CDU Rally -- Candidate Merkel speaks

This afternoon Angela Merkel, the CDU candidate who hopes to replace Gerhardt Schroeder as German Chancellor, spoke at the Domplatz in Regensburg. Merkel, whose detractors call the "Iron Lady (a comparison to former British PM, Margaret Thatcher) and whose supporters call "Angie" was born in the old GDR (East Germany) and began her political career there as part of the democratic movement that signaled the end of the Communist regime. After reunification she was mentored by then Chancellor Helmut Kohl and has chaired the CDU since 2000.

The Domplatz was packed with her supporters and protestors opposed to her policies. In 2003, she expressed support for President Bush's Iraq war, accusing Schroeder and the SPD of anti-Americanism. She believes in free markets, decreased regulation, sees a place nuclear power, and believes Germany must move away from the old state-centered way of doing business. Merkel and her coalition partner Edmund Stoiber, leader of the CSU (with whom Merkel has a troubled relationship), have also proposed a flat tax that would, if I understand correctly, effectively raise German taxes.


Though the police and security presence was heavy, I was struck by the fact that anyone could come to hear her without the screening typical of the public events of President Bush. If Merkel is elected, she will be the first woman to govern Germany in 1000 years.

360-degrees of Regensbueg from Dreieinigkeitskirche

Some people plan their encounters with and in foreign lands. I believe in serendipity. I walk around –lost some would say—hoping something good comes.

So I made a wrong turn looking for Maximilianstrasse (okay, a really wrong turn) and ended by on Gesandenstrasse. There I passed by the Dreieinigkeitskirche (Holy Trinity) Lutheran Church.












A sign there announced that its turm (tower) was open to the public so I went in, paid 2 Euros, and climbed to the top, passing its huge bell on the way up the twisting stairs.
What I got was a spectacular 360-degree view of Regensburg with the added benefit of helping me orientate myself in the twisting medieval city.

What you get are more of my photos and an invitation to climb the turm yourself. It wll be 2 Euros well spent.

Bartek Lenon

Some of you may have noticed the white-faced street performer, dressed in the black frock coat who invites passersby--especially children--to take flowers from his hand. He is Bartek Lenon from Poland.

Kids love him and it's great fun to watch them interact with him. Neither children nor parents have any fear and it easy to see why. When ladies take a flower, he takes their hand and kisses it-- quite courtly.

Today he asked if I would take some photos and send them to him. Here are a few of the results. Put a few euros in his bowl and help him buy a bowler hat.

Sunday in Der Alten Kappelle

Sunday mass in the recently restored Alten Kapelle (Old Chapel), a Rococo gilded marble marvel (try saying that fast three times), is an artistic as well as religious experience. The low notes of the great pipe organ vibrate in the listeners’ bodies as incense fills the air.

REGENSBURG SCENES

Around the Bahnhof and its Arcaden
















Die Alte Stadt

What's new in Germany

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on the way to the Dultfest

Kids in the street 

At the bridge to "fest island" 

a scene not unlike any Kentucky state fair 

Herr Director Ernest points the way  

to the fun. In the foreground is Lydia, one of our German student assistants.

Prost with the fest band 

Wander Youth sits at wall that will be under water two days later 

Preflood Danube as water begins to rise

Oldest Bratwusrt Imbis in the world flooded 

Water to the Windows 

Alt Stadt at evening in Flood