Heidelberg

As I've previously mentioned here, Heidelberg is extra special to me as my mum and family are from there (if you haven't already, you can read about the last time I visited Heidelberg while on this trip here). This visit was extra special as it was my auntie's first time back in Heidelberg since she left with her family at ten years of age. One of things my auntie was interested in doing while here, was to seek out the spot where her Grandparents were buried. On a previous trip a few years ago when mum and I were here together, we went to the graveyard where we know they were buried, but after almost an hour of searching, could not find the spot.

We stayed two nights in a lovely hotel that was in a perfect location we could walk everywhere from.

Our hotel in Heidelberg

One of the first things we did after arriving was to head to the Heidelberg University library to see if they could give us any information on how we might find the exact final resting place of my great grandparents. The uni staff were absolutely amazingly helpful and contributed further towards breaking down my aunties belief that Germans are cold, arrogant and not helpful people (yes I know - she said it not me!). The nice lady did suggest we confirm with the local Bureau for that sort of thing, but she also explained to us that in Germany burial sites are 're-used' after about 20 years if nobody continues to pay for their upkeep. This was news to us, I believe there's talk of doing this in Australia as land becomes more and more scarce, but the idea of it is just...well...creepy. Do they just dig the grave back up and chuck another on top? While my mind boggled, we left the University with an address for the Bureau but a little sad knowing the grave would most likely no longer exist. Another staff member also took down our details and said he would find out what he can find and email me back. I had an email the next day from him saying he'd had no luck on the 'grave-front' but he did find an old telephone book listing with my great-grandfathers' name in which he'd forwarded to me and was cool to see.

University Library Entrance

We spent the rest of the day exploring the breathtakingly beautiful old part of Heidelberg.

 

The next day we spent exploring the other side of the river, an area called Neuenheim which is where my family used to have a house, and is therefore the area where my aunty remembers best. At the end of what used to be her street, she had memories of an old church and courtyard where she used to attend a weekly market when she was a kid, and we found that they still have markets in that same spot every week.



The courtyard at the end of the street where they still have markets

Afterwards we went for an hour cruise along the Neckar...

Our vessel of choice - the 'Germania'

 
...and finished another beautiful day off with another beautiful piece of cake!

It's berry season -yummo!

Only 3 days left in Germany before I head off to the UK for almost a month where my mum, auntie and I are taking a coach tour of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales (although only a snippet of each). I'm really sad to be leaving Germany and also sad that my trip is coming to an end, but I'm also looking forward to going home, so the feeling is bittersweet...