Plain and Simple: Luebeck

You had your choice to go back to AgriTechnica or take a sightseeing tour to Luebeck. There was no question that Brent was going back to the farm show with Richard, but I decided to venture out to see more of the country. The bus took us all to the train station and from there we split up and went our separate ways.

It was a sobering feeling when outside the station, there were tents sent up and Syrian refugees all around. Brent discreetly snapped this picture of a mom and her children in the train station. It was all a bit of a shock to me as I don't watch the news and follow current events. But here we were in the middle of huge influx of Syrian refugees, overwhelming Germany. After learning a bit about it, I couldn't help but think of my own children and the life of security and safety they enjoyed and contrast that to these children that were homeless in the cold. I am grateful for America where we live and worship how and what we may.

I couldn't get enough of the fresh flower stands! The prices seemed very reasonable and the quality was superb.

I loved seeing all of the bikes. People do a lot of their travel in the cities on bicycles.

I remembered the pedestrian lights with the red and green people.

Our tour of Lubbock started at this old city gate, the 15th-century Holsten Gate. Back thousands of years ago, Luebeck was the capitol of the Hanseatic League which was a pretty big deal as they controlled much waterways and trade.

Johannes Brahms, the German composer, which the Let's Play Music families know by the pirate puppet show- more notably the Hungarian Dance No. 5. A statue was placed across from the Luebeck Music Academy.

Lubeck if know as the City of Seven Spires for the Gothic churches that punctuate its skyline

It is a city rich in classic architecture. The guide pointed out the facades and could name the different styles.

Love locks- engraved with initials of lovers and the key is tossed into the river as a symbol of unbreakable love.

The passage ways were made only big enough that then could carry out coffins during the times of plagues. As you can see below, it was a tight squeeze.

We visited the day after the bombings in Paris, so they didn't charge admission to get into St. Mary's Cathedral (from those coming to pray.)

An astronomical clock.

Lubeck is world famous for their marzipan. Legend has it that marzipan (an almond paste) was first made in Lubeck. The Niederegger family has been making marzipan continuously since 1806. The store was bustling with people picking up gifts for Christmas. I bought some, only to try it later. Let's just say, I prefer German chocolate to marzipan.

I order this ham sandwich from a street side deli. It was amazing! Yummy bread, hot and moist ham, and delicious mustard and it was only $4.

Since Brent and Richard were at AgriTechnica, I hung out with Dan and Marci Bachtell from Oregon. We got a little turned around and had to hightail it (amazing race style) to the train station. We barely made it. We all breathed a big sigh of relief when we were reunited with our group.

On the way back from the train station, we had to walk past a huge protest going on. Their were loud speakers blaring, music, and shouting. It was a little unsettling and eerie. At this point, I just wanted to be home.

That evening we went to the fair. It was comical how similar it was to American fairs. You know the saying "If you've been to one fair, you've been to them all," did apply. I must say that I enjoyed their food more, not so many things were deep fat fried. We had currywursts, warm and fresh Berliner donuts, crepes with nutella, Sprite in a bottle. We had to stand at the vendor and drink it so they could have their bottles back.