House in Reutte, Austria.
Reutte, Austria.
Neuschwanstein, the castle of Mad King Ludwig of Bavaria (now Germany).
The town of Füsse, Germany, near Neuschwanstein castle.
View of Neuschwanstein from Hohenschwangau, the "older" castle.
View from Hohenschwangau
Hohenschwangau
Neuschwanstein
View from Marienbrücke, the high bridge.
View from Marienbrücke.
View of Hohenschwangau from Neuschwanstein
View from Neuschwanstein
View of Marienbrücke from Neuschwanstein
Dinkelsbühl, a medieval village in Germany.
Dinkelsbühl
The Münster St. Georg in Dinkelsbühl
Münster St. Georg
Cool house overpass in Dinkelsbühl
Every town in Germany has a Rathaus....the town hall, not a house for rats.
Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany. I leave the "ob der Tauber" (on the Tauber river) part in, because there's actually another Rothenburg elsewhere in Germany.
On the city walls of Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Note that they had shelter, which I expect was appreciated by the sentries.
View from the city walls of Rothenburg ob der Tauber
The city walls of Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Rothenburg ob der Tauber
St. Jakob's Cathedral, Rothenburg ob der Tauber
St. Jakob's Cathedral, Rothenburg ob der Tauber. This is one of the more interesting depictions we've seen of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost (the dove is the Holy Ghost).
St. Jakob's Cathedral, Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Another first: a painting of the circumcision of Jesus.
The Rathaus of Rothenburg ob der Tauber.
The Rathaus of Rothenburg ob der Tauber. When the clock chimes the hour, the little figures to either side begin to raise their beer steins.
Disturbing head emerging from a wall in Rothenburg ob der Tauber.
Path outside the city walls of Rothenburg ob der Tauber. The symbol on the fencepost shows that this is part of the pilgrimage trail which eventually ends in Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
Memorial to the martyrdom of the Jewish population of Rothenburg ob der Tauber....not in 1939, but in 1298.
The prayer on the memorial. Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Inside the church beside the memorial. This church had several upstairs galleries that appeared to be designed to separate the congregation. Due to this and the memorial outside, we wondered if the church had once been a synagogue. But all the frescos were of Christian themes, so this remains a mystery. On another note, wreaths to the fallen Rothenburg heroes from WWI & WWII lined one wall of the church. By now, we have seen many monuments and memorials to the fallen heroes from France, England and of course, America. The Good Guys. I found this loving monument to German Heroes unsettling. One country’s Hero is another country’s adversary. Living abroad and traveling about the world is a broadening experience. Rothenburg ob der Tauber
St George appears everywhere. Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Kath. Pfarrkirche St. Margaretha, Mosel Valley
Church entrance in the Mosel Valley, Germany.
Mosel Valley, Germany
Burg Eltz Castle, Mosel Valley, Germany
Burg Eltz Castle
Reichsburg Castle in Cochem, Germany
Reichsburg Castle
View from Reichsburg Castle
Reichsburg Castle. Our tour guide insisted that this statue is a lion in armor, and not a frog. You be the judge.
Huge beer drinking horn, Reichsburg Castle
Ceiling artwork, Reichsburg Castle
Mermaid chandeliers were all the rage. We were instructed to rub her belly for luck. Reichsburg Castle
Reichsburg Castle. What's interesting about this spiral staircase is that it winds counterclockwise as you ascend. Most go clockwise. This was done for defensive purposes; a right-handed swordsman wouldn't be able to use his weapon as effectively.
Reichsburg Castle. The larger steins in back contained a monk's daily ration of wine or beer (about 5 liters).
More frogs, or is it lions in armor? Reichsburg Castle
Reichsburg Castle. This guy looks as if he's break-dancing.
View from Reichsburg Castle.
Reichsburg Castle. This suit of armor was for a knight who was seven feet tall.
Falconry display at Reichsburg Castle.
Another lion statue....still looks like a frog to me.
We saw these signs along many roads in Germany. Does this really give a speed limit for tanks?
Castle in the Rhine Valley.
Schloss Rheinfels, in the Rhine Valley.
Schloss Rheinfels
View from Schloss Rheinfels.
View from Schloss Rheinfels
Schloss Rheinfels. This tunnel got so dark that we had to use a flashlight to go forward.
Schloss Rheinfels: the big cellar.
Hiking near Kniebis in the Black Forest: cool trail marker
Hiking in the Black Forest
Schwarzwälder Freilichtmuseum Vogtsbauernhof, or Open-Air Museum, in the Black Forest. This fascinating museum had a number of 17th and 18th century German farm buildings that were dis-assembled and moved to the museum.
Open-Air Museum
Open-Air Museum. The sledge on the right was used by workmen to haul lumber.
Open-Air Museum: This is where the ground wheat came out of the mill.
Open-Air Museum: wheat mill. The millstones are in the cylinder.
Open-Air Museum: wheat mill. It's interesting to see all of this machinery realized in wood, rather than metal.
Open-Air Museum: wheat mill.
Open-Air Museum: wheat mill. Everything was powered from a water-wheel.
Open-Air Museum: wood saw, powered by a water-wheel.
Open-Air Museum: hemp press, powered by a water-wheel. The millstone rolled round and round, crushing the hemp fibers.
Open-Air Museum: hemp press
Open-Air Museum: Granny house. As farmers got older, they would bring on younger men to work the farm. The older couple would have a separate house.
Open-Air Museum: Granny house
Open-Air Museum: the blacksmith's shop. Notice the hammer, also powered by a water-wheel.
Open-Air Museum: oil mil. Oil-producing products such as flax, walnuts, and others were crushed beneath the millstone. Again, powered by a water-wheel.
Lake Titisee, Black Forest, Germany.
Lake Titisee
Black Forest countryside near Neustadt.
Black Forest countryside near Neustadt. Butterflies were everywhere.
