Embedded Files
Post date: Aug 12, 2014 12:01:51 AM
4 August 1965
Blaubeuren
I have arrived. The journey was long and since I was up til 3 am Sunday night and on the plane Monday night I still haven't recovered. Then at Ulm I boarded the wrong train, went north instead of south, and wasted 3 hours. When I got here about six pm I had to walk about a mile to the language Institut. We are all rooming in the town (85 students just about fill Blaubeuren) and my landlady is very nice. All the houses seem to be three-storied, with red tile roofs. We have breakfast (rolls and tea) in the Institut and lunch and dinner in a restaurant with our teacher. My room gets morning sun so it is warm (or relatively so) when I arise but cold in the afternoon. No running water but Frau Pfetsch brings warm water in the morning. I must bathe at the Institut. And I must find a place for laundry tomorrow! Also must buy two pair of slacks. There is a good-looking shop with slacks for 20 DM. The problem is length.
I found an American organist [Jack Rodland, from Rutherford New Jersey] at the Institut coming to study with Helmut Walcha. His conversational German is lousy and accent worse (I hope) than mine. He found a place to practice in the local Lutheran church. We walked the length and breadth of Blaubeuren to find the organist's house to ask her if he could use the organ. Perhaps I could sing in the choir. There are four American music students (on music Fulbrights) here learning German: piano, organ, violin, soprano.
This town has factories run by water-power, complete with beautiful mill streams and a huge spring. For such a small town they have several small breweries, a cement factory, and many other small plants--but almost no farming. Every evening the women walk their kids in the many park-like streets on the edges of town.
My biggest problem so far has been laundry: the house has no place and all the commercial places are on August holiday. All but one, that is, and they have a ten-day backlog because of the extra work.
My VW comes to Stuttgart 25 August, and I will go in Thursday after classes. Classes stop at noon Tu, Th, S and we have afternoon classes M, W, F. Very fast. Trains are good.
We made a picnic for Saturday evening meal and had lunch in a very cheap café with excellent bier von Ulm. Half-litre for 50 pfennig (12 1/2 cents).
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse