Out and About - Scenery Snippets

A view from Brandenkopf on 'our' green valley.

The forest is black!

 All along the Watchtower.

It's time for cake!

I get the fruit, he get's the leftovers...

Sweet butterfly.

Longing to scoot along this roads.

A classic example of regional architecture.

Another picturesque farmhouse.

And more of it.

Watermill.

A view towards 'our' village...

...where a stream flows through.

Taking a single file logging road to nowhere.

A Zen moment by the lake (at Glaswaldsee).

It's almost like being back in Canada...

... if it weren't for the castles and ruins around   ;-)

Sunset calm.

So far we can't help comparing the Black Forest area to similar scenery of Eastern Canada, which makes transition and settling in so much easier.

Withdrawal Symptoms

Ok, I admit it: I am a Scootaholic. I kinda miss my Harley, yes, but even more so, I really want my Vespa! Ever since I have gotten a first taste of German byways on my new-to-me Italian two-wheeler I have the strong feeling that I need more. Much more, and the roads down here in the Black Forest are simply gorgeous.

Alas, Alonzo, my orange Vespa is tucked away in a garage about 400km away. Also, Bella, the red Vespa and Rover, my Sporty are unavailable, still somewhere stored in a container, and anyway will need technical certification (TÜV) before approved street-legal.

So naturally my attention will be easily drawn to any two-wheeler on the road. On occasion I can be found chatting with their owners, or checking out local dealerships, never mind the brand.

 

With accelerated heartbeat I watch every motorcycle and scooter pass by, well aware of the beautiful twisty roads that lie ahead of them. Sigh! I need to get my scoot, stat!

Another week to go before we will be headed North again (to deal with some more bureaucratic stuff and) to pick up my orange companion. Patience, young Yedi!

I'm extraordinarily patient, provided I get my own way in the end. 

(Margaret Thatcher)

Vive la France all over again!

Another beautiful Saturday. Way to nice for chores. So we found ourselves traveling... once again to France. 90 km or a bit short of an hour away lies Colmar, a city that Roland had visited a long time ago and wanted to re-visit.

Founded in the ninth century during the Carolingian Empire Colmar seemed always been in high demand. It belonged once to the French, then to the Germans, and at one time to the Swedish even (not for long, though).

Now Colmar is one of the major cities in Alsace, France, but the German heritage can be found everywhere, embedded in culture, language, names and architecture, naturally enhanced by the French lifestyle and ambience.

Although third biggest city of the province of Alsace, Colmar has the charming atmosphere of a small town. There is no big city rush, and people seem to enjoy themselves (It might have helped that it wasn't a work day, though). So we did the best to adjust by having ice cream and cooling off at a fountain.

And right in the center of the old town, what else could there be... a church. Eglise Staint Martin has the dimensions of a cathedral but never hosted a bishop, so it cannot be called such.

This building is a wild architectural mix, erected on Romanesque foundations it is mainly Gothic with a touch of Renaissance after a fire, and with a hint of Jewish influence found in the gargoyles.

The church is embedded in the historic city core, and hence it is almost impossible to find an ideal vantage point for a good photo. It is an interesting piece of historic architecture nevertheless, and its sandstone bricks look make a beautiful contrast to the blue sky.

And some two-wheelers can make a very nice contrast to the  medieval architecture, too.

And while Sonja could be found admiring this vintage Vespa, Roland was drooling all over this wonderful Citroen:

Colmar is definitely worth a visit, even more so since it can make a good starting point for a trip through the Vosges and the wine country. Next time... on scooters!