This morning Steve left me
at the Schweizerhaus Hotel in Maloja to go skiing for the morning. I had other
plans but only since breakfast, where on every table was the hotel news sheet
that gave several choices of ‘What To Do In Maloja’. The first part gave
information about opening hours for Ski lifts, Langlauf course, the Eisplatz
etc. There was a suggestion of a nice winter walk to take. The other item was
the one that caught my eye. This would be a talk and guided tour to Das
Nietzsches-Haus conducted by Prof. Dr. Peter A. Bloch. My eyes opened with a
pop! Steve and I had been there on a previous holiday when I had enjoyed the
visit far more than my husband although he found it interesting it was difficult
because most of the items displayed items were of course in German. I on the
other hand, had been completely smitten by the ambience and spirit of the house
and felt a strong feeling for the man himself. It would have been nice to have
stayed longer were it not for fear of my poor man getting bored out of his
wits; and he snores a bit when he drops off!
Before we arrived this year
I had told Steve that I wanted to revisit that museum that was so very much
alive. Before Steve left me he told me that since this talk was from 11-1pm he
would ski until that time, then he would park the car where he parked it last
time, walk through the village and meet me at 1.30pm in the café we went in
before. Now you know why I say he was a cat in another life; he can always
return to the same place that something memorable happened before; only of
obviously it was not a mouse in his case.
I caught the 9.12am bus from
the Post in Maloja which, because this is Switzerland and not British Rail
departed at 9.12am exactly. This meant I got to Sils Maria by 9.30am. Way too
early but then I hate to be late. This gave me time for a quick recap of where
everything was and I returned to the café of the later meeting appointment and
sat scribbling in my notebook, sipping a hot chocolate for a while. I still
left too early and on arrival the front door of Nietzsches Haus stood open and
I stepped in. I met Prof. Dr. Bloch two steps inside and he was far too polite
to tell me to go away and come back in thirty minutes. He showed me in to the
information room and invited me to look around and read some of the many
leaflets, books and booklets, mostly in German. He carried on making his
preparation without showing any irritation toward the interloper.
There was only one other
person, a woman, also on holiday but from Luzern. Prof. Bloch explained to the
other woman that he would give the talk mainly in German but with some English
for my benefit. She responded that she was fluent in English and so to please
give the talk in English and agreed that she would help out if there was an
occasional word block. I did not think he would have any problems since he
English was immaculate.
In my time I have listened
to some talks on various subjects but have never listened to somebody with such
warmth and enthusiasm for his subject. He told this life story with such
pleasure as well as knowledge and built the picture with such skill. I just
hope that I can retain even a fraction of all the information that flowed there
today. So full a story and delivered with love as if to children, yet without a
trace of stuffiness. The morning flew by and was for sheer pleasure and
satisfaction at having made that spur of the moment commitment. So much more
was learned on this visit and I am so glad I went along and met the most
charming Prof. Dr. Bloch.
The other eager pair of ears
at this shared private lesson told me that she was an Ombudsfrau and lawyer at
an insurance company.
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