Friday night – Off to work

Today was a big day for Gabe .. He went in to work for the first time to talk to his new PI Prof Martin Eigler. It was fun walking him to the bus stop

.. I remember we did that with him on his first day at school in 2000

The rest of the day we did some shopping and repacking in prep for moving to Gabes new apartment tomorrow !

Tonight we decided we’d treat ourselves to the first Doner.. Doner shops are all over Germany.. they specialize in Drehspieß. .. (literally turning food) .. or rotisserie.. it’s very much like Gyros .. They also have falafel and other middleeastern goodies. We found one with good reviews and walked down there

It was vey good.. but we learned there were better ones all over.. I don’t think we’ll ever get tired of Doner

From there we walked to the trainstation because it ws nerby. Gabe showed me the memorial to the holocost victims who were deported from here.. There was this amazing sculpture garden that represented their personal belongs tht they braught to the train station.. but were not allowed to keep before being shipped to the death camps. It was. Very moving

also downtown we came across these two stolpersteinen

it was chilling and moving to see our last name there.. A couple in their 70’s..

.

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Unbelievable… Having worked in Gernany for many years,.. ive come to feel comfortable there.. one of the things that makes me feel comfortable is the deep commitment to remember the tragedy of the holocaust and speak of it often.. to make sure it never happens again

but that tragedy started very much like to one our country is seeing .. where ‘others’ are demonized and deported..

Haven’t we learned anything ??!?!?

so…. After that we needed some ligthenss.. so We took a long beautiful walk back to the BNB .. we found this very cool 16th century hospital, the Juliusspital  that is still operating in some capacity , though we couldn’t figure out what exactly they did there.. it was this huge 500 year old bulding with very cool history panels about people like Rudolph Virchow .. the father of cellular biology .. he said “(Omnis cellula e cellula)" “all cells come from cells “.. It was amazing to be walking atond this place that is totally ope to the public.. and be there by ourselves

We deeceivde to walk home along the river.. we stopped to take thsis picture in front of the place Gabe said he’d had the worst restaurant dinner of his life… at least it was memorable !

The walk home along the Main river was beutiiful !

Great day..

Nite all. Nite sam
-me

Wednesday night – a new continent

We got to Frankfort about 7AM.. Miraculously, our bags came out quickly and we headed to the care rental place

the car rental process was our first big challenge. The car we’d reserved was no where big enough for us and our luccgae.. and there hadn’t been one in the rental paapp that was bigger.. After tome wrangling with the folks s at the rental agency they set us up with a much bigger car.. but the price tage ws astronomical.. Gabe suggestes we ask them for a break.. good idea >>

they gave it to us for half the pricwe..

and from then we were on our way to Wirzburg with gabe at the wheel

The dive as beautiful.. the industrial grime o Frnakfort wuickly gave way to rolling hills and charming villages..

We gt to Würzburg and it was drizzling and gray.. I have to admit my first look was not that hear t warming.. BUT .. as we got in to the center of town.. and headed up to the University .. it got cter and cuter. We stopped at a grocery store dfoer a snack and some simple provisions.. then walked through Gabes building

there’s an amazing amount of history at theis place .. 14 nobel prizes.. and some of the godfathers and godmothers of biochemistry.. it was easy ro see that Gabe wa in the perfect place !

we wlaked from tehre to Gabes new apartment.. sut to have a look. The neigborhood is so cute. And whiel we could only see the outside of his place.. it looks great. .the very cool thing is that we folled our google maps to find the closest path to gabes lab.. and believe it or not.. its through a field and wooded path.. and its about 10 minutes !!!

Gbe cant move in until Friday.. SO we’re staying at an aairbnb in Town.. we couldn’t get in there until 3.. so we decided to walk around just in order to stay awake

Gabe had been here a month ago and was a fantastic tour guide. We explore d the old city, the Residence paace, the ring walk with all of its art and history. It is really a beautiful and historic place !!

Theres a cool beridge where lovers put locks on the bridge as a symbol of their love.. I’ce seen that in other cities

Also as we walked we saw many schloppersteins (I think that’s the word). .they are memorials to Jews that were killed in concentration camps.. sobering… and good that they are remembered to this day in this way

we got to our very nice Airbnb.. took a short nap then went out again for a Greek dinner and more exploring

saw this organ donation poster…

I know that Gabe is going to enjoy this place.. so will nova.. so will Diane and I >>

This is going to be quite an adventure !

nte all, nite sam
-me

Tuesday night – on our way !

We woke very early, grabbed a snack and sad goodby to grandma.

We got an extra large Uber which was just enouht to carry our 440 pounds of stuff !

And from then on it was just us ….

I was happy that we’d both been upgraded to biz class.. its so much better for an overnight trip.. you get to really sleep !

They fed us (look diane.. I’m eating a cooked carrot !!!)

then I fell immiately asleep. I don’t think Gabe slept much.. but at leasr he was comfortable

Next stop Frankfurt !

nite all note sam
-me

Monday night – no need for plan C !

So.. we were counting on Gabes passport to come in time for me to make my 4PM flight…

and… (drum role…)

As I drove to the Postoffice to be there when it opend, I got a tesxt message that the package was there !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So were on plan B. .I zoomed home.. got my last stuff together.. And said good bye to Diane and Nova..

At two and a half weeks this is going to be one of the longest ties I’ve ever been away from diane.. I think only the time on the Colony was longer. Its two and a half because I’m taking my Mom down to Houston to see Bly wheni come back from Germany . I miss diane so much when we’re apart..

I think thas pretty nice to feel that way after 44 year s<3

I got to the airport with the knowledge that the entire east coast was getting slammed with the biggest storm of the season.. and that’s saying something after this particular winter..

check out this

luckily we were north of the storm and so were both of my planes on the way to MSP..

Whiel waiting for the plane I was able to talk to Billy agin. Each time he sounds more alert and more himself.. I can wait to see him.. tehyre moving him out of the ICU soe he will be able to have vistors starting this week (I think)

I had a roll aboard with me.. and I always forget when I have carry on bags.. so I tied my beta badge around my wrist so I wound forget.. they ended up checking my roll aboard, which left me wondering what I d forgot when I stopped in Chicago

The flights were uneventfull. A slight edelay on my flight rom Chcago to MSP.. but otherwise peaceful

I got to start thinking abot the adventure that gabe .. and I were on..

Nce to see the lake completely frozen oer.. first time in 7 years !!!

So.. here we go.. or at least here I go. Into the wild blue yonder !

more from the road

nite all, nite sam
-me