Here we are at the Berlin train station. It was an overcast day, but luckily we didn't get rained on until we made it back home. We had a beautiful day for walking around Wittenberg.
The path from the train station to the Wittenberg oldtown was lined with these rose bushes, identical to ones we had next to our garage when I was growing up. Good memories.
Sam really had to do battle with one of his prime fears here. He is currently very scared of bees, and these rose bushes were filled with huge, juicy bumble bees. We had to walk the gauntlet. He was incredibly brave and did it without flipping out. Much better than I would have done if somebody made me swim in water that I knew had sharks (one of my biggest fears).
The is called Luther's oak. It is said to be the site where he burned the order from the Vatican to excommunicate him from the church.
Luther's home - previously a monastery. Later, he and his family lived there. We stopped in the peaceful courtyard to eat our lunch. No sooner had we settled in on our benches when a large tour group of 70-somethings appeared. We gave up most of our seats so they could sit down and listen to their tour guide. He must have given an impressive talk, because they all clapped for him when he finished, but since it was in German, all I got out of it was the joy of looking at a group of people who totally reminded me of my Grandma and Grandpa Strei (plaid pants and all).
Dave in front of some trees in the courtyard at Luther's house. We have one of the "purple trees" in our garden at the IBZ. I absolutely love them. Their color is amazing, and the shape of the tree is so graceful. I collected some leaves from the one back at our apartment, but we haven't gotten around to identifying the tree yet.
Katie and Sam smiling for Dad behind the camera.
This is the "City Church," the place where Martin Luther did most of his preaching.
Katie and Sam smiling for Dad behind the camera.
This is the "City Church," the place where Martin Luther did most of his preaching.
In the distance, you can see the tower of the Castle Church, where legend has it that Martin Luther posted his 95 theses on the door. Dave, Sam, and Katie climbed the tower.
The aformentioned doors of the Schlosskirche. The orginal doors have been replaced by these bronze ones.
Dave thought it would be funny to take a picture of me in front of the doors, but Catholic me wouldn't let him. He paparazzied me and shot me there anyway.
Katie at the top of the tower of the Schlosskirche.
The view from the tower. Wow!
Me in front of my favorite church in Wittenberg.
Dave thought it would be funny to take a picture of me in front of the doors, but Catholic me wouldn't let him. He paparazzied me and shot me there anyway.
Katie at the top of the tower of the Schlosskirche.
The view from the tower. Wow!
Me in front of my favorite church in Wittenberg.
We had a great train ride home. On the first stretch, from Wittenberg to Berlin, our compartment mates were two tatooed, body-pierced, beer-drinking fellows who had a soft spot for kids. They didn't speak more than a few words of English, but one of them just had to show me the photos of his young sons on his cell phone. Then he set his phone to play music and gave it to Grace to dance to. She held it and danced for a good 20 minutes, until he had to get off the train. Great entertainment for all.
On the stretch from Berlin back to Bielefeld (a 2.5 hour ride), we had the awesomest compartment. It had a climbing play area for the kids and the stroller fit in the compartment. We had half of it reserved. As the train was pulling out of the station, I noticed a family that kept wandering back and forth down the aisle looking for a place to sit. I peeked my head out of our compartment and told them the other side (with three seats) was open. The family was a mom and her two daughters. They had missed their end of the train (the train was going to split at one of its stops) and were in the wrong place. The oldest daughter, Louisa, has Down syndrome. She is 10. I had a wonderful time chatting with her mom. It was interesting to hear her German perspective on raising a daughter with an extra chromosome.
Louisa and Isaac. Louisa gave Sam a real roughhousing run for his money. She really liked to play wild with him (she has an older brother, so she is tough.) But she loved the babies too.
On the stretch from Berlin back to Bielefeld (a 2.5 hour ride), we had the awesomest compartment. It had a climbing play area for the kids and the stroller fit in the compartment. We had half of it reserved. As the train was pulling out of the station, I noticed a family that kept wandering back and forth down the aisle looking for a place to sit. I peeked my head out of our compartment and told them the other side (with three seats) was open. The family was a mom and her two daughters. They had missed their end of the train (the train was going to split at one of its stops) and were in the wrong place. The oldest daughter, Louisa, has Down syndrome. She is 10. I had a wonderful time chatting with her mom. It was interesting to hear her German perspective on raising a daughter with an extra chromosome.
Louisa and Isaac. Louisa gave Sam a real roughhousing run for his money. She really liked to play wild with him (she has an older brother, so she is tough.) But she loved the babies too.
Here are Grace and Isaac with Louisa's family (her mom and 9 year old sister Melina.) What a nice happenstance that they missed their train.
Wow! How neat to see Luther's home and the church where he posted his 95 theses - that's really neat! I would love to tour those places in Germany someday. Both Arthur and I come from long line of Lutherans, his family from Sweden and mine from Germany. Thanks for sharing your pictures!
ReplyDeleteLOVE the use of paparazzi as a verb.
ReplyDeleteYou are SO Lutheran...
ReplyDeleteAnd a wonderful story from the train. I've had some of my greatest adventures during train accidents.
I think we're all set to leave for Denmark next week. We're spending the weekend of June 19-21 in a town called Saeby (the a and e are actually one letter) just south of Frederikshavn at the very north part of Denmark. It's supposed to be a great seaside town.