Spring Travel Journal Part 6 - Germany

  Clematis, watercolor and watercolour pencil, 8.5" x 5.5"

Blog 28

We left a Schenna early on Father’s Day, which falls on Ascension Day in Germany and is a public holiday. We wanted to have lunch with one of Ingo’s cousins in the Augustinerkeller, a famous traditional Bavarian tavern with a beer garden in the centre of Munich.


However, we ran into several obstacles along the way. First, Ingo saw on the Deutsch Bahn app that our train would leave almost an hour earlier than scheduled. I have never heard of a train leaving ahead of time, but it is another sign of the chaotic state of the German train system. 

Mittenwald, Germany

Next, we had to take a scenic detour because the highway to Munich was closed due to an accident.

I was not keen on going to the beer tavern on Father’s Day because many men use the day for a bike ride with their buddies to celebrate without responsibilities but with lots of beer. When we finally arrived, the place was uncomfortably full, and the noise level was immense. I was glad that Ingo and I did not have time to join the others but walked to the central railway station (Hauptbahnhof).


While it was grey in grey in Munich, the weather improved when we drove further north. We enjoyed a comfortable drive and a great view. I was excited for the days ahead with my parents and sister.


We were almost in Aschaffenburg, about an hour from our destination, when our son, Dominic, informed us that my mother had collapsed and was on her way to the hospital. I was beside myself with worry.

Our mood was sombre when my father and Dominic retrieved us from the train station. We had all these plans for trips with my parents and had pushed them to the end of the stay because we wanted to wait for Dominic to join us.

Instead, my mother spent the rest of our vacation in the hospital. I was very stressed and worried about how my dad would manage by himself. He often jokes that his doctor told him he could still do anything except work in the kitchen.

 

 

Mainz Cathedral with the Dom-Café

We tried to distract him by visiting the beautiful Mainz, where we enjoyed delicious pastries in the Dom-Café next to the Mainz Cathedral (Mainzer Dom) on one of the mild days. 

 

 

 

works by Niki De Saint Phalle, not from the exhibition

I also needed a distraction and went to the reunion with my friends from the language school. We visited the Niki De Saint Phalle exhibition at the Schirn Kunsthalle in Frankfurt. I am not a fan of her work and stared at her provocative sculptures, installations, and paintings uncomprehendingly. Only after I read part of her biography could I appreciate her work and motivation.


I loved her sculptures of voluptuous, colourful female figures called Nanas. These sculptures challenged traditional representations of women and aimed to celebrate femininity and empowerment. Something that is still as relevant now as it was in her time.


Here is more information about the exhibition:

https://www.schirn.de/en/exhibitions/2023/niki_de_saint_phalle/

https://youtu.be/abmlyMx1zOk

 




 

Visits to the Frankfurt Cathedral (Frankfurter Dom) and St. Paul's Church (Paulskirche) were a big contrast to the provocative art of Niki St. Phalle. An assembly of representatives from various German states used the previously Protestant St. Paul’s Church to address political reforms. Today, St. Paul's Church is a powerful symbol of democracy, tolerance, and human rights.

At the end of the trip, despite all the happy moments with family and relatives, my mood was heavy as I dreaded the farewell from my parents.

 

 

 

This trip reminded me again of the difficulty of living far away from my loved ones, particularly as they age. It was also a reminder not to postpone things and to take time to nurture precious relationships. I am excited about some family time this summer and a trip to PEI with a friend from Germany this fall.