Guten Tag to Germany

I am in Germany and things are already looking up.  I went to the bath room in a Berlin bus station and did not have to pay and no one stopped me. Berlin, the capital of Germany and famous for the Berlin Wall, feels efficient, organized and friendly. I plan to visit for a few days with a friend I met at the Portuguese language school in Portugal.  Simone is an English teacher in a town called Reisa which is a few hours from Dresden, Germany. No volunteer job here, except to be a good guest which is easy as Simone is such a great hostess.

I enjoy visiting museums and historical spots, but what I really love is visiting people and seeing how they live.  The small town that my friend lives in is ideal. For a few days I will experience what living in Germany is like.

The day after I arrive, we are dropped off at a local wine festival and spend the day on a walking tour of vineyards, beautiful look out points and the processing plant where the wine is made. And of course we sample wine.  The festival is along the famous Elba River which is 725 miles long starting in the Czech Republic and emptying out to the Baltic Sea.  The festival is opened by the King and Queen of the Wine Fest and some local celebrities such as the mayor. The Wine King must roll an empty wine barrel down the road which officially opens the festival.

The next day we take a 14 mile bike ride along the Elba river and attend a “football” match that her son is playing in. It is another perfect fall day and riding bikes along the Elbe River makes me feel blessed and excited to be able to do what I am doing -traveling, riding a bike at my age and getting to know more about people. Traveling always humbles me as I realize the small space I occupy in this big world.

Somewhere between wine walks, biking, visiting fabulous old castles and churches older than the USA, my friend manages to cook an “Authentic” German meal -Gefuellte Kloesse, Kasslerbraten, und Sauerkraut – try to say that three times or as my nephew Joseph said – even once! The best part was being in her kitchen helping to make all this.

Wine King        

August the Strongs Castle

Typical German Dish-Gefuellte Kloesse,Kasslerbraten,und Sauerkraut

Adorable Little German Boy

Elba River