Warren, what would you recommend for dinner?
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16 years ago
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Katie Speaks Slovene
Trojica is somewhere in southeastern Slovenia
Katie ordered two Cokes and two brats....she thought.
What she got for each of us:
Two slabs of pork roast, canned peas and carrots, rice pilaf delight, french fries, greens and tomato dressed with balsamic vinegar, freshly baked rye bread on a plate garnished with lemon. Katie was disappointed there was no pumpkin pie with ice cream.
Katie ordered two Cokes and two brats....she thought.
What she got for each of us:Two slabs of pork roast, canned peas and carrots, rice pilaf delight, french fries, greens and tomato dressed with balsamic vinegar, freshly baked rye bread on a plate garnished with lemon. Katie was disappointed there was no pumpkin pie with ice cream.
Last Friday Night in Bamberg
We moved out of our apartment Saturday, August 29th.
Each neighborhood in downtown Bamberg has their own beer fest.
Cloister Brau, one-half block away from our building,
and a community favorite,
hosted a great party to send us off!
A couple of stores brought several boxes of hats
to add some style to the party.
I found a felt one that's a keeper.
We wandered back to get a jacket and
Tom started playing with his camera. (as usual)
Do you think any of these shots would work for our Christmas card?
Let us know!
Each neighborhood in downtown Bamberg has their own beer fest.
Cloister Brau, one-half block away from our building,
and a community favorite,
hosted a great party to send us off!
A couple of stores brought several boxes of hats
to add some style to the party.
I found a felt one that's a keeper.
We wandered back to get a jacket and
Tom started playing with his camera. (as usual)
Do you think any of these shots would work for our Christmas card?
Let us know!
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
"Sand Kerwa" Celebrating St. Elizabeth
This small, beautiful, simple church was
consecrated in 1354 next to the river in Bamberg.
In 1951 a devote member
and beer drinker
decided it was about time the community
remembered his church.
By far not the biggest place of worship in town,
but a special one.
consecrated in 1354 next to the river in Bamberg.
In 1951 a devote member
and beer drinker
decided it was about time the community
remembered his church.
By far not the biggest place of worship in town,
but a special one.
Fifty-nine celebrations later "Sand Kerwa",
honoring St. Elizabeth,
is a five day,
fun-for-all-folkfest
(that's how the brochure described it)
with a beer to quench your thirst.
Local breweries (about 30)
line cobblestone streets with stands
featuring roasted chicken, brats, more brats,
kraut, potato salad, dumplings,
and their beer of course!
Bands from every direction blare out musical tunes.
"Sit down have a beer . . ."
is a festival tagline,
a hundred thousand people did!
Saturday and Monday night
featured firework displays
over St. Michaelsburg Monastery
on the hill.
Carnival rides kept kids happy
along with toy and
sweet tooth booths.
We enjoyed several walks with friends.
(Kellie and Stephanie pictured)
It gave us the opportunity to lift our mugs and toast.
The custom of raising your beer or wine glass
to signify community and
fellowship is a German must!
honoring St. Elizabeth,
is a five day,
fun-for-all-folkfest
(that's how the brochure described it)
with a beer to quench your thirst.
Local breweries (about 30)
line cobblestone streets with stands
featuring roasted chicken, brats, more brats,
kraut, potato salad, dumplings,
and their beer of course!
Bands from every direction blare out musical tunes.
"Sit down have a beer . . ."
is a festival tagline,
a hundred thousand people did!
Saturday and Monday night
featured firework displays
over St. Michaelsburg Monastery
on the hill.
Carnival rides kept kids happy
along with toy and
sweet tooth booths.
We enjoyed several walks with friends.(Kellie and Stephanie pictured)
It gave us the opportunity to lift our mugs and toast.
The custom of raising your beer or wine glass
to signify community and
fellowship is a German must!
Monday, August 24, 2009
Wroclaw Poland
Sixty years ago the city was almost leveled
in a brutal, 80-day siege.
But you would never know it today;
many central square buildings were
rebuilt from rubble to the original
Gothic and Baroque style of architecture.
There are also many structures today
remaining from the Communist era
that display no charm,
they are just big.
Wandering around market square,
we were impressed with its beauty.
Many well done bridges and the riverfront also are eye pleasing.
Graffiti and poverty are two words that come to mind
when describing other sites we saw.
Old streetcars, broken windows, unpainted buildings,
roaming animals,
and elderly homeless men and women on the streets grip one.
Central Wroclaw is different than residential Wroclaw.
99% of Poles are Roman Catholic.
We attended 7:00 a.m. Mass at Saint John the Baptist Cathedral.
Pews were full and most in their Sunday/Funeral/Wedding suits.
Elderly, angelic looking Sister Mary Poland
passed the collection basket
and thanked you with a nod.
Many Sisters, from varying orders, of all ages, attended services.
A pre -Vatican II style of worship was conducted.
The number of large city churches amazed us,
all beautiful!
Poland is recovering from years of political strife.
Driving back to Bamberg we noted countryside decay of farm buildings.
Villages were stark and stressed financially.
However, one of my most memorable images is of people walking proudly to Mass,
heads held high.
(I've visited on three Sundays)
The faith and welcoming ways of the Polish
will move them forward.
P.S. When in Poland count on someone trying to wash your windshield for a buck!
in a brutal, 80-day siege.
But you would never know it today;
many central square buildings were
rebuilt from rubble to the original
Gothic and Baroque style of architecture.
There are also many structures todayremaining from the Communist era
that display no charm,
they are just big.
Wandering around market square,
we were impressed with its beauty.
Many well done bridges and the riverfront also are eye pleasing.
Graffiti and poverty are two words that come to mind
when describing other sites we saw.
Old streetcars, broken windows, unpainted buildings,
roaming animals,
and elderly homeless men and women on the streets grip one.
Central Wroclaw is different than residential Wroclaw.
99% of Poles are Roman Catholic.
We attended 7:00 a.m. Mass at Saint John the Baptist Cathedral.
Pews were full and most in their Sunday/Funeral/Wedding suits.
Elderly, angelic looking Sister Mary Poland
passed the collection basket
and thanked you with a nod.
Many Sisters, from varying orders, of all ages, attended services.
A pre -Vatican II style of worship was conducted.
The number of large city churches amazed us,
all beautiful!
Poland is recovering from years of political strife.
Driving back to Bamberg we noted countryside decay of farm buildings.
Villages were stark and stressed financially.
However, one of my most memorable images is of people walking proudly to Mass,
heads held high.
(I've visited on three Sundays)
The faith and welcoming ways of the Polish
will move them forward.
P.S. When in Poland count on someone trying to wash your windshield for a buck!
Boleslawieckie Swieto Ceramiki
The annual five day festival at Boleslawiec celebrating pottery,tradition and community was a really fun stop for us.
As far back as the 14th century ceramics put the town on the map.
Today distinctive patterned pieces,
either hand stamped or hand painted
(most with royal blue in them)
can be found in homes worldwide.
Many, many people in southwestern Poland
are employed by this craft industry.
An event highlight is daily locals become pottery themselves!
They come to the bath (pictured) and cover up with a thin layer of clay.
Dry a bit, and then parade around as goodwill ambassadors.
Some weren't so sure about what they were doing,
others led the way.
Pottery demonstrations,
a chance to paint your own piece,
great food (candy smorgasbords),
live music, antique displays, shopping and
people watching combined for a
Saturday morning well spent.
As far back as the 14th century ceramics put the town on the map.
Today distinctive patterned pieces,
either hand stamped or hand painted
(most with royal blue in them)
can be found in homes worldwide.
Many, many people in southwestern Poland
are employed by this craft industry.
An event highlight is daily locals become pottery themselves!
They come to the bath (pictured) and cover up with a thin layer of clay.
Dry a bit, and then parade around as goodwill ambassadors.
Some weren't so sure about what they were doing,
others led the way.
Pottery demonstrations,
a chance to paint your own piece,
great food (candy smorgasbords),
live music, antique displays, shopping and
people watching combined for a
Saturday morning well spent.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Lutherstadt Wittenberg
The story of Martin Luther's life and Reformation history
not only changed the church as an institution,
it also influenced culture and architecture.
As the 16th Century began,
Renaissance thinking was blossoming,
education and art were being sought out.
A monk and professor,
Martin Luther lived in the Augustinian Monastery
on Wittenberg's east side.
His 95 Theses were meant to inspire an academic discussion about indulgences
(paying $$ to the Pope/Church to be absolved of wrong doing,
get rid of Catholic guilt etc.)
Residents of Germany and Hungary
were said to actively engage in the practice.
Several excellent museums and exhibitions
tracked Reformation movement as it spread to various German cities.
We went to numerous exhibits and attempted to educate ourselves.
Germany celebrated 20 years of reunification this past fall. Former provinces of East Germany have seen population loss of 14 to 30%. Decline is continuing, redevelopment is necessary to deal with problems of unoccupied buildings and deterioration of municipalities.
Sunday morning before hitting the autobahn,
we meandered on backroads.
It didn't take long to see the scars of hard economic years,
but yet pride and dignity
were displayed in some well kept homes.
Culturally East Germans have maintained
a love for the arts,
especially classical music.
Seventeen communities in the Saxony-Anhalt region have come together
addressing issues of specific relevance to each.
Their goal being to develop sustainable profiles that give a sense of place to residents.
Most funding in the 1990's to the East went for roadways and core retail areas.
Now intense effort
from those closest to depressed
areas is needed.
not only changed the church as an institution,
it also influenced culture and architecture.
As the 16th Century began,
Renaissance thinking was blossoming,
education and art were being sought out.
A monk and professor,
Martin Luther lived in the Augustinian Monastery
on Wittenberg's east side.
His 95 Theses were meant to inspire an academic discussion about indulgences
(paying $$ to the Pope/Church to be absolved of wrong doing,
get rid of Catholic guilt etc.)
Residents of Germany and Hungary
were said to actively engage in the practice.
Several excellent museums and exhibitions
tracked Reformation movement as it spread to various German cities.
We went to numerous exhibits and attempted to educate ourselves.
Germany celebrated 20 years of reunification this past fall. Former provinces of East Germany have seen population loss of 14 to 30%. Decline is continuing, redevelopment is necessary to deal with problems of unoccupied buildings and deterioration of municipalities.
Sunday morning before hitting the autobahn,
we meandered on backroads.
It didn't take long to see the scars of hard economic years,
but yet pride and dignity
were displayed in some well kept homes.
Culturally East Germans have maintained
a love for the arts,
especially classical music.
Seventeen communities in the Saxony-Anhalt region have come together
addressing issues of specific relevance to each.
Their goal being to develop sustainable profiles that give a sense of place to residents.
Most funding in the 1990's to the East went for roadways and core retail areas.
Now intense effort
from those closest to depressed
areas is needed.
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