CELLE
Today Elke and Heinrich had eye and doctor’s appointments in Celle, about ten miles away and dropped me off so that I could walk around town. My purpose was to make spatial videos of the town as memories of the many good times Kathe and the rest of my family have had there. Unlike Hannover, which was flattened, and even Winsen where Heinrich’s fathers manse was destroyed, Celle was untouched during the Second World War because the English king, George I, was born here in the huge white and red castle. The Georges I, II and III were also kings of Hannover as well as of Britain.
In any case, whether I have the history exactly right, the center of Celle remains a town of fachwerk, cross beam, houses dating back to the 1700’s and earlier. The insides of the houses have been modernized and the bottom floors have become elegant stores, but the town looks as if it is still in the Middle Ages. So I walked around for two hours taking photographs and then took the bus back to Winsen.
The photograph I most wanted was a panorama from the window of Kaffee Kiess where Kathe’s father would bring her as a girl when he stopped for coffee. Volker, Kathe’s brother was good friends with Frau Kiess the owner. Tom and Kathy and the girls had their first breakfast in Germany here and Kathe and I and Susie came here often, almost as a sacred ritual. I had potato pancakes with apple sauce as a communion meal bring back all these memories.
In the evening I went with Elke and Heinrich to Nebenan, the church coffee house, to watch an English comedy, Men Swimming. It was in German but we were late and off in a corner and the sound system didn’t reach us well so Heinrich and I, both a little hard of hearing, plus my German wasn’t that good, sat through the comedy without understanding a word but having a great time. We ordered a bottle of wine which we drank through the movie. At intermission there was warm quiche and conversation. It was a great day.
VIDEOS OF CELLE STREETS
https://share.icloud.com/photos/049eEBMrgDyLsy8AglUqpBEqQ
https://share.icloud.com/photos/079ZHA1V7T4qYz5pvrPkyRkHw
BILLYBABA’S WANDERING 