Wiesbaden Wanderings

Our Summer Residence Whilst in Germany

Rathaus (City Hall)

Yesterday I wrote about how I’m sometimes so embarrassed by American travelers.  Well last night I was extremely proud of American Soldiers.  I went down to the hotel bar and there was only one seat left, a dozen US Navy Seals, who had returned that day from Afghanistan and were overnighting before heading back to San Diego, occupied the rest.  These were the most polite, well-spoken, well-dressed soldiers I’ve encountered in a long time.  You might expect that they would be ready to party and loud and if they were you could almost excuse it given what they have been doing, but not these guys.  They were certainly happy, but in a very subdued manner and very respectful of their surroundings.  I talked with a few of them and told them my son-in-law had been a Seal.  (My mistake.  I was told once a Seal always a Seal) They had spent a full year in Afghanistan and to a person they said that they were afraid that they were going to use all the hot water in the hotel when they arrived since it was the first time in months that they had had hot water to bath.  We talked a bit about San Diego and where they might go for dinner that night.  They then all said their goodbyes and were off.  Real Gentlemen!

I went for a long walk after that and explored the town some more and just stretched from having sat so long to get here.  I ended up at a little grill joint near the hotel that had some tables outside and had a half of a grilled chicken and salad.  It was so much fun to speak German and to laugh with the wait staff who were actually smiling and friendly.  It also felt good to read a menu in a language I can understand and to ask questions and understand answers.  I was a regular chatty German Cathy.

While we were in Bahrain one of Cindy’s colleagues asked her how long she had been overseas and Cindy told them eleven years.  She was asked where and she said Germany and Italy and he laughed and said, “That doesn’t count as overseas.”  He was correct.  It really is, in retrospect, rather easy to live in Europe where you can understand signs and most everyone, if necessary, can understand English.  Bahrain was difficult but they all spoke English so it wasn’t necessary to learn Arabic.  Russia requires that you learn Russian or you’ll not want to stay there long.

I woke up early this morning in a panic: How will the Nobel Committee contact me when I win an award.  I’m already afraid that they went to the number two guy for medicine because they could reach me by phone.  If anyone out there knows someone on the committee (I think my best shot this year is either Peace or Literature) tell him or her to Skype me.

Thermal Fountains of Wiesbaden

Once I sorted that out, I fell back to sleep until some drilling started in the courtyard at about 6:45, very unusual for Germany which has some rather strict noise laws.  I got up and did some exercising and then headed out for a long walk.  I’ve said it before but it bears repeating, Wiesbaden is one beautiful city.  They have so many parks and fountains and wooded walkways that you can just go for days and never repeat a walk.  I went past one of the thermal fountains, Wiesbaden has a lot of geothermal activity, and it has been a place people come to for healing since the Romans, and there was a lot of steam coming off the fountain which gave it an gossamer like glow.

Spent the day working with the good folks at DoDDS Europe, all of whom I’ve known for decades.  I’ll not bore you with details of work, but it did feel good to get dressed and have someplace to go!

Old City Gate

I’ll enclose a few shots of this city and then send this off and head out for another evening walk.  Wm