We sailed thru the night to Breisach, Germany. When we looked out the windows we saw swans everywhere. It is possible that I saw more swans here than in the rest of my life, combineed. As you can see below, one stared at me thru our stateroom window.
|
|
Those white specks thru the window are hundreds of swans. |
|
The morning's expedition was to the Black Forest area of Germany. The black forest is somewhat like Northern Idaho: lots of hills and trees. Nowadays it is where they grow grapes for wine, corn for biofuel, and raise dairy cows. The Black Forest is also the birthplace of the "Green Party". Not as big as the Democrats or Republicans, but growing. Notice the solar panels. I used to believe that this is where the Romans were stopped. But one of our onboard guest (Alan Meyer - an ex-German teacher and historian) writes: "the Romans were stopped and an entire legion destroyed not in the Schwarzwald (Black Forest ) but much farther north in the Teutoburger Forest." |
They also are helping the storks to recover. |
St. Peter's Church. |
|
The Black Forest is also the home of the Cuckoo Clock, due to the long, cold winters. The German people tend to be industrious and technically minded, so months of idleness gave them time to make clock movements and carve the intricate wood facades. Of course this also turns otherwise lost time into a source of income. Some of the largest clocks can take 6 to 8 weeks to carve, which makes the $8,000 price tag seem more reasonable. |
Our very impressive morning guide, Iris. The background house is a giant cuckoo clock, working, of course. I have a movie, but it is too big to send. |
|
Notice the snow holders. Snow is a good insulator, so keep it on the roof. |
The medieval city of Colmar, the optional tour for the afternoon. |
Dad got bored with the guided tour, so we broke out on our own. |
SE part of Colmar, known as Little Venice. |
The right house is older. |
|
After our Colmar trip and just before dinner, I took off for a quick trip around the small town at which we were docked: Breisach. Click the photo for a closer view of the Cathedral. |
