quiet observations

It was about 1900 when I started back toward home. Our Strikktreff had run late since it was so lovely sitting outside Red. Given that I hiked into town it is more than reasonable to assume that a stroll toward was in order.

I try different routes each time; it lets me see more of the city including the warren of little streets that make up the Weststadt. Houses, cafes, people and interesting architecture are mixed with a fine hand scattering smaller neighborhoods like small jewels. After crossing Kurfürstenanlage, strassenbahn tracks and the busbahnhof (which, with no surprise is just off Bahnhofstrasse) I headed down Häusserstraße.

This is dinner time for most families with small children. Since it is summer, the sun will not be down for a few hours. Stomping along the other side of the street from me were four young boys wearing t-shirts, shorts and sturdy shoes. They were pushing, shoving and bumping each other in the manner of small boys every where. A man, obviously their father was a few strides ahead of them with a young girl of about three skipping and swinging from his hand. I couldn’t clearly see faces since the papa and three of the four boys had baseball caps pulled firmly down on the heads. The fourth boy had the standard black velvet yarmulke perched firmly on the back of his head.

I looked up and realized we were a block short of the Jüdische Geimeinde so I think I knew their destination. And so you have the Germany of today where a family can stroll down the sidewalk on a summer’s evening. Headed perhaps to services and Havdalah on Shabbos.

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6 Responses to quiet observations

  1. Mary says:

    You painted a lovely picture in your email, particularly as the UK declared war on Germany 99 yrs ago tomorrow (Sunday). A century later, wars are still in progress and people still seek religious freedom but, with luck, Germany has found peace.

  2. Barbara says:

    Is this where you live?

  3. Holly says:

    No, we are a bit further out of the city on the far side of the Atlefriedhof (Old Cemetery) but I would consider the km easily walkable if the shul was not so heavily orthodox that the main languages are Russian and Hebrew, neither of which I speak. Not a real fan of segregated seating either.

  4. Lynne L says:

    I like this. Glad you posted.

  5. Isobel says:

    Refreshing.

  6. Brad says:

    as it should be

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