Auf den Spuren Martin Luthers:

1. Auf den Spuren Martin Luthers: • All you wanted to know • Some things you didn’t want to know • And then some Assembled by Larry W. Myers In the Footsteps of Martin Luther: Planning a Lutherland Study Tour

2. Exchange Rate—A Killer! • Probable rate will be € 1.45 = USD $1.00 in 2008 • Add another 3-5% commission fee • Initial, advertised rates for 2010 tours, including Oberammergau Passion Play, are very costly!

3. Jet Fuel—Another Killer • Impossible to find roundtrip airfare for group travel to Europe in 2008 for less than $1,200 from the midwest. • Be careful of fuel surcharges.

4. Alternative Air Routes • 1-stop routes (e.g., through Madrid, Iceland, Paris, & U.K.) are nearly always less expensive than non-stop • Multi-city routes are generally no more expensive (e.g., ORD-Frankfurt & Munich-ORD) • Current favorite seems to be flying to/from Prague, with emphasis only on eastern Germany

5. Passport • Can’t travel without it! • As of January 1, 2008, required also for travel to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, Caribbean, & all parts of Central/South America • www.americanpassport.com provides expedited online service

6. Luggage • Remember that you carry what you bring! • 2 Pieces, 70 lbs each, usually allowed for checked luggage (per person!) PLEASE don’t! • 1 Piece, 20 lbs, allowed for carry-on • One additional item—e.g., purse, briefcase, camera bag, etc.—also allowed as additional carry-on

7. Good Luggage Choices • Always use luggage with wheels • Consider one large piece with collapsible duffel-style tucked inside. Duffel can be used for dirty laundry and main piece for those fragile souvenirs & treasures. • Plan to stay at least one overnight in city of disembarkation (in case of delayed luggage)

8. Wallet/Purse Security • Guard passport and monies at all times! • Consider an invisible, security wallet of some sort

9. Appliances & Electrical Voltage • Voltage in Germany & Austria is 220 • Consider carrying only multi-voltage electrical items • Carry along the applicable (northern Europe) adapters, available individually or in an all-in-one unit

10. Cash or Credit? • Travelers’ checks, in general, are a waste of time and money • Consider one debit card and one credit card • Use debit card to obtain 1-2 weeks’ worth of cash at ATMs and the credit card for purchases • Obtain, and know, your PIN before departing • Alert bank to withdrawals while in Europe • Consider exchanging some money at airport of disembarkation

11. Clothing Tips • Wash ‘n wear clothing the easiest • Pack plastic bottle of Woolite for washing out clothing • Portable clothes line (for use in bathroom) to dry clothing overnight is a good idea • Provide list of potential self-service laundry sites at half-way point (provide maps as well) • Don’t forget workout gear and/or swim suit for use at applicable hotels (provide handout of hotel amenities)

12. Dress Clothes • Really not necessary (unless desired) • “Better-than-average” clothing (no shorts) recommended for any worship services and at any operas or musical performances • German men, in general, do not wear T-shirts in public (polo shirts have become common)

13. Useful Items • Washcloth (if you use one); bring plastic bag as well for transporting a wet washcloth • “Wet Ones” or something similar—these moist toilettes are handy for a variety of uses • Small packages of tissues for all kinds of uses • A larger plastic bag for transporting swim wear (if you intend to use the hotel pools where available)

14. Photography • If using 35 mm, buy film before leaving U.S.A.! • If using a digital camera . . . • Bring lots of memory sticks • Consider burning CDs every two or three days • Take along a laptop for this purpose • Have participants bring along their own CDs (preferably Read and Write)

15. While on the Airplane • Sleep (instead of watching the movie or listening to music) • Get up and walk the aisles to relieve tension and soreness in muscles • Consider bringing earplugs and/or blindfold to be able to sleep • Consider cleaning up (shaving, washing, etc.) and /or changing clothes before arrival

16. Staying in Contact • Provide handouts for telephoning tips and instructions • Leave a copy of contact information with family and/or friends • Consider buying an AT&T international calling card (at SAM’s Club) and obtaining international access codes • Consider buying an international calling card at German post office or kiosk after arrival • Consider purchasing an unlocked (or unlock your current) GSM cell phone and get a pre-paid SIM card for Germany. • Internet Cafés are the cheapest way of staying in contact.

17. Practical Tips • Try the nearest Meztgerei (butcher shops) or outdoor food stands (Imbiss) for inexpensive but tasty lunches • Stay hydrated (provide bottled water for sale on the bus) • Sit and rest when you need to do so!

18. Final Tips • Time your itinerary (travel time, potty stops, time at each site, etc.) • Remember that German law restricts tour busses to 100 km (62.14 mi) / hour • Even German autobahns have increasing number of stretches with restricted speeds for regular automobiles

19. Transportation Tips • A charter bus to Chicago ORD may be less expensive than air travel from smaller airport • Cars can be left throughout the length of the tour in a church parking lot

20. Ticketing and Seating Tips • Most group tickets today are “e-tickets” (no hard copies) • No pre-assigned seating assignments for group travel (will be accomplished during check-in) • Frequent Flyer Miles: Encourage participants to sign up for applicable frequent flyer club as soon as possible (if they don’t already have an account). Can be done online. Be sure that airline agent includes the account number when you check in at the counter!!!

21. Recommended Germany Tour Contact • Christian Eggert of ‘Christian Tours Europe’ • Operates out of Braunschweig • URL: www.christiantourseurope.com • Hates Edelweis

22. Other German Contacts Rev. Wilhelm Torgerson The Wittenberg Project Concordia@lutherwb.de Dr. Ingerose Paust, Christian Author Expert on Saxon emigration ingerose.paust@freenet.de

23. About the Following Slides & Sites • Concentrate primarily on genuinely ‘Luther sites’ in both western and eastern Germany • ‘Side Trips’ are recommended because they are in the immediate vicinity of Luther sites • Following recommendations require, with travel days included, a total of 12 days • ‘Extras’ at the end list some of the traditional, touristy German sites

24. Itinerary Info and Q & A • At the Frankfurt Flughafen, nifty luggage carts are available as soon as you get through Passport Control. • German luggage carts will not roll unless the handle is pushed down and held down. • The Frankfurt luggage carts can even be placed on the escalator (but be careful)!

25. Itinerary Info and Q & A • Frankfurt/Main • Trinity Lutheran: English-speaking American congregation (www.trinity-lutheran.de) • Visit to our partner church’s (S.E.L.K.’s) seminary (Theologische Hochschule) in Oberursel • Visit to the Saalburg (restored Roman fortress) will provide some much-needed exercise and fresh air

26. Frankfurt/Main • S.E.L.K. seminary in Oberursel / Taunus • American exchange students, when present, usually willing to serve as tour guide and/or host a cookout

27. Frankfurt/Main • Saalburg, just minutes from Oberursel, is a restored Roman fort • Offers a unique glimpse at the northern frontier boundary (limes) of the Roman Empire

28. Itinerary Info and Q & A • Worms • Basilica • Trinity Memorial Church • Luther Memorial • Jewish Cemetery • City Museum • Magnus Kirche • Dinner & winetasting at a Weingut on the Rhein

29. Worms—Basilica & Bishop’s Residence

30. Worms—Trinity Memorial Church

31. Worms—Luther Memorial

32. Worms—Jewish Cemetery (Heilige Sand) Oldest in Europe

33. Worms—Magnuskirche—the First Evangelical Church & Andreasstift City Museum at Andreasstift has a ‘Luther Room’ Magnuskirche

34. Worms: Resources Both available, in English, at the Tourist Information Office in Worms (both co-translated by L. Myers)

35. Speyer • Just north of Worms am Rhein • Site of 1529 Diet of Speyer, ‘protestations’ of which gave rise to the name ‘Protestant’ • Issue = cuius regio, eius religio

36. Itinerary Info and Q & A • Eisenach • Bach House • Frau Cotta House • St. George Church • Wartburg

37. Eisenach & Bach

38. Eisenach & Frau Cotta

39. Eisenach—St. George Church

40. Eisenach—Wartburg

41. Eisenach—Wartburg

42. Eisenach—Wartburg

43. Eisenach—Wartburg—Luther Room

44. Itinerary Info and Q & A • Erfurt • Cathedral of St. Mary & Severi Church • Medieval University of Erfurt • Krämerbrücke (Merchants’ Bridge) • Augustinian Cloister • Stotternheim (north of Erfurt)

45. Erfurt—St. Mary Cathedral& Serveri Church • More to Erfurt than just the Augustinerkloster! • Luther was ordained at Cathedral of St. Mary • Architecture (inside & outside) of both structures is marvelous

46. University of Erfurt Restored University Dormitory— the ‘original Water Closet (WC) Medieval University Entrance

47. Erfurt The Famous Krämerbrücke (Merchants’ Bridge)

48. Erfurt--Augustinerkloster • Allow at least two hours for a thorough tour • Evangelical order of sisters is happy to provide lectures about ‘then’ and ‘now’ (you’ll have to ignore or tolerate the political overtones)

49. Erfurt--Augustinerkloster • Luther prostrated himself as he entered the Augustinian Order • Burial marker (not Luther’s) in front of altar marks the spot • Ironic that Luther prostrated himself over the grave of one of the inquisitors of John Hus

50. Erfurt--Augustinerkloster • ‘Supposed cell’ of Luther • Probably one like it