Fotoessay: I Lost My Heart in Heidelberg (Satis Shroff)

I LOST MY HEART IN HEIDELBERG

Ever lost your heart in Heidelberg? Here's a song dedicated to this wonderful city in Baden-Württemberg:
 

I lost my heart in Heidelberg's fair city,
'twas in a gentle summer night,
I was in love, so deep in love entangled,
Her rosebud mouth was laughing with delight.
..What has become of you, my dear, since I had to be wise,
Old Heidelberg, so beautiful, you German Paradise!
I went away in sorrow, left happiness, ease and wine,
I think of you, I long for you,
You are my 'auld lang syne!'

We know the magical powers of witches and shamans today mostly through fairy tales and children's books (Harald Topfer). Sometimes we hear that witches knew a lot about healing. Which healing medication were known in the early days? Prescriptions for magical potions have been passed down with the passage of time. They were said to make people lover others against their will. This is still practiced in many cultures where there are shamans who have good or evil magical practices. The belief in witches began not in the sinister Middle Ages but earlier in the 15th century. In order to protect ourselves from witches (Hexen) we have amulets made, and learn about the different ways of protecting ourselves. In the Tumor Biology it has become normal additionally to use herbal medicine or such amulets to ward off evil spirits because faith or belief in the power of such artifacts blessed by the shaman or witch,if you may, can be beneficial. A great percentage of the effect of medicine is belief and to a lesser degree the actual effect of the medication itself. At the Apocathery Museum in Heidelberg you even learn how to make a salve which won't help you to fly (take a broom or the Lufthansa!) but will enable you to have scented and soft hands.

 It's not the fastest train in the world but it's fun, this rickety, creaky affair that squeaks and jolts all the way to the peak. The ride downhill was faster. Reminded me of the funicular train to the top of Salzburg, Austria. You are rewarded with a majestic view of the Neckar river, as it snakes in the valley below and the Heidelberger bridge, the tourist boats, the cars speeding along the highways, and everywhere lush green, blooming vegetation. The Philosopher's Path looked inviting. The castle garden was extensive and there were students lolling on the grass, tourists walking around in swarms with their respective guides. Your could hear: English, Japanese, Chinese, French and other tongues.

 

Zwei Entlein: two ducks chillaxing despite the many visitors to the castle of Heidelberg which was built in the 13th and 17th century. The early Gothic buildings are the ruins, and was the seat of the Pfälsische Wittelbacher.

 Heidelberg is a wonderful university town.

Heidelberg castle is the epitome of the Romantic and depicts the

 splendour of the Renaissance as well as the sad devastation left behind by the 30 years war. Then the reconstruction, the renewed prosperity and the final destruction during the French-Palatinate War.

The sights of the castle? The King's Hall, a gigantic wine barrel, so big you have to climb a creaky, wooden, spiral staircase and if you're medical-minded,a GP, a pharmacist, stud.med.or cand.med.or a nursing student doing evidence-based-nursing, why, you must visit the German Pharmacy Museum located in the castle. 

Haus zum Ritter: This house was built in 1592 for the family of a wealthy textile trader and is one of the most beautiful Renaissance houses in Europe. Today it's an expensive hotel with a restaurant for visitors from all over the world.