A couple of years ago, I was in Hildesheim but St Michael's was closed for renovation. Does anyone know if the renovations have been completed, and if the church is open to visitors? (I leave for Germany in less than two days: The twenty hours of flying from Melbourne to Singapore to Frankfurt seems to get longer as I get older!)

According to the parish website, the church is once again open to the public. It's temporarily closed from 22-24 June for ongoing restoration works, as is during services and concerts. The south transept remains closed till Sept.

Thank you, A!

Well, what a letdown! A five week tour of Germany, some months in the planning, and, when the day of departure comes, I'm too ill to travel! And it looks like travel will not be possible this year. So it's back to travelling via these boards, which, pleasurable as it is, is not as good as the real thing!

Adeben,

I am so sorry about your illness. That is awful. That has happened to me a lot the last few years and it is such a bummer. Sometimes, DH & I take a day and go someplace in our own city where we haven't been before and pretend we are in Europe. We even take a local guide book and try to read about something new. It isn't the real thing, but it helps a wee bit. When we do get to actually travel, it is really something to savor now. I hope you are well soon and can again enjoy the "real" thing with gusto.

So sorry to hear this! All the best wishes!

Thank you, S and Q! A laparotomy on next Monday morning should reveal the extent of any problem. (I'm still keen to visit Karlsruhe and Kloster Maulbronn!)