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It's Spring

Es ist Frühling!

Daffodils, Pansies, Crocuses, Bluebells--they're everywhere! Blossoming trees in white, pink, and yellow tell me that winter is over in Germany. I've heard people here say it was a hard winter, and my response is, "That was winter?" Yes, what passed is winter is officially over, and the birds are singing melodiously all day. Today, I kept hearing a particular bird singing, a tiny silver bell sort of singing. Just when I got up to see if I could identify it, a perky little robin (the European kind) flew up to our balcony railing and continued its sweet song. I felt as if I had been given a gift.

German class continues. I have only 4 weeks left before we fly home. I had hoped to be more fluent than I am, especially in speech, but disappointingly, I happen to be part of a large cohort, with 16 in my class. The class behind us has only 8. When there's as many as we have, you just don't get the kind of attention you should be getting, and several in the class really shouldn't be there. They're in over their heads, but the teacher works extra with them to help them catch up, at the rest of our expense. But I have noticed that my reading and listening comprehension is much better than it was when I first arrived. I plan to spend time studying after I get back, if nothing else than to keep the brain sharp. Who knows whether I'll ever find a use for it, other than self-enrichment. 

I made a half-day excursion on Thursday to a small town called Amberg. It was an hour north by train, and not nearly as large as Regensburg. I spent two hours there looking around. 

This view is iconic of this town. In English it's called the City's Glasses, for obvious reasons. I walked along the remains of a Medieval city wall that was erected back when city walls actually protected the city. 

The town is oval shaped, and bisected by a calmly flowing river. The wall surrounds the oval, and the modern part surrounds the oval on all sides. Most German towns have an Altstadt in the center, some more interesting than others. 

Back in the day, you would have entered the town by this gate. I expect it would have been guarded. A plaque on the other side says it was built in 1400. 

Every town boasts at least one Gothic cathedral. This one is dedicated to St. Martin, and was erected in 1421.  

And I need to mention German restrooms. I took the opportunity to snap a quick photo when no one was around. But notice the doors. There are no gaps and they extend above and below the level of American ones. Germans comment on the gaps in American bathroom doors, and feel there is a lack of privacy. In most places, you have to pay 1 Euro to use a toilet, but this town had free ones next to the tourist information center. 

Tonight we had Great Vespers for the Feast of the Annunciation, and tomorrow evening is the Liturgy. It will also be daughter Dr. Kirsten's birthday!

HaPpy BiRThDaY, dR. KIrsTen!



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