HOME AGAIN

I know, I know....where did we go?

Well sad to say we reached a bend in the river (read Danube) where the Internet did not reach. Who would have believed it that from Melk, Austria....to Nuremberg, Germany....I would be unable to "reach out and touch" everyone!

To me..this was the most beautiful part of the trip...from an organ concert in Passau to Linz at night with its quaint bars and pubs filled with locals to Regensburg, with its wonderful history so different from the rest of Germany.

Regensburg was not a threat to the allies during World War II because Hitler's forces thought it useless. Just a city with a bridge to nowhere. Both left it alone and because of this it has one of the loveliest histories in Germany. Our guide, so cute dressed in her dirndl( German country dress), led us though cobbled streets so close together that it was hard to believe that cars could travel on them.

We arrived at the ancient city hall in time to see a wedding....after which everyone...and I mean everyone including us...went to Regensburgs most famous beer hall to have a drink and some local sausages in a hard roll! Lots of fun.

From there we traveled to Nuremberg where we heard stories of the Nazi's from a local historian. Having been born after WWII and never liking to hear anything about these great world conflicts, I was totally amazed at that horrible man's cruelty to his fellow human beings.

There has always been talk about how many Jewish people he put to death...but we learned from our guide that Hitler was totally intolerant and that he put gays, orientals, blacks and anyone else who was "different" to death in the same way that he did the Jews. Over 6 million German citizens in total were executed by the Nazi's. Over 2/3rds were of Jewish decent...but the rest could have been you or I.

Hitler was elected free and clear by the German people as in the late 30's there was a depression, no jobs, and banks and the monetary system in Germany was in trouble. Hitler promised "change" and the Germans were elated when things turned around the 1st year he was in office. Then things really changed and one couldn't say anything negative about his administration for fear of death squads. Then the exterminations began. Hitler became what we know of him today. Thank God he later committed suicide and that the world didn't have to provide him with one of today's defense attorneys who twist and turn the law to their convenience.

In any case...Nuremberg was an eye opening experience for me and a city although beautiful now had been almost totally destroyed by the allies. I was glad to return to our ship on the beautiful Danube to get out of Nuremberg's depressing shadow.

So now, after a long flight back....I am home at the beach in our great country. We have a lot wrong here...as do all countries. But never let us become a country like pre World War II Germany. Even thought there is a large Neo-Nazi movement in Germany now...the country is peaceful and happy as are Austria and Hungary.

It is more important than ever that we all work for world peace through understanding. We must never forget!