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.