Interview with Hinako from Dusseldorf

Since my trip to Germany is two weeks away, I’ve been in major planning mode. My main destinations are Berlin for the dance workshop, Stuttgart to visit my cousin, Heidelberg to visit my distant family, and Dusseldorf to visit my good friend. I am so grateful to technology for how easy it is to keep in contact through Facebook and Skype with family and friends across an ocean.

Hinako and me at a café in Rome, Italy (August 2012).

I am dedicating this post to my good friend Hinako in Dusseldorf. She and I grew up in New York. Although she was a few years older than me, we spent a lot of time together in school. We were close enough to call each other sisters. She moved to Germany six years ago to continue her career in dance. Unfortunately, time flew and we lost touch. 

Heidelberg Castle in Heidelberg

I recently found out that I have distant relatives in Heidelberg, so I have added a destination to my trip. When I started telling my friends I was going there, they told me unanimously to make sure the Heidelberg Castle is on my must-see list, or as I call it, Hot Spot. With an entrance fee of only 3 euros, there is no excuse!

The castle is perched 300 feet above the town, so you can only imagine the breathtaking views. It began construction in 1300 and was at the peak of its glory in the 16^th and 17^th centuries during the Wittelsbach dynasty. Interestingly enough, each building highlights a different period of German architecture. Sadly, the Heidelberg Castle was never completed, but the magnificence of its former glories are reflected in its grandeur . You can stroll the castles interiors, the Otto-Heinrich pharmacy wing, the pleasure gardens and endless scenic trails that help you relax in the solemnity of country life.

There is a humorous legend that circle the castle walls. In 1751, the world’s largest wine barrel, known as the Heidelberg Tun, was constructed to house the wine paid as taxes by wine growers. The court jester who guarded the cask was supposedly a big wine drinker. Legend has it that he died when he mistakenly drank a glass of water.

Below is a short video introducing Heidelberg and its magnificent castle. The views are astounding.