In Hungary, Hungarians believe storks are birds which are associated with childbirth. This belief about the stork brings the kid has a positive association. The image of the stork sling held an infant in its beak, gives most people an impression like this. In the Alsace region of France, their region icon is the stork. So naturally, you can see at almost every corner, the sale of stork souvenirs in various forms: soft toys in varying sizes from miniatures of 3cm up to as big as the life size stork.
In Hungary, there were crazy news about the arrest of a Hungarian homebirth midwife called Agnes Gereb. The recent news of her being jailed drives a lot of people crazy. Despite many demonstrations held and petitions signed, this woman who devoted her life on improving birth practices is not spared. She has been judged to imprisonment for two years for two births of medical negligence. She has been banned from practicing for five years. Agnes Gereb had personally attended to the safe delivery of more than 9000 babies to date. What she had done was about standing up to the leading body of the Hungarian Obstetric and Gynecological profession. A disappointment on the eventual outcome of her plight. Here is an interesting article on Al Jazeera about Agnes Gereb.
Other than the Alsace region's stork, there is a famous gothic cathedral in Strasbourg that ought to be mentioned. It has a special majestic presence, immediately you can feel it some distance away. The uniqueness is of its material that is used to build it. Sandstone. It is perhaps the reddish colour of this exquisite architecture that makes it so stunning.
Walking within the cathedral brings another feeling. Medieval and it seemed like you have went back in time. The enigmatic chants that are echoed in your head as you walk deeper and deeper into the cathedral. Next is the chapel and still the chants is echoing in your head. Little tea lights are lit and visitors giving heir offerings generously at an area. Sitting there for a few minutes in silence, you can soak into the calm atmosphere within the chapel when is right at one of the corners. Lavish decorations adorned it, with beautiful wall architectural decorative elements.
Zsolt was at the other end of the cathedral. He was watching 'the show' of the famous astronomical clock of Cathedrale Notre-Dame of Strasbourg.
It was a special clock as it dates from the time of the first French possession of the city in 1681 to 1970. Mainly, this clock displays the real position of the Moon and the Sun as well as the solar and lunar eclipses!
I was curious about 'the show' which seemed like a main attraction. I missed it when Zsolt was watching it, but on day two, I decided to go there and check it out.
I went there at 10:28am, so 'the show' started at 10:30am punctually.
Too much has been exaggerated by the tour guide next to me. She spoke in English and she said 'Everybody, you got to squeeze together, inorder to watch 'the show' and it will be on time!' It was indeed on time, but she repeated this same sentence thrice and finally it begins.
Honestly, I didn't feel it was really that amazing.
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