In 1826 a natural spring was discovered and named the Wilhelm spring on the River Tauber. 100 years later the town received the official name 'Bad' (meaning 'health resort') and is popular today for its natural spa pools.
It was a day for a late start, including an incredibly late yet sumptuous breakfast as part of the price of the room. The hotel owner's wife welcomed us to our table which had already been specifically set for us. We each received a large plate with a selection of meats, cheeses, tomato and cucumber slices, liverworst sausage plus yogurts, buns and also boiled eggs. We decided not to have cereal! Coffee was served to our table with wonderful grace. We tried our best to do justice to the wonderful, gracious hospitality. We did not get her name, but she was born in Bulgaria. She and her husband run this family hotel, which has a Greek restaurant which they also host. She was charming to us in the extreme, making us feel very much part of the family.
We had made the 'call' to finally replace my precious, long serving touring cycle shoes. I cannot recall how old they are, or how long they have served, but yesterday for the third time now, the sole ripped off the shoe. The sole holds the cleat that locks into the pedal, so no sole no pedalling. The grip on the undershoe had almost perished with use, so we could not see another resurrection for these long suffering but much favoured shoes. After breakfast, we walked to the very large bikeshop on the edge of town. We met Benedict who turned out to be a character. We bought new shoes, and presented Benedict with my old shoes as a 'keep sake'. He was suitably impressed!
To make his day, we also purchased a new backpack more designed for cycle touring, and also gave him the old one which was purchased at The Salvation Army in New York many years ago. We suspect that Benedict may choose to keep it as a souvnir. He is welcome to it. We enjoyed looking through the bike shop.
It was time then to enjoy the central marketplatz. We browsed shops, admired the beautiful buildings and also found a neat little coffee shop where we enjoyed a large mug of coffee and a shared focaccia for a very late lunch. It was great to sit just inside the front window of the coffee shop and watch people pass by on the cobblestoned narrow street outside.
We just love the beautiful flowers that are everywhere in Germany. The building below has a large grey plaque, just visible in the photo above the front doorway, recognising a guest visit by Beethoven in 1791. Our best assumption is that he was the guest conductor for a major orchestral concert in this building. Whatever, it justified the very large plaque in his honour.
Although as two hard core touring cyclists we did struggle with our consciences for having such a slack day, we nevertheless wandered slowly home and further lazed around in our top floor hotel room, Julie reading her novel and Kelvin playing with the computer checking the way ahead and especially looking at a Danube River cruise in lieu of a cycle leg, just for the experience. More of that later.
It was pizza for dinner at this specatacular 'Pizzaria', before watching the sun go down once more over Bad Megentheim for another day. Tomorrow, we have a further rest day here, before we face the long day to Dinkelsbuhl on the Romantic Road along the River Tauber.
People we meet are teaching us a great deal about life. The owner's wife at breakfast this morning was so loving, warm and beautifully gracious to us, who until we met at breakfast were perfect strangers. She illustrated to us the beautiful gift of hospitality. We often hear the term 'zenophobic' being used these days especially in Australia in the debate about our ability to relate and/or receive people from other cultures. It literally means 'fear of strangers'.
However, the Bible speaks about 'hospitality' as yet another disctinctive quality or characteristic of the followers of Jesus. Too many of us dismiss it, believing that hospitality is a gift for some and not others. But the scripture says it is the responsibility of all of those who take the name Christian, to be people of hospitality. "Be hospitable to one another" says 1 Peter 4:9. after all, the Greek word used is 'philoxenia' - literally 'love of strangers' (the opposite to 'zenophobia'). The modern translation says of this verse "Be quick to give a meal to the hungry and a bed to the homeless. Be generous with the different things God gave you".
If we did, what a different world it would be. When we go to breakfast tomorrow, we know we will still be strangers, but received and treated as if we are beloved friends.
From the banks of the Tauber River spa town of Bad Mergentheim, we send our love. Kelvin & Julie.
Good day! It was so fantastic to visit your personal blog and in particularly to read this blog article. And there is one thing which I wanted to ask you. Have you ever done guest blogging?
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