April 29 Something in Common

We are sailing all morning and have no need to hurry so I say in bed under my comforter and wait for Ron to bring me coffee, the dear.  After breakfast we have a glass blowing demonstration by one of the artisans from Wertheim, a town famous for glass.  He was taught the craft by his father and grandfather and has worked closely with Dale Chihuly over the years, collaborating with him on the installation at the Bellagio in Las Vegas.  It was entertaining and informative and fun to look at all the items for sale.  I do, however,  think the pieces were second to the artistry of Maui Glass in Makawao.

After lunch (yes we eat constantly) we dock in Miltenberg a medieval city with remnants of the wall around the town still standing.  We did not go up to the castle which was begun around 1200 but enjoyed looking at it high atop the hill adjacent to the town.  We did climb up to the Jewish Cemetery and were sad to see the grass knee high and the place untended.  Perhaps there is no one left from any of these families.

Our guide was lively and informative.  Originally from South Africa, she married a German man and ended up in Miltenberg where she lives with her husband and 2 daughters who've grown up and left home.  She mentioned that is costs almost 2000 euros to get a driver's license in Germany but renewal, at least, is free.  After her young daughter got 2 speeding tickets in close succession, the girl had to pay enormous fines and then see a psychiatrist to determine if she had a mental defect that was causing her to misbehave.  Hum.

Apparently we won her over because we've had dinner two nights running with Jacqueline, our elderly British friend.  She talked about going to India 16 times in connection with an orphanage she and her husband supported. On her first visit, she contracted dysentery and was gravely ill for 3 months.  We compared notes since I was also sick in India and discovered we'd both had a black tongue which was, to put it mildly, quite disconcerting.  I got well within three weeks which I credit to immediate care from the doctors that were in our tour group and to good doses of Cipro which I started taking on Joan's advice.  Did the trick.  On a happier note, both Jacqueline and I love Jane Austen and the Brontes.