Burg Königstein

Just west of Frankfurt lies Königstein, a nice town with one of the largest castle ruins in Germany.  The castle dates from the 1200s- the Staufen period*- and features amazing views of the surrounding region.

The town itself has a nice altstadt (old town) with a small museum about the castle (which displays artifacts and a nice model of what it looked like back in the day). It's worth a few minutes before heading up to the structure.

Heading up the hill, you're met with impressive fortification.  This is a multi-leveled structure that clearly built up over time.

Inside the structure, you pay a reasonable fee (3 Euro per adult, 1.50 per child) and wind around, making your way up to the tower, which has extremely nice views (and is not for the faint-hearted).

Afterwards, hit the altstadt for some ice cream.  I'd recommend this castle on days with clear skies; the views alone are worth it.

*whatever that means

Captain Marvel

Has it already been 8 months since Ant-man and the Wasp? Well, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is back with Captain Marvel, the final movie before Avengers: Endgame.  Vers remembers nothing about her past; she is a Kree operative with amazing powers, fighting against the shape-shifting Skrull.  When events lead her to discover her history, she has a difficult choice to make.  Who can be trusted?

This film got mixed reviews; I see why.  Set largely in 1995, it has some interesting backstory to the MCU . . . but unexplained plot devices, uninspiring dialogue, and a suddenly invincible hero made it fall flat for me.  I most enjoyed the way Marvel can make actors look decades younger . . . that was cool.  Alright, bring on Endgame.

Rating: C+

Relocation and Reinvention

A friend once mentioned that every move is a chance to reinvent yourself.  I understand now what he meant; four months into our relocation, things are very different now.  Why?

I think it's because every move brings new circumstances, which in turn create new routines, friends, and focus areas.  Altogether, this changes you.
- Routines change by necessity.  Living here has reduced my commute time considerably (yay!), altered my errand schedule, and affected common chores.  We now spend way more time on laundry* (boo!), less time on yard work, and so on.
- New locations mean new friendships.  There's no getting around the convenience of (and need for) local connections; even in this digital age, we need to fellowship with people in close physical proximity.
- We focus on things of interest or need in our environment.  Living in Europe, we spend time on language, travel, and cultural experiences we didn't back home.  Yet that means I read less, play fewer board games, and so on.  We have finite capacity . . . can't do it all.

There's probably more . . . but these three things are significant.  Ultimately, a relocation means redistribution of how you spend your time, and that, in turn, affects who you are as a person.  So if you're in a rut, try relocating- preferably to a new country or continent- and use the opportunity to grow.

*because European washers and dryers hold much less and take much longer

The History Atlas of Europe (Barnes and Hudson)

The History Atlas of Europe is exactly that; in 150 pages, the authors provide an overview of the continent, from ancient times to present [1998], and do so using a large number of maps (about a third of the book).  The authors cover:
- Earliest Peoples and Settlements (including Minoan and Mycenaean civilizations)
- The Mediterranean World (Greece and Rome)
- Legacy of Rome (Imperial Rome, Germanic Kingdoms, the Byzantines)
- Christian Europe (Charlemagne, The Crusades, Russia, The Fall of Constantinople)
- New Directions (Ottomans, Reformation, Hapsburgs, Thirty Years' War)
- The Idea of State (English Civil War, Napoleon, Congress of Vienna, State Unification, Russia)
- Imperial Echoes (Global Empires, WWI, Versailles, Depression)
- Modern Times (The Fascist States, WWII, Recovery, EU)

Overall, the authors do an excellent job concisely covering a continent.  Each section is fronted with a four-page overview; each topic within is covered by a two-page spread (one page text, one page map).  Their summaries are largely good; the maps are extremely helpful (but the coloring of some could be more clear).  I wish this was about 50 pages longer to present more connective tissue between topics. All told, this is a good introduction or refresher to Europe at a high level.

Rating: A-

Burg Frankenstein

Today's post looks back at our January trip to Burg Frankenstein (or Frankenstein Castle), a scenic ruin south of Darmstadt.  It's on the northern end of the Bergstraße, an ancient trade route skirting the Odenwald Forest.

Burg Frankenstein has a nondescript history; it was in existence by 1250, modified over the centuries and used for various purposes (to include a hospital), fell into ruin in the 1700s, and was partially (and inaccurately) restored in the mid-1800s.  Today, it's a ruin, easily seen in 30 minutes.  It sits atop a mountain (with great views), co-located with an excellent restaurant.  Admission is 1€ per person and voluntary (I think- there was an unattended coin box at the gate).

Some claim the castle inspired the famous Mary Shelley novel, but this hasn't been proven.  There are various legends associated with the place, summarized on wikipedia.  Every year, the site hosts several events around Halloween, and appears to hold concerts or other shows as well (as evidenced by stage elements and a random room full of 'junk,' as seen below).

We visited on a spooky day, which heightened the experience but ruined the view.  I'm glad I visited, but wouldn't put this high on the list of 'must-see' attractions in the area.  If you're in Darmstadt, go for it, but don't go out of your way.

Foles & Wentz

Foles!

Okay, it's been over a year since the Eagles WON THE SUPER BOWL, and now there's another champion.  I don't care.  It's still nice to revel in the victory, but what gets me more is the character of the team- and in particular, the quarterbacks.

Nick Foles penned his goodbye to Philly yesterday, as he signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars.  The Eagles had two starters at QB . . . loved to have kept them both, but that's not how it works; we knew Foles would move on, as the Eagles had named Carson Wentz as their QB of the future.  I think it's the right move, but it doesn't make saying goodbye any easier.  Even in his farewell, Nick showed class and selflessness- qualities uncommon to his type.  Read it [see above link] and see what I mean.  But the man who remains is also classy.

Wentz!

What impressed me most about Carson this season was his vulnerability.  After a stellar 2017 campaign was cut short by injury, he came back in 2018 . . . and was only mediocre.  His numbers were good, but his record (5-6) wasn't, and he was shut down for injury again by season's end.  Afterwards, an anonymous article quoted players criticizing Wentz.  Here was how Carson responded.  He wasn't defensive; he acknowledged he could be selfish and admitted he needed to improve.  Again, an uncommon response in a league dominated by egos.

I've blogged a few times (here and here) about the 2017 Eagles, and I'm proud of them for many reasons.  But I think I'm most impressed by the quarterbacks.  The fact is, they won it all that year because BOTH quarterbacks gave critical contributions.  The one wouldn't have done it without the other.  It was teamwork at its finest; thank you, Nick and Carson.  May you meet in the Super Bowl . . .