An Introduction to Beautiful Weimar

We are in this idealistic town of Weimar with perfectly layed cobblestone streets, houses with flowerboxes, newly swept sidewalks, and friendly people. Actually, all the towns that we have visited thus far have had very congenial residents. But the best part of all is that we are staying in a five star hotel. An enormous chandelier in the lobby greets you against polished brass, dark mahogany wood, and marble floors. All the gleaming glass and mirrors give you the experience of being someone of great importance. The rooms are equally plush, some with chandeliers for lighting. It is the end of another well-traveled day which began in another community about three hours from here.

Bitterfeld-Wolfen is the community where we began the day. It is a region that was probably the most polluted area in the entire world. There was so much industry in this town over the past 150 years that the pollution finally caught up with them. A local TV station taped the lecture/discusssion and then asked for a volunteer from our group to do a brief interview. Chris Spaman, the youngest member of our teacher group, graciously volunteered. While in this area, we visited the site where numerous innovations in technology were produced. I was surprised to learn that one of them was Agfa film, a film I preferred to Kodak when I bought my first 35mm camera in college and used it overseas. I favored Agfa over Kodak after a professional photogrpher had shown me the brilliance of Agfa's colors. I continuted to use Agfa until they stopped producing it and Kodak bought them out. We went a little further in this industrial park and saw how they replicate photos onto canvas and produce the now popular photo books. There is so much to tell about how the people are working to clean up this area and all the new products that came from this area. There are many stories to tell when I get home.

We also visited a Benedictine abbey from the 12th century in the small town of Thalburgel (put two dots over the letter "u"). It is still used for services today when the minister comes from the nearby town. At other times it is used for music concerts and art exhibits. We were also lucky enough to hear a young man play the pipe organ as we sat in this sacred place. The music transcended the cold stone columns and the stone floor. We were swept away to another world for a brief 15 minute concert.

Our final visit today was to a third community called Thuringen (two dots over the letter "u", again) where they specialized in ceramics. Everything is made by hand like it was in the 1500's when they first began making ceramic bowls and cups. I bought some things and had them shipped home so I wouldn't have to find room in my already heavy luggage.

I forgot to mention that I ate at a bakery-deli called Lindner in Berlin. I took a picture of it for Angela and her family. It was a really neat place.

My minutes are starting to run out so I better say auf wiedersehen!