History and geography are tricky things in my brain. I understand dates and most of the time I have a general idea of where things are at. However, I’m an insanely visual person in how I learn. Because of this, history and geography truly come alive for me when I get to see places. Drive the roads, touch the walls, smell the vegetation. 

I have a far better grasp on US geography after living in Washington State and South Carolina and having to drive across the country to visit family in Colorado. I can tell you about the massive grand furs in the former and the gorgeous magnolias in the later. I’m now getting that same grasp on Europe small degrees at a time. And along with that is coming a deeper understanding of the history here. 

Of course, I’ve been taught about Nepoleon and Rome. About Grimm’s fairy tales and WWII. It’s different, though, when I realize I can drive an hour and cross the border into France. This reality locks into place an understanding of how Germany and France border each other and also why so many locations in Germany have French names. The two countries have fought over land for centuries. 

Likewise, words on a page take on a completely different meaning when I can look up from them and see the five-meter-thick wall of the castle I’m standing in and truly appreciate that, if the mortar had had a chance to dry before the castle had been attacked, it might not be ruins today. And the history of the region might be completely different. 

It sits on top of a hill overlooking Landstuhl, Germany. While I stood upon one of its remaining walls, I tried to picture an army attacking it. How would they be placed? Which side was easier to approach. With its location, trebuchets would have a hard time lobing their rocks up the hill. 

But clearly they were effective. The central tower is gone. The lower wall sticks up like broken teeth from the hill below me. All due to damp mortar. How interesting that such a seemingly small detail would change the entire history of this once proud castle. 

Blessings,

Jennifer

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