The first few days in Germany are tough. Gaby’s brother’s funeral is coming up, we’re still feeling the effects of the long trip, and there are a few things that need to be taken care of. We’re only slowly getting used to the European pace of life. The only thing that’s really working in our favor is the weather. It’s sunny, and temperatures are well over 30°C. It’s a climate like the South Seas, which we know all too well. We visit our first friends, sit comfortably in the garden, and catch up on the latest news. Though “latest” is relative. After all, there’s a gap of a good two years. But our friends know what we’ve been missing on our long travels. Pretzels and a weissbier are on the table. The question of whether I’d prefer a coffee before the weissbier was purely rhetorical, and they didn’t even wait for an answer. Of course, the weisswurst sausages are a must, and neither the weissbier nor the weisswurst have heard the 11 o’clock chime. However, our gathering goes well past 11:00 a.m. We simply have so much to talk about. In the late afternoon, we finally set off on our journey home. We get our first taste of the efficiency of German public transportation when we step off the bus onto the platform. All S-Bahn trains to Stuttgart Central Station are cancelled. We have to take a train that arrives at the station above ground, which means a long walk for us through the construction site at Stuttgart Central Station. To top it all off, the bus is cancelled, and we have to wait half an hour. We’re really looking forward to taking public transportation from Stuttgart to Hamburg. It’s sure to be an adventure. We can’t wait.
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| We're meeting up with friends |
Walle’s funeral is a much sadder affair. He passed away at the age of 62—far too young. Cancer took him at breakneck speed. Thanks to his cheerful disposition, Walle had many friends. Accordingly, a large crowd of mourners has gathered to say their goodbyes. “Take care, buddy!” The next few days are set aside for clearing out his home. Once you’ve passed away, there isn’t much left of your earthly life. You shouldn’t dwell on it too much.
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| Bruchsal Palace, Germany |
To take our minds off things, we drive to Bruchsal to meet up with Petra and Peter. We met them in Colombia and haven’t seen each other in three years. Still, we’ve stayed in touch and were thrilled to see them again. They’ve since given up sailing and switched to living in a motorhome. There’s plenty to catch up on here, too. We explore Bruchsal and end up in a shady beer garden. In the late afternoon, we start our journey home. By now, we’ve gotten used to the challenges of public transportation and handle them with ease. Maybe the saying we learned in Fiji helps us too: “No hurry, no worry.”
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| Hotel Silber, Stuttgart, Germany |
On Sunday, I’ll also visit the Gestapo headquarters in Stuttgart. The former Hotel Silber was used by the police for more than half a century. Among other things, it served as the Gestapo headquarters for Württemberg and Hohenzollern. The exhibition is very well done and vividly illustrates the work of the police, particularly the Gestapo. There’s plenty of interesting material to read. An audio guide explains the key points. If you want to learn more about the structures and organization of the Gestapo, this is the place to be. All in all, an intense week is coming to an end. We’re excited to see what next week brings. Until then, fair winds, and keep a stiff upper lip.
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