We have made changes to our walking plans because of a range of factors. Firstly there was no camino trail starting in Berlin and my old back injury had a poor relationship with my pack. So we trained to Leipzig and found a track but there was no information on accomodation as we walked and I was unable to carry my pack for long periods. We discovered a train that goes for some way so [...]

Yet another beautiful German town also situated close to the Thuringian Forest and iconic as it was where Germany’s first democratic constitution was signed after the First World War. It became in 1999 the European Capital of Culture. It is situated within the valley of the Ilm river, a tributary of the Saale river I talked of in an earlier post. The terrain is hilly. So we began our walk in the flatter part [...]

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 [...]