Being There, Seeing There

In Heidelberg 

On Saturday, after Bible study, we has the afternoon free to see things. We had visited the castle ruins a couple of times already on other visits, so we decided to stroll the old town. One of our group, a native German, joined us in our walk to the city center. In our conversation, she told us that Heidelberg was not bombed to smithereens, as was every other significant city in Germany, because an American general in charge of those decisions had gone to school there, as had his friends, so he had a fondness for it, and spared it. So goes history: everything is somebody’s story. A whim here, an antipathy there, and you survive or get smashed. So, unlike other German cities, which are carefully reconstructed to look original, Heidelberg actually is original. 

The hostel was on the other side of the river, so we first had to find a bridge.

The first of many breweries we saw in the city. 

We wanted to check out a light store, but we couldn’t quiiiiiiiite find what we liked. 

We decided the styles were just a liiiiiiitle off for our setting.

You know?

You can’t see the sign on the roof, but this is the Bayer building. And you must not say “bay-er”, but “bahy-er.”  I was corrected. 

Street Musik

Heidelberg has the most bookstores in Germany. It’s like the Oxford of the continent. It is a very ancient university town, too, which explains a lot.

A side street we had to check out. And peek in the church at the end. 

Simple but elegant. 

The organ in the narthex end.

A hospital. The old one. There is a huge modern sprawling one on the other side of the river, with ambulances screaming up every few minutes. This old one is more peaceful.

A square with old villas encircling it. 

On one side is this building where Herr Bunsen invented his burner. 

… or at least he lived there awhile. 

Church

Next to the “High Girls School.” 

… to be continued….

Getting There

To Heidelberg 

We are actually back now, but I am starting the store from the beginning. We are packing up to return to our other house, so this will be short. 

The trip to get from Switzerland to Heidelberg had its own adventures. We had to take the dog back to family in Zurich then head toward Germany. But the navigation system had us starting from our other house, so we watched our tracking dot running off-road through forests, getting closer and closer to the Bodensee (Lake Constance). Then PLOP! We were running through the lake. Each time we were shown getting closer to the shore, we would veer off back out into the center of the lake. It was a bit disconcerting. Then the non-helpful navigation system got turned off.

So, one drives on the German Autobahn at tremendous speeds, right? As many times as we have driven it, I don’t know any time that didn’t have at least one Stau (traffic jam, snail pace or stopped). This time was no exception. We passed at least five accidents. One kept us slowed then stopped for an hour. It turned out to be a six car pile up. Then we got dumping rain, so drivers all put on flashers and slowed to a crawl. Then it got dark, so we had to find our way through the city not able to see signs or quite know where we’re were. 

So the four hour drive was not four hours. We eventually, after some turn arounds and backtracking, got to the youth hostel where the Reformation Retreat was being held. And, we made it in time for supper, just barely. 

So, next post: pictures of Heidelberg. 

To Germany

To Heidelberg 

This was supposed to be posted yesterday, but it didn’t work, then I tried again today and the content disappeared. 

So I think there will be no posts until I get back. 

Old Painting

Found in Attic

Small work of summer poppies.

Tomorrow, heading for Heidelberg. 

St. Gallen Abbey Cathedral

Continued from October Visit

One of the pair of great towers.

A bronze model in the courtyard 

By the entry doors

The portal

Baroque to the max

All around the nave are these ornate confessional booths, each uniquely hand carved….

…with the apex depicting a saint or a story from the life of Christ.

Each pew end is also uniquely hand carved, similar but no two alike.

This is a giant cupboard at the rear of the nave. The insets in the inlayed wood are painted.

This is the “Covid Bible.” People could handwrite passages into it. 

You can sing this Bible story….

To be continued….

Blessed All Saints Day

To All Ye Saints

It was a work day here, rummaging around in the attic. I found these. They are Brockenhaus finds from many years ago. They were totally dark green and oxidized, but this is how they look now after hours of soaking in solution and scrubbing. Still a long way to go. 

End of Inktober

Piece in Progress 

Blessed Reformation Day

Found This

I am cleaning out attic today. 

This was a commissioned piece, many years ago, but the commissioner disappeared off the face of the earth, so it was never delivered to him. I did get my down payment, so it wasn’t a total loss financially. But it has been taking up space for a looooong time. So have others. One son says it is time to set up a social media account and sell some. 

Inktober 30

Märchen Illustration 

This is my version of some fairytale illustrations, combined and modified. 

Yesterday got very full, so it didn’t get posted. 

October With No Ink

View of the Santis mountains on our evening walk home.