Buoyancy » Around the World

Behind the Clouds the Sun Shines - Two Days in Trier

At the weekend we had broken free and shot off to Germany for a cousin's wedding celebrations. We lived it up, celebrated, explored the lovely little city and mingled with the locals. The feelings that characterise this trip I cannot help but describe in the words of a song - "behind the clouds the sun is shining, behind the clouds is everything, behind the clouds it is good, please take me along." Here is a brief summary - 10 things worth seeing and enjoying in Trier.

At the weekend we had broken free and shot off to Germany for a cousin's wedding celebrations. We lived it up, celebrated, explored the lovely little city and mingled with the locals. The feelings that characterise this trip I cannot help but involuntarily describe in the words of a song - "behind the clouds the sun is shining, behind the clouds is everything, behind the clouds it is good, please take me along."

The inner peace and carefree spirit of the locals (not to be confused with irresponsibility) is admirable. Everything just happens, no stress or irritation about anything. The words "crisis" or "unemployment" are associated not with people who cannot find work or provide for their family, but with people who are simply too lazy to drag themselves to the office or to sort out some paperwork on time. Everything is thought through and arranged to a degree bordering on the tedious, so that every person feels valued. A well-organised economy - from waste-sorting bins right through to perfect road surfaces even on secondary country roads.

Trier is located in the western part of Germany, quite close to the Belgian and French borders. Luxembourg is only about 40 km away. Perhaps that is also why the people seem less conservatively German, far more open and welcoming towards visitors. The landscape is beautiful, hilly, with countless vineyards and mist-filled valleys on summer mornings. The climate is changeable - now sunshine and proper heat, now rain again and a cool breeze. As one local told us, they even have a saying - if someone has an unpredictable character, they say he is like German weather.

Trier - www.trier.de - turns out to be one of the oldest cities in Germany, founded in the 16th century BC. It is thought to have been founded by Emperor Augustus himself. In the old town to this day one can find many testimonies to Roman culture. The most striking example is PORTA NIGRA - the ancient Roman city gates, preserved since the 2nd century AD.

To walk around the old town, the map available right there at the information centre by these gates is excellent, as it marks out a "tourist route" that leads past almost all the main sights. The map with marked objects can also be viewed and printed here - http://www.orangesmile.com/destinations/img/trier-map-big.jpg

At first I wanted to photograph everything, because every building facade is a genuine work of art.

So let me try to summarise briefly, because in the six hours we spent walking around the city there was truly a lot to take in.

10 things worth seeing and enjoying in Trier.

1. Visit the DOM (Gottesdienst) during a service, to hear the great organ in the cathedral's magnificent acoustics. And to be in the presence of one of Christianity's relics - the tunic of Jesus Christ, for which soldiers cast lots after the Saviour's crucifixion.

P.S. Next to the Dom is a souvenir shop where one can buy bronze guardian angels, church wine, fine organ music recordings, and the like. My choice fell on a wooden block on whose faces the prayer "Unser Vater im Himmel! Geheiligt werde dein Name. [..]" is written with illustrative drawings. In my view, a simple but original way to help a small child learn a prayer.

The cathedral has an inner courtyard where priests are buried and a garden of flowers and ornamental trees is tended.

2. Step inside the KONSTANTIN BASILIKA, to experience the grandeur of the massive wooden ceiling. Also a building with superb acoustics, it serves as an exhibition and concert hall.

3. Visit the KURFÜRSTLICHES PALAIS and the PALASTGARTEN opposite - a splendid, tranquil place for strolling and relaxing with well-kept flower beds, fountains, and lawns.

Yes indeed, there one can read a book sitting on a bench, or equally lie on the grass, sunbathe or enjoy a packed lunch from a picnic basket in the fresh air, and nobody will chase you away for trampling on a cultural heritage park.

4. If anyone is interested in water pleasures and ancient excavations, I recommend visiting the KAISERTERMEN. We did not actually go in there - we balked at the 3.50 EUR entry fee to see the Roman imperial baths excavations (4th century AD) - because by climbing up one could see almost everything over the fence anyway. :)

5. Drop into the SPIELZEUGMUSEUM, where a great variety of toys from different eras have been gathered. The museum is located right by the central square, Hauptmarkt.

6. Stroll along the MOSEL riverbank, taking in the RÖMERBRÜCKE and KRAHNEN along the way. The RÖMERBRÜCKE is the oldest (2nd century AD) Roman bridge north of the Alps. The bridge, with its dimensions and solidity, still serves its purpose without difficulty.

7. Together with the many tourists from the friendly Chinese Republic, visit the KARL MARX HOUSE. :) The birthplace of the founder of socialist theory, where Karl Marx came into the world in 1818. Needless to say, bright red is the dominant colour here. More about this place - http://www.fes.de/Karl-Marx-Haus/

8. Taste German beer and Moselle region wines. Trier calls itself Germany's wine capital. From the approximately 400 hectares of vineyards in the surrounding area some 30 million litres of wine are produced per year, and Trier is also the largest sparkling wine production centre.

I must say Germany is the only place on earth where I can drink beer - otherwise it (unlike for Ēriks) doesn't appeal to me at all. Be that as it may, my favourite is and remains semi-dry Riesling wine. And especially from local grapes, mmm. :)

9. Have lunch at Kartoffel Restaurant KISTE - http://www.kistetrier.de/ - a cosy spot with a hearty, tasty and extensive menu based mainly on potatoes plus something. I tried "Trierer Gefüllte" - very similar to Lithuanian cepelinai, but much more rounded and fried.

P.S. Next to the outdoor terrace is a fountain depicting various trades and professions. In other words, eat and don't forget that to pay the bill you also have to work. :) Although on Sundays in Germany only a few places operate - some cafés or restaurants located on tourist routes. Clothing and grocery shops are closed.

10. Blend into the local crowd, and the best way to do this is, of course, during the city festival, which runs for two or three days in a row. Discover that you can drink from glass glasses, which together with the drink can be taken from the beer or wine vendors against a deposit (no corners littered with plastics). Moreover, if anyone has had a bit too much, the duty service escorts them to a safe place to sleep it off. No need to worry about parking, because during the festival all paid parking spaces are suspended - park wherever is most convenient.