Münster, Cathedral

The cathedral is an architectural masterpiece dating back to the 13th century. Spanning the threshold of the Romanesque and Gothic periods, it took some 80 years to complete the colossal building.

The Astronomical Clock, in St. Peter's Church is fascinating.. Since 1540, the clock has kept track of the time, date, phase of the moon, and position of the planets (five were known at that time). At noon, the carved wooden figures that adorn the clock come to life. The clock is constructed so it will continue to tell the correct date until the year 2070. What they will do then, is not mentioned.

Our first visit to Münster was rather special, we stopped to visit a lady we knew when we lived in Arizona many years ago. In 1960-61 her husband, Helmut (an officer in the German Army during WW II), and I worked together on a computerized war game at Fort Huachuca, Arizona, near the Mexican border. When he died, Tonia chose to return to Germany, and truly enjoys living in her native land. That’s a bit unusual, as she is about the only person we met in Europe who, having once lived in the US, didn’t want to return.