Rachel Carson Conservation Park, Brookeville, MD, 4/23/23, Revisited

 

Remembering the pollinator meadow at the Rachel Carson Conservation Park we visited last summer, 

I was curious to check the state of growth of the pollinators in late April.  

Turns out we were just a few weeks too early.

For comparison, see photo below of the same meadow last July. 

Black Forest Highlands Heritage trail (Heimatphad), Hinterzarten, Germany, 10/10/22

Starting from the Hinterzarten train station, 

 we set off walking the forest paths, taking in the fall colors. 

Above, a ditch with clever erosion control. 

After crossing the tourist town of Hofgut Sternen with busloads of tourists exploring the glassblower and ropemaker exhibits, and historic tollhouse, we reach the small St. Oswaldkappelle. 

The chapel, dedicated to St Oswald, a 7th century king and martyr, was built in 1148, and is the oldest church in the High Black Forest.  Above, skull and bone visible from the subfloor.

Crossing the Ravenna viaduct, 

climbing high through the romantic Ravenna Gorge,

and emerging on an upland moor. 

To the left, note the traditional farm house with solar panels and wood pile. 

See detail below.

Back by train to our Freiburg Airbnb.  

Above, photo of our bohemian and pictoresque street. 

Bye bye Freiburg.  

Seen at the train station the next morning for our ride back to Brussels, 

a tower of all Ritter chocolates, one of my favorite chocolates.

 

Freiburg Walks, Freiburg Germany, 10/6-10/9, 2022

Capital of the Black Forest, Frieburg is an ancient and lively university town with a sense of humor. Considered the sunniest town in Germany, it makes good use of the this free source of energy and is almost entirely powered by a large solar farm just outside of town. 

Since the 13th century "streamlets" have lined every street with water that was used to put out fires. Today, children delight in water play.

We explored the city with my cousins and their husbands.  Above, celebrating my cousin-in-law Edward's birthday on our tiny Airbnb balcony. Note our delight in savoring german pastries.

Market day by the cathedral (on the left.) Note the buildings on the right look clean and well maintained; that's because they are actually new.  Freiburg was heavily bombed during WWII and the city was almost entirely rebuilt.

Miraculously, the cathedral dating from 1200 was spared from bombing. Above, on the wall next to the entrance, note the date 1270 and the oval and round marks. These were the official bread sizes used to check the size of a just purchased loaf of bread and prevent cheating. 

Another unique feature distinguishing Freiburg are mosaic coats of arms in the cobblestoned streets.  Each merchant has its own.  Above, the book merchant, the wine dealer, the furniture maker and the tailor. 

Walking tour of Baden-Baden, Germany, 10/3/22

We started the walking tour of Baden Baden right outside our little Airbnb in the back of one of the town's two main thermal spas.  Above, the "Fetquelle" or "rich water source,"  a 105-degree water fountain which until recently was a source of hot water for locals. 

Walking up and around the modern Caracalla spa,  the venerable Roman-Irish bath and the remnants of the ancient bath built for Roman soldiers, we found ourselves in the middle of an exotic garden fed by water from the hot springs. Above, a flourishing fig tree. 

 On the right, corner view of the Roman-Irish bath complex. 

Walking through old town we reach the Oosbach river with its Lichtentaler Allee, called  "the Culture Mile" because of its many museums and also "the Green Mile" as it is lined with stately oaks and strikingly beautiful and large exotic trees.

Above, a Catalpa tree, an impressive north American tree that can grow close to a 100 feet in hight. I smiled when I saw the many north American trees. 

A giant sequoia. Not quite as large as the Californian ones, but impressive none the less.

 The Germans planted north American trees like Americans plant European and Asian varieties.  

Hum?? The grass is always greener on the other side of the pond, the ocean in this case. 

Returning from our elegant promenade along the Allee, past the classy mansions, the Rose garden (above) and the Casino called the "Kurhaus," we ended the walking tour at the "Trinkhalle."

As you can see from the photos above and below, the Trinkhalle is quite unique: a long ~1850 building decorated with romantic murals, where 19th century visitors would come to drink the healing spa waters and promenade both inside and outside the structure. 

Natural Springs Trail, Bad Herrenalb, Germany, 9/30/2022

Hike started at the tourist office behind what is left of the old Cistercian monastery from 1148 (with a tree growing out of one of its ancient walls.)  

"Quelle" means blue dragonfly and is the name of the trail we followed to discover springs, swamps and moss covered rocks galore.

Note all of the solar panels on the roofs. (No wonder Germany is known to be a leader in green energy.)

Of interest to me: almost all of the homes are oriented in the same direction and definitely built before solar panels became popular.  Reason?

The trail led past the southern end of Bad Herrenalb before meandering past meadows and prairies...

following, crossing and re-crossing the Gaisbach stream.... 

and entering the deep forest. 

Distance: 5 miles round trip, elevation  ~500 ft.

 

Highlights of week in French Alps, 9/17 - 9/23/22, Bettex, France

 

Spent one week in the French Alps in a small village called "Le Bettex" close to St Gervais les Bains and Chamonix.  As you may recall, Chamonix is the town at the foot of the highest mountain in France, the Mount Blanc. The very tip of the highest range in the middle of the photo below is the Mount Blanc.

My friend Catherine and a friend of hers organized a week entitled "Copines Creatives" (loosely translated as "Creative Girlfriends.") The idea was for a group of 10 women who knew each other little to spend a week getting to know each other and sharing their passions.  Examples of passions shared: bee raising, reading, improv/psychodrama, working with clay, Hebertism, hiking, yoga and more.

Long walks and picnics in the sun.....

A little fun along the path... My friend Catherine and I.

Yoga with the most incredible background.

Sunset on the Mount Blanc.  
This was our view every evening from the dining room of the "chalet" where we stayed. 

What a week of camaraderie, developing friendships, connection, intellectual exchanges and creative pursuits.

Tour of Citadel of Namur, Namur, Belgium, 9/15/22

 During my first week in Belgium, visiting friends and family, three cousins and brother-in-law decided to visit Namur and tour the Citadel.  Built during the Roman times and rebuilt a number of times, it was of major strategic importance due to its location at the confluence of the Sambre and the Meuse.

Peak carefully towards the lower left side of the picture above
and you will see the two rivers merge. 

A cable car takes visitors to the 570ft high peak in about 10 minutes. 
Just a hill you will say. Sure enough but still offering splendid views of the city all around. 

Enjoying the views.

Jan Fabre  "Searching for Utopia"  2003

Moseyed our way down, and about midway, 
 encountered this large sculpture of a boy riding a turtle as if ready to take flight.

Rewarding day exploring a Belgian city I had never visited; more importantly, what a precious opportunity to spend time with my cousins and brother-in-law.