Hello blogosphere! Apologies for my recent lack of posts recently, but grovelling aside I bring good news!
Last
week I got a short reprieve from term paper stress and travelled to
Freiburg, after a friend kindly invited me to visit for the weekend.
Located in the southwest of Germany, Freiburg is picturesque. Throughout
the year tourists are drawn to the city and the surrounding areas for
its vineyards, historic ruins and the Black Forest.
On
the first day we ventured into the city center, where postwar concrete
buildings shoulder the winding streets of the Old Town. The Old Town is
particularly distinctive as its "bachle" or small streams run along the
pavements. A relic of the city's innovative sanitation system during the
Middle Ages, the "bachle" are now skillfully avoided by hasty shoppers,
while local superstition has it that those who accidentally fall into
it will marry someone from Freiburg.
Another interesting site was the Freiburg Cathedral, also known as the 'Minster of Our Lady'. Built in the 13th century its Gothic style high arches and authentic stained-glass windows stun it's visitors into awe-stricken silence.
That
evening leaving the coffee shops and ice-cream parlours of the city
behind, we travelled out to witness an annual bonfire display. Burning
disk-flinging is an age old tradition in Europe. Kids and adults alike
use long sticks to heat wooden discs in bonfires and hit them onto
wooden planks, launching the discs hundreds of meters into the distance.
I watched mesmerised and chomping on a bratwurst, as the golden disks
of light disappeared into the night like shooting stars.
.jpg)
On
Saturday we visited Salzburg to see the city's annual street parade. The
event, which runs shortly after the pre-Lent festival Fastnacht,
had attracted various guilds from Salzburg and beyond. Beer,
curry-wurst and high spirits were in abundance. Groups accompanied by
big bands proudly represented their guilds in creative costumes. From
terrifying demons with chiming cow bells to folkloric jesters. During
the parade, onlookers are also active participants, and in return for
candy they must endure pranks; damsels taken away on wagons, and unlucky
spectators with tied feet and hands were common sights!
Later
that day, we attended a Big Band show organised by the school my friend
once attended. Highlights included the choir singing Queen's 'Bohemian
Rhapsody' and the live band solos of Motown classics, such as 'Aint no
mountain high enough'.
Having
not completely zapped all of my energy over the weekend, on Sunday we
drove to Staufen, a place widely recognised for its production of wine.
On a literary note, Staufen and its medieval castle ruins are also home
to the Faust Legend. Dr. Johann Faust the notorious alchemist who made a
pact with the devil is known to have lived and worked in the castle.
His mysterious demise was picked up by both Goeter and Marlowe during
the Renaissance era.
.jpg)
The
weekend was also a great opportunity to practice my German. Especially
when the family gathered during meal times, and to my relief I was able
to follow most of what was being discussed. Ultimately, it was great to
experience Germany from a different perspective and sample a range of
fresh and homemade dishes, like kartoffel suppe, pfannekuchen and
flammkuchen – recipes I'll definitely be taking home!
Well, that was a snapshot of my weekend.
Now I'm back in Heidelberg and ready to hit the homestretch! Ciao!
No comments:
Post a Comment