Stephan, Herkules and Castles in Kassel (Germany)

Stephan and I met in 15 years ago while we were both studying abroad in Galway, Ireland, at University College Galway, now the National University of Ireland, Galway . It was a most fortunate experience to meet up with him again after so long.


Stephan lives in Kassel, Germany and teaches business and English and business in English to students in 11th, 12th and 13th grade.

Stephan (with a PH!) met me at the train station and whisked me off to the forest in his convertible to see Herkules. Herkules overlooks Kassel and the main street, Wilhelmshöher Allee.


The view is quite spectacular. Herkules is currently under renovation, so you can really only get a picture of him from the back.


After Herkules, we went on a short hike through the forest to two castles, the Wilhelmshöhe Palace (now an art museum) and the Löwenburg Castle (below).


This castle was one that Michael Jackson was looking at buying. On the way down, we stopped past Devil’s bridge—you should definitely visit this! :)


That night we went to a bier garden and met his friend Andreas to watch the World Cup…Italy vs. Portugal. All of the waiters were dressed up for Italy, included painted faces. At the end of the game, the score was tied 1-1.

I only had one day in town, so the next morning after a yummy extended breakfast (soooooooooo good), I had to go back to the train station and Stephan had to go to school.


At the Kassel Hauptbahnhof train station, there is a man, walking to the sky.