Travels with Debi: Strasbourg and the last few days in Germany

The beauty of the edge of the Black Forest

This is the last post from Germany, and I really was so sad to leave.  I enjoyed myself so much and the people I met were incredibly kind and wonderful to me.  It makes me tear up a little thinking of it all.

We stayed close to home for various reasons on Monday and Tuesday- I did go out for lunch at an Italian place one day and we had delicious meals at the house as well.  Anne-Sophie's dad had a birthday party Monday and (again with the wine) we had some lovely champagne and cake.  The German cakes you guys- oh yeah.  Lots of kinds of cake...

Part of the Ruines Diersburg 

Wednesday we went into France and visited the town of Straßbourg, which is where I took the train the next day.  It was a short drive really, but we did take a train into the city center which was - as pretty much all the cities I was in- BREATHTAKING.  Feel free to write in appropriate adjectives because I am running out and I haven't come up with new ones.  And I still have London to write about.  Goodness I am a procrastinator- but better late than never.  ;)

You can see just beyond that house the valley that this castle looked over.

View from the Ruins

Part of the footprint of the castle

First off though, during the day when I was left to my own devices on Tuesday, I was encouraged to go to the Ruins that I am still fascinated by.  The Ruins is a centuries old ruins of a castle that belongs  to their family.  It was destroyed at one point in I think the 1400's.  A sort of funny story, though, I had some issues trying to get there. I swear to heaven that I followed the map and the directions.  I, of course, had no idea where I was going.  Because if you know me at all, you understand that I will get myself turned around.  I did know that I should not proceed up over the hills of the Black Forest, so I am not still wandering around there.  Anyway, I walked and walked and looked.  I saw it from afar but I could not find how to get there!   It made me sad.  I did see beautiful country side, though and it was a nice walk.

Now doesn't this look easy??  Nothing apparently is all that easy- especially with ill-marked roads and directionally challenged art teachers.

So before we went to Straßbourg,  we went for a little drive.  It is hard to explain the whole thing, but we drove there, going up the way I came back (of course) and then she parked the car  along the road and said we are here.  WHAT??  WHERE??  Look up!  Oh.  I didn't take a picture of the location because there were just too many trees in the way, and it didn't lend itself.... and also I was busy rolling my eyes at myself.

And so this guy was hanging out across the road when we got to the car

So basically I walked right by the path to the ruins and didn't know it was there, but I forgive myself because how was I to know, right?    TOTALLY worth the wait, such a cool place.  You know me and abandoned stuff....

Cathedral in Straßbourg

Look at all that carving!  And the pink sandstone was just glorious

Just beautiful

So Straßbourg is a gorgeous city, and has some amazing buildings and one gorgeous Gothic church The architecture was fantastic!  I have to reiterate how much I enjoyed the buildings and details of such buildings in Deutschland.  Anyway, we wandered around and enjoyed- ahem- ice cream, I got some post cards and we went to a park where Johann played in the fountain.  What a wonderful day.  I did not take as many photos anywhere as I "should" have, but I sure enjoyed the moments I had.  AND I found another palace!

Johann!

The entrance to the Palais Rohan

Some fine Baroque architecture here!

A few detail photos that I really enjoyed above!  Blogger is being difficult and not letting me put things where I see fit.  

Let's just go play in a fountain!

I took a quick shot of the inside of the train station that I left from.  Pretty cool

 That evening we had some photos taken of the group of us by the neighbor and we got back to the house so I could gather my things because the train left fairly early.  I'm sorry I made Anne-Sophie stay with my until the Eurostar came, but I was nervous.  Though I had coaching from my dear friend Paula, a truly seasoned traveler  who gave the the confidence and information necessary to get myself through Paris- which will be discussed at length in the next post- I was still a bit terrified- yes I was a mess.   You probably should know the whole event was undoubtedly more dramatic in the mind of Debi than in real life, but eh.  That is part of my charm, no?

This time it was a party of 5

Just a small selection of some gorgeous sweets.  I got something,
but don't remember what. 

Selfie with cathedral

This was such an opulent carousel.

 This was the end of my Germany based travels- on to another transition and travel....  and a new country as well!   It was certainly easy to find my joy here.  Stay tuned for more adventures!

Travels with Debi: Mannheim, a Palace and the Black Forest

So off to the next part of my trip!

I am beginning to write this totally sleepy from my night of not falling asleep - again**.  This gets real old really fast.  So I am relaxing and trying to start write and I am almost about to fall asleep. So I am pushing on.  If I nap, as many people would suggest, then I would again have a no sleep night and that would be bad new bears.
** I started this this morning and am fortunately much more alert!  :)

The Palace!  Look at those stag statues!

Anyway, part of the weekend I was in Germany I was entertained by Anne-Sophie's awesome sister, Valerie and her boyfriend David and Anne's boyfriend Nico, because she had a work presentation on Saturday afternoon.  When one spends over a week with someone, one has to expect some surprises.  Fortunately, we had a very enjoyable afternoon together. Johann was with us as well, and he was a great little companion!  I miss that little guy!

Party of 6!

It was soccer play-off time in Europe ( here too, but not a lot of folks seem to watch soccer!)  and there was a lot of excitement- we wore interesting things when Germany was playing, there were tons of outdoor viewing locations and soccer mania was rampant. I believe I interpreted correctly that no one in Germany, though they were rooting for them, believed the German team would do well.  Which they kind of didn't.

Germany jersey!

I wish I had a photo of the wig that was making the rounds!

So we did some fun things  such as  go out for ice-cream (this was a frequent occurrence) then had a drink at an outdoor viewing place that had some very good wine.  After which we went and saw an honest-to-god palace!  The grounds and formal gardens connected with the Schwetzingen Palace were spectacular!  And there was even a mosque, which was beautiful as well.  To me, though this was by far the most opulent of the castles of various ones I saw,  and it sort of was the least interesting.  I truly enjoyed the grounds, gardens, and the formality of it all,  but I really like my castles, well...., more castley.  Apparently I have romantic notions about what a castle should look like.  Like old and with dungeons and towers I guess.  There was a lot to look at- but you might be able to tell that I had some fairly harsh lighting conditions here- but that is ok. Wandering around and seeing all the little hidden nooks and fountains and statues was a satisfying experience.   There was some beautiful beautiful sights.

The entrance where we entered the grounds- 

A little Roman temple with pond and statue

Part of the mosque area

Mosque

Fountain and statue with urns

After finishing up at the Palace we actually went to eat in outdoor seating at an American style sports bar!  It was fairly amusing, really, to go to Germany to eat a (veggie) burger and fries.  We had a grand time all together.

These hedges- or whatever you call them, were just stunning

Part of the palace grounds

The gate out of the property

I have to comment on the language experience during this afternoon!  It was quite amusing to listen to the different selections of languages spoken.  Of course there were the three Germans, 2 of whom spoke impeccable English, one who spoke English a little.  One spoke French and English, I speak English and a bit of German.  There was a lot of mixed languages going on and it was a fascinating thing to behold.  Just one of the things I found so interesting and enjoyable about being in a foreign country.  As I have mentioned previously, the landscape and the buildings in the southwest of Germany was like  a fairytale to me.  I was enthralled with the way it looked- I know I have mentioned how beautiful it was before, I just can't describe how much I loved it.  And those buildings- so charming.  I tell you, America needs to step up its game.  Get out and plant flowers from your windows people- you are missing the boat.

Even their lampposts in some locales have roses growing on them.

Speaking of charm, we went for a drive through a tiny part of the Black Forest on Sunday and landed in a beauty of a village where we stopped for- SURPRISE!!  Ice cream!  In case you are wondering- I did eat more than pretzels and ice cream.  But I could have been fine with those two things as well....  and the wine, but I digress.

So. Damn. Cool.

I loved this painting on the building.  

I found some lovely little shops, even if they were closed for the most part, and a few interesting little spots nestled in here and there.  There was also a stop in a shop connected to a factory that makes the little espresso cups that I drank coffee (really really good coffee) each morning.  I picked up a couple cups there, and they were literally the only souvenir I got for myself the whole time I was there.  These cups are from the Zeller Keramik factory in the town of Zeller am Harmersbach.

Chicken cup with espresso!!  And Johann!

Some of the amazing details- carvings above the windows.  Look at the curves that divide the windows to the left.  Stunning 

A little gate that has if you look closely a bunch of cannons tucked up above

I had to take this photo of a Wrigleys gum sign!

So, funny story on this photo- my son Jon wanted to know if everyone was wearing 

lederhosen- Anne got a laugh out of that.  She says yes, lederhosen und dirndls.  I found 

the right store for it!

Another little cool place that i have no idea why its there.  But it was fun to explore

What a splendid few days we had- and in between I had such wonderful conversation with Anne-Sophie and enjoyed spending a little time with her family and just being in that lovely home I shared for a week.  Next post up is going to be Strasbourg, unfortunately the wrap up for my amazing part one of my trip in June.  Some one asked me what my very favorite part was, and I can honestly say it all was my favorite.  I just can't choose.  

So until next time, be a joy giver.  Put a smile on someones face.  :) 

Travels with Debi in Germany: Lets go to Switzerland!

Let's begin another amazing day of this trip, actually only the second full day there.  Germany is such a wonderful country to visit, and just one of the cool things about Hohberg/Diersberg is it is close to a few other countries I wanted to check off my list.  Actually I would like to spend more time in both Switzerland and France, but that is another discussion.  I don't actually have passport stamps from either Germany or Switzerland....  thanks a lot, Iceland,....  but I know I was there. I have a lot in my brain about all of these topics, but I won't digress- at least for now!

I was asked what I wanted to do by both of my hosts for their respective countries.  Knowing that this would be a unique trip because I was staying with "locals"  I had very few requests for what I would like to do.  I did request if it was possible to go to Zürich, because, well Switzerland ya know?  Some of this want was because I thought the Alps were closer, but no.  Not that close.  Oh well, another trip.

At the top of the mountain- with Anne-Sophie and Johann- who has a rock.  Lol

Looking out over the hills and valleys 

Because my friend Anne-Sophie- sort of unbeknownst to me- had lived lived in Zürich for a while, she was more than happy to tour  with me around the city a bit. We drove the hour plus into Switzerland and parked near the train station and took a train up the (I don't think technically this was a mountain) big old hill where we could look over the city and Lake Zurich.

The train station in Zurich where we boarded the train up the mountain

Sort of a random photo of where we got off part way up the mountain

So trains....  I spent a lot of time on various trains above and below the ground on this trip.  It was for the most part an enjoyable experience.  I guess the only not that enjoyable part was later on but you will hear about that soon.  I was sort of giddy traveling up that mountain, smiling at and talking to (listening to) Johann, looking out the windows at the houses and buildings and scenery, chatting about some information about where we were going....  I don't get at all worried about the height when I am in a train, so that ramps up my enjoyment levels a lot.  I think train travel is underused here in the US, but you know us. We like our cars!  This train was super clean and on time and well, very Swiss precision.  My impression of Switzerland and Germany is how really very clean looking it is, especially where I was.  And it is nice to be able to read some of the signage. (Sorry Italy, I'm trying but your language is not as easy to learn for me).

This was my view for lunch on Friday the 15 of June, and I think it was pretty freaking spectacular.

Anyway, we took that train up the hill/mountain to a place called Stallikon-Uetilberg according to my phone's location tagging.  (Hey, upon reading my link for Üetilberg, it IS considered a mountain, but not the Alps) **I was on a mountain**  Lol  It was spectacular!  We hiked up the rest of the way to the top, and then got to look out over the city and lake below.  It was so beautiful.  One of my favorite moments of the trip. (I am sure if you are counting or I mention them all, there are a lot of favorites and moments)   AND then we ate at a lovely restaurant, outside and had a beautiful lunch overlooking the lake and the country and we saw trains below- so much fun.  AND superb food- just superb.  

 A salad that included various veggies that I loved and that stick was indeed bread- a lovely plate, no?  And we did have some ice cream some where along the way this day as well.

After spending a few hours up there, we took that train back down again and then we went into the city.  All the while Anne was pointing out places like the Starbucks she used to go to,  and other locations that she knew around Zürich.  We walked to a river and saw swans on it, many tourists walking around getting tours, some SUPER amazing architecture and many other things I'm sure I am forgetting about.

Look at these colors...  and look- swans!  Limmat River

These buildings were so cool.  The architecture is divine.

An interesting balcony on a corner downtown- those torsos stopped me in my tracks

OK, cool things about Europe-  all the outdoor cafes and restaurants. All the fresh foods that are available all over- I want to go to a good bakery and buy a small loaf of bread every day or two.  (and pretzels because that just has to be said. AND all the plants that are hanging from people's balconies and windows.  It is everywhere.  And I am so impressed.  And the wine- mmmmmmm.  I have no pictures to illustrate any of these points at this moment, so imagine this paragraph as a loosely related aside.

The metal work on this door was so interesting, not to mention the doorknob placement

I mentioned in the previous post that I enjoyed seeing details, such as doors- at least I think I said that.  It is hard to write everything down that I think.  My mind is recovering a lot of details as I recount the stories and see the photos, so if I refer to something and it wasn't there- um- sorry?

Selfie on the dock!

LOOK YOU GUYS!!!  You can see the Alps WAY BACK THERE- on the left

We ended up down by Lake Zürich- which we were looking at from above- and watched people on the docks and the tourists and the little kids and I heard tales of being here several years ago.  The personal stories really brought the city to life, and I like to think that she saw it in a new way from my comments and exclamations and opinions of what I was seeing.  It was super

I would like to be living up on the top and be out in those roof top gardens

Lake Zürich

One of my favorite unexpected things was this broken accordion- I stopped in my tracks and went back to shoot it.

 I loved my side trip to the south, to Switzerland.  It was a fun drive with my friend but it was so nice to get back to the house with the lovely porch and the wonderful family and a cute little room with those open windows.  And I tucked away a whole lot of joy.