days in Haslach and a Trip to Strasbourg
I have spent the last few days getting to know another area of Germany: the southwest, home of the Black Forest, beautiful valleys and hills, and friends Amy and Gav. I’ve known Amy since before she was born. She’s the daughter of good friends Rick and Wilma Lysen. Now Amy’s all grown up and married …
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A Taste of Prague
Two days in this beautiful city really was only a taste, but what a taste it was. I came across a “Musical Map of Prague,” and while I was not able to find the Beethoven tree or the John Lennon Wall, I successfully got myself to the Antonin Dvorak museum. I loved learning about Dvorak’s …
Trudi
Claudia’s mother Trudi arrived on Sunday from her home in Sandersdorf, north of here, near Leipzig. She will be traveling west with Claudia and Helmut to a town near Stuttgart where they will surprise Trudi’s sister on the occasion of her 80th birthday. It was such fun finally meeting Trudi. My hosts did a fabulous …
City on Three Rivers
Just a note about Friday’s trip to Passau, located at the confluence of three rivers. One of these is the Danube, which we drove alongside to get there from Aicha. As usual, I was awed by the beauty and antiquity of it all. The Bishop’s cathedral was impressive, but the highlight of the day for …
Getting My Bearings, Sort Of
Yesterday I purchased my first item that wasn’t for food, transportation, or museum entrance. It is related to transportation. It is a compass! Peter suggested this when I was lamenting about having difficulty determining directions. I am directionally challenged to begin with and when the streets are not in grids it’s hopeless. This 3€ investment …
Castles, Cathedrals, and Cafe Claudia
My hosts are such good sports to humor me with a few tourist sites, such as King Ludwig’s castles and a taste of Oktoberfest. But the best days by far have been to the less famous spots and doing the activities of daily life with them. Helmut is a geology professor (recently retired) and Claudia …
Das Frühstück ist Lecker
This was one of the first complete sentences I learned when I began studying (I use the term loosely) German some months ago. It means “The breakfast is delicious.” I was so happy to be able to say that to my friends on my first morning in Germany, and every subsequent morning. The breakfasts (and …
Looking Back, Looking Forward
Thirteen years ago this very day I was on a plane, traveling east. I’d gotten the call from daughter Carmel that she was in labor and preparing, with her partner Jess, for the birth of their first child. As planned, I hurriedly searched for the best last-minute airfare, kissed my family goodbye, and hopped on …
This Journey Begins Now 