Wittenberg

Going back in time to June 20, our first night on the Viking Astrid, our (now) floating Hotel.

 

View from our room on the Astrid, docked near Wittenberg on the Elbe River during a perioid of low water.  Normally, the river's level would reach the middle point of the post on the right.     (See this post).    

 

Low water blues?

The picture above  was taken quite late in the evening (for me anyway).   It was the first day of summer and the longest day of the year.  On the ship, it was German night and we'd enjoyed a good, but heavy,  welcome aboard dinner.    After the road trip from Meissen, unpacking and  organizing our new room, the big meal, the evening's entertainment and the staff's review of tomorrow's activities  some  quiet time on our stateroom deck was welcome.  We enjoyed the last of the daylight.  The river view was lovely, even if we weren't moving along on it.

 

The next morning tour bus  transported us into the city of Wittenberg where we had some time on our own to stroll  through the historic city.  We then met our guide for a  tour of the Museum in the Martin Luther House.  The famous theologian lived here in the early 1500s; it is where he founded the Protestant Reformation.

Wittenberg Castle Church Door where Luther may have hung his 95 Theses document.  Historians have  differing views.

Other than the most basic of facts about the Reformation, we didn't know a lot about Martin Luther.  And I had never really thought about wanting to learn more about his life since we didn't grow up in that faith.  But I paid  attention and took a lot of pictures because of relatives and friends who  did.   And it was far more interesting than I had thought it would be.   

 

Among  his other writings, Luther translated the Holy Bible  into German while living in this house in Wittenberg.

Lectern in the part of the home that was used for Church services.  

 

The pictures above are of  Luther and his wife Kathe (about whom I had never heard).  Their union was important in the Reformation because it set a precedent for marriage and family life in the clergy.   

 

Like all good tour guides, ours had a way of bringing history to life with knowledge, respect and a dash of humor.   She told us that Kathe was the practical woman behind the reformation, keeping the family afloat so her husband  could carry on  his work without thinking about the problems of everyday life.    She said "I think Luther's quote under their portraits above means that he appreciated her."    (It translates as: "I would not want to exchange my Kathe for France nor for Venice to boot." )  

This mosaic panel in the rectory depicts the ten commandments 

After our tour  we enjoyed a pleasant lunch on our own in a local restaurant before returning to the ship.    We were always happy with the quality of the meals on Viking, but it is also fun to eat where the locals eat.  We enjoyed both the food and the people watching. 

We learned something new, we ate good food, we got just enough of a walk in nice weather --all good parts of travel (and of life, really).  It was a good day.

 

LINKING this week to the following sharing opportunities.  Thank you to the hosts.

MOSAIC MONDAY;  THROUGH MY LENS;  TUESDAY TREASURES;   MY CORNER OF THE WORLD;  SIGNS SIGNS;    THANKFUL THURSDAY ; and SKYWATCH FRIDAY. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Veronica Lee]

A glorious trip, Sallie!
I enjoyed the fascinating history and your captivating photos.

I'd love to visit Wittenberg.

Hugs and blessings

[Suzan Batz]

I do love when a guide can bring history to life and give you a few surprise informative spots along the way. I do like the idea of the floating hotel.
Sue

[Peter B.]

Wonderful that your guide made the local history come alive. Wittenberg looks really interesting!

[a spirit of simplicity]

What a wonderful trip! So much history and the beauty of being on the river.

[Eileen]

Hello,
Wonderful tour and photos. It is interesting to learn more about this historical Martin Luther House and museum. I agree about having a great tour guide. Take care, have a great day and a happy weekend!

[dee]

Places like this (and great guides)take us to another time, another age. :)

Blogposts, too. Thank you. :)

[Penelope Notes]

Floating hotel describes a cruise perfectly … and so different from the times of Martin Luther. Homes turned into museums are such fun and informative when original items are maintained within.

[Jim, Sydney, Australia]

Cool shots.

[::: Heidrun]

In school we learned about Martin Luther and Wittenberg ... and of course in our Religion education. It was here a journey in my childhood.

Thank you, dear Sallie, for this interesting post. And for sharing at
MosaicMonday

Have a wonderful week, hugs b Heidrun

[Gattina]

As half of Germany is Lutherian and the other half is catholic, I know Luther's life by heart from the school in history ! but i have never been there. I will never do a river cruise again, we did it on the Danube. We had to leave the boat at 9 and then walk the afternoon you hang around and the boat navigated during night where you didn't see nothing. And it was a so said best company ! You were more lucky apparently !! I lost all energy to travel since Rick's passing. For the moment I am preparing to go into my "castle" which is a retirement home.

[Debbie]

your floating hotel...i LOVE that!! these are some awesome images from your adventure...i think having a tour guide is the way to go!!

[Yogi]

My sister and her family have taken several river cruises. I think that might be the cruise for me.
Interesting on the Luther house. I am not Lutheran but my dad's whole family is and on our yearly reunion in South Dakota the service at the old family church is big time Lutheran. I didn't grow up in it so I don't pay it as much attention as I should.

[A ShutterBug Explores]

Wow ~ great photos of your adventure in time ~ thanks,

Wishing you good health, laughter and love in your days,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)

[Breathtaking]

Hello Sallie:=)
Fascinating historical information.I'm so pleased you enjoyed your journey on the ship called the Viking, and your visit to Wittenburg. The clergyman Martin Luther and his wife seemed well suited and their portraits are well preserved. What a monumental task he undertook to translate the bible into German, a learned man instrumental in the reformation will never be forgotten as long as the museum pays homage to this remarkable man.
All the best Sallie.
Sonjia.

[magiceye]

Interesting history and narration.

[mae]

Your tour of Luther's neighborhood sounds very interesting. Historic accounts always seem so distant. Going to places where the history happened is always enlightening.
best, mae at maefood.blogspot.com

[tomthebackroadstraveller]

...Sallie, thanks for thye history lesson.

[Sharon Hein]

Very interesting information about Martin Luther and his wife. I'm sure he never imagined the impact his life would have on history.

[Dixie]

What a great trip.
So wonderful to see these this remarkable history.

[Carol]

It is interesting to visit a museum that instructs on a major world change like the Reformation. I'd like to visit and learn more about Luther.

[ellen b.]

It's always a joy to have a personable tour guide. Glad you got a good one here. Translating the Bible into the language of the people was such a monumental and beneficial thing to do then and now. Have a great week!

[Lorrie Orr]

Wittenberg would be an interesting place to visit. I wonder if Martin Luther had any inkling how his then-radical ideas would take root in the world and carry on to our modern day?