1st day in Germany

Tuesday, July 19,2011

I had forgotten what Germany smells like. As I sit on my sister-in-law’s terrace, on our first day back in Deutchland and watch and listen to Karin play cards with her family, all the smells come rushing back to me. I can not explain what they all are, I can only say that I know them intimately and rejoice in “knowing” the country once again. Every place that I have ever been has its own distinctive smell and feel. Germany tends to be my favorite.

Two languages are continually intermingled and competing for attention as we struggle to figure out what each other say. The Germans are winning though. Their English is better than our German but we are all having fun regardless. Especially Karin, as she thoroughly enjoys talking, laughing and remembering with her siblings. Church bells ring three times, bringing back even more.

The sights are obviously everywhere. Especially the architecture. The town we are staying in is a small village of 1600 people with homes that are as old as 400 years but clean and sophisticated . It is an interesting mix of history and modern technology. Everything is solid and well built. No Wal-Mart or Lowes here to sell cheap, crappy products. Germans would never put up with it. The small church that my brother -in-law pastors, sits in the center of town with its large outer rock wall that was used to protect the inhabitants from invaders. Its bell tower sits in the center of the yard, surrounded by the grave yard, commanding a view of the town below.( I had often wondered, when I first came to Germany, why they would put the graveyard so close to the church. After all, the Church is to be a place of life not death. I then learned that they place the graves there, so that as the Pastor teaches and shepherds his flock, he is reminded of where every one of his people are eventually destined, revealing to him his sense of responsibility.) The church, originally Catholic, was built in 1517. It converted to being a Lutherin church during the reformation which is demonstrated by the large painting of Luther placed above the Pastors head as he preaches.

The tastes still remain to be experienced.