Day 2 – Erfurt & Buchenwald

Day 2 – Erfurt

After breakfast we took the bus to downtown Erfurt. We met our guide and went on a walking tour of this 500 year old town. We saw the university where Luther was studying law, before he changed his major to the ministry. We visited the Augustinian monastery where Luther studied. And also the church where he was later ordained. Luther was born on Nov 10, and Nov 11 is St. Martin's day. Ergo the statue of St Martin in the in main town square that celebrates with both Catholics and Lutherans on Nov 10 and 11 each year.

Buchenwald -- After our lunch break we bused to Buchenwald concentration camp, just a few miles to the north of Weimar. We visited the museum and grounds there. Most of the buildings have been torn down, but a few key structures remain, and the footings of all the original buildings are clearly visible.

After our visit here we were off to Brehna, just outside of Leipzig. We will visit Luther sites there tomorrow.

WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED --

An Erfurt-er is a person from Erfurt, but there are no foods called Erfurt. (that we know of)

In German a ford over a river is a "furt." And "er" means muddy. Which is what happened to the river's waters when many wagons were entering the town via the ford.

A 1400's cure for kidney stones was to eat 7 very salty fish quickly, which then brings on a terrific thirst. So you down a boatload of water -- the combination of which tends to eliminate some of the stones.