Letter from America to Altenburg...

Hello Raimund;
Thank you very much for your reply to my e-mail. It is interesting, and sad, how widespread this idea of "Heraus mit dem Alten - Herein mit dem Neuen !" is these days.
I thought for sure that this idea had been put to rest in Deutschland; but I was wrong.
About three years ago I spend a few days in Tuebingen. Going through the Altstadt, I was amazed how many old buildings had been restored, or were in the process of being restored. Apparently, this thought of restoring the old buildings never caught on in the smaller communities. And it is a shame that "Progress" in many cases still results in ugly new buildings that stick out like a sore thumbin the neighborhood. Even if a building is in such bad shape that restoration is impossible, a new building could at least harmonize with the existing neighbourhood and not look like an invasion from outer space.
Surely, not all architects would go along with the idea of putting a Steel and Glass Temple (modern, but oh so ugly !) in a neighborhood of 200-year old Fachwerk buildings. I always wondered if it is actually more economical the erect one of these "Fuehrer Bunkers",rather than build a structure that would blend in with its neighbors. A new building in an old neighborhood doesn't have to look like a Gingerbread House (Lebkuchen Haus) or something out of Disneyland. It can still be modern (whatever that means), and at the same time retain its historic character. But, enough said for one day about alte Haeuser.
From what I see in the Reutlinger Generalanzeiger, the big news is the Automate for hypodermic needles right behind the City Hallin Reutlingen (2 - 50cents for 1 new needle). Looks like the "Zukunft" has caught up with Reutlingen.
And Reutlingen will finally get a nagelneues Rathaus (Stadthalle, d. Red.). One Stadtrat already called it a new "Temple fuer die Kunst" in Reutlingen.
I wonder what he will call it when he sees the final Rechnung.
Rai, have a wonderful day tomorrow; WAIT, it IS already tomorrow at your place !And please don't hesitate to write in German; mein Deutsch ist zwar ein bissel rostig, ich hab aber ein gutes Lexicon.Take care and live well !
Viele Gruesse
Rolf
Rolf lebt in Kalifornien und stammt wohl aus Wannweil. Wir haben uns über den Bildertanz kennengelernt - und er nimmt reges Interesse an seiner alten Heimat. RV