This weekend I traveled with Helmut to visit our friend, Martin, in Tübingen. (The three of us were together in St. Louis last year.) We took the ICE (the fast train) Friday afternoon and arrived in Tübingen by 7:00. After grilling, we headed downtown for a "night festival". We sat by the fountain in the center of the Altstadt ("old city") and listened to a "Türmblasen" (literally, "tower blowing" - but in Germany, during Christmas and other festivals, brass ensembles will climb up into a church tower and play a concert to revelers gathered below). The next morning, we headed for the
Burg Hohenzollern, a picturesque castle perched on top of a large hill, surrounded by some of the most beautiful countryside Germany has to offer. Unfortunately, we missed the only bus heading from the train station to the castle (only one bus from the train station to the castle on a Saturday morning?) - but we were able to take a taxi; a little more expensive, but we made it. Unfortunately, too, it was a bit cloudy and misting, but beautiful, nonetheless. Worn out from the weather and a bit of a walk up and down the hill to the castle, we returned to Tübingen and watched Oceans 13. Sunday morning, we caught first the "evangelisch" (part of the "Landeskirche", or "state church") "Studiengottesdienst" (student worship service), then took a brisk walk through downtown to a SELK service with communion. Both very nice. After cookies and coffee (naturally), Martin walked with Helmut and I to the train station, where we caught the first of four trains on our trip home. It took about 6.5 hours to get back to Oberursel on a "Schoneswochenende Karte" ("nice weekend ticket") - which takes a bit longer, but cost us each about half of what a normal ticket would. (These tickets allow up to five people to travel on one ticket anywhere in Germany - though it excludes the express trains.) There was only one hiccough - I misunderstood Helmut and thought we had an hour layover in Heilbrunn, when it was actually 15 minutes; so we missed our train, but caught another 30 minutes later - which ended up being a beautiful ride through the countryside along the Neckar river. We got back to the Hochschule during halftime of Germany's first "Europeanmeisterschaft (EM)" (European Championship) soccer match (Germany beat Poland 2-0). A good weekend - part of my standing rule not to turn down an invitation to travel anywhere (especially these last two months) - but another one of those where it will take me the whole week to catch up!
[Helmut manning the grill. Once again, this begs the question, "which came first, the South African, or the grill?"]
[Light display at the Tübingen University main building.]
[The Burg Hohenzollern, Hechingen.]
[Martin and Helmut and our stellar view.]
[Me and Martin enjoying some bier, Bockwurst and Pommes as we wait for the bus back to the Hechingen Bahnhof.]
[Helmut manning the grill. Once again, this begs the question, "which came first, the South African, or the grill?"]
[Light display at the Tübingen University main building.]
[The Burg Hohenzollern, Hechingen.]
[Martin and Helmut and our stellar view.]
[Me and Martin enjoying some bier, Bockwurst and Pommes as we wait for the bus back to the Hechingen Bahnhof.]
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