Ein Wunder Schon Urlab

Well, we have returned from our trip to the eastern portion of Germany. We spent time in both Chemnitz and Halle they are both close to Leipzig. It was a nice time with our german friends. They were very warm and enjoyed showing us their cities. For Jeff and I, we always marvel at the difference b/t our corner of germany to the far eastern portion. The history that this country has endured is fascinating when you are able to talk with people who lived through it and what their experences were like. Here we are in Chemnitz with our hosts Matthias and Katrin with their son Antony.

They took us to the highest hotel in the city so we could get a better view of the city.

During the cold war, Chemnitz was renamed "Karl Marx Stadt". This was of course from the Russian influence. We came across this image of him in the city- it is kind of an errie feeling seeing it now and knowing the hardships that many endured during those days both economicaly and spritually. Notice the Russian language on the wall behind the statue.

After a long day of walking around the city, we went back to their apartment for dinner. Sarah and Antony had fun playing toether, sarah was a little tired though.

That evening, we drove on to Halle, where the parents of Matthias live. This was the city where Jeff studied for a summer while he was in college. He has been able to maintain a good relationship with the Holwhein famly. Ute had made a nice meal for us and included an American flag and German flag for our enjoyment.

Here we are in the front of the university in Halle where Jeff studied. Many great thologians were influenced here at the Franke Stiftungen. Martin Luther was one of them. The sign says simply Franke Stiftungen- He believed in God. This marker stood during the cold war regime what a witness to the people of Halle! Sadly, many are blind to their need for Christ!

On New Years day we walked around the city some more. Germans like to walk it is good for your health! We suggested a nice meal at a resturant and they took us here. It was a fun place - it felt like a theme resturant that you would find in the States. On the outside is a big sign that read in both english and german that Michale Gorbachav had eaten there once. The food was great!
After a great visit, it was time to head back to our corner of Germany. On our way home, we stopped for lunch and discovered an American diner. It was a fun place to eat complete with internet radio from a station in San Francisco that played back ground music. However, the highlight for us was the fact that the resturant served- ROOT BEER! How good that tasted to us all even Sarah!