I was born in Soest, a beautiful, historic town in Germany.
For the first 14 years, we alternated back and forth between Germany and Canada. My father was in the Canadian army and my mother came from Bochum, an hour’s drive away.
We moved to Canada for good in 1969 but went back to visit in 1972. That was the last time I saw Soest, until Sept. 2013. It had always been my desire to go back someday, but I thought that day would never come.
When my husband and I started planning our 40th anniversary trip to Italy and Greece, it got me thinking. Why couldn’t we fly up to Germany for a few days as well? The more I thought about it, the more excited I became! After all, it was only a two-hour flight from Rome. Could we find the time? Yes!
We flew into Düsseldorf, then rented a car. (Soest is about one hour’s drive from there.) This was another “pinch me” moment! Was I really back home, 41 years later?
Soest looked exactly as I remembered it and they’ve done a wonderful job preserving the old buildings. The medieval and Roman walls are still there – Soest is that old – and I was beside myself with joy! Hubby loved it too and it was such fun showing him around!
I made a video of our photos, added some snazzy effects and set it to music. Enjoy!
Read more of the story HERE.
Do you still live in the area of your birthplace or have you moved away?
If it’s far, were you able to return for a visit? Did it change much?
Looking forward to your comments!
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Dog Mom and (retired) Canine Innkeeper in suburban Toronto, Canada, known as The Doglady. Former corporate workaholic. Writer, photographer, digital creator. Animal lover, music fanatic, inveterate traveller. Eternal hippie/rockchick. History, literature and cinema buff. Hockey and soccer fan. Dedicated night owl. German/Canadian binational, multilingual. Let me entertain you!
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30 thoughts on “HOMETOWN HOMAGE”
Beautiful town, so many Riegelhäuser! We have them too in certain parts of German Switzerland.
Glad you had a chance to come back and show your hubby around. Isn’t it amazing how it still more or less looked the same?
Soest is incredibly well-preserved. I was thrilled to see all the old, familiar places. The only difference is, they have refinished some buildings, including our former apartment complex. It looks better now than when we lived there! 😀 Thanks for coming by, Tamara!
Hi Debbie – it must have been lovely to be home … there are just some wonderful old villages and towns around in Europe. I don’t come from one of those – but enjoy learning the history et al … and my own home – in the countryside when I was born … is now very near Heathrow airport … great to have this post – cheers Hilary
Thanks for checking out this post, Hilary. It was exciting to be back, after 41 years away. And a lovely surprise to see it was as I remembered it! 🙂
Most of my ancestors are from Germany. I traced my father’s side back to the mid 1800s in Preußen, Germany. My mother’s paternal side came from England and I got back to the 1300s. Her mother’s side is from Schwaigern, Heilbronn, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany and I got back to them mid 1500s. Thank you for taking time to create the video and take us on a tour. It would be such an exciting thing to revisit your ancestral home. Germany has some beautiful areas.
How interesting that you’ve traced your family so far back, Lisa! Yes, I was excited to see my old hometown again and thrilled that it had hardly changed at all. Thanks for coming by!
Reminds me of my parent’s photo albums. My dad was military also and we actually spoke German before we ever spoke English that’s how long and often we were there. 🙂 Two of my brothers were born there as well.
Yes, I remember you mentioned living in Germany, before. Do you still speak the language? Where was your Dad stationed? We visited a few American bases when we lived there. The shops had way more stuff than ours, just like here. You can’t beat American stores for variety of merchandise! 🙂 Thanks for coming by.
I am only two hours away from where I was born and reared. We live in Wifey’s home town. But, in all fairness, we lived in my old neighborhood for seventeen years. Suffice it to say, we do not get out much… I sure do enjoy when you take trips and share them here.
Hi Myke; Yes, I remember you mentioning this once before. It all depends on one’s circumstances. I started travelling at nine months old (ocean voyage from Germany to Canada) and have been afflicted with wanderlust all my life. 🙂 Thanks for dropping in!
Debbie,
I was born in southern WV. The last time I was in the town where the hospital is that I was born was probably the early 80s but we used to visit often up until DH’s last parent passed in 2018. I guess we’ll not make that trip again since we have no reason. My parents moved to Virginia after we got married which is about 2 hours from where I grew up. It’s kinda weird to feel a bit displaced since I don’t have a childhood home to return to and now DH doesn’t either. That’s even a sadder story to tell but we won’t talk about those things. I’m so happy you got to visit your birth city after many years. That had to be such a highlight to your vacation plans. Germany is a beautiful old world country. I love the feel your pictures convey! We hope to go back to Helen this Christmas. You may recall I shared some photos of this quaint north Georgia town last year that has a strong German heritage. Last Thursday, we were in Pigeon Forge for the day and there’s a German restaurant (Poynor’s Pommes Frites) at The Island shopping plaza that we got lunch. We had eaten there years ago, so it was good to try them again. The frites (like thick french fries) were amazingly good. The brats we got was okay. I can’t remember which type it was but I think it was called Thuringer. I don’t see it on their online menu, though. Anywho, we’ll more than likely give them another try in the future. It was a lot of fun. I always think of you when I see something German related. 🙂 Well…I’m in the midst of playing catch up, so I better move along for now. Have a great day and thanks for visiting me while I was away.
Hi Cathy; It’s sad when you lose family ties to a place. I felt the same way about San Diego after my parents died. They lived there for decades and I visited them many times. Despite not having close family left in Germany (there are some distant cousins), I was thrilled to be back there after so many years. It was a bit surreal. 🙂 I remember your photos of Helen, Georgia; they reminded me of Frankenmuth, Michigan, one of our frequent road trip destinations. There are several different varieties of bratwurst. Thuringer has a unique blend of spices and is lower in fat than others. Thanks for coming by and enjoy your weekend! 🙂
Love this post, Debbie! Your birthplace is beautiful and how lovely that you were able to visit in 2013. Thank you for sharing your story.
Thanks, Eugenia. 🙂 It is a lovely, historic town and I was thrilled to see it hadn’t changed over the years.
You know I’ve mentioned before we have a tiny little Soest not too far from me. In a way I find it sad because the tiny towns that used to speckle our maps are being replaced by “additions” and “developments” that have names taken out of some “how to mix two words together to make a name” device, Like “Arrow Ridge,” “Deercrest” and so on. I grew up in one of those map-specks called Besancon, after the city in France. Nowadays, news people can’t pronounce it or half of the french-named little roads around it right.
Yes, I remember you mentioned the town of the same name. You must have had German and French settlers in your area. 🙂 We have the same issues with developments sucking up small villages (Palermo, for example) and assigning trendy names. A few examples: West Oak Trails, Glen Abbey, River Oaks. Progress! 😛 Thanks for coming by!
Hi Debbie, I had no idea you were from Germany. We went there this summer and loved it. Most of the people there were not too friendly though. I heard it’s the culture, a little stand-backish maybe? I was amazed how close we were to Italy, I would have loved to gone there but not enough time. My grandparents are from there and my other side is from Canada. Not sure which part, I’ll have to do some research. Great photos and video Debbie. Glad you to to go back!
Hi Lisa; I remember the fabulous photos you shared from your river cruise! 🙂 German people are generally polite and formal, which makes them more reserved. It is a cultural thing, for sure. One of the great advantages of travelling in Europe is all the different countries are close together. You would love Italy! I didn’t know you’re part Canadian too. Cool! Thanks for coming by. Glad you enjoyed the post!
You are welcome Deb, yes I did and I am half French and half Italian.
Never been to the old country my ancestors came like into the 1600’s and none came after the civil war.
Coffee is on
Hi Dora; Your family has been in the U.S. for a long time! 🙂 What country (or countries) were your ancestors from? Thanks for dropping in. Have a good Sunday!
Wow, so beautiful. Thanks for the lovely tour of your hometown and the bluesy music 🙂
Thanks, DG. I’m glad you enjoyed it! 🙂
Debbie, this place looks absolutely beautiful. My mom was born in Haslach im Kinzigtal in the Black Forest. She moved to the US and became a citizen when she was 5 years old.
Ryan
Welcome to The Den, Ryan! 🙂 I’m glad you enjoyed the video. Yes, Soest is beautiful and dates back to ancient times. Your mom’s birthplace is about 500 km south of there. Thank you for coming by today. Have a good Sunday.
WOW! Super-Super-Cool video, DEBBIE!
Your hometown looks wonderful! I really dug that classic German style. (Phunny, but suddenly – even though it’s only a little past 11:00 AM here – I feel like hoisting some mugs of Oktoberfest beer! How come that? 🙂 )
I enjoyed the Smooth Jazz music you used for the video, also. What / Who was that?
What’s the population of Soest? Was that last photo in the video the building where you once lived?
Great blog bit!
~ D-FensDogG
STMcC Presents BATTLE OF THE BANDS
Glad you enjoyed the video, Stephen. 🙂 Soest is a lovely, old town. You’d like Germany! Beer (and any other alcohol) is readily available, anytime, anywhere. 😉 Soest had around 50,000 people some years ago. I can’t find any updated info on that or the song I used. It was chosen from a list of public domain music, but I forget where it came from. Sorry! Yes, that last photo was our apartment building in the Canadian military complex. We lived on the top floor, right. Thanks for coming by and have a good Sunday. Prost! ? (German for Cheers!)
Thanks! It sounds as if your ol’ hometown is about the same size as Carson City, where I’m living now. This is the smallest place I’ve ever lived, and I really like it. There’s just enough things to do and not so many people that it takes the fun out of it.
~ D-FensDogG
STMcC Presents BATTLE OF THE BANDS
When I was growing up we lived in a number of places. In the past several years I’ve gone back to visit those childhood places with my wife. Mostly it was on one of our back-east trips when we made stops in Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. All of the houses we lived in were still being lived in by someone and the neighborhoods were essentially the same but older. I still want to go back to spend a little more time exploring these old haunts, but I don’t know that I ever will.
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out
Exploring old haunts is always fun and it’s nice to see them still standing. 🙂 I’ve revisited my old Canadian hometown of London, as well. Sadly, our former house, while still occupied, was in a state of disrepair. Thanks for coming by, Lee.