18 May 2017
Schwarzwald!

With an arching arcade on the ground floor, and overhanging windows with two oriels, all silvered and gilt, the Freiburg Rathaus, colored terra cotta, is spectacularly beautiful Rathaus, Freiburg, DE

The Schwarzwald is the famed Black Forest, which is the catchment area for the Danube which flows into the Black Sea (whereas the nearby Rhine flows into the North Sea). It's also just a short drive from Colmar. Americans know it's a big deal to drive from the U.S. to Canada, with long lines waiting for border checks in both directions. But passing between France and Germany while crossing the Rhine is even easier; we noted a small sign by the side of the road but can't even remember what it said! And of course it was even simpler than going to Switzerland, because our French euros were perfectly good in Germany.

The market at Freiburg was brisk and varied, with sellers filling the market plaza. It appears that Billed as the largest player organ cylinders in the world, these two cylinders with spikes emanating from the outside, are giant versions of the cylinders (once made in Waldkirch) which enable an organ to play automatically. Organ cylinders? Waldkirch, DE this is a daily market. We saw spices and wooden objects and meats and produce galore, and flowers. The two buildings forming the major views are the Minster which is gorgeous and which survived the bombing in 1945 which leveled the buildings around it, and the Rathaus which is lovely in red with many decorations. We didn't do justice to examining both buildings because of all the distractions of the market.

The market at Freiburg was brisk and varied, with sellers filling the market plaza. It appears that this is a daily market. We saw spices and wooden objects and meats and produce galore, and flowers. The two buildings forming the major views are the Minster which is gorgeous and which survived the bombing in 1945 The sculptor has playfully scattered a bronze sow with three piglets and a man watching them all in a public area in Haslach; Bob and Donna are in the midst of the display Civic art, Haslach, DE which leveled the buildings around it, and the Rathaus which is lovely in red with many decorations. We didn't do justice to examining both buildings because of all the distractions of the market.

Waldkirch is the home of SICK, a high-tech company which manufacturers state-of-the-art optical sensors for laser guidance systems, specifically for robots and driverless vehicles. Business is thriving. Their plant is right across the street from the park where we ate lunch. The house has figures of people in local dress along with coats of arms painted in between the windows on the first floor. Decorated house, Haslach, DE

At lunch we talked about the castle on the hill (named Kastelburg) overlooking Waldkirch, and so after lunch we tried to get there. Bryan drove around and over the tracks and tried to figure out how to go up the hill and tried one road and it didn't work and so he tried another and went up and up and up and then, disappointed, we came to a hospital/sanitarium/medical clinic of some sort and tried driving around the back and up the driveway and finally asked at the hospital and they said you can't drive all the way you have to walk some, so Bob and Elsa sat on a bench overlooking the frogs in a small pond while Bryan and The young lady tending the market wears a red shirt and olive gree hat, and the fish are beautifully arranged on ice. Fish market, Rosheim, FR Donna tried a path through the woods that might lead to the castle.

Well, it did, and Donna climbed 300 steps all the way to the top of the ruined keep where she had a view out over everything and thought it TERRIFIC!

More driving through the beautiful forest and the mountain areas brought us to Haslach, a small, shining, lovely town which has yet to be discovered by tour buses. We concluded with a short stop in another beautiful town, Rosheim, where we met a vivacious fish-seller. Light drizzle accompanied us as we walked the cobblestone streets, but nobody, including the shoppers at the market, seemed to mind.

For the final time, we crossed the border from Germany to France. We are seeing current day Europe, with little attention paid to national borders, although we are aware of minor differences in food and decorations.