The Dachau experience was something else. One woman on our trip said that God humbled her by our experience there. She has some health problems, but realized they are nothing compared to what happened at Dachau and the many other concentration camps.
I am looking forward to being in a place where the language is understandable. It is a real challenge here. Today we arrived in Salzburg and with it being Sunday there is nothing open. We had to walk with a family of five others to a shell gas station to find lunch. Then we went to Eagle's Nest a gift from the Nazi party to Hitler on his 50th birthday party. It cost comparable to 130 million euros, or 175-200 million dollars of todays money to build it. The view was spectacular. It is at the top of the Bavarian Alps.
Yesterday we were at Rothenburg on the Tauber River. There is a tradition about the town, that during the 30 years war, the Imperial Army was defending the Roman Catholic religion at the end of the 30 years war. Rothenburg had adopted the principles of the reformation and were not going to remain Catholic. The General of the army was approached by the town fathers and offered wine to drink. He liked it so much that he decided not to attack if the town could provide anyone who could drink a 16 pint container of wine in one draft. The town burgermeister, Nusch, offered to defend the town by emptying the 16 pint tankard in one single draft. He did so and the town was saved. This led to the legend of the Master Drink. Rothenburg celebrates this event each year. The town is the best preserved of medieval citeis. Buses are not permitted to go there, so one walks through the town. Car travel is limited. There were many bicyclists.
Another town we passed through had their heroes too. Dinkelsville was also affected by the 30 year's war. The Swedish Army had come to invade this town which had remained faithful to the Catholic Church. The children came out of the town to the General's tent and in tears begged him to save the town. The general had just lost a child to disease or illness, and was deeply moved by their appeal, and decided to let the town survive without attack.
In celebration, each year, a festival is held to honor the children remembering this event. And on one day each year the children may have all the candy they want from the local candy stores.
Many towns have traditions and customs. It makes me think about the customs and traditions we have. It also makes me think about the heroes among us, and how from every day living we are called to periods of greatness out of our appeal and devotion for life and living.
The weather is very similar to PA. The winter wheat has been or will soon be cut. We have seen people picking strawberries, seen vast fields of cabbage, white and red; fields of potatoes, corn, cucumbers, hay and wheat. Incredible fields of grapevines, some of them in places you would never imagine along the mountainside. Apple and other fruit trees, sunflowers and other plants. The flowers are beautiful. And there seems to be great pride in yards and flower beds and window boxes. Near many of the cities there are large areas reserved for people to rent space and plant flowers, vegetables, etc. for their home and enjoyment. Many of the residences are very small, so there are many parks and treed spaces for people to walk, ride bikes, have picnics, and spend time together. This especially happens on weekends and sometimes in the evenings. People need space and the rented gardens, free parks and bike paths and horse trails provide space for people to enjoy the out of doors.
J and a girl on the trip went to a second hand store and all they had were lederhossen and drindl, the alpine womens dresses...but they were so expensive... about 100 dollars for the lederhosen and about that for the dresses too! Needless to say there were no purchases.
Dan
