And here is a test for truth given by Jesus: ” Those who speak their own truth look for their own glory: but those who seek the glory of God that sent them, these speak the truth and have no unrighteousness in them.”
John 7: 18
Then E G White says this: “Truth must be received in such a way that it claims the worship of the will. If truth could be submitted to reason alone, pride would be no hindrance in the way of its reception.”
We parked for the night with a statue of gigantic proportions across the river. It is an equestrian statue of Emperor William I. The Prussian Monument Institute has recorded : 63 equestrian statues, 231 standing statues and 5 seated statues and 126 busts of King William I as the King of Prussia. This one stands at the confluence of the Rhyne River and a multinational tributary the Moselle.
Its monumental grandness celebrates and is a symbol of the unification of Germany and the place where it stands is termed ” German Corner.”
The next morning we choose to cycle to the city and my first photograph was of a mural I was eager to know about.
” Das Mädchen” ( The Girl) painted by internationally renowned, locally born, street art and graffiti artist Hendrik Beikirch.
The message: Her gentle eyes and thoughtful folded hands under her chin are meant to evoke compassion, reflection, and quiet strength.
The portrait was intentionally chosen to raise public awareness about violence against women and show support for the local woman’s shelter.
From that ramp we pushed our bikes past the mural and over Baldwin bridge which spans the Moselle River. Its construction started 1342. It is one of the oldest stone bridges in Germany. Originally 20 arches and today 11.
It was soon after this that were to get a much larger panoramic view of the city from the Koblenz cable car. The day was clearing and it was interesting to see the meeting of these two rivers at ” German Corner.”
This city has a long history. It was established as a Roman military post by Drusus about 8BC. Drusus was the maternal great- grandfather of the Emperor Nero and it is in the heart of the old town of Koblenz, in Josef – Görres – Platz far below that we learn more of this history. The city celebrated 2,000 years in 1992 and The History Column made of Bronze is a 3D timelime of the cities 2,000 years.
The Roman boat is loaded with wine barrels and above the boat are 10 curcular layers that depict the major eras. The very top has the modern era. A rebuilt peaceful, and future orientated city. A city as we found it.
Let me share some temporary beauties which are as important as the permanent. Yes the natural planting and manicured beds.
High up at the fortress were some giant lemon scabious in swathes planted with giant Turkish sage as well as salvias, day-lilies, red hot pokers and lavendar all in bloom.
Purple, yellow, cerise, whites and green. An attractive display of texture, heights and colour.
The very tall plants with large lemon heads of scabious filled large areas. A pleasure to walk through.
A plant I want to grow.
There was tremendous freedom in this planting but I was soon to be impressed by a small city garden.
Beds divided by plant type and colour. Ordered, immaculate. Let us look more closely.
A large straw- type flower growing low down and paper like to touch. Beautifully placed all along the edge.
A wave of planting going through the middle. Nature and person working to express their own achievements but together.
Purples and whites of smaller bushy flowering plants with squares, carefully colour chosen. A living, temporary work of art.
A space to appreciate, a place of joy, colour and a response of beauty to hard work by those who tend it, care for it and most of all love it!
Koblenz. Two statues and two gardens. There is always more.
Pericles once said: ‘ What we leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.’
And
Memory is the treasure house of the mind wherein the monuments there of are kept and preserved.
Thomas Fuller.
We travel on. Please feel free to join us.
Sandy 🙂