Of churches, friends, light and old men

We spent yesterday in Wismar. This is an old town that was part of the Hanse corporation way back in the Middle Ages. This company apparently controlled several ports along the north coast of Germany and made lots of money. And with that money they built REALLY BIG churches. Wismar is home to four of these.

The biggest, St. Mary's cathedral, was originally a smaller parish church that benefitted from a building project to enlarge it. However, the only thing standing is the tower. The rest of it was bombed out during WWII. What was left of the building was destroyed during the GDR era because either (according to Mrs. Ref) the government didn't want the church rebuilt or (according to me) it was too unsafe and they didn't want anyone hurt from the collapsing building. We saw a movie on the history of the building and obviously have a different understanding of what happened.

We also visited another church that is being renovated and is totally empty. It's odd to go into one of these massive buildings and see . . . nothing. From there we visited a church that is totally unlike anything we've seen so far. No vaulted ceiling, planks for pews . . . it just looked like a building from the low Middle Ages. And then the last church was typically gothic and impressive with the biggest baptismal font I have ever seen. Just . . . wow.

Then, because we were tired out from walking around town, we found a place that served the most delicious crepes. Just a little snack before dinner. Went back to the bombed out cathedral and bought a bottle of local wine as our souvenir.

From there, we came home and had dinner with friends. I've really come to like Franka & Uwe, The Kid's first host mom & dad. They are both very gracious, caring people. Uwe could be the classic refined European man, and Franka is . . . well . . . the more we're around each other the more she makes us laugh. She is one funny lady.

Uwe and I were talking about sunrise and sunset the other day. I said, "I think it's about the same in Montana as here." But that was early in my stay. I've since found out that, no, it isn't the same. Our home in Montana sits at not quite 45-1/3 degrees north. The area of Gustrow, where we're at, sits at around 53-1/2 degrees north. Let me tell you, when the sun begins creeping through your window at just after 4 a.m., you know you're not in Kansas anymore.

Neighbors came over for dinner and we had a good final meal with our new friends. Shared stories of our countries, home towns and where we're living now. Talked about The Kid and how she's come along. And said that if this priest thing doesn't work out, I can come back and open up a tourist shop in Schwerin.

And their old neighbor came over for a bit. He's a very hard looking 70 years old and has apparently taken a shine to The Kid. He came by and had pictures taken of us with him for his own album. And we visited his garden, rabbits and chickens. Sometimes The Kid is too shy, because I don't think she spent enough time with him. The stories he could tell her about post-war Germany, the GDR and the change would have been well worth the time. I think I'm going to send him a hat from Montana when we get home.

Today, we pack up from here and head back to home base of Claudia and Lens and say goodbye to our new friends. What is it one of my friends says . . . "I'll miss them; they're good people."