Sunday

Auferstehungs kirche in Fürth

Our day started cold and rainy (again) and we walked through the park to Auferstehungs kirche near Jean's Aunt Myra's flat. Worship was very familiar and lovely despite not being able to understand much of what was said. The regular pastors are on vacation, but the preaching was lively and fun to listen to. Jean's cousin interpreted a bit of the sermon after the service as we walked down this lane back to the flat.


The church was once far outside the city limits but now is in the middle of things. Years ago, the area had become blighted and the state held its annual Garden show on the site. The graves were moved to a new resting place outside the city limits, the area stripped, cleaned and planted with the beautiful park you see today. The church was preserved and has an active congregation. The name "Resurrection Church" seems fitting.
Myra brought Heiner home from the nursing home and we had a wonderful feast of chicken, pasta, and potatoes with the whole family. Later we took a stroll in the park adjacent to the flat where the flowers, including a particularly beautiful columbine were in bloom.

Strolling in the Park


Columbine in the park

We spent the rest of the day touring around Fürth. Jean and Christoph climbed a high tower where they could see for many miles despite the clouds and rain. My knee was not quite up to the climb so I hung around below and checked out the ancient ruins of the fort that once sat on the hill. It is strange to see things that were build 1000 years ago. it reminds me how young the US is!


View from the Tower

Each day seems to involve a time of coffee and kuchen (cake). Here we are in Fürth enjoying a plum cake and coffee at a local shop. It was cold so the server brought out a blanket for Jean. Fürth is very beautiful and has much of the old city intact. Before WWII the city was more open to Jewish families than other nearby cities. Legend has it that the allies spared much of Fürth for that reason.


Coffee at the Cafe


Christoph shared that this chimney has been the home of a pair of Storks for many years. After awhile, the chimney began to fail and the residents, concerned about the storks, collected over 8,000 Euro to restore it so that the storks could nest in peace.

We finished the day with the whole family at Mephisto's Restaurant in Fürth and a good night's sleep.