City Life in Wiesbaden

View from our bedroom window

We took another train ride with London Tube connections to Stanstead, outside London. We decided we did not have time to do justice on London, so we avoided it altogether. We really enjoyed the small cities and towns of England, Wales, and Ireland. My favorite part was the footpaths that criss-cross the countryside. Our last night in England, we walked around the village, and found a "public footpath". These paths are marked, and often go between two hedges.

Footpath sign outside Manuden, England

We were happy to get back to Wiesbaden. John and Elizabeth live right on the Marktplatz, or Market Square. They have a lovely fifth floor apartment, over top of commercial spaces. The view of the Marktplatz and the Marktkirche (along with the bells of that church) is amazing. It was also wonderful to stay in one spot for five days, and there was plenty to entertain us in the city, with the Erntedankfest (Thanksgiving festival) in the park and the plaza, and lots of good restaurants. We also had a few tourist attractions we did not want to miss.

Nerobergbahn, a funicular railway

Our first day back, we roamed the Erntedankfest, saw some wooden exhibits, including a chaise lounge carved from wood, and a crosscut saw exhibition that entertained the children. We also ate our best Bratwurst sandwich from a street vendor, and drank a pint of German Beer, while we watched an oompah band. It was a very nice way to get the feel of Germany, and it was a gorgeous day.

That night, we went to the opera, and saw The Marriage of Figaro (Die Hockzeit of Figaro) at the Staatstheater, a wonderful Baroque opera theatre. Fortunately, we read the synopsis before we went, because they sang in Italian, and the subtitles were in German. It was beautiful, nonetheless, and well-sung. We had to read about Act 4 again after we went home because it was so confusing with all the disguises and various lovers.

Relaxing on a wooden chair

Sunday afternoon John took David and me to the Therme, a classical spa using the natural hot springs for which Wiesbaden is famous. Initially built in the 1880's, the baths have saunas, steam rooms, ice cold showers (and warm ones), jacuzzis, and hot and cold pools. Of course, I do NOT have pictures of this. Bathrobes are the garb for walking from locker rooms to all the various forms of treatment, but nudity is the rule in the saunas and pools. We stayed for two hours, and I felt wonderfully relaxed and rejuvenated when we left, even without a massage (which costs extra). If I lived there, I would go   once a week, just to clean out my skin pores. Elizabeth made her wonderful black bean burgers that night, which were just as wonderful as the other food we ate in Wiesbaden. ( I have not weighed myself since I got home, and I don't want to know.)

Monday, Elizabeth was our personal tour guide around Wiesbaden. We took the tourist train around the city, and also took the Nerobergbahn, a cogwheel train, down from the top of Neroberg, where you can see the whole city and the Rhine River. We also visited the Russian Orthodox shrine, very peaceful and beautiful. We had the traditional snack for this time of year at the mountaintop cafe, an onion cake and federwiesser, which is the first crop of this season's Rhine wine. It has not finished fermenting, and almost tastes like it has lemonade in it. It also has less alcohol than the finished wine, so it was perfect in the middle of the day. Of course, the Germans seem to be able to drink wine and beer all day.

Mauseturm (being refurbished)

Elizabeth, Jessica, and David on the Rhine tour boat

Statue of Hildegard von Bingen

Tuesday we took a four hour boat tour down the Rhine to see all the castles, with a lunch stopover in a small town. We saw fifteen castles along the river, some in ruins, and some still habitable. We also stopped by the abbey of Hildegard von Bingen, a wonderful, peaceful place.

Now we are home, and gradually getting used to being home again. It was a wonderful trip, with a mix of seeing friends and family, and new sights, with some good relaxation, and lots of good eating. I feel less stressed and rejuvenated, and determined not to go too fast and get caught up in the daily hustle and bustle. I will remind myself to go at a measured pace, and take time to sit in the sunshine and listen to the birds.