Continuing our Christmas in Germany: Near Regensburg were strange tall poles with wire stretched over the tops. Armin said that is for growing hops – a beer ingredient – and that we were in the major center for it. The villages nestled in the hills were gorgeous, surrounded by snow laden evergreen trees that almost looked unreal.
Every morning we had crusty rolls, butter, jams, cheeses, honey and beverages included in the price of the room.
Armin guided us through Augsburg, the city he grew up in. He arranged for us to see the church of St. Ann that was closed – his cousin’s housekeeper let us park in their drive – and we walked across the street where a porter met us with the keys. The cousin preaches there every second Sunday and is the head of the Lutheran pastors in Augsburg.
The church itself was very beautiful – the old altar being very plain, and the new one at the opposite being Baroque. Armin’s mother was confirmed there, later had her wedding there, and it’s the church Armin himself regularly attended. More exciting, still, is the fact that all of you know of someone who preached there – Martin Luther! On one side of the old altar is the original painting of Luther that is quite well known.
In the Catholic cathedral not far away are the oldest stained glass windows in the world.
Germans snack constantly. In the Christmas fairs are various stalls selling food. Armin bought hot, sweet-coated almonds to share with us because it’s customary to eat them while Christmas shopping. They also sold cotton candy – white. It’s often pink in the US and blue in England.
We ate in a German restaurant, walked a few more blocks to city hall, and drove past the oldest planned housing development in the world – built in the mid-1400’s for textile workers of the Fugger family. It was a lovely visit to Augsburg.
Every evening after dinner we went for a walk in the lovely little snow-covered town.
$ lay down in the booth when we were eating and said, “Night, night.” Two seconds passed. He rose up saying, “All gone.” He’s a tease.
Pillows in our rooms and in shop windows were square – about two feet by two feet. Germans do not supply soap or face cloths in their guest houses.
Answering the phone differs from country to country. In Norway you say, “Good day, good day.” If we answered in the English way, we’d say, “Tadworth 2978.” Germans answer with their last name. I heard Armin pick up the phone and say, “Herbst.”
Armin took us walking in the central part of Munich. We went in the Catholic Cathedral bombed to rubble and four walls in the war, now beautifully restored in modern style with remnants of stained glass windows, paintings, and furnishings from the original. The church was resounding with organ music because the man was practicing for all the Christmas services.
In one of the large department stores are special displays on every floor only at Christmas time – craftsmen plying their trades. We saw glass painters, doll and puppet makers, a woodcarver, baker, posy maker, etc. I asked Armin to ask the wood carver if I could take his picture. The man said it was against the rules of the store. As Armin was translating for me, the man motioned him over and said he wouldn’t notice if I did it quickly. So, I tried a quick time exposure before smiling and walking away.
We went in a Baroque style church – terribly ornate. Ingrid said we wouldn’t see any in England because they are all Norman or Gothic. This church had few inches left unadorned with angels, flowers, scroll work, etc.
We saw the outside of the opera house, concert hall and former king’s palace. Armin left to go shopping, and we did some shopping ourselves before taking the train back to our guest house.
Some young men came noisily marching down the streets wearing odd caps with feathers sticking out, drinking and blowing raucous horns. Armin deplored the habit. They had just been released from serving in the army and were celebrating in the usual way.
On our way to a palace we passed through the Olympic area used for the games of 1972. The architecture was most unusual. There were big poles holding up tent-like buildings.
Mehrling Muse 
Beautiful architecture!
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Anne I am so glad to go on this journey to places I will probably never see. Wait. I do see them – through your blog. Thank you!
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I’m reading about places I had forgotten about. John saved the letters, and I saved the photos. This is the first time they have been put together.
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Love the guest house and the planned housing!
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Is the cotton candy white all the time there, do you think? Or was it that way for the holiday? Like snow…
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I have no idea whether the color of cotton candy stays the same year round. If people wanted it to look like cotton, they’d leave it white. Like snow, as you said.
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A wonderful trip down the memory travel lane.
For me, it was so interesting as it also made me remember things I had done and seen in Germany. Although Augsburg was new for me and sounded delightful, especially in the snow.
I missed part 1 so am keen to read that, now.
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We enjoyed Germany at Christmas. John lived in a German neighborhood in Brooklyn until he was 10 years old. He was familiar with some of the things we saw and ate.
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Keeping the traditions alive in the expat communities is a fabulous way to expose kids to another culture. That is how I learnt the various Nordic traditions here in Australia.
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We knew Norwegian traditions from John’s mother. Her parents came from Norway.
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Have you told me that before, Anne? I didn’t remember that. I do remember there was a Danish connection with your daughter.
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I probably haven’t mentioned John’s heritage before. Mom knew Norwegian and could speak it with a family who attended our church while they lived in the States for a few years. She laughed that her speech was old fashioned, so they used English most of the time. Or families became close. When we went to Norway 41 years ago, we stayed with them in Oslo. We also saw John’s first cousin there. He had grown up in New Jersey, married a Norwegian, and still lives there.
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I loved Augsburg when we stopped there for a few hours, it is a beautiful city. We were there at night and between trains so didn’t see anything, your
letter was wonderful!
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We enjoyed Augsburg. It was enhanced by having a native show us around. Armin knew the best things to show us.
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Anne helllo. I have just spent time reading your post and some of the earlier ones leading up to it. Thank you for sharing these memories with us. At my vast age I will probably now not get to Germany but I can travel there through your posts. BTW I have tried on various occasions to follow your blog, but somehow “they” whoever they are, don’t lime my tail address. Maybe “they” don’t know that nz is an acceptable addition to .net for an email address. anyway, I shall keep on trying. Happy New Year from far away.
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Thank you for reading my posts. I’m sorry you weren’t able to follow easily, since “they” have been unreasonable. Shame on them! There have been a couple of times when I haven’t been able to follow a blog and never knew why. I’ve enjoyed yours for quite a while. It’s marvelous to read about your life “down under”, because I know I’ll never travel there. It’s marvelous that we can connect to others without leaving home. Your new teaming with Chris is a novel idea and is most enjoyable. Happy New Year!
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Success Anne. “They” have now accepted my email address
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Great!! I just replied to your “rejected” comment. Thanks for letting me know.
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Hi
Lovely post. Wonderful place. Beautiful architecture Church. What a white candy? I like. Naver I can’t visit any places. I enjoyed your post pictures & see after I can glad.
Thank you so much.🙏🌷
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Cotton Candy is spun sugar. It’s very light and sticky.
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Thanks 🌷
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Another great journey on someone else’s dime.
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Interesting post Anne – so much to see. I was not there in Winter. It looks pretty in the photos with the snow. This reminds me of Austria and we stayed in a little chalet in the mountains. The (husband/wife) had their own cows and the man drove them past the window very early in the morning as they took them to graze in the mountains. The woman laid out the crusty rolls, fresh-churned butter and jams for breakfast. [Why do I remember the food the most? I guess because I didn’t speak German – food is a universal language!]
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That sounds like an ideal place to stay.
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Very picturesque.
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I loved that you noticed that Germans snack all the time. I guess that´s why I do it. What a great place to spend Christmas!
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You are quite a writer!-and such content. What a lovely way to start my day. I feel “full” for you paint such pictures with your words. love Michele
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Thank you, Michele. I had so much to write about!
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