The Germans

View of the Moselle River

     Yesterday was again spent in Trier, Germany, where we took a two-hour cruise on the Moselle River.  It was not as picturesque as I had imagined.  It rained the whole time, forcing us to stay at a table in the enclosed part of the ship.  It had big picture windows.  It also had a tour group of about 100 people from Baden-Baden, Germany who were happier than we to eat and drink their way up and down the river.  While we were standing on the dock waiting to depart, I talked with about ten or so of them.  Well, 'talked' is a little strong since I speak no German, and they spoke little English.  Collectively, though, they knew enough English for us to carry on a rudimentary conversation.  That is, after I spoke, they would discuss in German what I said and nod their heads.  Then, one of them would answer with others chiming in with corrections.

Roman bridge across the Moselle at Trier

   Old feelings die slowly, I discovered.  They still don't have the warmest feelings for anything French.  For example, an offer to converse in French was met with boos.  It made me wonder how much 'union' is in the European Union.  That is, until the conversation turned to Donald Trump.  The boos were louder.  One man said pointedly and slowly in his best English, 'Merkel needs a partner in a President of the United States who is her equal.'  He clearly didn't think that partner was Donald Trump.  So I asked, 'what about Obama,' and met smiles and cheers.  I was surprised.
     Thunderstorms moved in later in the day.  They were more violent and longer-lasting than the ones you, and Dad, would see in Kansas.  Nonetheless, in a break in the storms, we visited the ruins of the Roman baths, where the original plaster can be seen in sections of an exterior wall.  These were, the sign said, the largest baths in the Roman world except for Trajan's baths in Rome itself.  We also visited the amphitheater.  Once Rome fell, the local people plundered all the Roman structures for their stones, but apparently the mortared walls of the amphitheater were too much.  It was a multi-purpose structure that saw animal fights, gladiator contests, religious ceremonies, and true theater.  With respect to the last, when I stood at the center of the field and shouted, my voice was amplified and echoed around the stands.  Tourists up there turned and waved for my demonstration.
     I return to Cheppy today.  I emailed the mayor and will meet him at 2:30.  He has promised to show us some of the sites.

The Roman baths at Trier with original pink plaster

Panorama of the amphitheater at Trier