Hessenpark

 Hessenpark is only about 20 minutes North of Frankfurt. We were pleasantly surprised at all it had to offer. As an open-air museum it showcases half-timbered buildings from the land of Hesse.
There are about 100 houses on display.

Since Joanne has been the editor of the senior missionary newsletter called The Wegweiser, 

this sign caught our eye. Wegweiser means signpost.

Such a simple church compared to the large cathedrals we have visited. 

The windows of this church were so interesting. It looked as though they were made of the bottom of bottles. 

The large arm on the right would be use to rotate the blades into the wind.

Bonn

It was a rainy day adventure to Bonn. We listened to a podcast about Beethoven's first three symphonies to educated ourselves a little more about this talented musician. In his 30s he started to go deaf yet he continued to write the most amazing music. 

When we arrived at the museum, we were told we needed to get a COVID test and bring the "negative test results" with us before we could enter. We waited in line for about 40 minutes for the privilege of getting our nose swab. Then another 15 to get the results. With that paper, we were able to enter the retail stores, too. 

Demonstrators were protesting against pharmaceutical profits outside of the pharmacy. It was quite entertaining.

                                        

The Rathaus in Bonn was very ornate and more modern than many.

Beethoven and I hung out for a few minutes, he obviously was not amused.

The building below is the birthplace of one of the greatest composers of all-time, Ludwig van Beethoven.  I was introduced to his music as a young child and have enjoyed it ever since.

The home has been turned into a fascinating museum.

Beethoven was a skilled musician who mastered the viola, the piano and many other instruments.

As he gradually lost more and more of his hearing, he would use a conversation book like the one shown above to write down questions of people and they would write their responses.

The devices shown above are some of the primitive ways in which he tried to hear better.  Compared to my own hearing aids that are relatively hard to see, these are huge.

I love the quote at the end of the words shown above by Beethoven.

"I will seize fate by the throat; it shall certainly not bend and crush me completely."

What a great attitude to have when facing our adversities in life.

This church is between the market and the Beethoven house. We almost missed the entrance, but once inside we were blown away at its unique beauty with a mix of the old and the new.