Heidelberg to Holland in Six Days

Heidelberg to Holland in Six Days

And so, the continuing saga across Europe from Freiberg to Paris, then Holland and finally into Belgium and back again all in only 14 days!

St. George's Church in Eisenach

Eisenach was our first stop. It is a famous historical city both in German history, architecture and especially music. We arrived in town in the early evening hours. Fortunately we pulled over and parked in front of a beautiful church, the Georgenkirche. At the time we didn't even know its name. 

Life-size Bronze of Bach

At the front door was a poster advertising a concert to be held that very evening, in fact it was to begin within a half an hour. The concert would feature music for clavichord, violin and soprano. We felt as if it had been planned around our arrival. The concert was wonderful. We sat right in front of the Trio. Immediately to our right was a baptismal font - those small ones where babies are just baptized with a sprinkle of water. 

We read after the concert that this was the baptismal font for Johann Sebastian Bach. Throughout this evening and through the next day we were to find many other amazing monuments to this great composter: the Bach Haus, a grand life-size bronze statue of the man and the famous church where he and several of his family members were organists through the 17th century. The buildings shown below were on a large poster with buildings and map of important buildings in Eisenach.

The Bach Haus was a fascinating exhibit. It is thought to be Johann Sebastian Bach’s birth home. We were greeted outside by his welcoming more than life-size statue. Inside there are explanations about and performances and demonstrations of many instruments Bach played
as he was composing and then used to showcase his own compositions. His very talented musical family included his father and his uncles. His father was a fine musician and composer and was the court organist for years. He also had many connections which allowed Bach to have very many early learning-while-doing activities. Inside the Bach Haus there is a listening room with headphones, a seating area and the opportunity to listen to as many of his compositions as are of interest to the visitors. 

Some of the Famous Eisenach Buildings to be Seen

Temple Closure Cleaning - Includes for Missionaries

Hallway Up to the Temple

We will be leaving our apartment for two weeks beginning this Sunday, September 10, after attending Sacrament Meeting in our Gemeinde and returning on September 25 traveling all the way from Amsterdam vicinity. 

Each six  months, the Freiberg Temple, as do all temples, closes completely for cleaning and some renovation - our apartments are included in the renovation plans for this closure. When we return I think we will find out apartments changed by hard workers adding wallpaper to our sleeping area - taking the edges off a very sharply sand-stippled paint work right next to our beds - as well as the addition of new reading lights and book shelves over our beds - they will be so appreciated! The missionaries are so well cared for and appreciated. We have come to know so many wonderful people both as we have been meeting on Sundays and as we have been working with many other European members coming to the Tempel from far off countries.

A walking tour here in Rothenburg has helped bring the ancient ramparts alive. For the serious side of Rothenburg’s history, we took the walk overlooking the best view of the town and all of the surrounding countryside. This 1.5-mile stroll atop the wall is at its most medieval before breakfast or at sunset - here the sun was beginning to go to rest for us.

Red-tiled Roofs Accent Ancient Weathered Wood Walls

Ploenlein - No Umlaut on my Computer

Walking around and then again downtown, we came across one of the most often photographed sites in Rothenburg. It is a quaint corner where two cobble-stone lanes, one climbing up and the other leading downhill, meet and are framed by many peaked tile roof lines and angled building walls. 

One of the shop signs, that of the "Trend Shop am Ploenlein" shows a happily watching dog - one of the many shoppers' own - patiently waiting on tether.





Next you will recognize a happy watching - but not shopping tourist below. That doesn't sound possible - someone watching and not shopping and happy???

Walking, Wandering and Wondering

What a spot! We were warned  before coming here that there are so many wonderful things inviting purchase that we must do our best to look and keep our pocketbooks in pocket. Of course, that's not always possible.

However, I wish there were some better way to keep things seen in more than just that day's visual  memory!

We saw a central store for Kaethe Wohlfahrt, one of the very famous designers of German handwork.

We first saw small pieces of her work when we were blessed to be able to visit the Passion Play in Oberammergau in 2010. Today for me was like visiting a LEGO store for some kids I know.

There were so many different and wonderful toy stores with handcrafted design and colors all over them - so creative, so dear, and so expensive!

Art and Imagination in Vibrant Colors and Fanciful Shapes

I wish I could show some of the moving photos of toy stores I have taken with my simple pocket phone. Pyramids spinning up high with their paddles; porcelain dolls smiling and waving; brown, black and white bears turning and playing drums; flowers swaying; even turtles crawling! Of course, I think they are almost appreciated as much if not more so by loving grandmothers as by beloved grandchildren!

How Many More Flights?

We'll be leaving for Heidelberg in the next two days. Before we leave, though, we have taken some amazing photos - Lee taking some of the photos up through the stair-after-stair to the heights of the town tower - I continuing the climb far too high up and then just trying to look down. My mother used to surprise me with her fear of heights - until just lately as I better understand from some of our recent spectacularly high  climbs done at my ancient age here in Germany. Now I completely understand as my stomach wildly churns as I am looking far away, but also far, far down from the top of the recommended as a "must-see" Town Hall tower. Such a sight overlooking the town and the country surrounding this medieval and  yet lived-in 21st century lifestyle town.

From the Very Top

We have felt again the wonderful history surrounding us and the modern citizens of this medieval town all with its remaining wonderful sights into the past.

The Fall has Beautifully Fallen

All around we are finding the sure signs of Fall having arrived this September. Of course, first we began seeing the green-leafed trees begin to change into gorgeous, bright colors!

Across from Our 3rd Floor Window 

I walked up and down our wonderful Hainichiner Strasse to part of the "Ring Strasse" - Leipziger Strasse - before finding this beautiful example right out our third-floor apartment. I am including some of the other interesting trees of color used for various purposes besides their decorative colors and shade.

Interesting Stone Filled Fencing

It's been so interesting to see the various means of fence building used by our neighbors. A couple of them I've already shown in previous shots. Stones within wire fence construction; tall walls of concrete blocks sometimes with added dirt and beautiful plantings; wrought iron in painted black or forest green reminding me one of our fences at home; brick walls reminding of our brick wall; additionally early plantings at the perimeter of 1-3 year-old homes which we can see surrounding homes close by which have already been there for many more years; prickly rose bush hedges; and finally here's a photo as I returned back up our street - a very high fence planted by a wise homeowner many years ago! Notice all the fiery red soon to be black trees behind the house-high cypress.

Dino Expo XXL in Freiberg

As I continued my long walk all the way down to the busy street looking for these various colorful trees, at one place I was startled as I noticed a very brightly colored sign placed as an advertisement for an upcoming exhibition. It would be especially interesting perhaps to some grandsons I know at home. These ancient beasts are apparently of world-wide intrigue. So fascinating to see how much we have in common as students of all ages. "Dino Expo XXL - Grosse Dinosaur Ausstellung in Freiberg - Giganten der Urzeit jetzt in ihrer Stadt!    Dino Expo XXL - Great Dinosaur Exhibition in Freiberg - Giants from Ancient Times now in your own city!" 

Somehow we didn't make it to the Exhibit - I think we were out of town on the 14th and the 15th. So sorry that I'm not able to make a report on how scientifically these creatures were exhibited. The German people are known for their scientific interest and precise presentations. I'd have to think it would have been fascinating by the looks of the advertisement.

Dietmar and Ilona Harzt

Freiberg is a university city and has been for several centuries - hard for Americans to think in that time sense. Specifically it is a mining university.  Of course you know about the silver mines of pure metal that were originally fought over by many greedy counts and kings. I don't know if there is any connection between the excavating that would have been part of those early times and the studies that would be part of a mining university. Certainly these creatures were around many, many years previous to that and donated their dead bodies to creating great sources of fuel for us generations after their demise. We have a very good friend here in the ward, a Temple worker actually, whose husband has been a mining expert and university professor at the University of Freiberg. I don't know if any of the university work here would have any connection with research involving dinosaurs. I'll have to ask soon. 

Dietmar Harzt (his wife, Ilona, Ward Music Chairwoman) is also shone in this photo taken when we were invited to their home for a Christmas luncheon. This mining expert recently took us on an expedition looking into mining buildings, shafts and other remnants from the early mining done all around the Erzgebirge area. We had a summary of many of the historic buildings and their locations. Dietmar began by showing us maps of the area, Reinsberg, and ended by taking us to a wonderful site showing the buildings as well as the various means used to slope the water needed for the mining work above and underground.

Model of the Castle, Moat and Mining Depth

"Mining holes" were used to sight where the tunnels underground were to meet moving water from the original mountain areas. Fascinating to imagine how all of this was accomplished in the those times. They could find each other digging tunnels coming from different directions and 

Marker for Trenches

needing to meet so deep underground!

This is the first time I noticed the symbols so universally accepted as the Freiberg symbols - a hammer and anvil. They are seen everywhere usually along with the words: "Glück Auf!" As the miners went down so far below the earth each day they met, prayed, sang and wished each other "Good Luck."

The hike was fairly rigorous. Our young Mountain Goat Sister Missionaries were ahead of us the whole way. However, we all managed to arrive for the lovely luncheon arranged for us by Ilona and Dietmar.  We didn't look nearly as cheerful and light-hearted at the beginning of our trip until we were so wonderfully refreshed!

Beginning of the "Mining" Tour

There is an amazing mining museum near the Untermarkt (Undermarket) area - actually interesting that it is in a higher location than the Obermarket (Overmarket) area central to our city.  One day we decided to investigate this museum. My grandfather, originally from Illinois, and his ancestors, originally from England, were miners. Well, all of them except Grandpa Hocking. At the age of around 16 he accompanied his father into the coal mine in Illinois where he worked. When he came up later that day, he said that he would never do that kind of work - good for his lungs and other parts of his body! Back to Freiberg first and the museum next having to do with an amazing mining exhibit.

Preserved Tunneling

One day we went up to visit at the "Old Elizabeth" mine shaft. I wrote earlier about how the miners would gather early in the morning and have a prayer and music time before they went down praying for safety. "Glück Auf" - "Good Luck" is a familiar phrase often seen all over our area on signs, posters, and even building names which I'm sure was part of everyday work life in these perilous Erzgebirge (Ore Mountains). I showed Lee Ashby playing an ancient white organ used by the miners. It would be interesting to know who would have been taught to play the organ so long ago - probably one of the Catholic priests assigned to that. Here we saw remains of tunneling kept modern so that people can take tours through the area - of course, hard hats are required.

Within the nearby Bergmuseum we saw amazing historical documentation. There were many models graphically showing those proportionally tiny "ant" men working so far below the earth's surface.

Freiberg in the Heart of Saxony A Free - "Frei" - and Beautiful City

Great Welcome Home for Missionary on the Left

We had a great time meeting with the returning missionary son, Kevin, at the home of Angela and Rene Fröbel for a Welcome Home Barbecue with many of the missionaries - here with Bill Moss. Kevin is the grandson of Frank Apel. Brother Apel, with picture below, is one of the original men who worked carefully with other faithful Saints here in Freiberg with Elder (President) Monson as the Freiberg Temple was brought about. The miracle of having a temple built and dedicated within the Communist-controlled country  came about with amazing cooperation and respect from otherwise atheistic leaders. 

Brother and Sister Frank and Helga Apel

It is a wonderful experience to walk into our Branch on Sundays and meet with so many people who have had such faith during DDR times in Freiberg. President Monson's book, Faith Rewarded, was a wonderful read before we came - and now to see and converse with brave participants from that time is an amazing part of our regular Sunday activities. This couple was one of those cited often by then Elder Monson, Brother and Sister Frank Apel. He speaks with a distinct accent from Saxony - sometimes indistinguishable from a conversation with someone with a very full mouth. She, however, speaks a beautiful "high" German dialect. They met so many years ago when he was on a mission to the north and east of his own Saxony. She brings a very understandable as well as intelligent and faithful insight to every Sunday School lesson! I have the blessing often on Friday night temple sessions to work with her in the initiatory blessings. Such a blessing for me, too.

The Spring beauty we have seen all around us has turned into a Super "Zuper" Summer. Our continued walks uphill and down and all around our Temple area have continually reminded us of our own California and Utah gardens and manicured landscaping!

Fauna and flora in abundance

As the days have become continually longer and the nights considerably shorter, I have double-checked what I thought was a similar latitude with our home cities. However, the lines indicate more of a similarity with southern Canada. We will expect many more delightful early mornings - we are up almost together with the 5:30 am sun dawning - and long, bright evenings into late-coming nights.

Rhododendrons, azaleas, roses and fruit gardens with their trees and berries

are everywhere visible! (Definitely gives me "heimweh" "homesickness" for all of our flowers as well as our raspberries, apples, peaches, plums, and grapes!)

Private Yet Shared Gardening "Sheds" and Grounds

We have walked past so many personal garden areas which are maintained through the summer. Individuals who have smaller private gardens are able to rent spaces for extensive planting areas. There are small cottages which are part of many of them. It looks like many people are 
interested in maintaining  plots full of all kinds of garden growing.There are people who are appointed to be in charge of communal areas even though they are privately owned. Fun to see so much collective interest so near to many of the very large buildings full of apartment dwellers.

It is fascinating to see the pruned branches so carefully cut back from last year's growth on pear, apple, apricot, plum and cherry. As in Utah, we don't see any citrus trees, but there is an abundance of all the above-mentioned fruit trees.                     

In our short time here, we have met Senior Missionary Couples from Utah but with a couple from Idaho, and Oregon. It is great to see their dedication in their temple service. They come and learn and pray and return home to their families every 12 or 18 months or so.

This darling couple seated downstairs in the missionary room at dinner, was here before us, and they have since returned. Kent and Marlies Freeman returned to Utah. She is actually German and was so helpful when I first came helping me to learn how to best pronounce blessings in the Temple. They first met on his mission, but after he returned home, he decided he would have to go back and propose and bring a special part of Germany back with him to his home!

Bill and Ann Moss are here from Idaho - Sugar City - as Bill always proudly interjects! They arrived just a month before we did. They were amazingly helpful in showing us all kinds of important places - grocery stores, places to go to become registered as permitted-to-stay foreigners, and all kinds of vital information! She is a wonderful pianist and organist, and she is definitely one of the most delightful missionaries with whom to work! It is so great to conduct with her at "organ" in our 7 AM Preparation Meetings! She is always enthusiastic and prepared!! More Senior Missionaries later - ooh, I don't know if I like that "Senior" name very much!!

Sisters Darton and Wacker

At the same time we have met and and been so inspired by wonderful Sister and Elder Full-Time Missionaries. Sister Darton and Sister Wacker have been such amazing examples of service - and both are speaking outstanding German as models for us and in great communication with our German brothers and sisters. Since this early photo, Sister Darton has returned to school AND to becoming a beautiful bride. Sister Wacker has just returned to school. She is a viola player par excellence. We surely have learned to love these dedicated missionaries!

Middle Saxony Orchestra featured at the Outdoor City Festival

In addition to working at the Temple compound, we have also been able to walk into and all around this beautiful city of Freiberg. Its origins were very early in German actually Saxon history. Germany didn't actually become a country until very late. All of these different people were "citizens" of many individual states or duchies, depending on the ruler of an area. We were able to attend festivals and concerts downtown many times. The final concert part of the "City Festival" held every year featured the famous Middle Saxony orchestra. The festival had been a wonderful time with booths for handicrafts, foods, and talent evenings. (The orchestra was set up under a tarp cover - the week had promised storms and pouring rain.) Because of the nearness of Freiberg to those beautiful mountains of wealth, we have here so many sudden bursts of gusty wind, downpours, thunder and lightning, "Gewitter" in German, throughout several seasons of the year. Most of the land is covered in  deep, rich greens as a result. It's hard for me to imagine these beautiful lush lands being trampled over by one empire's troops in pursuit of another one's throughout all of these European countries' histories!) Of course one of those storms was to rage in and finally chase the wonderful musicians with all their fine instrument under and behind cover. When this beautiful photo was taken, there was no idea of such a thunderstorm to match one of Beethoven's compositions. Ilona Harzt and her husband had invited us to several concerts previously as the orchestra was playing in their resident cathedral. I know the roof and windows are wonderfully appreciated there! There's a fun photo of us with the Harzt' outside the cathedral before the concert previously written up.

Flaming Schwiboggen

Twirling Pyramids

One larger area south of Freiberg is just at the edge of what is known as the Erzgebirge - Ore Mountains. Hundreds of years ago these mountains contained great mines full of veins of pure silver. There were many men brought in by the Saxon rulers just to mine it. It didn't need to be smelted. Of course, those rulers who "owned" the mountains were wealthy beyond belief. We learned that the citizens had counted on the earth - ores - for their livings. After the most wonderful ores had been mined from the earth, the Germans in this area, Seiffen, one of the central villages, later towns, moved to using other natural resources surrounding them. Their mountains are forested with beautiful evergreens The locals began that wonderful woodcarving and lace handwork for which they are now famous throughout the world. The townspeople work all year round carving wooden decorations by hand and with fine German machinery. Originally there was a focus on the Christmas season with nativities, angels, Santas, etc. Now all holidays throughout the year are celebrated - Valentine characters with hearts; Easter bunnies, eggs and flowers; even unusual characters riding motorcycles have joined the windows advertising specialities. Beautiful carved Also, today the work is not just done in factories. As we drove into Seiffen and other nearby vilages, we found most of the streets with individual homes advertising one sort of woodcarving specialty or another.

The Beginning

We arrived in Freiberg on a Saturday night and fell into bed. Sunday morning we managed to arise - who knew what time it was wherever! We were to go to the Dresden Stake Conference that morning with our new Mission President and Sister Erlacher, what an amazing leadership team! They had already met us at the Dresden Airport that Saturday evening and then taken us grocery shopping in a grocery store that was open until midnight. They also walked all around helping us find "basics."

President Gunther and Analiese Erlacher

At this Conference time there would be new missionaries arriving to work in the Freiberg Temple and some missionaries leaving to go home. In this photo are couples whom we have come to know and work with well. The American missionary couples are composed of Elders who have served on German, Austrian or Swiss missions who have returned with their wives after nearly 50 years. That is except for us. My wonderful husband has been so brave - he has never spoken German - that was my major at BYU. We've been able to learn what we needed to in a very short time.

Missionaries at the Dresden Stake Conference

Those on the far left, a German couple, from Bielefeld, Germany are Sonya and Detlef Glomb. The couple on the far right are great workers, Ann and Bill Moss from Sugar City, Idaho. I am standing in front of our Temple President, and we are standing next to the couple leaving, the Schnableys. The other couple, President and Sister Wagner, are in the Temple Presidency.

We will be living across the hall from the Glombs for the next three months on the third floor. They are great friends and helpers in learning to use our new language.

The Dresden Stake Conference was an amazing gathering. There was an amazing Primary Stake Chorus. They obviously loved to work with their director and could they SING!

Dresden Stake Primary Chorus

The music was definitely recognizable, beautifully conducted and very moving even though the words were unknown. Lucky for us, a general authority happened to be the featured speaker speaking a language which had to be translated for the German Saints, English. We felt so blessed to be part of the congregation!

As the meeting progressed I saw sitting in front of us a woman, Sister Gregson, a woman with whom I had worked in the SLC Family History Library before we left. She was seeking ancestors in Germany, and as we worked she indicated that she might be in our general area of Saxony about the time we would have arrived as missionary. What an amazing meeting to see her in a huge Stake Conference! Since her arrival she had been able to meet with several very helpful Lutheran ministers who had been extraordinarily helpful to her sharing church records. That's pretty unusual if they know you are a Mormon - they've definitely been informed about temple work for ancestors. She and her husband told us they would be coming to the Freiberg Temple on Wednesday to do baptisms, confirmations, endowment sessions and sealings for her ancestors. Bigger surprise to follow: of all the places Lee and I could have been working throughout the temple on Tuesday, we happened to be just where they were when they arrived! We were able to help her with many of the family names we had first started finding in Salt Lake. She had been looking for many years before she found clues for this next gathering. It was such a wonderful beginning for us and partly a finish for at least some family members for her.

Frauenkirche, Dresden

After the Stake Conference in the morning hours, we had a couple of hours to drive around Dresden before we drove back to our Freiberg Temple. Of course, as it was Sunday we just walked for a while in the area surrounding the Stake Conference Meeting House.

This was the first time we had seen one of the many beautiful cathedrals we will continue to see as we live here and visit other cities and villages. It's so amazing to see the results of efforts of people who lived centuries ago and yet were able to build monuments to their God with the most minimum of wealth, tools and plans.

An interior shot follows. Since it was Sunday we didn't pay the price for the lecture of the real tour, but these shots show the beauty of a work in this cathedral which was nearly completely destroyed in WWII - reference the wonderful conference talk by President Uchtdorf about this amazing cathedral. The few blackish stones visible are the original limestone blocks. The rest of the cathedral was restored with a great effort taken to have it's original construction carefully followed. The next interior shots show a style very different from what we normally think of in a cathedral - particularly beautiful and unique are the windows noted above the main floor for the wealthy and for others who would merit such a position.

The bright interior lighting is very unusual. The colors are so pastel - hard to imagine this as original, but we read on the signs that they had reconstructed following some original designs. 

Interior Altar and Walls with Pastel Window Seats

We will have to come back to Dresden some time in the future and take the tour for more information about the windows, etc. Lee thought this style a very unique one especially with its colors and windows. After doing some online research, I did find some historical documentation that does show a very different style with coloring and ornamentation of a very different period. I'll insert a few of them below as I've become so interested!

Earlier Reconstruction

Earlier Reconstruction - Warm Colors

Earliest Sketch

The Rubble Left from the World War II Frauenkirche

Enough for Dresden and the Frauenkirche for now. You can now see how those few left dark stones are such a small part of the original - lovingly rebuilt!

Interjecting a wonderful missionary thought from a journal note 5.26.2017: "This morning as we were taking part in our first German endowment session, I had the most completely calm feeling come over me. When I heard the blessing words about finding joy in your posterity, I was suddenly looking with my spiritual eyes at our wonderful posterity - all through the eyes of my Father in Heaven - the loving, kind, gentle eyes of a Heavenly parent."

Top of where "Old Elizabeth," Oldest Silver Mine is locate

We are making valiant efforts to walk 10,000+ steps every day. Here in Germany that walking is one of the things every one seems to have in common. Most interesting is it though, they always seem to prefer to find a nearby "forest," tree-covered area in which to walk. This is from the top of one of nearby hill tops which overlook Freiberg - nearby we had walked to one of the oldest silver mines which originally made this city and very wealthy and the site and center for a university, much expanded today, specializing in mining and building of mines,etc. We were allowed to see inside this oldest, "Old Elizabeth" silver mine with its load carriers and other means of bringing up the raw ore and earth.

Lee at the "Old Elizabeth" organ

While we were there, we met a very kind group of Germans, ex-mining experts, who were gathering to have a meeting concerning old mining history and to have a bit of fun get together. They were kind enough to ask us in for a sight-seeing tour. The men were discussing mining and history, the women were gathered on the other side of the room discussing?? When they were showing us around the old building with its mining relics we stumbled across this very old relic of an organ - pump style. Of course, who would have indicated an interest in playing this VERY old original organ except Mr. Leland Ashby, organist extra-ordinaire. Very fun. They were even kind enough to encourage the playing.

Swing sets galore!

We know Rhododendrons here - in many Radiant Colors

We live near a newer development of home with children's swing and plays sets, new driveways and everywhere flower gardens accented with beautifully brightly painted homes.

Bright Red Tile Roof - most often seen

The gardens everywhere are also beautiful! It is so fascinating to see so many of the same plants here that we have both in Utah and in CA - rhododendrons, azaleas. hydrangeas with potassium for blue or otherwise, roses galore of all colors and scents, fruit trees to bear fruit much later on in the season, ivies and many bushes. They grow bushes from very early plants into great fences. So beautiful and practical. We also live very near fenced gardens which look like plots which are rented out during the seasons. It will be very interesting to see what eventuates.

They are fantastic gardeners. They prune fruit trees in what seem like a Japanese bonsaied manner - very beautiful and manicured and short to the ground for later, easier plucking.

Fascinating Fence

This is another form of fencing I've never seen in America. They sometimes use boxed in with fences collections of rocks or chopped wood. Textures are wonderful. I have no idea how much different the cost is.

They seem so attached to this beautiful countryside which we see everywhere near Freiberg. These Germans are so appreciative and caring about the country and even the near gardens and yards which are part of their every day lives.

Along with all of this earth caring, we see everywhere we go

great boxes requesting clothing, et.al. for those many refugees who are in great need. You know, they have taken in 1 refugee per 50 German citizens if you figure out the numbers during this short time since the difficult times have begun. Their Prime Minister, Merkel, has been under a lot of pressure for her stance - it has to have been so expensive!!! They expected that all of the EU would join in to help. Only Sweden - who as suffered terribly because of their great influx allowance - answered the call for assistance. It will be interesting to see the next few months when elections come again what the Germans will vote.

Only a few more comments for now. It is quite an interesting event to go grocery shopping here. There are many small grocery stores very easily with walking distance, but we often shop in a large chain grocery store called "Kaufland" - "Buyland" which has a great supply of fresh fruits and vegetables coming from Africa, Spain, Italy all neatly labelled next to each other. The only escalator I've ever imagined like this one shows me following our cart up with no hands.

Kaufland No Hands Escalator

It literally locks into position on the up or down and is carried away. No means of moving it until the up or down destination is reached!

Two of the attached photos in Kaufland show clever advertising

OK Brynn, Hannah and Gwyneth!

Star Wars Yogurt Flavor?

even to intrigue kids - please share.

These are yogurt containers with many wonderful flavors - children can enjoy yogurt for various reasons!

It's late of an evening. I'll say good night - "Gute Nacht" with a shot of an evening sunset. It's so fascinating to see the sun setting directly west. When we've been lost walking a couple of times, we were able to find our way home by following the setting of the sun. (Sometimes makes me think of the bread crumbs left by Hansel and Gretel to find their way home.) We see such beautiful risings and settings as Moroni points the way due East and the sun passes over his head due West. Beautiful organization of the temple placement.