The question of the day is what to do once we arrive in Koblentz, Germany's oldest city. During World War II 87% of the city was bombed and destroyed. Today it's an interesting mixture of the old and the new. A building dating back one thousand years will stand near a new building circa 1970.
"Where are we going again?" Theo meows.
"Koblentz." Because there are things we want to see--the old market square, for example. A wonderful exhibit from the Berlin wall (I know this does not sound exciting) that commemorate the end of fascism. One of the oldest churches in Germany . . .
For Theo, it's all about the schnitzel. He wants to eat the schnitzel. Can cats eat schnitzel? What is it, anyway?
Koblentz is where two rivers meet--the Rhine and the Moselle. It was originally established as a Roman military post by Drusus in 8 BC. The old section of Koblentz is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Theo understands none of this. He has one mission only--the schnitzel.
"Okay. Okay. But first we need to see the town."
In Jesuitenplatz we spot a statue of a man in reflective thought on a building. You don't see that in the U.S.!
We find the famous status of the spitting boy, and sure enough, he is spitting water out of his mouth:
We see these marvelous old buildings with murals:
There is so much to see.
Then we head off to see the walls. Theo meows, "Are we there yet? Where's the schnitzel?"
Dan steps up to the plate. "I'll handle this." He is chock full of facts.
"Look here. Do you see these walls?"
I'm posing in front. Then Dan poses in front. Theo sulks on the sidelines.
Dan summarizes: In 1990 western Germany was reunified with eastern Germany when the Berlin Wall was knocked down. These walls segments commemorate all those who were arrested, tortured, killed, and persecuted in the forty years of communist rule. We're talking about 200,000 political prisoners, 150,000 children in special institutions, children forced into adoption, thousands who were displaced and scores of others who bravely opposed the wall that separated the east from the west.
Theo is barely listening, or is he? As soon as Dan finishes, he adds in a whisper, "We're getting closer to the Schnitzel."
We're off.
"We're on our way," I assure him but first we have to see a really old church--The Basilica of Saint Castor. Built in 836 A.D. It's famous not only because it is old, but also throughout the centuries it hosted signings of treaties, etc. Of historical importance.
I like to walk inside old churches. My imagination runs wild. I think about people centuries ago coming and going. Kneeling to pray. How the world looked then one thousand years ago. This particular church is simple and beautiful inside:
I hear a strange noise. Dan is holding Theo, and his stomach is growling. "Theo, stop that. You're in a holy place of worship."
Theo meows. "I have to do it, see?"
More gangster talk. It's surprising he's not struck down by a bolt of religious lightning.
Dan takes control. "Schnitzel time."
Schnitzel in Germany is tantamount to pizza in Italy. It is meat fried in spices with some kind of delicious coating.
We order three schnitzels so Theo can have one all to himself. No, he's not jumping up onto the table. I cut up the schnitzel and then place this delicious platter on the floor near our feet.
Can that cat eat!
