Monday, July 22, 2013

Last days in Erfurt

"Hey Bernd, can you imagine that I almost lived four years in Erfurt ? First I got here only to work, teach some guys how to work. I never thought about moving from Bavaria to this province like town. During my first week here I figured out that this is a really nice town and already met some nice people to spend the time with."
"This is kind of a short version how I got here. But now time has come to leave this beatiful town again. I'm gonna miss this town and the people a lot, but my heart tells me that I have to follow my dreams, well and maybe I move back here. Don't know what the future brings"

This time this blog is not about a place we travel to, it's about the place we were living the last years.
So once more we went into town to see some special places and meet some people. Feel the heartbeat of this small town.
At the beginning we got a little visitor from England, he moved to Liverpool a few months ago and came to us with another good friend.


After chatting with our friends we went into town. Since we finally got summer in Germany we had a sunny and warm day, perfect for walking around and seeing the city.
First Bernd wanted to meet the Tigerente ( Tiger duck -> wonna know more ?) Right now she hangs out around at the Krämerbrücke, she used to be around the townhall. But due to some construction works in the city its too noisy so she went here. And well, the view here is much better.

After a short conversation we wanted to walk along the Krämerbrücke (-> wonna know more ?) At the beginning of the bridge by fortune we met my beautiful flatmate Maria and her boyfriend Neil. Both have become very important for me and my life.
Bernd and Maria wanted to be on the picture at the bridge, so this time he doesn't have to be on a picture with me.

The next hours we were walking around in Erfurt with our friends, had nice chats. Much better than only the two of us walking around. But not everything was so nice. At a shop we saw one of Bernds friends. Locked in a glass cage, not beeing able to flee. Too bad that we did not find a way to free him, too many guards around.

Near the townhall we found something special. There were many rumours about it. And now Bernd could see it. Looking like a gods statue and not only a statue, its a statue of himself. Bernd the breads own statue. He was so excited, till that day he did not know that it was here.

Next we headed to the Cathedral place and took a look at this amazing old building. The next days Erfurt will celebrate the Domstufen Festspiele (a festival going on every year in front on the Cathedral steps), we both were not in the mood to enter the Cathedral, so we only passed by and headed up the hill to the castle on top of the Petersberg (Peters mountain). For me it's only a small hill, but in Erfurt they call this a mountain. At the castle we enjoyed the view above Erfurt and relaxed a while.


On our way back we passed by the new mill or old mill. Not sure, inside is a museum, which shows how the millers worked in the past. It's also a nice place to see in the dark, the mill is lighted with colored lamps.

 Some meters away we chatted a few minutes with Käpt’n Blaubär (Captain Bluebeard) and sailor companion Hein Blöd (-> wonna know more ?), we could have stuck here for ages, cause Blaubär never stops talking and always tells some strange, funny and entertaining stories

At the end of our trip around Erfurt we also met the mouse and the blue elephant (-> wonna know more ?). The elephant was too shy, so he did not get on the picture with Bernd.

"I'll miss this town, the guys I've been working with and the friends I found. Will never forget you"


Saturday, July 13, 2013

Back in time

This time we not only travelled to another play, this time we also made a trip back in time.
Our trip led us to the most famous medieval festival in Germany, the Kaltenberger knight's games, every year in July there is this festival and it begins with the best event. It's starts with the event we went to the Medieval Entertainers’ Night, for me the only interesting event during the whole festival. (you want to know more ? -> Kaltenberg)


We were so lucky, when we entered the festival my favorite medieval band was playing, "Die Streuner" (in English would be the strays). Bernd loved their songs, most about drinking with funny phrases. Also the announcements they make are great and entertaining.


After listening to them we went along the market. Took a look at an old water mill and  watched some swordsmen fighting. Pretty entertaining and Bernd was not frightened at all.



Near the jousting arena we could listen to a band playing strange music, also with strange instruments. Now Bernd got scared, because one of these guys had an instrument looking like a scythe, no kidding. Only a big black cloak was missing to make him look like father death.
I promised Bernd to protect him and told him that this guy won't harm him.



The jousting arena was completely empty, we waited a while there cause Bernd wanted to see some knights down there jousting, but nobody showed up. He didn't listen to my explanations that there will not be any fighting today in the arena. After believing me he felt kind of that, but I told him that in the night there will be some fireworks. And he felt much better.


Next to the jousting arena they build a new building on the festival ground. Best invention for the festival. In the past there stood a castle looking like it's build out of carton. A horrible looking building not fitting there. I hated that building. No there is a building remembering of this Viking halls, only the gap in the middle of the roof was missing and the big fire place below it.


At the market place we saw some knights in full plate and Bernd wanted also to buy himself one. We went to the armorer to find a fitting armor, the only thing seeming partly to fit was a helmet. A chain shirt or a full plate would have been much to expensive and Bernd would have to wait for a long time to get it. At least he really looked tough with that helmet.



After getting much good food and drinks we went to the wood stage and enjoyed the entertainment we got, a witch transforming in a spider. Or was that spider woman ? A group of artists telling stories, playing songs, artistic stuff, fire and funny stuff. And the night ended how it began, with the strays.