October 19, 2023
I am in Sweden and it’s snowing!
Okay, but back to Germany, I have a lot to catch up on.
October 12-14
While I was in Schriesheim with Steph and Nancy, we bicycled everyday and did at least one touristy thing everyday. The pace was perfect because it was relaxed while still being interesting and fun.
One of the days we explored Shriesheim on bike and foot. The small town vibes were lovely and the scenery was beautiful. While we were walking around Schriesheim, it was fun to come across a Camino de Santiago (Jakobsweg) marker.
We went to see the Monastery of St. Michael on a lovely fall day. The views were beautiful and the monastery ruins were beautiful as well. While we were up there, we also saw the Heidelberg Thingstätte which is an open air amphitheater built by the Third Reich. While the space has since been repurposed as a concert space and social gathering place, it was still scary to see the massive size of the space and imagine it filled with immense hatred. There was a tour group of incoming Heidelberg students who raced up the step, significantly lightening the mood.
That evening I went into Heidelberg to have dinner with a friend. We walked around and got to briefly taste the Heidelberg nightlife culture.
On my final full day in Schriesheim, we went to see the Heidelberg Castle. We took a tour in English which gave us access to the inside of the castle as well as a guide to provide context. I enjoyed how cluttered the architecture of it is. The castle was built over such a long period of time that it is a really strange mix of different styles. I struggled to imagine what it would be like as a functioning castle because the size is just so immense that it seems so impractical to actually run as a functioning place. I really enjoyed the tour and the views of Heidelberg from the castle were also really beautiful.
In the evening of my final day in Schriesheim, Steph and I went to the Schriesheim Floorball Game. Think of floor ball as hockey without the ice. I got much more into it than I expected to. Being at a local sporting event was really enjoyable and the crowd’s enthusiasm was infectious. Unfortunately, the crowd did get a bit rowdy in a way that felt unkind to the opposing team which did not feel quite as warm and cozy as the rest of the game had. Schriesheim won the game and the fans were very excited. It was a fun way to end my time in Schriesheim. So much of this trip has been in large urban centers or in tiny villages without much of anything happening in them. Schriesheim split the difference very nicely and I am very grateful to Steph and Nancy for hosting me and showing me around their lovely hometown.
October 15
I took a morning train from Heidelberg to Stuttgart where I had a little bit of time before my train connection to Tübingen. I had enough time to quickly rush over to the Schlossplatz to look at the Stuttgart castle and surrounding monuments and things before I had to head back to catch my connecting train.
My third cousin, Tommy, met me at the station and we walked through Tübingen to a bus to get back to his place so I could drop my bag off. After a pretzel and coffee, we set off on the Tübingen tour. We saw many groups of first semester students doing various city activities including asking strangers wearing red to take a selfie with them. We were targeted a few times, but came out unscathed.
The city is beautiful and I did feel like I got a good sense of the place on our tour. We saw the city hall, walked along the island in the Neckar River, saw the spot where Goethe supposedly puked out a window, went in a church, saw the castle, and got dinner then looked at the start over the city. It was a really nice day of walking around looking at things. Tommy was a wonderful tour guide and it was really nice to get to know him.
October 16
Spent most of the day on the train where I finished sewing my dress. I again had some time in Stuttgart, so I briefly saw another park as well.
Dress update: The dress is done!
For context, I was worried about having too much stuff on this trip (which it somehow feels like I still do when I have to carry it around on my back all the time, although having to rewear things many times before I can wash them makes me think that might not be true), so before I left, my mom and I put together a pattern to turn my sleeping sack into a dress for the Stockholm dance event.
So, that’s what I’ve done. At Julie’s house in Bosham, I cut out the pieces and started sewing it. On the various trains I’ve taken since, I’ve seen the whole thing together. It’s come out quite nicely, although I have not put a hem on it, which hopefully doesn’t end up being too obvious.
Photos from the ball will follow.
When I arrived in Berlin, I took the metro to my friend, Dean’s house and from there we went to the local Berlin Scottish Country Dance class. It was fun to be a part of something I know and understand in a foreign country and they were kind enough to speak English most of the time.
October 17
I crashed a bit. 6 weeks of traveling wore me out I guess. So, despite being in a new city and wanting to explore, I spent most of the day snuggled in warm blankets watching Netflix. Sometimes, that’s just what you need on a cold, gray day.
When I did finally manage to get going, I meet with my third cousins, Gillian and Annika, for dinner and had a lovely time. Annika, her boyfriend, and I then went to a bar before heading back to her place for the night. I am 95% sure that the bar we went to was one of the few places I’ve actually been to before in Berlin. It was really surreal to walk in and realize that when my friend Tristi and I were in Berlin in 2018 we went to the same bar that Annika happened to invite me to this time.
October 18
I got coffee with Gillian and we walked around a bit. It was a much nicer day, so being outside was much more pleasant than it would have been the previous day.
When Gillian had to go, I decided to wander around on foot to see the central part of the city. I walked for a few hours just looking at my surroundings and enjoying the feel of the city.
In the evening I got dinner with friends and headed back to Annika’s apartment to pack up and get ready to leave in the morning.
October 19
So, here I am in Stockholm! I had a pleasant conversation with a Scottish man in a kilt who was next to me on the plane. He is not going to the RSCDS Youth Dance Weekend, but instead going to a wedding in Manchester and says that wearing the kilt is the best way to carry it.
I made my way to the hostel and did laundry while I unwound from the flight. Then I wandered out into the city a bit to find food. As I was outside it started snowing. There was not enough snow to stick, but it was still really lovely. So far I have managed to not buy new clothes on this trip, but I think gloves may be in order, I might have to switch out the shorts and sandals to make space for warm clothes, we will see.
