the art museum.

It’s a good thing Steph speaks German. (jared)

We find ourselves during this leg of the journey in Oldenburg, Germany. It’s a small-ish University town. A self-proclaimed center for art and culture, Oldenburg boasts a number of theatres, including one funded by the State, which seems reputable, a music academy, libraries, the University, and a number of museums of which the city is particularly proud. (steph)

It was a pretty ordinary day;

We explored the city by bike (lent to us by our kind host, Bob), began our conquest of Bratwurst and Brötchen, and spent some time catching up on election news and email over mediocre coffee.

until we entered the Landesmuseum Oldenburg (the region’s Art Museum). I should preface this amusing tale by pointing out that, at 4:05 pm, I was advocating passing on this one. The museum was closing at 5:00; admission was going to set us back about 8 bucks; there were no Hirsts or Monets waiting inside. Nonetheless, Steph had a feeling about this one. I acceded, we went in.

So far we hadn’t absorbed our “culture” quota for the day. My intent was to justify our relative laziness by getting in at least one solid culture-saturated hour. So, we pushed open the tall, solid-oak front door.

Immediately thereafter, frenzy -- particularly from my perspective (I had no idea what was being said) -- ensued.

Three well-dressed, official looking people headed for us, arms extended:
“Endlich sind Sie da! Wir haben schon lange auf sie gewartet!”
(Finally you’ve arrived! We’ve been waiting for you for quite some time!)

A woman (tallish, attractive, well-dressed) immediately accosted Steph, bearing an enormous smile (this was my first clue that something was terribly amiss – Germans don’t smile much) and a bouquet of flowers. Wonderful, I thought, we’ve walked into someone’s wedding reception. These folks think Steph is someone else, we’re going to be publicly shamed and likely sentenced to community service.

I was just as confused. I too was convinced that these people had mistaken me for someone else. Perhaps an artist who’s exhibit was opening? I wonder if I could have pulled that one off had it been the case...

My bewilderment and indignation (this was her idea, not mine) deepened when 2 other equally magnanimous, academic-looking types joined this ensemble. Pleasantries were exchanged (I got that much); notes were taken; hands were shaken; Steph was handed books; the security guard beamed. I wasn’t sure if Steph was playing a character at this point or if she had learned something that I clearly hadn’t. We were whisked away for a photo op with these people.

I answered all of the questions: Steffi Long, my husband, Jared, from Wyoming in America, we’re traveling around Europe and just arrived in Oldenburg yesterday. All were met with approval: “Das ist ja toll!” said one of the women to the other as she took down the information on a small note pad. I believe the fact that we were foreigners made it all much more exciting. I suddenly realized that poor Jared didn’t know what in the world was going on. I asked the group to excuse me while I explained.

It turns out that Steph was the 25,000th visitor to this museum...

Apparently they had counted. Oh, those Germans. That is so like them.

which made me #25,000... and 1. (I’ve never been so elated for Steph to have walked through a door ahead of me). These people, as I later learned, had been waiting “for hours” for someone to walk through the door. They were taken with Steph’s fetching personality (and decidedly unimpressed by my silence, stupor).

Not true at all. They insisted on including Jared in the picture and congratulated us both in English on the Obama win.

We were showered with gifts, given free entry to the museum and are anticipating a spot in the local newspaper.

It certainly turned a rather uneventful day in a random destination into one we won’t soon forget. Luck? Being in the right place at the right time? Or is Saturn’s return playing a part here?

Germany is a special place indeed ... I just wished people smiled more.

Yes, they are awfully serious I suppose. But they sure can bake some delicious treats, and brew some lovely Heffeweizen.