On Sunday, we visited the charming town of Esslingen, which the kids and I saw last year but Cam missed. This time we hiked up to Esslingen Burg wall and the tranquil park within. (Note the vineyards in front of/below the wall and tower. The hillsides all around the Stuttgart area are covered with vineyards, often carefully and beautifully terraced with stone.) An unusual sundial on the side of a house on our walk up to the wall caught my eye. I cannot fully translate the accompanying plaque, but it says something about a Hebrew inscription (seen at the top of the sundial) quoting from the first [Hebrew] book of Moses, or Genesis 1:14-15: "And God spoke, 'Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens....'"
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On Monday, we enjoyed swimming at a local public pool with our American friends. The kids got a startling taste of local culture as we were surprised by (and tried not to look toward) some women sunbathing topless. Meanwhile, back at our apartment today, I returned from shopping to find the kids deeply engaged in (gasp!) writing and doing "homework." While they are rarely thrilled with writing back at home, they invented a top-secret game in Germany last year (I wish I could describe it, but I am sworn to secrecy) that engages them when we have fewer distractions (no Wii, television, etc.).
2 comments:
How interesting that sundial is. The brick work is amazing. Medieval castles are the coolest. I wouldn't want to live in one though, they don't seem to be very warm and cozy.
My husband and I did a little tour of Europe on our honeymoon (11 years ago), we stayed in Munich for a few days; visited some castles in the area. I regret not buying a cuckoo cuckoo clock from a little German clock shop!
Hi Kari and family,
How nice to have you back this side of the Atlantic! Sorry we can't join you in Paris, but have a great 4th of July (and Maya's birthday??)
Much love, Alison and co
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