To Lose Ourselves

We travel, initially, to lose ourselves; 
And we travel, next to find ourselves.
We travel to open our hearts and eyes and learn 
more about the world than our newspapers will accommodate.
(Pico Iyer)


After a night on a church floor and an air mattress that was half filled...what better thing to do that to explore the farthest reaches of the church.

                   

You are looking at the ceiling of the Pauluskirche in Kamen, Germany. We were about to climb high up into the steeple, but first a look at this beautiful church. The ceiling was stunning. During the war, they covered the ceiling panels for fear that the government would see the stars and interpret them as the Jewish Star of David. They were not.....but they could not risk being misunderstood. Today they remain.

                      

We went through a door and entered the stairs filled with shadows and dust and history.

                     

We got as high as the three huge bells which ring out during the day.

                
Walking up or climbing down presented challenges but we were constantly rewarded with "Indiana Jones-type" sights.

                     
I never tire of these stairs and passages in old European churches.

                 

The church itself and a portion of the tower are 1,000 years old. In between are wars, lack of funds, a plague or two and constant re-building. It looks wonderful today.

                              

The church interior


                          
I found the xx sign a couple places but the minister said that it held no special significance.


               
And like the church last week....they had bones buried beneath the sanctuary with grave markers which have been dug up and placed around the church interior. These bodies were of the aristocracy of the area.

                             
Just to prove that we have done more than crawl around under and over churches...I went in the afternoon with Frank and Birgit to see Dortmund. Just outside one of the three local Protestant churches was this local institution: Wurst Willie. Fast food Brats and fries. Quick and quite tasty. I'm hooked.

           
Here are three old, yet  rebuilt Protestant churches which suffered heavy WWII damage...due, especially to the nearby steel mill.


                      
Doors are the best!

                
Simple, yet stunning in many ways.


               


                     
The ornate of say, two centuries ago gives way to modern worship design.


                            
Yet the old, is timeless.


                      
And to wrap up my day ... I attended Nils choir rehearsal of which he is the director. The choir and he are remarkable but they also practice in a modern Lutheran church. Here it is as the choir of about 40 members arrive for rehearsal.


                        
Peace,   Bob







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