30 Oct 2010 A Double Treat, Speyer & Baden Baden

Town of Speyer
















































Vase filled with wine for parties
























Relic bones of church officials









Towns of Karlsrhue & Gaggenneau














Today we were only going to go to see the Black Forest but on the way we hit two towns we just had to see. We took along Sister Windley, a Senior Missionary, who was without a companion and getting a little lonely. We felt that we needed to share some of these activities with the other Missionaries. They can't believe we have the energy to do all of this after working 40 hours a week. Don't tell anyone, but we really don't have the energy. We are exhausted on Sunday and we love our rest time. I have to tell you, we do have mission boundaries which we must adhere to in our traveling and the Black Forest is a huge chunk with the Northern boundary of it going into our Western most mission boundary. that is why we could only go as far as Baden Baden in our travels but luckily the travel there went through a beautiful part of the Black Forest. It is not called black because it has black trees but because it is so dense with pines that no sunlight can come into the forest bed, thus, the black forest. The part we went
through had various Oaks and berch so we also saw a lot of color changes besides the green. I have never seen anything so beautiful. Gene had to stop numerous times so I could get just the right picture.

So the first town we came to was Speyer. It is a town with so many churches that you couldn't possibly see them all in one day. We chose the one that had the most history, the Dom Cathedral. Its corner stones were laid in 1061 and it was built in the shape of a Latin Cross. It is one of the largest Romanesque cathedrals in Germany. Here is where 8 German Emperors and Kings, 4 queens and a number of Bishops are buried. There is an old Gate which is one of the highest in Germany built as a Medieval fortress in 1176. I took pictures of both of these. There are mineral baths which are cold that date back to 1126 and used by the Jewish quarter.

The town hall is built in the Rococo style and it is now used to seat the city council. There is also a monastery that was founded in 1232 and between 1923-1931 it was the site of the murdered by the Nazi philosopher and Carmelite nun Edith Stein. We enjoyed the town and had a brat for lunch and stopped to buy some very good German chocolate. I have to try it before I know which kinds to send home for Christmas of course.

On to Baden Baden. This town has special significance to Gene as it is rumored within his family that his Great Grandfather could possibly be from the Baden area. We are not certain but it was fun thinking that Vincent or as the Germans say Wentz, may have walked the same streets and seen the same sights as we were enjoying at that very moment. We don't know what it was like here in the 1850-60's but today it is considered the rich man's city. They say if you are a millionaire you live in Baden Baden. A trip to Baden is always a fabulous journey into a wonderful world. It is an oasis of tranquility, a cosmopolitan center and a mecca of the fine arts. Emperors and Kings have stayed here as well as great men of the 19th & 20th Cent. Men such as Tolstoy, Brahms, Dostoyevsky, Liszt, Mendelsohn, Mietzsche, Twain, Wagner & Klemperer all flocked to Baden for a much relaxed time.

This City has been called the summer capital of Europe. Because it is so close to the French border most of the buildings and gardens are built in the French tradition. After walking through the tree lined gardens and seeing all the beautiful fountains and statues it reminded me of the paintings my brother Bill did of France. He would love this place I know. As we walked and listened to the passer byes we definitely heard more French being spoken than German. Outside of all the very posh clothing stores the sites to see here would be the Castle ruins and the palace which is still in tact as it was in the 17th cent. The largest money maker here are the horse races and the casino which you are not allowed in unless you are dressed in your formal best. It must be on the same scale as Monte Carlo. Another wonderful feature that both rich and poor can partake of are the Thermal baths which date back to the 1100's and designed by the Romans. Marcus Aurelius Antony who ruled from 211-217 cured himself of gout in these thermal waters. They have a beautiful theater where musicals are performed weekly.

The Oos River (fleus) lightly meanders through the middle of town with beautiful trees of every color. Gene immediately saw that the river bed was covered in laid stone. We were impressed with that fact. We definitely want to come back here when we have more time as it was too late in the afternoon to see the palace. Since it was getting a little chilly, we all opted for a great hot chocolate and a German pastry. Eat your hearts out Vistanites. Have yourselves a restful Sunday.