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Published: July 18th 2012
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Ralf and three of his good friends (Berndt, Gerhardt, and Heiko) graciously invited me (or maybe it would be would be better described as "were forced to include me") in their annual bike training event in Schwabthal, which is in Bavaria. Bavaria was beautiful, just like I have seen it on TV and in books...a series of quaint little villages with narrow little streets and cute little homes and businesses, all adorned with adorable window boxes brimming with flowers. According to my personal tour guide, there is a very strong Catholic presence in Bavaria which was evidenced by some sort of crucifix statue or display around every turn in the countryside and in each village. I was feeling a little under the weather during most of our stay here but did enjoy some tasty meals, several more sauna and steam room treatments, learned some more German thanks to the fact that Berndt, Gerhardt, and Heiko speak very little English, had two massages, and experienced the Um Pa Pa (for lack of a better term) Bavarian dances each night. Okay, admittedly I was a little confused about this whole trip but previously mentioned, it has been a tradition for Ralf and his
friends for several years. Ultimately, it is a boys weekend (well until I came along this year!) where they spend the better part of four days training on their bikes or running the rigourous hills and winding roads of this gorgeous part of Germany...a training camp of sorts, you could say. Yes, for those of you that have heard the story of Ralf referring to his favorite part of a ironman triathalon, as the 26.2 miles of running which he fondly calls "dessert" because it is his favorite and is at the end of the competition, you might understand why he, and three of his very similarly minded friends, would use their leisure time to do these extreme workouts....yep, that's where the differences betwenn us begin and where the 2 massages and multiple spa treatments fit into this whole picture! It actually worked out great because it allowed Ralf this time with some very special friends while I had some relaxation time and then fun dinners and dancing each night. They were so very kind to me and as funny as it sounds, I feel like they have become my friends too through sharing these days together. The weather wasn't
as cooperative this year so there was a little more down time for Ralf and I to enjoy just the two of us, while the boys took a break from their workouts. On Sunday, after the training, we visited the Church of the 14 Saints in Vierzehnheiligen. Online it is described as
"Vierzehnheiligen has been an important religious site for centuries. In 1695 a Benedictine monastery was built here, which can still be seen today. Across from this, the Church of the Fourteen Saints of Intercession is located. This dates from the 16th century, but was rebuilt as a bigger church from 1741 by Balthasar Neumann. It is named after a vision which a shepherd had here in 1519 of Jesus stood with fourteen saints. The church is one of the best Baroque buildings in Germany. Inside it is a masterpiece of Rococo furnishings. The church is cross-shaped, with two large towers at its frontage. It is still a place of pilgrimage and a popular tourist attraction".
By chance, during our visit, we arrived at the church just as mass was ending. The priest and the rest of the religous procession were escorting people out of the church. Ralf explained that people from all the neighboring villages attend the church and then after mass, the priest has the people from each village assemble and then gives them a special blessing for their specific village and then they make a pilgramage home. I was in awe at the complete beauty of this church and honored to be a part of such a rich tradition. After the service I was able to take many of the pictures in this entry.
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