Tag: Weinheim

With a little help

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“Everywhere is within walking distance if you have the time.”

Steven Wright

But sometimes you need to be pointed in the right direction.

In case you are not quite sure what you are looking at: the Wachenburg is about 20km in linear distance, 30km to travel by car, and quite a bit more walking through dales and over hills. It was as if the sunbeam wanted to guide us home.

From a closer vantage point, more or less pictured from the same side.

Linked to Travel with Intent. More photos inspired by Steven Wright’s quote, click here.

The education of the youth

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I was very much in awe when I climbed those stairs for the first time. For the next four years I went through those doors almost every single school day. My primary school teacher was Fräulein Höfler and I have never forgotten her. If I try to picture her, I can only do so with her smiling.

Pestalozzi-Schule in Weinheim

The title of this post is written over the door, it’s part of an aphorism by the Swiss edcuaton Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi: “Gott zur Ehre, der Jugend zur Lehre, der Gemeinde zur Freude dien’ dieses Gebäude” (This building should be used to glorify God, to educate the youth, and to please the community.)

Linked to A Photo a Week: Nostalgia. More nostalgic photos can be found here.

Play bridge

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Bridges can offer wonderful perspectives.

This one crosses the river Neckar from Seckenheim to Ilvesheim.

And like this bridge for pedestrians and cyclists in Frankfurt over the river Main called Holbeinsteg.

And some look best with their surroundings like this one over the river Neckar in Heidelberg (which has a monkey the left bank – which coincidentally features in Geriatrix’ post today).

And some look beautiful close up, decrepit as they are, like this over the little stream in Schriesheim.

And some are mere boards crossing a stream for only a few hours. Check out Geriatrix’ Fotogallery for the story behind this little bridge.

Linked to One Word Sunday: Bridge.

In praise of friendship

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Student fraternities in Germany have elaborate coats of arms. The members of the “Weinheimer Seniorenconvent” have theirs displayed in the great hall of celebrations of the Wachenburg in Weinheim. Many of the mottos include friendship.

Faithful to friends – defiant to enemies / For honour and friendship / Freedom – Friendship – Honour

Personally, I don’t hold with the often rightwing positions of those traditional fraternities (somewhat ironic as many have their roots in the revolutionary times around 1830 with then revolutionary ideals) so I rather go with this:

Freunde trinkt! – Friends, drink!

It doesn’t have to be alcohol, just sit together and share a glass and a talk.

Linked to Friendly Friday: Friendship.

Change is inevitable

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Once upon a time there was a small river running through a part of my hometown.

My sisters still remember playing on the railing and in the water. I am a few years younger and by my time the Grundelbach was already covered and ran for about 1 km beneath the road.

The town’s hospital was built over it and

the fire station next to it.

But even that is history now. There is a new regional hospital and a modern fire station away from the hills which hampered expansion. On the site is now a supermarket, a car park, and the traffic is led through a tunnel. On top of all that a large development with flats for the elderly and doctor’s offices has been established

Historic photographs are mounted on the walls.

At present, there is a building site for residential houses opposite which makes a panorama shot of the photographic mural difficult. But I might revisit the photos in a year’s time when the pedestrian area is free again.

Linked to Friendly Friday: Nostalgia.

I’m a fan of Bismarck

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First of all, I’m a fan of serendipity.  Let me explain …

2020 bismarck a

This is the Springbok hooker Bismarck du Plessis, warming up for the match against Scotland in the 2015 Rugby World Cup in Newcastle, one of the two international rugby matches I watched in my life.

This is what he looked like in the match, a bit more dignified:

2020 bismarck b

Bismarck is the guy on the right.  He has been in the (rugby) news lately in South Africa as his merits were discussed in an all-time best Springbok team.

And then last week I was on a hike passing the Bismarck tower in Heidelberg:

Bismarckturm Bismarcksaeule

One of many, many monuments that were built in Germany to honour the “Iron Chancellor” Otto von Bismarck.  It is said that more monuments have been erected for him in Germany than for any emperor, king philosopher, or poet.  And this in mainly 20 years, from 1890 to 1910.  Somehow most of these monuments turned out to be towers but on the Feldberg, the highest mountain of the Black Forest, they build a kind of cairn with a relief of Bismarck:

2020 bismarck d

In my hometown we only managed a bust – which has a curious history.  It was supposed to be melted down during the second world war when metal for grenades and the like had come into short supply.  It was only rediscovered in 1961 and now stands in a little, unassuming park.

2020 bismarck c

And then, there was that recent pub quiz (zoom version) where I scored biggly because I knew the name of the capital of the US state of North Dakota.

Linked to I’m a fan of … #67 .  More fanatical photos can be found here.