Today has been a rainy day in Jena. As I prepared for work this morning I was keeping an eye on the weather and it started raining just as I was ready for my 15 minute walk to work.

Luckily I had brought a rain jacket and I headed out the door into the rain. It was hard to feel bad about walking in the rain when a rain like this is so much needed back home. Very few people back home would complain too much about having to walk in the rain at this time. Drought gives you a different perspective on having to walk in the rain.

In the picture above you can see raindrops splashing in the Saale River. You can tell that it is not raining too hard, but it was still a bit wet as I walked.

Walking to lunch and then back to the hotel was also done in the rain. I did have to get back to the hotel a bit early today as I had to drop off some items before heading out for a group dinner. There was no chance to wait for a break in the rain.

On the way to the restaurant I stopped by the Goethe Galerie shopping center. They have an old Zeiss planetarium projector on display. Since my last time in Jena they have opened a large electronics store called Saturn and it is interesting to see the projector in front of the Saturn signs.

Our group dinner was at Restauration Stilbruch, so I was able to enjoy another meal at my favorite restaurant in Jena. Since this was my third visit of the trip it was time again for my favorite dish.

We had a great evening full of food and conversation before returning to the rain soaked street of Jena to return to our homes or hotels.

I wish that I could bring the rain back home with me this weekend, but unfortunately it won’t fit in my suitcase.

Now for some sleep before the last day of class tomorrow.

Steven