This is mount Jenzig, the tallest of the mountains around Jena. Perhaps its not the most impressive mountain you have ever seen, but we are proud of it.In twenty minutes of brisk walking we can reach the spot where this picture was taken, the foot of mount Jenzig. We set up our camp on this spot, where we spent a number of restless days acclimating ourselves to the altitude. We had been warned that the hight at the summit of mount Jenzig, along with the various beers on tap there, have made many an unexperienced hiker dizzy and lightheaded. In addition to training rigorously at high altitudes, eating a hearty apple strudel before your beer also helps to stave of the dreaded dizziness. On this matter we speak from experience.
Perhaps I'm exaggerating a bit, but it was a slow day at the library, and I've nothing to do but relive our adventures from this weekend in an ever more grandiose fashion. Maybe someday I'll tell you about how Dolores fought a raging mad Snow Owl with her bare hands. Well, she did have a glove on.
Actually, Dolores and I were both exhausted today from the busy weekend. We have a small apartment and no TV, so we spent the weekend out and about. Afterwards, we both agreed that we needed a weekend to rest up from our weekend.
The spot where we took the picture of Jenzig is less than a mile from down town. Jena lies at the intersection of two valleys. As a result, the city is long and narrow. In the second picture you can see the smaller of the two valleys. A lovely stream flows out of this valley and into the Saal river, which runs north and south through the larger of the two valleys. This picture also shows the rocky, sedimentary soil here in Jena.Now that I think of it, there are two little anecdotes from the day that our worth repeating. Our friend Maria, who lives in our building, came by this afternoon for a short visit. Having the chance to talk to two Americans -- and, at that, two Americans who go to church -- she was curious to ask us two questions. First, did we have sex before we got married? Second, is it true that we (Americans) don't see our parents naked? After answering these questions, we went on to talk about the difference between God and fate, the "hypocritical" Catholicism of the Italians, and the "false politeness" of the Americans. It was all quite entertaining.
Please comment. Please! Please?
Please comment. Please! Please?
6 comments:
as a movie theater matron.She was in charge of the little chrildren who sat in the childrens section.At almost 6ft.tall she was formidable in her white uniform and oversized flashlight. Pity any misguided soul who even looked at the children.She took care of the whole theater though.Every once in a while, when the spirit moved her Ashe would glide upstairs to THE BALCONY and suprise-shock-young couples KISSING and SUCH.She'd call them hot pants and warned them of the dangers of such behavior.They called her Margaret and she often would see them,much later walking on the avenue,pushing baby carriages.More than one said,"oh MargaretI should have listened to you!"
Well? How did you answer the two questions???
--elise
Hmm. I have accidentally deleted most of Grandma's comments...this was not an attempt at censorship, I'm just getting the hang of this website. Sorry!
oh and Elise, troublemaker that you are, we answered "no" and "yes--that's absolutely true...we definitely don't hang out naked with our parents." She found the latter to be at least as shocking as the former!
I wish to climb Mt. Jenzig. Now. Looks beautiful, and it's hard to overestimate the appeal of a good German beer and strudel after a hike! So good to hear y'all have such lovely surroundings!
Man, the kind of conversation topics you mentioned having had with Maria sound so typically German somehow - and so interesting, of course. Yet again, I wish to climb Mt. Jenzig. Sorry, got distracted mid-comment there...
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