Stuttgart Hills
Because I was living in Stuttgart, it seemed weird to talk about travelling to there and around the city. Consequently I only wrote about other places that I went to when I was blogging at the time. Now I’m back home and I’ll tell you about Stuttgart!
There isn’t way too much to say about the city. It’s particularly beautiful because it was one of the few German towns (that I visited) that had hills— like big SF hills that brings me back to a feeling of “home.” It also has some fun things to do and has it’s special quirks, too.
The downtown core of Stuttgart has a long interesting history going back to the Roman Empire and beyond, and you can learn all about the history of the region by going to the museum at the “Altes Schloss” (the old castle). Which is exactly what it sounds like.
Das Altes Schloss
It’s a big, old, castle. The museum is fun to go through, not just because of the history but because of the fact that is a big old medieval-style castle (and honestly, I don’t know how much you’ll actually learn about the history unless you can read German really well).
Das Neue Schloss (“The New Castle”) is indeed newer; the architecture is in the style of Baroque (and was built in the right period). That said, most of it was completely destroyed in WWII, and even though they did their best to keep it in the Baroque style it definitely feels like a recreation rather than an original. My favourite part of the New Castle, is the rather large courtyard where there are a couple fountains with some… interesting sculpture.
Das Neue Schloss, in the winter
Axe-wielding child!?
Thinking outside the cube
The modern art museum is a giant class cube (these Germans really love their cube-shaped buildings) and has a pretty decent collection. When I visited it had a large Otto Dix exhibit, which makes me very happy. In the permanent collection they had a number of “organic” pieces of art made of dirt, plants, and other earthy and biodegradable items. There was also a large, half disintegrated chocolate gnome in a plastic box. The artists justified putting dirt (and chocolate gnomes) in a box and calling it “art” by saying “earth is art! and this piece of art, like the earth, is constantly changing due to mold and decomposition, etc.” All it does for me is put a couple more items on my list of “why modern art drives me crazy.”
The quirkiest thing about the city is inside the city hall. There is an elevator that never stops moving— so you literally have to jump in and jump out, and time it properly. There’s a little sign that has pictorial versions of “no baggage” and “no old people.” It’s pretty awesome. I wonder what happens if you don’t get off? :O
And that, is the end of my Germany experience. Remember when I first got here and I showed you a picture of the forest path where “the Running Goth” did her stuff? Well, that was in the winter. 5 months and a whole lot of travelling later, I pack my bags and say goodbye to my personal ladybug army, language frustrations, lamacun, and football (with a spherical ball). I’m very happy to have gone there and I hope I can go back with new knowledge I’ve gained.
Auf wiedersehen, Stuttgart.