Reflections

"Little Venice" in Colmar, France


Staatstheater in Stuttgart, Germany

The Mannheim Weihnachtsmarkt

Jeff and I wandered around the booths, looking for gifts and trying the food. This Christmas market wasn't as crowded as the Heidelberg one.


Lots of pretty lights at night! Santa Claus is sampling the Glühwein -- hot red wine with a mix of cinnamon and other spices. Perfect for the cold.

Garmisch Scenes

A few fall scenes from last week in Garmisch. Jeff had to work at the Marshall Center, so I drove down and spent a few nights with him. We celebrated our 26th anniversary last week too!

Foraging

Foraging is elevated to the level of a fine art here in Germany. In Oregon, I occasionally saw people in the woods picking blackberries or wild huckleberries to take home. But I've moved to a country where no fruit or vegetable goes to waste, as long as it's growing in an accessible spot.

Tonight, walking the farm roads, I saw a woman in the carrot fields where a harvester had finished up. She was walking painstakingly back and forth, searching for bits the machine had missed. Yesterday, I passed a man up in a chestnut tree, searching for ripe nuts. He'd filled his basket almost to the brim. Walnuts are in season too, and I've seen families out gathering those together.

I like this trait--in fact, it reminds me of my Grandma Brose, who tended a garden well into her eighties. She'd stir-fry kale and other vegetables for me whenever I visited their retirement village. I know Grandma would be up the ladder plucking chestnuts with the best of them, if she were alive and visiting me in Deutschland today.

Autumn View Over Schriesheim

Along The Way

Pictures from our 26 kilometer training walk this Saturday:

A Friendly Duck

View Of Heidelberg From Philosopher's Way

Reflections In The Neckar River

Heidelberg Old Town Bridge Gate

My Latest Bicycle Sightings

Caught sight of a man with a white curly beard, a la "Father Christmas," out riding his bicycle tonight. He was holding a wooden pipe as he pedaled past me, and took a few leisurely puffs as he rolled down the lane. He looked quite at home sitting on his Fahrrad, smoking that pipe!

A few weeks ago, right in front of our row house, I saw a mom on a bike, teaching her little girl to ride a training bike. Many folks here ride around with their small dog (or dogs) in a basket attached to the bicycle. So, guess what? This girl had a miniature basket on back, with her own dog riding along...





A plastic German Shepherd.

Wish I'd gotten a picture.

Up the Mosel

A few photos from a drive up the Mosel River valley several weeks ago:

We ran into a group of American bicyclists who were cruising the river on a barge and taking day trips ashore. They were mostly in their late sixties and seventies, it appeared--all of them fitted out in spandex gear and cycling shoes. Hope I'm as energetic at that age.

For lunch, we followed a Rick Steves suggestion, and ate at Restaurant Haus Lipmann in Beilstein. Wonderful mushroom soup and an even better view of the water!

The grapes were just ripening, and I couldn't resist plucking one or two (or more). Still plenty left for the wineries and the birds.

ps. Click on the top photo, it's got lots of detail--that's the town of Cochem.

A River Walk

This morning, I walked for twelve miles through Heidelberg and along the river front. In November, I'm walking a marathon with several friends, and we're starting to extend our mileage.


Here's a sample of scenery along the Neckar River. The swans may look placid and graceful, but believe me, you don't want to get these birds angry, or the wrath of all bird-dom will fly upon you!

You Saw A Bike Where?

Inside Frankfurt airport, you might see a bike like this whizzing past:


Shocked me a bit, the first time! The airport buys the bicycles for their workers to get from place to place within the terminal more easily. As I've said before, Germany is a paradise for bike-lovers.

*Photo from the Alex Moulton website

„Wicked - Die Hexen von Oz

We've been listening to the original "Wicked" soundtrack for the last 2 weeks, after Danielle bought it in the States. Then I found this video recently. Good way to learn a few new German words.

Now I want to see the live musical!

I Know I've Lived In Germany For Awhile When...

*My child says, "Let's skip the castle. Can we go to the park instead?"

*Apple juice and other drinks taste better without ice.

*Listening to the latest Stau report on the radio, I can't remember the American word for Stau (traffic jam).

*I wait to mow the lawn until afternoon quiet hours are done.

*It isn't incongruous to see an eighty year old woman with perfectly styled hair, fancy blouse, and skirt riding a bicycle down the cobblestones (dangling her Sunday purse on the handlebars).

*The local cult of Spargel-adoration doesn't seem quite as silly anymore. In fact, it's kind of endearing.

Spargel = white asparagus, or as I call it, albino asparagus.


Photo is of David and Anna in the nearby town of Schwetzingen, where this sculpture honors the region's spargel crop .

How do you know you've lived somewhere (whether Germany or otherwise) for awhile?

Out & About

Yesterday, all of Germany abandoned their homes for green areas, at least in our region. No wonder, after the sun deprivation of these last few months. I did the same, walking around the nearby town of Speyer with several friends.

Weihnachtsmarkt Time

Once again, it's Christmas market time in Germany. Heidelberg has a few different markets along the Hauptstrasse, all offering Glühwein (hot spiced wine), waffles dusted with powdered sugar, pork steak and onion sandwiches, deep fried potato pancakes topped with berries and cream, crepes, and many other food offerings. As you can see, most of them won't improve your chloresterol count...except for the Kräuter Bonbons (herb candy), that is.
Anna said that when we move back to the States (whenever that is...) she's going to miss these Christmas markets. So will I--they're better than glitzy malls and flashing lights everywhere. Portland's Saturday Market is the closest I've seen in the U.S.

Words Can Be Tricky

A few weeks ago, I visited the Frankfurt Book Fair, since it's only 45 minutes north of me--and one of the biggest events of its type in the world. Did I mention BIG? Overwhelming might be a better word.

Anyway, I mainly stuck to the hall for English language publishers, but visited the area for German publishers at one point. Pushing past the crowded masses of stalls with an acquaintance, I asked her, "Do you have any idea how I can find my friend's publisher? She said she'd be at their booth."
"What's the publisher's name?" Kristin asked.
"Umm. Hmm. Oh, I remember...it's Verlag!" I answered, feeling proud of myself.
Silence. Kristin smiled.
"Laurie? You do know that Verlag just means publisher in German?" Kristin said.
Oh.
Never did find that friend. Too many Verlags.

My Saturday Entertainment

I took part in my first Volksmarch on Saturday -- we started in Heidelberg, walking 10 kilometers up into the hills above the city and then back down. Quite an idyllic view up top. Reminded me of Switzerland, with cows grazing and green pastures.

I also made a sidetrip into the World War One cemetery (with Kelly, who likes taking pictures too). Sobering, seeing the names engraved on grave markers. So many fallen soldiers, so many stone crosses.

After the Volksmarch, I claimed my prize for finishing: a large beer stein with a picture of Heidelberg's Königstuhl. I enjoy a few sips of beer, but that's all. Guess I'll have to use it for Orangina ... I know, sacrilege for those true beer fans.

Our Law-Abiding Neighbor

Olaf, our neighbor across the road, waves and says "Hallo!" whenever we see him. He's also the self-appointed "enforcer" of German laws in our neighborhood (given that many of us rent our rowhouses, so haven't lived here long enough to memorize the entire canon of South Germany rules ...).

Mike, an American who lived next door to us for two years, had a feud going with Olaf. Mike's daughter liked to play her rock music loudly with the windows open on Sunday afternoon. You may not realize, but Baden-Wurttemberg has quiet hours during the week from 1-3:00 in the afternoon, and all day on Sunday and holidays. This means: no lawn-mowers revving up then, no screaming and shouting, no loud car engines, and of course, no stereos blasting. But Mike didn't take kindly to Olaf's reminders about needing to be quieter. In fact, he may have encouraged his daughter to continue playing her music at an even higher volume. Maybe it's just as well that they're no longer living kitty-corner to each other.

But I had to chuckle at what my husband, Jeff, described seeing this morning--the neighbor directly across from us owns a huge golden retriever that barks its head off at random moments. Olaf walked over to their patio and leaned close to the fence. He whispered to the dog, "shhh, shhh," and held his finger to his lips. For several minutes, Olaf stayed there, making sure the retriever understood the importance of quiet hours. After he left, all was silent.

Now, if I still had cranky toddlers? I'd hire Olaf in an instant. Then I'd let him work his magic during nap-time. This man has a gift.

And Yet More of Rothenburg

I shot many photos in Rothenburg, so here you go again...

A runaway carriage--

A view of the city from the castle gardens--



The infamous "Schneeballen" (otherwise known as snowballs--deep fried fatty pastries rolled in powdered sugar, dipped in dark chocolate, and otherwise made dangerous to the arteries)--

In Bloom

Saw these flowers in Rothenburg, and they reminded me of Oregon--except I think the blooms were mostly purple there. Foxglove?

More Rothenburg Photos

Houses lining the central town square.







Eine Katze greeted us from a doorway.






Peering out the tower window.