I have arrived in Germany the beautiful! I spent all of
Friday settling into my apartment, getting my military and teaching documents
in order with officials, and meeting all of the Ansbach Middle/High School (AMHS)
staff. Everyone I met was incredibly friendly and helpful, and I feel at home
and welcomed into the community of Ansbach.
I spent Saturday adventuring in Trier and Luxembourg. My
roommate Casey and I were up at 4am and soon out the door to catch our bus. As
the day dawned we watched the German countryside fly past outside our windows:
charming villages, frozen vineyards, and mysterious forests all dusted with fresh
snow. Steaming coffee in hand, I felt like I was in a magical land.
Trier, the oldest city in Germany, was our first stop. The
beautiful city rests on
the banks of the Moselle in a charming valley
between vine-covered hills in the Mosel wind region. We spent the morning
exploring the charming narrow streets, eating delicious sandwiches and pastries
from the warm bakeries, and seeing the historic sights of the city. We explored
Karl Marx’s house, Porta Nigra, the ancient Dom church, and the beautifully excavated
Roman Baths, among other things. After a few chilly hours we were on to our
next destination: Luxembourg!
The
Luxembourg American Cemetery Memorial was our next stop. The haunting graveyard
hosts the remains of General Patton, who is buried in an honored place at the near
the graveyard entrance. The fallen soldiers are stretch out behind the fallen
General, and the endless grave posts remind visitors of the men’s valiance and
sacrifice.
Luxembourg
City, Luxembourg, was our next and final stop. The city center is perched
picturesquely on steep, high cliffs which drop dramatically into the narrow
valleys of the Alzette and Pétrusse rivers. Grand and bridges and viaducts straddle the gorges to
deliver visitors and locals into the thriving city center. The last of the day
I spent exploring the complex layout of the city, shopping, and sampling local
foods. I was buying a beautiful art piece from a street vendor on a
music-filled avenue when a heavy snow began to fall and the last of the sun
faded. It was nice to climb onto the cozy bus for the long haul back into
Ansbach.
I feel lucky to have had such an exciting weekend and a great start to my time in Germany!