25 August. Tuesday.
Today was devoted to a visit to Bad Belzig to see where Sieglinde had spent nineteen happy days in the Oberlinhaus Reha Klinik. I will give my impressions of the place and leave her to give extracts from her diary, based largely on illustrated WhatsApp messages.
Bad Belzig is a historic little town of about 11,000 inhabitants situated in the wooded Fläming hills about 70 Km south-west of Berlin. As our Deutschlandtickets cover most public transport except Intercity and international trains we did not have to pay extra for the 140 Km we covered today. It celebrated 1,000 years of history in 1997 but has gone through a variety of hands. It was recovered from Slavonic ownership by Albrecht the Bear in 1153 and the castle Burg Eisenhardt was built by a successor Albrecht I in 1251.
The church of St Briccius was built about the same time as the castle, followed by the church of St Mary in the later 13th century when the town walls and ditch were also constructed. The Heilig-Geist-Spital, one of the earliest hospitals in Brandenburg, was founded in 1383 and moved to a site elsewhere in the 1870s. A Rathaus (town hall) is known from the 16th century but the present structure, in a historicising style was only completed in 1991. Belzig had belonged to Saxony from medieval times but in 1815 it was transferred to Prussia in the province of Brandenburg, where it remains today.
A lung clinic to treat consumption (tuberculosis) was set up in woodlands about two kilometers to the north of the railway station in 1903. It survives today as the Oberlinklinik which will be described later.
The spa was a later development and Belzig only became Bad Belzig in 2010.
On arrival we made our way to the clinic by bus, with some delay as we did not realise that for some reason buses only went right up to the entrance in the afternoon and went right past it at our first attempt. I was surprised at the size of the clinic, which has had wings and outbuildings addes. It is laid out in beautiful grounds with lawns, paths through woodlands and streams and sountains. It is a haven for wildlife and we even saw a praying mantis when we looked round the buildings.
We wandered the streets of the little town, finding our way to the unusual Electorate of Saxony Milepost (kursächsische Postmeilensäule), set up by the Elector of Saxony Friedrich August I of Saxony in 1725. Decorated with coats of arms, it shows the distances to many localities and is a listed monument.
Just behind it was a wonderful Eiscafé in a courtyard where the medieval hospital used to be. The building also houses a guesthouse, the Pension zur Postmeile, with very reasonable rates.
Entrance to the Eiscafé in Bad Belzig and two of the customers
From there we made our way up to the castle which dominates the town, and from the courtyard with its ancient well, admired the views over the town,
What remains of the castle is now used largely as a hotel, appropriately named die Burg. We went in to the newly-opened restaurant Die Burg - Kurfürstlich Flämisch in the castle for wine and generous salmon appetizers before making our way back to the station for the train home.
Sieglinde's Diary
30 July 2026. Thursday.
11:48 Everything went perfectly. I’ve finished up at the doctor’s now (he is very competent and very friendly) and can go get something to eat right away, now that I have Wi-Fi and can write to you. The doctor has prescribed a comprehensive program for me—one designed for people aged 60 and under—so I’m in the right place here, too. I hope it’s not as hot where you are as it is here. To give you a first impression, so you can share this moment with me, I’m sending a few photos.
No WhatsApp today. Some impressions of the gardens
2 August 2026. Sunday.
12:56. A few impressions from this morning. I went to the service in the small forest chapel with two very nice fellow patients who could tell just how happy I was. One of them was a violinist with the German Symphony Orchestra. We took a lovely walk together in God’s nature. And then, before I knew it, it was lunchtime again.
And now I am looking forward to joining you by WhatsApp for Jazz on the Quay in Exeter.
21:00. Video call.
3 August 2026. Monday.
Impressions from the little common room in our bell tower.
13:23. Oh, it is so hot and humid here today (31 degrees). After two sessions (warm pool and spinal disc exercise group), I just need to be with you. I’ve also just signed up for a hydromassage (supposed to be amazing).
Now I’m going to rest a bit; my next appointment is at 2 p.m., and the last one is at 3 p.m. Then, the card-playing group over cappuccino and ice cream. Dinner at 6:30 p.m., followed by a lecture, the topic uncertain, it has been changed.
I really hope you’re having better weather—or at least not such muggy conditions.
7:49. Time to go through the motions of breakfast now, and then the treatments start, including water exercises. I’m really looking forward to those.
15:35 Video call 44 minutes.
23:54. Fell asleep in front of the TV…
7 August 2026. Friday.
14:01. After a tiring morning, I wanted to send you a warm greeting. Perhaps this will reach you while you’re in the garden? I’m sitting in my room right now, looking out the big window at the lawn where we sunbathe and thinking of you.
I’m resting a bit now, and at 2:15 PM, three of us (the violinist and the medical technician and I) are heading into Bad Belzig together to see the town, have some ice cream, and maybe grab a bite to eat at the "Haus am See." We’ve cancelled our dinner reservation here, in any case. We can meet up at 9 PM as usual, I’m really looking forward to that.
8 August 2026. Saturday.
Sending warm greetings from Bad Belzig for a lovely Saturday, along with a few impressions from our trip into town yesterday.
I’ve finished my last treatment for the day. Now I’m going to sit on a bench outside before heading to lunch. Afterward, I’ll go to the sunbathing lawn so I’m fresh for the card game at the *Waldkaffee* later on, leading up to dinner.
12:22 Butterfly caterpillars.
11:23 Early this morning, the sounds of "Holy God, We Praise Thy Name" rang out from the forest, loud and clear, calling everyone to church.
And the service continued in that same spirit—festive, joyful, and beautiful, with plenty of singing. Afterward, a short walk in the woods; now a quick wash-up, then lunch (in half an hour), and then it won’t be long before Kerstin arrives.
10 August 2026. Monday.
11:36 After three treatments (pool, thermal pool, fango), I’m heading straight to lunch; then another three treatments, followed by some rest on the lawn, and then some gaming (card games) over cappuccino and ice cream.
11:40 [From Kerstin] Dearest Sieglinde, what a lovely afternoon yesterday was!! Here are the photos from yesterday.
With all my love, your "little daughter".
11 August 2026. Tuesday.
10:49 Two more treatments, and then it’s off to lunch; just one more treatment after that, and then I’m free for the day. I’m debating whether to catch the bus into the town of Bad Belzig or do some gaming. A walk in the woods is also on the agenda. So, another lovely day. And I wish the exact same for you, with all my heart. Perhaps you’ve already seen Kate today, and Julie a little later? And if you’re going to see Julie, please send her my warmest regards. She’ll have to go without seeing you for a long time after that.
13:00 Ian Maxted: It’s a good thing you mentioned Julie to me; otherwise, I probably would have focused too much on blogs or bibliography. Instead, I arrived a bit early, and she won’t be long!
12 August 2026. Wednesday.
11:08 I’m currently waiting for the chief physician’s rounds; I’ve already finished breakfast and two treatments. The spinal exercise group in the pool was particularly good again. After lunch, I have four more treatments, followed by a meeting with the violinist in Bad Belzig. We’ll have to hurry to get back in time for dinner. So, it’s a packed schedule.
18:35? That all sounds great. I got back from town five minutes ago and am now heading to the Wald Café (it belongs to the rehab clinic). It’s right next to the building. I’ll have a quick bite to eat there. And then I’ll be back in my room. So, you can call me from anywhere. I’m here and ready for anything. The only thing I won’t do is look at the sun [during the solar eclipse].
13 August 2026. Thursday.
12:11 After four treatments—well-balanced between exertion and relaxation—I wanted to send you a loving greeting. Thank goodness it’s not quite so hot here today (max. 29 degrees). It was a good thing you left the house early, given that a particularly hot day was forecast for your area. That way, you could really enjoy your cappuccinos at the monastery café.
Three more treatments after lunch, and then I’m free for the rest of the day.
I’ve arranged to go for a walk with the violinist early this evening (perhaps including a Kneipp hydrotherapy session?).
14 August 2026. Friday.
12:28 There’s a sense of impending farewell in the air. Almost everything is happening for the last time. I’ve just finished my final check-up; the doctor is handling everything exactly as I’d hoped. More on that later this evening.
I’m off to eat now, followed by the spinal exercise group, and then I need to pick up my discharge papers from the nurses' station. Afterward, the violinist and I plan to head into town for dinner at an Indian restaurant.
15 August 2026. Saturday.
12:08 No more treatments for me now. I’ve just wrapped up the last one—the spinal exercise group; it was pretty strenuous. I’ve had a shower, and now I’m waiting for Angelika and Judith. They’ll be here in about half an hour. We’re going to take a lovely walk in the woods—maybe include some Kneipp therapy—and then have coffee.
16 August. Sunday.
12:05 Warm greetings from St. Briccius Church, accompanied by the sound of church bells and following a lovely, interesting service. Now we’re off to the castle.
19:07 Impressions from today’s outing for you.
17 August. Monday.
Sieglinde returns by taxi to Berlin.
