Eisenach and The Watburg Castle




Today the 22nd of May 2011..another beautiful morning in the small German town of Weimar...Harald and Gaby joined us for breakfast as it was their day to take us out. Sitting with them at breakfast and chatting made us realise how much they have lived their life well...all the travelling they have done and the people they have met along the way...and the cheers they have brought to people. I said to myself thats how I want to be remembered always...a well travelled person with my family who has brought love to people along the way and of course doing God's work as part of my life.



After a big breakfast..we set off in Harald's Nissan Patrol that was so comfortable for the five of us. We went through Kassel City and it was filled with so many people as there was the Annual Marathon that was on that weekend. Well Harald just drove his way through and very soon we were on the highway heading east to a town called Eisenach. The drive was so pleasant with Harald and Gaby explaining to us all the sights that we passed. ..the towns of Bishausen , Helsa , Netra , Luderbach and then we came to the old border of West and East Germany. What a historic place! We stopped and they took us to the actual border and explained to us about what happened in the old days when they were divided.

Harald explaining to Mel about the border

David and me at the historic border of West and East Germany

Mel and me at the historic border

Harald and David at the border

Then we drove on and we reached Ifta the first town on the East Germany part and we drove on and we reached Eisenach a  city in Thuringia, Germany. It is situated between the northern foothills of the Thuringian Forest and the Hainich National Park. The history of Eisenach is linked with the Wartburg Castle, which was built according to legend in 1067. There were at least three settlements below the castle, that merged to a common city in the second half of the 12th century. This town, Eisenach, was first mentioned in 1180. We walked around the town and bought some souveniers at the gift shop and then made our way to the castle.

The pretty town of Eisenach

Streets of Eisenach

The Watburg Castle was going through alot of restoration when we went there but we did have a look around. Built in 1067 it housed a lot of history and it is even said that in one of the rooms of the castle...the devil appeared to Martin Luther King when he was writing and he actually threw ink onto the devil and the ink mark is still there.

The Watburg Castle

David and me inside the castle

Mel at the castle gardens

We walked down the castle stairs and were walking towards the car when Harald tempted us to some Bratwurst Sausages....and it was yummy.Then we made our way back to Eisenach and walked around the town and went for some ice cream at Dolce Vita Cafe. We left the pretty town and and went on to see the small towns of Mihla , Cruezburg , Treffurt and then Harald suggested we go and have dinner at another castle. So we made our way to Burg Normanstein but sadly the restaurant was closed but we went up and had a look. Many couples get married at this beautiful castle.

Yes dear I love the Bratwurst

Mel and Harald  enjoying the ice cream at Dolce Vita Cafe

The Burg Normanstein



We continued our journey and passed by the towns of Wanfried , Freida and we stopped at Eschwenge for dinner and we settled for some German Mac Donalds and we ate so much and chatted more. Then it was time to make our way back to Weimar through the Meisner Volcanic mountains and other small towns. Mrs Nicolay was there to welcome us home and we bid bye to Harald and Gaby who were really worn out at the end of the day. It was another very well spent day in Germany absorbing history and culture of all the towns we visited. Thank you Harald and Gaby for everything...we love you guys.