phjardas

Literally, it’s a high-ranking town in Germany’s most-beautiful-town-contest. Lots of timbered houses and grand landscape.

Coming from Europe and especially from Germany I have – for obvious reasons – a rather reserved opinion on the United States. If you feel the same and are visiting the U.S. for the first time, like I was a few weeks ago, go to New York. From what I have heard and experienced this is the one place that is so typical American on one hand and so European on the other. Sidewalks full of walking people, rather “small” (2-4 lanes in Manhattan) streets, very friendly and willing-to-help people, hundreds of skin colors: it feels like “home”. =) Yet, there is this always present feeling that everything is different. I really recommend visiting this great city, and take your time. I’ve been there for a week which I personally felt far to little time to experience the city.

Do take the Circle Line boat tour, the full one around Manhattan. Three hours worth the money.

Sorry to have to dissapoint you, but I didn’t like the story all to much. However, despite the writing and the story – which is a matter of taste and thus non-arguable – I still have a curious after taste of the author’s theology and pedagogics. I’m not a Christian myself, but I do realize and have heard from many a friend that a lot of European Christians dissent with the naive approaches to the salvific story of Christ. However, leaving theology, I don’t really like the idea of children becoming warriors and heroes.