A long early morning walk along the River Saale whose motto is: everything flows, in this case meaning there is lots to do in, on and around this idyllic river. Ours was walking but it doesn’t seem to be their favourite Autumn sport. Cycling however is big. The walk took us through three villages as I Guten Morgen’d and Hallo’d anyone who seemed to be keen on the idea. A walk through and, around,  this beautiful town captured a lot of its soft but strong energy.

Nietzsche was a famous member of this society and portrayed some of these characteristics as he lived life to the full. In his time he pursued philosophy, writing and poetry amongst a myriad of other intellectual pursuits. I love the statues you see in European towns and the one of Frederick in Naumburg reading to a young girl is one of my favourite ones. 

Now a little trivia. Why is it that the young people under 50 (in a sample of about 40), don’t blink an eye when I ask directions whereas those in their later years treat me as though I am going to rob them, or ask them for money (the irony is that they have most of it).

And sorry, another one. I went to the optometrist to get new glasses frames. When selling them to me he asked for my date of birth (not sure why) and I told him 1947 but he wrote down 1974. I thanked him very much for the compliment but said again 1947, as his colleague burst into laughter. It’s strange, I thought, that he was the one selling glasses.