Bicycle tour along the river Moselle on 22. of Juli 2017 (by Christa)
Finally a good bike carrier on the car! Less than 3 days old, when Michael came along to do a tour with me. So I had energetic help with fitting the 2 bikes to it and doing all the adjustments.
So with everything well secured we left of towards Cochem at the river Moselle, where there are beautiful bike paths.
The weather was comfortably warm that day shortly before the rainy season in august. I was fond on pace – on the bike I am able to let of steam, feeling the wind around my ears and just having fun. Michael, who did not use a bicycle for long – his 2 bikes are sitting in the garden and getting rusty – seemed to feel as much joy and power and so we did overtake each other, when not being able to cycle side by side !!
The most beautiful part of the cycle track leads through vineyards. There in the middle is an idyllic garden. In spring the whole garden was full of tulips. Now it was lush harvest time with tomatoes, pumpkins, zucchini, arugula, berries of all kinds, flowers and herbs. And also lots of wild things.
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The garden is always open and it’s owner was there and told us how much he loves his garden and lets everything grow by itself. Nonetheless he tries to get a little order from time to time.
We tried some herbs and berries and then headed towards Bullay / Zell.
On the way back I had something in mind that I can never resist on my tours – having a coffee in a small café aside the way where you can sit outside.
So a bit uphill on a wine trail towards the café with a terrace and homemade cake. Soon we had two cheeky guests, who eagerly and cleverly picked up our cake crumbs.
And look, whatever channel of information they used – more and more of them came around and the cake dwindled! They were really brave and very trusting – and we had fun.
Back home we felt well refreshed with Moselle vineyard air, with joy over our fast tour and a very little bit tired !
28. Golden Oldies Festival 29.07.2017
(by Michael)
After I told Christa about it, she wanted to go there and look. So we set off on Saturday, when the weather was fine.
The place was full of old vehicles. I’ve been there already twice. This time – or on that day – the American Cadillac, Chevrolet, Buick, Plymouth of the 50s dominated. These vehicles are characterized by their size, the wide chrome-plated radiator grilles and the sometimes extremely large tail fins. An eye-catcher are they in sense.
But also the (textile) fashion was somewhat different at the time – and many festival participants had equipped themselves accordingly. It has been the time of petticoats. Appropriate music was played on the 10 different stages and one could besides suitable clothing also buy (functional) tube radios and TV sets. Nice to watch the Rock-n-Roll dancers (the video must unfortunately remain without audio). Obviously, this dance style is still cultivated in different dance clubs.
Before returning home we take the time to visit the beautiful castle ruins of the village.
In Christa it has evoked old memories …
A jump back in time
(by Christa)
Hundreds of polished, sparkling cars of all ages were parked in the streets of the village.
Most eye catching the overly long American vehicles of the 50s, richly equipped, leather trim in pink, turquoise, mocha, purple … They could not be overlooked.
Also German cars of all types – especially the VW beetle with sunroof or open convertible top (I once had one of those!) as well as many French vehicles – were to be seen there.
And look very modestly on a street corner, small and inconspicuous a Messerschmitt cabin scooter from the 50’s. And yet, he attracts a lot of attention and recalls old memories with me:
At the beginning of the 1950s, we lived on the island of Sylt to the very north. My older sister prepared for the entrance exam for church music field at the Academy of Music in Basel. To practice on the organ, she had to travel 20 km to Westerland each time.
Using the island railway took too much time. So one day she got a cabine scooter in silver gray – an absolute rarity on the island.
The old village church had an organ that had not yet been electrified. So I had to go with her and operate the bellows while she practiced (not an attractive job, but I got piano lessons in return).
She was 20 years old, I was 15, both long-legged and 1.78 meters tall. Each time we climbed over the side wall into the scooter, the neighbors stood around curiously and amused themselves. The same when climbing out in Westerland in front of the church. We were an attraction when we sitting behind each other in this looking like an airplane cabin vehicle chugged across the island.
One day even my mother – she was in her early 50th – went with my sister in this cabin scooter from Sylt to Basel and back – about 1100 km each direction! I do not know how much time they needed. But my mother enjoyed the ride!
And now there was just such a cabin scooter parked on the sidewalk next to all the styled limousines. I have moved several times around it and would have loved to take a seat inside!
Addendum (by Michael)
At the end Christa said that I absolutely should show my “Miss Morris” there next year. She would even help me with the washing and polishing …
We are relatively early on the sunday morning. I decide to first show Christa the old roman stone quarry before actually heading for the Sousing Wall.
Nobody is there, the sun is shining and we just can’t see and hear enough. When we finally continue our way more than 1 hour has passed and we haven’t even noticed it. But we are charged and strengthened now.
The way to the wall is not comfortable, leads over gravel, is partly steep and requires in parts also no fear of heights and a secure step. Many stones along the way show faces – on the pictures taken they are not visible. We walk calmly and concentrated and that way get to our destination without problems.
The wall is huge and caves can be seen halfway up. They somehow look like somebody lives there or has made them – only, how does anybody get there?
(by Christa)
On a stone
opposite a steep wall
from which water runs down
still and calm.
It is morning still – the air is cool,
the first rays of sunshine refract
in the calmly flowing water.
We are not alone here.
This place is guarded by beings,
still, hidden and yet perceptible
they are around us.
It keeps us here for a long time,
a calm force, that we are connected with.
Later – the ascent to the “Sousing Wall” –
through creek beds, across stones and gravel –
do we have some company?
I am calm and concentrated,
I feel protected
and always connected again
with the little beings –
the vitality of nature,
the beauty and sublimity
of the steep wall.
Mindvalley U. in Barcelona 25.05 – 25.06.2017 (by Christa)
4 weeks of Barcelona – what an experience! I experienced Barcelona on 3 levels.
Detail of one of the impressive Gaudi houses
1. level was the visit of Mindvalley U in Barcelona, the original reason for going to Barcelona. This was founded by Vishen Lakhiani who had the vision to once a year bringing together students in the age of 17 till 70 and have them educated through lectures, workshops and talks by the best teachers of the world.
This is about having new experiences, to grow and to carry a new awareness into the world so mankind can grow into a new community in peace, freedom and love.
We have been about 400 students of all ages and from all over the world and in a matter of days we grew into a big family. I never before experienced that much openness, love and acceptance as in this time.
Each lecture, each workshop gave us new impulses to break out of our everyday life and to walk on new paths. “Who are you really, and what talents are dormant in you and waiting to be developed and communicated to the world?” Knowledge is only one side, feeling, joy, emotion, and happiness are on the other side. To build the inner balance on all levels of life is essential.
With 1000 new impressions, impulses, feelings of happiness and new friendships we drove back home.
2. level is life in the city. I tried to make the atmosphere of Barcelona experienceable in the poem “Barcelona …” (please see below).
To let life simply unfold without to many rules and restrictions, the cheerfulness and light-heartedness of the people and the very special architecture are simply fascinating. Then the 1000 narrow streets full of small shops, which are partly open until late night. Their owners are standing on the street and it is talked infinitely.
The city is noisy, yes, and it’s not without reason that in the evening and in the early morning already cleaning columns are on their way all over the city. But that does not bother anyone!
3. level is my relationship with Michael. We live 140 kms apart from each other and it’s only about every fortnight that we meet.
In Barcelona we stayed together for 4 weeks day and night. What has grown and blossomed between us during that time also radiated to the outside. More than ones “students” told us: “Your happiness is contagious. You radiate in the group like a bright light.” Exactly that did carry me through the four weeks, because the time was also quite exhausting. 3-4, sometimes 5, workshops each day, and all in English which I am am ba far not fluent with. Plus the long walks through the city, most of the time in high heat.
Nonetheless, we are almost always went out once more in the evening, mostly to the port, in order to catch the mood in the evening sun and later on with night lighting, to experience the flying dealers on the bridge and simply to be there.
Barcelona, Mindvalley and Michael – thank you, that the time was so beautiful and still lives in me.
You changed my life!
Barcelona – you touched me deeply
Barcelona – do you know that?
It vibrates all around you
Voices from everywhere –
transforming into foreign sounds.
Words you do not understand
but feel, as if they were for you.
Smells that deceive you
and fuse with your breath.
We walk along the Gracia like stunned
the sun is burning, flickering over the pavement
the walls seem to glow
and the warmth swells out of every stone chink.
Our hands are moist,
the eyes are blinded by the light
and yet attentive
admiring the beauty of the architecture,
the wells and the slightly dressed girls …
In waves, flutter beside us the engines
of cars, motorcycles, mopeds …
then a moment of silence – the traffic lights are red –
and the people are pouring
across the street
like clenched together cloud thrusts,
the children between the legs
sometimes a dog
and spread out again on the wide boulevards.
Right and left next to us
booths with newspapers
fruit stands with overripe cherries, melons, apricots …
and small cafes –
always busy at all times of the day
filled with laughter, joy, liveliness
as if there were only this moment.
Life is now – pure devotion
and it feels so light,
untroubled and in love.
