So Luisa (from day 6) has been called the grandmother of German Classicism by transforming Gotha into one of the most important cultural centres of central Germany. Goethe travelled there frequently to engage with scholars and appreciate the art collections. She was known as someone who was full of espirit and a thirst for knowledge. She was cheerful with a lively spirit and a passion for women’s issues. She was well before her time [...]
Gotha is another town on the edge of the beautiful Thuringian Forest. One of the German caminos is from Leipzig to Eisenach and the information office had a map. Great that it was perfect until the street I was on fell off the map. I searched for a long time with no luck so when things aren’t working I look for a river. There wasn’t one, which is rare so I found a creek. [...]
Still here. When the accomodation is superb and the price is right why wouldn’t we stay for a while. And the bonus of three days of great walking. We walked around the rest of this large and attractive town nestled in to the Thuringian Forest and discovered a little more. At one end of town we discovered a beautiful park opposite a huge historic building with an equally huge open area with a beautiful religious [...]
Corrie was afraid she would not be walking tomorrow because it will be raining all day, so she crawled out of bed and up the swiss hill with me for a second time. Set atop this hill is Wartburg Castle where the founder of the Lutheran Church - Martin Luther was exiled, and I imagine if I was to be exiled in a castle, this would be the chosen one. Then we wandered off [...]
We were offered a lift to virtually anywhere by this older couple who slept next door to us last night. When this man called from the stairway I thought that I was in trouble for washing my clothes after midnight. But no, he would give us a lift. These days we would often take an offer like his but we love the train. Of course we walked there. It was a ‘two people questioned [...]
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 [...]
Sorry I’ve been late in sending the posts. I hope to send daily from now on, wifi willing. A long steep walk up to the castle produced a rare hill climb that took my back pain away. In the afternoon a walk through two villages between a river and the railway line completed our walking day. One of my favourite things that also make me a little more connected to my new home is [...]
Well, we got a full and proper mountain for the last day - Mt Maria - not too big, not too small, just right. Once again we have a different character altogether. We walked through a graveyard, then had to be careful of the balls on/off the golf course. I was wondering whether Maria wanted some privacy with all this happening. However she still had all her wares on display. She decked the base with [...]
It said: “only experienced bushwalkers beyond this point” - this was after we had walked 700 metres through this delightful gorge. It had a feeling about it and where Corrie would say: “I think this is too hard”, did not say that. Instead she lifted her leg higher than she normally would to climb over a boulder; she’d crawl through crevices and slide on her bum; walk on sharp sloped rock platforms; and take calculated [...]
Now the gorge has become a mountain. We had to climb down it first to Blue Gum Flat to then join the Kingfisher Trail which took us nearly out to Hidden Camp. We followed a fire trail for a some distance, calling in to Kingfisher Flat for lunch where the animals talk to you. Their printed signs say things like "You eat your food and we'll eat ours", and "If you wash your clothes in [...]
