Fulda Thunder

At 4 o'clock this morning we were waken by an enormous thunderstorm raging around us! As a German neighbour had said earlier that this type of weather isn't that unusual at this time of the year. But it certainly kept us awake for the next half an hour whilst it moved on to scare the living delights out of the next town!

It rained on into the morning but cleared by the time we wanted to set out to explore Fulda. Fulda was founded in 744 by, you guested it, the Benidictine monks who developed a monastery here, and which gave it a 1000 years of control over the surrounding territory.  

The medieval aspect of the city was given a Baroque makeover in the 1700s making it now a baroque city of charm and elegance. By the number of tourist buses, motorhomes etc visible around the city, it is a very well known tourist centre. For many years Fulda was home to American troops because it was in this area the the east-west border was located. 

Fulda is a very impressive and thriving city. The city was alive with locals and visitors alike. There was plenty to see and photograph!!

Cathedral skyline at Fulda.

The Baroque Cathedral and the 9th St Michael's Church. 

The Prince/Bishop Residence - the power and wealth of the church on display here. Now a pleasant backdrop for weddings. 

The Orangerie 

The baroque garden and the sculpture of  the Flora Vase.

The beautiful Old Town Hall. 

Floral displays around the city with the baroque buildings in the background. 

And, we became reacquainted with Ampel, the little man on the traffic signals!

We couldn't help ourselves and had to taste some of the German cakes.

We chose a maulwurfschnittchen - and it was delicious too.

We returned to the van and soon after got on the road and headed for Eisenbach. A beautiful drive through the Thuringian Forest. It was along this route that the old east-west border was in place. We think there was a sign along the road when we past the mark - but being a little rusty with German we weren't quite sure!!

Part of the Thuringian Forest.

 

The day was bookended with thunder storms - another as we write this blog!

Fulda

We have been very spoilt the last three days; a real size shower and real size bed! Yes, left Dirk's and Brigitte's hospitality and back on the road. 

Dirk's amazing photo graph on the wall in his lounge room. Early morning near the Elbe River in Saxon Switzerland (Sächsische Schweiz). 

The very obedient Butch in trouble! "It was only a rabbit!"

Roof top gardens don't get taxed but all other roofs do!  And Hymer Hilton, as always, close by.

After a little tooing-and-froing (we left a case behind!) and a visit to the air-conditioning garage, we set our sights on  the town of Fulda. Fulda has been at the crossroads of great armies over the centuries- Napoleons saw the Fulda Gap as a very convenient pathway to his ambitions in Russia. The Americans also saw the strategic nature of this location during the Cold War and had a military base in this area. Thus ends today's history lesson.

The threat of thunder storms has focused the preparations of all the motorhomers here tonight. It is still about thirty degrees and it is becoming very threatening. 

Frankfurt Heat

Another beautiful day in Frankfurt. A big blue sky greeted us this morning and was promising to be with us all day.

We had another beautiful German breakfast before it was  decided to brave the heat of the day and explore further in Frankfurt. 

So off to town we went, parked up before Dirk and Brigitte took us into the old centre of Frankfurt. Much of this centre has been reconstructed since the war but it has been done in a style that would have been seen in the Middle Ages.  

The square in the old town of Frankfurt.

The old town had plenty of activities associated with it today - we saw three weddings just the short time we were there. Interesting to note the customs here - this would have been the civil side of the wedding and some times the religious side happens later in the day or the next day. 

One of the early weddings.

It was noted too that the bubbly was flowing out in the square soon after the civil ceremony was completed. 

Champagne being poured just outside the Rathaus where the ceremony had been conducted.

We had a change of pace for around the corner was the Paulskirche - the former Lutherian church where the first democratic national German parliament was held. Inside was the story of the church and the story of how the National Parliament of Germany first came about in 1849. Although the building was bombed in 1944 it was one of the first buildings to be reconstructed after the war. 

The Paulskirche - and first parliament meeting place. 

Our next stop was the Frankfurt Cathedral where precious alter pieces and carvings decorated the walls. These valuable historic relics would have been well hidden during the war years so they wouldn't be damaged during bombining. 

Glimpse of the cathedral from the old town.

A valuable altar piece. 

After this we crossed the river to visit one of the old famous suburbs of Frankfurt - Sachsenhausen. Dirk and Brigitte lead us to a very traditional Frankfurt restaurant to have a very Franfurt/Hessen meal. 

Apple cider with schnitzel and herb based sauce and pan baked potatoes - it was delicious. 

The inner courtyard restaurant. 

Four very hot walkers - 37.5 degrees

After lunch we wandered further around Sachsenhausen looking at the traditional pubs, restaurants and housing.

The heat of the day finally caught up with us so we left for the cooler climate of the air conditioned car. 

We spent another pleasant evening with Dirk and Brigitte before a pre-midnight bed time! 

Another great day.

Dirk and Butch - note the beautiful photo graph on the wall behind - Dirk's professional work,

Frankfurt

An early start this morning with our destination being Frankfurt, or as some refer to it as Mainhatton! (Frankfurt is one of the only German cities to have a cluster of skyscrapers in the city centre with the River Main winding its way through the city.)  

The trip took a little longer than expected before  arriving at Dirk's and Brigitte's home late in the morning. We are still amazed by the volume of large trucks that dominate the road system across Europe - particularly in this part of Germany. And at any given time just how many are complying with the law and having sleeping stops at any time day or night.

Having successfully navigated the multiplicity of autobahns in this part of Germany - or should I add with great assistance from Thomas (GPS) - a very warm welcome greeted us by Brigitte, Dirk and Butch!

German breakfast with Dirk and Brigitte. 

A lot of catching up to do before we were taken into Frankfurt for a look around the city and to go to the Australian Consulate to vote in the Federal Elections. 

Frankfurt skyline.

On arriving at the Main Tower Building - the highest in Frankfurt, we met other Australians sitting in the foyer and they had been waiting for over an hour to be called to go upstairs to the consulate on the 28th floor. It seemed a very inefficient means of operating! So, we collected our queuing ticket and settled in for the long wait!

Not to be defeated  Brigette and Dirk suggested we go to the viewing platform of the Main Tower to look across the city. What an amazing view and with the day being the first fine day in weeks, the view was quite stunning.

View of "Mainhatton"  from the top of Main Tower 

A panorama picture.

Back down again to then be called to go back up to the Consulate to vote. A very pleasant reception by the staff - in contrast to the Brussels's Australian Embassy staff two elections ago. 

Our votes being placed in the ballot box by a very pleasant Aussie, Phoebe.

After voting we were given a ground level walking tour of the city stopping off at the Old Opera Square to sample the apple wine at the "Frankfurt Apfelwein" festival.

The Old Opera - at one stage the former mayor wanted to have it pulled down and replaced by more higher-rise buildings!

We did a little shopping - purchased a decent road atlas of Germany and finally purchased a German data card for the phone.

A very swank shopping plaza.

Back to Dirk's and Brigitte's home for a very pleasant and enjoyable evening - in bed before 1.00am! A lovely day.

A very well trained Butch alias Gunter!

Germany - Schwarzwald

The Schwarzwald (Black Forest) was a little "dark" this morning! Misty rain and low cloud over the hills. 

Our drive to Aha and Schulchsee, the largest lake in the Schwarzwald, took us over the highest peak in the Schwarzwald, the Felberg. Quite a climb but a beautiful brooding picture all the way.

We arrived at Schluchsee mid-morning to a warm greeting from Sigi and Bettina. Had some catchup time over a coffee before setting out to the Rothaus Brewery a few kilometres down the road. 

Rothaus beer is one of the very popular and tasty beers of this part of the Schwarzwald. 

After having a look over the museum and production area of the brewery we had lunch at the restaurant attached. 

We were served by a very pleasant German woman who spoke excellent English, and much to our surprise, she informed us that her husband was from Launceston who happens to be the chef at the restaurant. 

The meal was delicious and the Black Forest Cherry cake was the real McCoy.

It had started to rain again so we later took cover in another pub for a few more beers before the start of the Euro2016 match between Germany and Northern Ireland. 

Once the result seemed inevitable we said our farewells to Sigi and Bettina and commenced our drive to Frankfurt to vote and to catchup with Dirk and Brigitte.

On the motorway we got caught up in and hours delay due to a major accident a short way ahead of us. Some of the speeds that are reached we are surprised that there aren't more of these crashes. 

We arrived at Ettlingen for our overnight after 10 pm - quite late for us!

Last Day in Alsace

The Sunshine at last! Woke to a beautiful blue sky across Alsace. By the time we had organised breakfast the "gazole" of motorhomes had dispersed to all corners of Europe!

We had a plan for the day which DID NOT include charging off at an ungodly hour  ie,  not before 10.00 am.

Once we got moving we set a course for Ribeauville, another delightful village on the Alsace Wine Trail. Surrounded by medieval ramparts the town is, again, the centre of a very strong wine industry.  Being a Monday it was very pleasant wandering around this old town, with the Vosges Mountains just at its back door! 

Ribeauville' looking good!

Surrounding vineyards on the slopes of the Vosges.

A cutie that was looking for friends!

Classical ironwork naming plates.

Shade was an important factor today - for the first time - and we were able to find a great spot for a very French lunch.

After lunch we wandered down the road to an equally, if not better, village on this wine trail, Riquewihr. Riquewihr is a rural medieval walled city. It is an outstanding place to visit, sit and have a cool beer. You could be forgiven to think this is the good life! And the local Hirsch beer was very pleasant as well.

Riquewihr colourful 17th century buildings.

Making friends but sorry we don't speak French!

Enjoying a cool drink.

Riquewihr fountain.

Keeping in mind that we had to get Maddie back to the Basel-Mulhouse airport, we decided to head south again to hydro electrical station on the Rhine at Rosenau,an area on the Rhine, to enjoy a last meal and wine with Maddie before her trip back to London.

Rosenau hydro system on the Rhine.

Enjoying a pre-dinner snack and drink!

Droped Maddie off at the airport before crossing into Germany and to our overnight in the Black Foest at Schonau. 

EuroAirport