September 9

Wittenberg

We were really looking forward to today because ever since the day we left Columbus we have been on a packed schedule.  Don't get me wrong, we'd much prefer that as to having down time.  I, for one was SO exhausted by the end of yesterday that I was in bed by 8 pm and didn't wake up until Laurie's alarm went off at 7 am.  While I was out like a light, Laurie stayed up and played the music trivia challenge.....and she won, with her teammates....

From the left, Laurie (of course) Harvey and Linda, & Sue and Fred - Sue and Fred we enjoy most of our meals with and are having a wonderful time with them. But after a 27-hour international travel day and back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back days like that, it was nice to have a day where we had ONE excursion this morning and the rest of the day to ourselves.  To be honest, when the day's program was explained last night I was thinking that not only would the day's schedule be light, but it didn't seem like Wittenberg would have much in the way of note-worthy sites to see or stories to tell.  Far from it!  As we departed the ship it was raining and in the upper-50s - but this Florida boy coming from So Fla where it's in the upper-90s - enjoyed the climate change for sure and didn't mind the weather at all.

Our first stop was Martin Luther's house, which is now a museum.  Within the home we saw many very interesting things and heard lots of stories.

We saw the original pulpit from which Martin Luther delivered more than 500 sermons.  We also saw an original copy of the New Testament that was hand-translated into German by Martin Luther (in his own handwriting).  Also the door from the prison cell where he was held when he wrote the "95 Theses" breaking from the Catholic Church and leading to the formation of the Protestant faith.  And finally, we saw - encased in glass - where Peter the Great had signed the top of the door from when he visited this house!

Original pulpit

The New Testament

Prison cell doorway

Peter the Great signature

Then we headed down the road to the church where Martin Luther and his congregation met.  In here we saw the baptism bowl where Luther baptized his own children over five hundred years ago, and where our guide (and his children) was baptized.  And in the front of the church was a collection of paintings (more on that below).

Statute of Martin Luther in front of Town Hall

My Sister Preaches To The Group

What is happening!  Who anointed Ms. Laura to be the "Martin Luther" of the day?  Well in fact the guide asked for someone who could read the English language to read the biblical passage which is depicted in this painting on the wall, so my sister became the celebrity of the group! 

Speaking of my sister, why is she holding socks?  It's a multi-part answer.....first, last night when we were given a preview for today one of the items pointed out to us by our great program director, Rick, was that THE most popular tourist purchase from Wittenberg is "Martin Luther Socks."  On them is embroidered his famous quote when asked by the Catholic Church about his proclamation after posting the 95 Theses on the cathedral door, "Here I stand.  I can do no other."  Part 2:  A year ago when we originally had booked this trip, for my birthday in August my sister gave me a card and in it was the message, "When we are in Germany I will buy you something in Germany as your birthday present."  Today, as we were hearing so much about Martin Luther it occurred to me that the socks would be IDEAL.  (1) because it's from the trip, purchased here in Germany, but (2) also because when we were younger.... as I remember it .... she used to love to smell my dirty socks (now to hear my sister tell it, I pinned her down and forced her to smell them, but I don't remember that AT ALL).

The series of paintings hanging above the alter depict various scenes as interpreted by the painter.  And some of them provide some curious questions, which according to our guide STILL have no definitive answers.

Dan Brown - esque Tales From The Painting

The top left and top right paintings portray a female, uncharacteristically dressed in a very fine and expensive gown.  AND she is shown twice in the painting on the right - once from the back and once in profile; and she is shown again in the painting to the left, another profile shot.  Who is she?  Why is she in the painting?  No one knows!

The middle top portrays the last supper, as portrayed by the author.  In this depiction there are several things that are "curious."  First, you'll note that the table is round, and not rectangular as portrayed in nearly every other painting of this event.  Second, many of the characters, who you'd assume to be the disciples of Jesus are in fact NOT those men.

The bottom painting shows Martin Luther preaching to the congregation.  In the front row, in red, is his wife and child.  But what's curious is the female who's the ONLY one not focused on the sermon.  Who is she?  What is she looking at?  No one knows.

Lastly, for those that are curious, here's a peak at what our stateroom #224 looks like....