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Published: November 3rd 2005
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Hello Reader.
Yesterday I woke up to a dog jumping around on my bed. Let me tell you, next to earthquakes, I think the most terrifying thing to wake up to is a dog who hates you jumping on your bed while you’re sleeping. Steffie was laughing. He didn’t eat me yesterday morning, but I think I felt him pour a little Worcestershire sauce down my back and on his way out he mouthed ‘marinate’ followed by motioning his paw from the left of his collar to the right.
Steffie had an interview in Frankfurt so I was with her sister, Tinsha, and her father, Heinz. We were headed to two different castles and then a church. In truth, I was a little anxious because I wasn’t sure how the conversation would go during the trip. Tinsha’s English is a little broken, but her father’s is pretty labored. I have never felt so flattered as I did when Heinz was trying so hard to communicate with me. He could have easily said ‘Screw that! You’re in MY country now, YOU speak German.’ But he was so persistent in his efforts to make me feel comfortable and get to know
me more. It really made an impact.
The first castle was called Schloss Sigmaringen It was home to an affluent family from the Hollerzollern dynasty. (A name you’ll see later.) The castle was attractive from the outside, but extraordinary from the inside. The glass work in the chandeliers was well worth the five euros Heinz paid for me to get in. The tour was in German, and Tinsha was not too comfortable with her English to translate, but luckily they had a guide book that followed almost to the word what our tour guide was saying. Highlights: the castle was once spared by Napoleon during one of his many conquests because the wife of the prince living inside was friends with Napoleon’s wife. And in nineteen forty-five it was taken by Nazis under Hitler’s orders and used as an stronghold. Later reclaimed by it’s rightful owners, some rooms in the castle are still used by the family during New Year’s Eve celebrations.
We stopped at McDonalds for lunch. I ate a big n’ tasty, fries, and a coke. We then left for Hohenzollern Castle. (Told ya.) When I saw it from a distance, my jaw dropped. This is
the coolest castle I’ve seen. The difference between here and Neuschwanstein (the castle I saw the other day) is that this was primarily used for military purposes and Neuschwanstein was used mainly to show off… oh, and as a model for Disney World. Hohenzollern is located at the highest peak of a mountain, and that became very clear as I was hiking up it’s ninety degree face. Steffie’s father turn to me as I was panting on the way up, ‘I think you young boy, not grandpa…’ So it’s like that, huh? I see… strike one, Heinz… strike… one… …Heinz…
The view at the top was worth ten times the hike. I had a hell of a time picking out two (of the fifty) pictures I took to post here. I’ve never seen anything like it. The inside was nice, but nothing compares to the view and façade. Heinz bought me a guidebook (they weren’t free here). Tons of history here, sure, but look at that view!
We headed to a church with two towers, called Zwiefalten. It was dark by the time we got there and there were no lights. We could also not go inside, so
I talked to a nice Scottish man for a few minutes and then went home.
At the house, Anneliese had prepared salmon steaks with potatoes and salad. It was the most beautiful thing I saw that day. We ate (without Steffie, she was coming back later) and talked and I’m not sure if it was me or them that changed but our conversation flowed so well. I felt like I was right at home, we just understood each other and were so comfortable even without Steffie there. She later came home and recounted her successful interview, (she got offered the job!!).
I woke up at seven forty-five, dreading the animal that was to come only minutes from now. But only Steffie was there to jump on my sweating, trembling body. Whew!
We went on another bike ride today. To Wangen, which had a market with many stands and one with good pizza. Only about thirty four kilometers today, which works out to be about three hundred and twelve miles. The ride was nice and we stopped a lot to take pictures… by the way, I’m up to about four hundred photos and it hasn’t even been two
Heinz and Tinsha
Heinz and his daughter. He is pointing towards the town in which he was born. weeks in Europe. Steffie and I talked a lot of course. She told me more about her grandmother who is always eating Steffie’s pets… her rabbit, her bird, her goat, and so forth. I told her how much I missed that cat I met in Rothenburg. I even gave it a name, Links, which means ‘left’ in German… as in the direction I turned before I met the cat. I may not like cats and I who cares that I’m allergic, but I’m gonna go back and get THAT cat someday. I know he feels the same.
We came back, packed our bathing suit and headed to a church. On the way, we picked up a hitchhiker. He was going the same way we were. Natural conversation ensued and then he said he didn’t like America. Steffie (to the rescue) immediately retorted with, ‘have you ever been?’ He said his friends have been and not liked it. Steffie laid into him, ‘You shouldn’t judge what you don’t know first hand, I went and I found some of the nicest people.’ I told him that there are undoubtedly some bad parts there, but there are so many great parts, too
– just like there Germany has bad and good parts. He said that America plays police to the world. I said that it’s complicated. We are in a precarious position of power, in which there are many things to consider. I told him that I don’t agree with everything our government chooses to do, but I stand by the ideals and freedoms rightfully entitled to every citizen. Then it was time for him to get out and we said a polite goodbye and he encouraged me to enjoy my time in Europe.
I knew I would encounter some people with this mindset when I first came here. This was a good practice round. He has every right to his opinion, just like I do to mine. But I can’t help but pity people who have such narrow minds. And not in just the political sense. I explained to Steffie that having an narrow mind is like having a filter the size of a garden hose standing under Niagara Falls. Sure, you get some experiences, education, and opinions of others for you to then choose what to adopt as your own ideas and eventually beliefs, but what if you had
a filter the size of, say, Heidi’s computer, which can be seen from space. Then you would be open to all experiences, education, and opinions of others which could be filtered into a much deeper reservoir, containing leagues of if rich, clear, seasoned worldlyness.
The church was resplendent but under construction. We went in anyway. It smelled like old pews that had been sat on for six hundred years. Then we headed to a public swimming complex for a couple of hours. There is nothing like this in the US. It was two pools. The cool one had a large inflatable snake on which kids, (and Steffie and I), could play on and a couple of slides. The warm one was large and half of it was outside. There were jets and waterfalls to massage the body. It was fun, relaxing, and only cost six euro.
We had fries from Burger King on the way home. Not my first choice, but what are ya gonna do, ain’t like there’s Chic-fil-a over here. I paid fifteen cents for ketchup. You better believe I sucked that puppy dry. Spaghetti for dinner, and beer of course. I try to refuse, and
Basilika in Weingarten
The front of the church was the only part that wasn't under construction all I get is drunker and drunker.
Tomorrow we’re headed hiking on a mountain (called Hochgrat) in the first row of the Alps. Her mom is coming too. ‘And Samy. You know… for motivation.’
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The Other German
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You should...
...really consider being a writer!!! REALLY, Monika and I walked about it yesterday, and we really think you should be travelling forever (well, once in a while on trips with breaks at home in the US for friends and family) and write about it just like the book we gave you, "By the Bottom of My Pants". I think that would be great! Absolutely LOVED your pictures again, you should also be a photographer! Mama and Papa Haegele say HI and enjoy reading your diaries immensely. All the best, cant wait to read the next one. katrin