Jerusalem way - Page 2

It's slowly running smoothly: Zwickau - Nuremberg

In the morning I was free of pain in my feet, I did not quite trust it yet, but it should be confirmed. So I could enjoy the way today in my first pilgrim hostel more relaxed. Initially, the path led through the beautiful city center of Zwickau with City Hall, St. Mary's Cathedral and beautifully restored buildings on the main market. Continuing through the suburbs, the path stretched along many dirt roads and streets to Reichenbach. After the village of Mühlwand, the trail went up into the Buchwald. Absolutely idyllic lay the hostel there, a friendly couple looked after this. Next to the main building was a rustic pilgrim hostel.

I had the first emotional highlight when my friend Volker joined me the next morning for the stage Reichenbach - Plauen. He with wheelchair and handbike. Initially still beautiful forest paths along, we later had some bad luck, because the dam bridge in Pöhl was closed and we therefore had to run a lot of main roads. But we still had our fun. In the evening we had a nice dinner, then Volker was picked up and I moved into the hostel, a bit wistfully. He still visited three times on the track, in Hof, Marktschorgast and Pegnitz, on such moments I was looking forward then already the whole day 🙂.

Also the next day we walked along beautiful field and forest paths across the former inner-German border through the landscape park Theresienstein to Hof. The weather was great for hiking. Here I met again with Volker, booths were built in the city, we ate and drank first properly. In the evening I stayed again in a small pilgrim hostel, keys were available in the nursing home of the deaconry. The friendly hostel father came only in the evening and we chatted a little. The following stretch to Marktschorgast was far, but it was nice to walk. Again a lot of forest and field, it became hillier on the edge of the Fichtelgebirge. At the destination I had accommodation with Mrs. Greim, an experienced pilgrim. She had a lot of interesting information ready and cared for me very warmly.

The next few days the landscape changed little, very relaxed. In the youth hostel Bayreuth I was touched by the fate of a young man from Bangladesh. Amit studied in Bayreuth, was robbed and had no more money to stay here in Germany. He was already sitting on his packed suitcase, he had to go home the following day. In addition, his girlfriend had a serious accident on the same day. Nevertheless, he had an enviable positive attitude to life and I forgot all around me for a while as we drank a few beers together and he played his old Indian guitar from time to time.

In Pegnitz and Gräfenberg I stayed overnight in community centers, which was also something new. The former was a large building for me alone, but there was nothing to lie down, so for the first time I slept in my sleeping bag on the floor. In Gräfenberg there was a couch in the attic, a very comfortable room. Only the next morning all doors were locked, I couldn't get out and climbed out of the window on the first floor. Then I went to the bakery for breakfast, I was relaxed, I will stay tonight with my brother in Nuremberg. Most of the way was again wonderful in the green, only the last quarter went into the suburbs of Nuremberg. Here I stayed 2 days and gathered strength with the best care 🙂.