Bergfest: The Mid-Point

The reality of Mid-Point brings disbelief.  Half way?  How can this be?  I still have not learned to speak or understand German!  Most of my class mates say the same thing.  I have spoken with no one who is feeling half way finished.  Most feel as I do, that we have only just begun, how can we be preparing for the end?  My class includes people from many lands, and are of a wide spread age group, though none other than of myself is a grand parent.  Yet we are none of us expressing a readiness to finish.  It seems significant that this very diverse group could be of so like of mind, but we do share this concept.  It is reasuring that people who study together, rise above age, differing backgrounds and language barriers to become a single group.

Erfurt

     The trip to Erfurt began rather oddly.  I found a shorter way into Ilmenau, but I could NOT find the City Travel Buro.  I found the train station, but could NOT understand the schedule.  After trying the patience of a very helpful gentleman, I finally understood that the train had not left but merely pulled out to have a break.  When, I finally boarded and bought my ticket, as instructed, I had an uneventful journey without having my ticket checked.

     The gentleman in the information booth told me the Mercure was easy to find, "just go straight ahead out of the Bahnhof and it was not very far away, on the left."  WELL,,, straight out of the building was a courtyard faced by a building that made it impossible to "go straight ahead."  When I went back to the information, desk, he apologized, instructed me to go left then straight ahead, and there it was across the street from the Kaufmanns Kirche

     Since I had spent a lot of time looking for the travel bureau in Ilmenau, and my nephew took off work early, he and his wife were there before me about an hour.  That gave my niece some time to rest and my nephew time to reconoiter the city.  After dropping my bag in my room we got together and spent the night walking, talking,  eating and drinking until midnight.

     Eight the next morning, we started all over again.

  

 Wr are surrounded by marvelous artwork and buildings of every imaginable color and shape.

This city has suffered very little damage from wars so these buildings we were seeing have been seen by people for centuries.

The Kämmerbrücke is the only bridge with occupied houses and shops north of the Alps.  Wonderful shops for antiques, Meisen ware, souveniers, restaurants, etc. Here, I found an Erfurt hat pin.

     In the Cathederal place, I oriented myself as directed and easily found the bookstore from which I bought a children's prayerbook.  A short distance from here we discovered Erfurt is holding a three-week musicfest.  We heard and saw the children practicing,  Tender.

     Our next stop was in the Cathederal.  The majestic High alter was crowded with silent people.

The "so called Wolfram" is a bronze Candlelabrum circa 1160.We spent several hours in  this massive structure.  Just a few steps from this Cathederal is the St Severus Church.  This easily took another several hours to view.  This church had some fire damage in 1472 and was repaired with "Indulgence Money" in 1473.  Both buildings hold fascinating memoribilia.

Although the Citadelle Petersburg is located atop a long set of stairs, we made the climb and it was well worth it.  To give you and idea of the beauty of the place, five different wedding parties were having their pictures shot here.  This fortress was built for protection against the inhabitants of Erfurt, not for the.  This is a shot of Erfurt from this fortress.We spent several hours here, including time to stop for refreshment.  My niece and nephew escorted me back to the bahnhof, which was another few hours ow walking, talking and gawking, and waited with me until my train arrived.

The information from the packet gave me an idea of what  to look for but in no way prepared me for the splendor this city displays.

It is difficult to put into words the feelings of awe, reverence and humility I felt as I walked, talked and prayed where people have walked, talked and prayed for a thousand years. 

Buildings and Landscape

     After a good night's sleep and a successful trip across town to Mass, the surroundings began to sink in.

My first observation was that many of the buildings looked exactly the way I pictured "East" German buildings, plain and utile
     Next, I noticed the gardens.  They are beautifully tended and very colorful.  They must require a lot of love, planning  and attention.

From here, a stroll to the campus included some spectacular artwork and scenery. 

The campus buildings fall into the catagory of utile, as well, but that is not unusual for a campus.

A trip into the old part of Ilmenu disclosed an entirely different sort of Buildings.  These are ornately designed, colorfully painted and beautifully preserved.

I cannot help but wonder how the people that live and work in these majestic buildings view their surroundings.  I am in awe.

Language

     Have you ever tried to explain something to a non-English speaking person and find yourself repeating what they did not understand, only louder.  I am guilty.  Well, when I did not understand the train schedule, a delightful man tried to help me.  When I did not understand, he gave me a dose of the above medicine.  It was a very revealing lesson, and I hope I am never so demeaning again. 
     Everyone with whom I have tried to communicate by word or gesture, one on one, seemed to understand.  And their helpfulness goes beyond mere politeness, thank God. 
     As I observe people in public, I perceive very few differences.  Shoppers, shop; Drinkers, drink; eaters, eat, and except for their language differences, they could be anywhere I have been.
     In class there are some differences.  Our teacher, Frau Lüder, is quite soft spoke,.  The ladies, and especially Arisa, from Japan, also speak softly.  The men from Russia are split, with two having, deep, easy-to-hear voices and two speak undecernably.  The man from Arabia is also soft spoken but the man from Slovokia can be easily understood.  One of the most soft spoken in our class is Nick.  This makes me conclude that the vocal differences may be more personal or familial, as opposed to cultural or regional.
     When groups are speaking in what I must conclude is their mother-tongue, the speakers become quite boisterous.  This seems to be their normal speaking mode.
     Needless to say, but I am saying it anyway,  this is conjecture based simply on a short observation.
 

Buildings and landscape in Ilmeanu

     Our welcome package had some almost unbelievably beautiful photos of buildings in Ilmenau.  A trip into the city proved the photos accurate or understated.  The city center is cobblestoned, incredibly clean and difficult on which to walk.  But each side of the street is lined with picture-book buildings.

Several had plaques to indicate that Goethe had lived there.

 Each building had a shop that dealt with one theme, ie ladies accessories.  One shop sold me an Ilmenau hatpin.  (Vital purchase for me.)  There were several bakeries from one my traveling companion and I purchased and shared a strawberry sweet roll.  It was unlike anything we had eaten before and we enjoyed the experience as much as the pastry.

St Jacob's Church is built on t´he site of a 15th century church.  It has been reconstructed after several fires and holds some incredible baroque artwork.

In the middle of town is this statue that is the town symbol.  These are goats and these read "here dances the goat with his wife.  The other sides say, " in Ilmenau the sky is blue.

And boy when it is blue, it is remarkably blue.  Somewhere I read that it sparkles.  I know that it makes me feel sparkly.

The Journey

     An hour delay at CVG had me panicky because I had only an hour and a half layover at JFK.  All ended without problem.  Everyone with Delta was so accommadating that it made even the delay acceptable.  AND my luggage met me at FRA. 

     In FRA the signs were clear and my hotel was walking accessable.  The receptionist was friendly, my room ready even though it was hours before check-in time and the concierge not only gave me directions to where I wanted to go, but gave them to me in print, IN English.  It was so easy I felt very well  welcomed. 

     I  visited the Römer ten years ago and felt in had gotten even prettier.

 I did not know that was possible and the surprise was extremely pleasant.  I feared it might have deteriorated. This old reconstructed city section teemed with people  many of whom were tourists, but not all.

     The group meet-up in the train station and the subsiquent actions had a few SNAFU's but nothing that was not easily overcome.  But I have to admit a good night's sleep probably made it a lot easier for me than the others who had not slept for twenty or so hours. 

     After roughly a four-hour train connection, we were greeted in Ilmenau by University personel and a van that delivered us straight to our lodging. This felt great for me, I can only imagine how it felt for the very tired travelers. I have had great room from day one, clean, spacious and comfortable. It did take three moves to get into the one I will use for the next thee weeks,  but even this had no dampening affect. 

     I dropped off the bags and met the tired group in the lobby from which we strolled through residential  districts to a department store.  This had to be done because no stores, and I mean No storess are open on Sunday and we had to have food for the day.  Many things as we were making our way to and through the store caught my interst but by then I was on overload, too overwhelmed to react to much.  In our lodgings, ín German "die Jungendherberge", the group met in a central area, ate our purchases as a group and put a perfect finish on a great first day.

     I made one very big discovery.  Anyone to whom I smiled or spoke, smiled or spoke in return.  However, if I did not smile or open my mouth, no one seemed to mind. 

   

Monday in Ilmenau

Saturday my reserved single room was not yet ready but it was promised for 10, Sunday morning. I packed up all my stuff, including the linen, fully trusting they meant what they said. After Mass, around noon, no room. By 4, I was told. Around 7, no room and no linen. Moved into another room for 4, alone with fresh linen. It really makes no difference, but watching these people squirm for excuses is rather comical.
Monday! Wow! Early the clouds made the day soft and walkable. After breakfast, without eggs, we four met and treked to the orientation. After a short meeting, we were put on hold for the second shift of placement testing to be held at 10:50. Unlike my earlier impression of all things German, we were tested promptly at noon. Between 10 and our test we were driven by a 10 minute downpour to shelter shared by a Russian couple who are also studying German. Other than our teacher, we spoke German, word by slowly thought out word and actually communicated. They are from a place totally unknow to me, Kyrgyestan.
We three UCers are in beginning German and will report to room AEZ 1220 at 8:45 Tuesday. Let the German begin.
After the orientation one of my classmates and I went into the city of Ilmenau. Wonderful pictures are included. Nick and I shared a scrumptious Strawberry Strudel AND I now own an Ilmenau hatpin. Some goals achieved.