This is the view from my bedroom window. I see it every morning when I wake up and every night when I go to sleep. Every day I’ve drank in the beauty of these old world homes and marveled at their colors in the ever changing light. And then one day I wondered…what’s around the bend….where does the highway lead? What’s the view from that hill on the right? Take a walk with me and let’s find out!
Okay so….my sense of direction is not so good. In fact it’s really really bad. One day I went to go to my hair dresser in North Attleboro and I ended up in Seekonk. Clearly there had to be at least one wrong turn in there somewhere. But at least I was near home when I missed my destination by a mere 10 miles or so. Over here I’m half a world away and I don’t speak the language. I do not want to get lost. I must make an effort to know where I am. Fortunately just above the Residency is the tallest tower in Horb. It’s called Stiftskirche Heilig Kreuz, which means ‘Collegiate Church of the Holy Cross’. (Now I know where those bells are coming from!) I will use this tower as my guide and it will help me find my way home.
This road will take me to the far side of the village:
Oooh this is interesting! Is this the remains of a castle? Oh wait a second….look at the siding on that house! The asymmetrical lines….like drunk sheet music….
Fascinating….but what is it?
The Grabenbachtor…yes, of course…what else?
Actually I don’t know what a Grabenbachtor is, so I looked it up. According to Google Translate, this sign says “Grabenbachtor water passage at the Altheimer Gate, mentioned in 1394”. How cool is that?? You have something from 1394 just tucked away on a hill in the middle of nowhere. I mean….this is History. This is Art. In America all we have left from the 14th century are a few bowls, pendants, and some crude small sculptures – and they’re all in museums. Back home we would never leave anything like this just lying around unattended. If we did I’m pretty sure somebody would either steal it or vandalize it. Gotta love Germany!
It’s 2022, but when you look at this scene it’s easy to imagine life in the 1300’s. Just take away the road, the scaffolding, the antennas, and the indoor plumbing, and you’re there…
After I walked past the Grabenbachtor I saw a path leading up the hill on the right. Let’s go!
This is just amazing! It’s like a journey through time!
There’s a trail that seems to be going up the hill. I can see my Church tower so I know I’m not lost.
As I follow the trail up the hill, I notice that there are many locked gates. I had heard from my friend Monika that people in the village have gardens up on the hill. Well, I guess I found them. This gate on the left has a sign on it. I don’t speak German but I think it says “Break the lock, then come in and help yourself to our vegetables”. Just to be on the safe side, I checked the translation. It actually says “Here we garden without peat”. Okay, well….that’s a disappointment….
The path goes on. I don’t know exactly where I am but it feels pretty remote. I haven’t seen or heard anybody. I’m beginning to wonder if it’s safe to be out here by myself. I’m listening very intently for banjo music…
Eventually I come to a clearing and I can see the tower, but not only that, the Residency too! The building in the center of this picture – the one with the steel spiral staircase – that’s the Residency. That’s also where I fell on the first day that I arrived. Anyone up here would have heard the Tibetan Gong that sounded when my knee hit the metal, then looked and saw me struggling to get up those stairs. Well…that’s embarrassing…
Yes there are two paths you can go by, but in the long run there’s still time to change the road you’re on.
Eventually the path led me to a steep walkway. Here’s a pic looking up and looking down. I will be heading down to the road and back through the village.
Is that someone on the street? You almost never see anyone out. My friend Cliff thinks I’m living in a movie set.
Rush hour in Horb:
Everything here is so effortlessly picture-perfect beautiful. It’s also immaculately clean! There’s not a scrap of litter anywhere. In fact, Germany is so clean that they don’t even have a Five Second Rule. If you accidentally drop a pretzel in the street you can come back a week later and it will still be good.
A nice little square with a fountain.
Again, nobody on the street. Maybe this is a movie set. Maybe they’re making a movie and I’m the star! Title of the movie: Clueless In Horb.
Still trying to find my way back to the Residency. Loving every view!
Ah…Marktplatz! That’s near my street!
Wintergasse! I found my street!
The back of the Stiftskirche Heilig Kreuz! I’m close!
After a long day of walking through the village, up a steep hill, and then back through the village….night settles on this beautiful slice of paradise. I’m back in my room. I take one more look out my window before going to bed. I know I’ll sleep well tonight.
More posts coming soon!
Bonnie