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Our last day on the cruise was, if I’m honest, kind of meh. At least until the end.
From my journal:
We arrived in Roth, Germany on Tuesday around lunchtime. The dock was not really close to Roth (about a 15 minute drive) or to our final stop just down the river, Nuremberg (about a 40 minute drive). Kyle and I had originally planned to go on the Forest Walk, but it was still so wet and cold it didn’t sound like a good idea any more to either of us. Miklos, our (amazing and high-spirited) cruise director told everyone it didn’t matter what we had signed up for today, we could do whatever we wanted. So, we decided to go on the tour to Roth
A) because it was closer and
B) the tour itself was shorter and we would get back to the boat sooner which would
C) give us time to pack our belongings.
The tour was a little disappointing, but maybe it was because we were so tired, had seen so many things, and had taken in so much
information during the past week that our brains just couldn’t take in any more!
Our tour guide was a very old and sweet German man named Christof. He really liked to talk, to the point that I found myself tuning him out and having no idea what I was actually seeing!
Our first stop was a blacksmith shop in a rural area that was over six hundred years old. It was built beside a river and powered by the water.
The blacksmith is a very portly old man who is quite proud of his huge belly protruding beneath the leather apron he wears as protection from the heat. What a jovial, friendly man! His smile was so wide it pinched his eyes and his thickly accented English is what you would hear if watching an old German fairytale–think Hansel and Gretel (Not German, but still…) or the original Snow White or even Frozen! I couldn’t help but smile at his enthusiastic demonstration of how he formed a nail using the ancient tools and methods.
After the blacksmith, we drove to Roth. It isn’t the smallest town we have visited (around 28,000 people) but it felt very sparse. The feel of the town, in general, was more depressed than any of the others we had seen. It was Tuesday, which is apparently a day when many businesses are closed, so that didn’t help.
Christof took us to a hunting lodge (built in the 1700’s) that was basically a castle and built by a guy that was CLEARLY a Boob Man. (Sorry y’all. I don’t know how else to say it!) The lodge had a gigantic dining hall and the art was, well, a way of getting around anti-nudity laws of the time. Nudity was not allowed unless it was for educational purposes so, what’s a perv to do? He had tales from Greek Mythology painted all over the walls and ceilings. Educational, right?
I’d say so.
Of course, throughout Europe we had seen our fair share of nudity in art and it generally doesn’t bother me. But this was just a bit over the top because, for one thing, it wasn’t a museum. And there were nipples everywhere.
Good grief.
After the detailed tour of the hunting lodge (remember, Christof really loves to talk) we had time to wander around for a bit. Most shops were closed, but we ran across a coffee shop that served delicious cappuccinos. Perfect on this cold day. (European coffee does not disappoint!)
Soon it was time to meet at the bus for the short drive back to the boat. We started packing right away. It felt surreal and overwhelming given all the clothes and trinkets we had bought, but it didn’t take long. We just hoped nothing got broken or crushed.
Next, we joined the rest of the passengers in the lounge for a final toast to what had been a truly unforgettable week. We ate one last dinner with new friends and danced the night away! It hit me that I would probably not see many of the people we had gotten to know again: Mike and Tina, Mark and Shelly, Jason and Katie, Molly and Todd, and others who added their flavor to this incredible week. I realized on this trip how often I exist in a Christian bubble. In my conversations this week, I sometimes felt hyper-aware of cliches I use, and even Christian-ese in my speech, so I had to measure my words carefully in order to better connect with the person I was talking to. Among the many sweet women I met, one I will never forget was Tina, a fabulously fun lady from D.C. with a huge heart and hearty laugh. Our lives are so different, our views on many things polar opposites, but through sincere questions and honest conversation we found a lot of common ground. Talking with her was both intellectually stimulating and life-giving. We developed true, mutual admiration for one another despite how very different we, and our experiences, are. Saying goodbye to her was especially tough.
You know, I actually enjoyed being outside my bubble. A lot. There are some incredible people out there.
People God loves.
We would all be better off if we did the same.
Finally, Glen Phillips entertained us one last time and said what we were all thinking:
I’m gonna miss you guys. I’m gonna miss the hard-boiled eggs waiting for me at breakfast and the coffee maker that makes cappuccinos with great foam and even lifts my cup for me!
Amen, Glen.
Sigh.
Next stop, Nuremberg, Germany where we disembark and take on one last adventure.
Spoiler: We drive on the autobahn!
Coming soon:
I have a few changes up my sleeve for this little slice of the internet. I want to expand a bit, talk about broader subjects, and leave a deeper footprint. I’ll share more after I finish this series!
~Jeanine
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