the good times - wine tasting

There have been some very good times for me here, and recording them has now become a goal of mine.

Well over a month ago, Mauricio, a Mexican Law student here who speaks excellent German, invited several of us to a wine tasting hosted by the wonderful Herr Dr. Schlagbauer and his wife, both of whom can be seen to the right. Dr. Schlagbauer is an older gentleman, but he remains hard at work as a dentist, bursting with energy, hosting parties and flattering young ladies. He and his wife, both of whom constantly wear big grins, are such an open-hearted, free-spirited couple -- they get life, and they always seem to be having a blast.

Certainly Mauricio, myself, and the other friends Mauricio invited were the youngest in attendance at the party; for the most part, everyone else there were older adults. Würzburg in Autumn is the perfect place for a wine tasting, as the city and the surrounding hilly vinyards are famous for wine. There were four wine servings, along with an assortment of fine cheeses, little salami pieces, and bread.

We all grew merrier as the evening progressed. Inbetween servings Dr. Schlagbauer would lead us in singing roaring songs, and his wife would recite beautiful poems about Autumn and life. My favorite song from that night is "Die Gedanken sind frei." A website I found describes the song´s history as originating as "an old song of protest that goes back to the German peasant wars of the 16th century." Banned by the Nazis, the song is wonderful to sing and carries a powerful message: "Die Gedanken sind frei" means "The thoughts are free." The first two stanzas of the German lyrics are as follows:

Die Gedanken sind frei,
wer kann sie erraten;
sie fliehen vorbei
wie naechtliche Schatten.
Kein Mensch kann sie wissen,
kein Jaeger erschiessen;
es bleibet dabei:
Die Gedanken sind frei.

Ich denk was ich will,
und was mich begluecket,
Doch alles in der Still,
und wie es sich schicket.
Mein Wunsch und Begehren
kann niemand verwehren,
es bleibet dabei:
Die Gedanken sind frei.

It´s difficult to translate songs of course, but I found one translation online that isn´t really a translation so much as English lyrics that possess the same tone as the German ones. But you get the idea:

"Our Thoughts Are Free"
Die Gedanken sind frei
My thoughts freely flower,
My thoughts give me power.
No scholar can map them,
No hunter can trap them,
No man can deny:
Die Gedanken sind frei!

I think as I please
And this gives me pleasure,
My conscience decrees,
This right I must treasure;
My thoughts will not cater
To duke or dictator,
No man can deny--
Die Gedanken sind frei!

The picture shows wine being poured for Claire, an English exchange student also studying in Würzburg for the year. The last line of the song is practically yelled, especially by the third or fourth round of a wine-tasting, and the energy is magnificent. Then his wife would read a poem, as can be seen to the left. She very kindly gave me the list of all the songs and poems sung and read that night. But my favorite one, about wine and Autumn, is called "Oktoberlied" by Theodor Strom, and reads as follows:

Der Nebel steigt, es fällt das Laub;
Schenk ein den Wein, den holden!
Wir wollen uns den grauen Tag
Vergolden, ja vergolden!

Und geht es draußen noch so toll,
Unchristlich oder christlich,
Ist doch die Welt, die schöne Welt,
So gänzlich unverwüstlich!

Und wimmert auch einmal das Herz -
Stoß an und laß es klingen!
Wir wissen's doch, ein rechtes Herz
Ist gar nicht umzubringen.

Wohl ist es Herbst; doch warte nur,
Doch warte nur ein Weilchen!
Der Frühling kommt, der Himmel lacht,
Es steht die Welt in Veilchen.

Die blauen Tage brechen an,
Und ehe sie verfließen,
Wir wollen sie, mein wackrer Freund,
Genießen, ja genießen!

I won´t try to translate it, except sort of the first stanza:

The fog it grows, the leaves they wither,
Send on the wine, let´s drink it!
We want to take this dark gray day,
And turn it golden, yes, golden!

Anyway, you can imagine how merry things got. Afterwards, I had a long conversation with a German investor about lumber prices, and the surprising fact that, at the moment, Germany is exporting timber to the United States -- I think it has something to do with American tariffs on Canadian wood. Anyway, if you´re interested in little facts and curiosities like that, then we can discuss it further, but I won´t write any more of it down here. The picture here shows Mauricio, who invited us, and also had a great time, I think.

It was a fine party and a fine evening; Dr. Schlagbauer and his wife know how to throw a good wine tasting. I will never forget it. If someday I can throw half as good of a party, with friends and family all gathered around enjoying themselves, I would count myself very lucky.

These were good times.