Post date: Aug 12, 2014 10:51:53 PM
10 January 1966
We had fun in Frankfurt again. The violinist friend from Berlin came and we went to Hameln and the Burg Sternberg, which is the music instrument museum. The weather for a week has been clear but vey cold. We drove to Frankfurt on country roads—through many picturesque villages in Hessen. Took an hour less than the autobahn (about 25 miles shorter) and is much prettier. The first night in Frankfurt we saw an opera by Monteverdi—the first opera-writer around 1620. Thereafter we took daily rides into the Taunus mountains—very pretty. Not much in Frankfurt itself. It was Jack [Rodland]’s birthday so I bought him a model Black Forest house for his train. It turned out that he had it already, so I had to keep it and get him another. Beautiful model. I’m not gluing the walls together so I can easier send it home.
In Frankfurt I bought Travels with Charley. Don’t know yet whether I will drive thorough the north or south. Not much luck with my camera-buying deal in Frankfurt. My friend was out on maneuvers. He is an organist, tho, and also interested in organ-building.
Bielefeld is a linen center. If I were to buy linen, what should I get?
16 January 1966
After a long search I finally found a pair of shoes which fit [I have AAAA heels]. The Germans have wide feet and shoes are not sized to width. They are not too beautiful, have fine box toes, but are comfortable. Cost $15, not cheap in Germany.
There is a feeling among Americans and French here that if Germany were not divided she would be again expanding in Europe. Some of the people give me that impression, too. Others hate the idea of another war (especially the older people). One friend suggested that we should beat the Chinese down now, while we have the chance, or they will just beat us down later, but this feeling is not universal. Most are against the nonsense in Vietnam but don’t talk about it as much as about the terribly rising prices here. The Germans can serve their “military” by working in a hospital or such and the French can teach in Africa. Has that law about exempting Peace Corps from military gone through and is it retroactive? I have no great lust to give my life for an absurd position in SE Asia.