TRIP TO HEIDELBERG...

Although staying at the clinic can be very positive and supportive, at the same time I dread going. It seems to exist in a little world of its own, and although it's not unpleasant in itself, re-entering it often feels very challenging. I guess it's because it involves engaging with cancer, acknowledging the reality of my situation, and being back in the role of a patient. Also, while many people I've met there are doing extremely well and having great results, others are going through tougher times, and from time to time I hear of people having died. Of course that's inevitable when socialising with people with cancer, but it's distressing, and chilling, and it can take a lot of bracing myself to go back into that world. 


So turning my clinic visits into an opportunity to visit new places in Germany makes a big difference to how I feel about going back. My friend Sharon offered to come away for a weekend before I started my next stay at the clinic, and we decided to go to Heidelberg, a beautiful and historic town about an hour south of Frankfurt. The weather wasn't great but we walked for hours exploring the old town and the impressive Schloss (castle), along with plenty of cafe stops, and dinner at a restaurant serving over 100 varieties of schnitzel - impressive by any standards! 

The Schloss, from a square in the old town

View of the old town from the Schloss

Enjoying cafe life despite the rain!

I found the town charming and laidback, and the architecture was fantastic - wonderful fairytale turrets and spires everywhere.

As well as being lovely to spend some time with Sharon, having a weekend away was a very welcome diversion between the funeral and going back to the clinic, and I felt much better for it.