Yesterday my granddad and I went to Heidelberg to walk the streets of old town. I got reminded again of the beauty of Europe, with its old churches, brick buildings and cobble stone streets. Riding the bus, the train and entering all the stores is an ultramodern and refined aesthetic experience, juxtaposed with ancient architecture and refined social decorum. The old world evokes a sense of class, refinement and old world values amidst the commercialism of Christmas and adverts for iPads and the latest fashions. Italian, German, French, and British tastes and fashions adorn the storefronts, and a very Bavarian scent of gingerbread cookies and pastries powdered to perfection delight all senses. The music is mostly in English and shopkeepers are heard conversing with tourists in German, French, and Italian as well as English around every corner.
There is a great sense of order and organization here. Everyone is performing their prescribed roles with a sense of purpose and mutual responsibility. I feel compelled to not tarry too much, but get my business done and move forward to the places where a little more respite is appropriate. There is a strong sense of Wood energy compelling forward motion and proper prescribed behavior. I felt like I was looked at with cold frustrated confusion as I walked on the wrong side of the pedestrian promenade against the orderly flow of traffic. If I were shopping at a stall, people beside or behind me had no problem pushing me slightly out of the way without a request, statement or apology in order to get what they wanted and I heard several exacerbated sighs while I was searching through my change. At one point one person simply stuck their arm past me and put their change on the table ahead of the me to pay for their object and walked off because he could not wait for me to get done. I felt pushed, shoved, and ignored – and yet nothing was personal and if I stopped anyone to engage in conversation I found them extremely helpful, warm, and welcoming.
The creativity of the German people is quite inspiring. Christmas kiosks popped up like mushrooms after the rain. Many offered a splendid array of pastries, cookies, cakes, and candy. Others offered hot spiced wine, while others grilled bratwurst and other unidentified meats. The smells of scorched flesh, and grilled buns filled the air. The sweetness of the gingerbread mixed with the cigarette smoke. Some shopkeepers sold intricate Christmas ornaments made out of needlework, wood, straw, glass, metal, paper and various other media – and everything only of the highest quality. Various stands with hand made sweaters and scarves followed stands with fine leather goods and stands with cheeses and wines. Opulence and refinement. I felt I wanted to delight in all the wares and behave with grace and decorum while doing so.
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