In America, a river ox bow is an area where a river forms almost a complete loop, not quite cutting off the neck to form an island. There are lots on the lower Mississippi, which are quite striking to view from the air. There is one on the Danube, passing through beautiful scenery of low hills, forest and farmland.
After devouring our sausages in Regensburg Sunday afternoon, we went out to the street to find a large and loud group of young women and their supporters marching through town. The themes were feminism, consent and, to use an American expression, enough of mansplaining. I doubt that Google Translate got all the subtleties, but the orange and green sign means something like "unsolicited advice from strange men," and the black on orange "protection is not a privilege, but a right."
Around the back of the cathedral, there was a smaller group who were apparently supporting the old Iranian monarchy. I think that is the pre-Islamic Revolution flag, and I heard the name Pahlavi mentioned. I wonder what they hoped to accomplish.
Long bus ride yesterday from Prague into Germany, where we stopped at the charming small city of Regensburg. One thing everybody does there is go to this tiny place known in English as The Sausage Kitchen. This is all they got. You get a plate with a few of these things on sauerkraut, sweet mustard on the side and rye rolls. Everyone was warned in advance: there are no options here for vegetarians or gluten-free people. Just old school.
I'm bloody exhausted so maybe I'll add to this on the bus to Germany tomorrow. We passed by the hall where the Prague Symphony plays. Leonard Slatkin, who was music director on the St. Louis Symphony for many years and is now conductor laureate, was conducting the orchestra for two nights immediately before we arrived. The koruna, or crown, is the unit of Czech currency. Plans to join the eurozone are in progress.
We're here, and floored by jet lag. For now, a phone shot just outside our gorgeous art deco hotel. More to come when the brain is functioning.
