Trixi took this photo from the wind-farm area near San Gorgonio pass last night. It was an amazing rainbow standing out at sunset over the desert. Just Wow.....

Back Home

The trip back home was uneventful but LONG. We flew out of Frankfurt over the top of the planet north or the arctic circle and had a great view of the ice pack of Greenland. The flight took 12 hours (uggg) and then we landed in Las Vegas. It took us over 3 hours to get to our hotel after we landed thanks to the typical traffic from hell in Las Vegas. Good grief. Anyway, we have been adjusting to the time change and here is a photo of one of the pools we have been basking in as we reset our biological clocks back to pacific time. The desert is such a wonderful place to live!

More Colors

A view of a November vineyard from a castle window. Come on now. How can this be real??


This Germany in the fall is just nothing short of stimulus overload.

More Fall Colors In The Woods

I don't think I even need to comment.

Fall In Germany

I went out with Trixi today as she went in search of Fall colors in the German Black Forest. Wouldn't you know it, the magic unfolded before us. Here is just one of her shots..... Click on it for a larger version.

What is this?

The contest is over and our friend Markus Freiwald has won by correctly identifying this critter as a hedge-hog. We found this one in the backyard and I was WAY surprised at how big it was. Pretty cool. Thanks Markus.


{OK. No hints. The first person to identify this "thing" wins.}

More Fall

I just can't resist it. The fall colors in Germany are beyond description so I have to post photos. Even they don't do it justice. This is a photo of some renegade leaves in an old vineyard as sunset nears. Standing there was priceless.

Autumn In Germany

Fall has fallen in Germany and the entire wine-country looks like an accident in a paint factory. Pictured here is a castle atop a hill bathed in Golden October splendor. This particular hill top is the oldest vineyard in Germany. We're talking around 1200 something A.D. Amazingly beautiful place overlooking the Neckar river. Wish you could see it! Also above, some last hold-out grapes that were missed during the harvest..

Crooked House

You know, from time to time as you wander about Germany, you really feel like you are in Disneyland or maybe a fairy tale. This house suddenly appeared nestled in a little alleyway and it must have come about in a POOF of magic. And no, I didn't photoshop this. It is a real house I saw it myself. You've just gotta love Germany.

Happy Birthday

This first photo is one of the feast we had last night at Annette's birthday party. It was a wonderful party and we had a great time. Annette and Trixi have been friends since childhood and it was nice to help her celebrate her birthday.

The other photo is a famous little street in Bad Wimpfen and we managed to catch it with the light just right. Good grief, it looks like it jumped right out of a post card. Sometimes I surprise myself and take a really nice shot...

Pizza, German Style

As I mentioned before, I am a bit behind on the photo blog but catching up. This is a photo from Thursday when we went out for Pizza. Pizza in Germany, it sounds like it could be a book title. The pizza is very different here. The crust is thin and a little tough and the covering is quite greasy. If that doesn't sound appetizing, sorry, I didn't mean for it to sound that way. It was REALLY good. Later on that night my stomach told me not to do it again... I'll probably not listen.

German Restaurant

As I mentioned before, I am hopelessly behind with photos and blogging, but slowly catching up. Pretty much every Thurday evening we go to dinner with friends from Trixi's childhood days. We go new places each time. Last Thursday we went to the place pictured above. I scanned their post-card because my photos turned out so dark.. We were greeted at the door by the owner who regrettably informed us there was no room. Trixi said (in german).. "Oh sure, we came all the way from America and now you don't have room". His smile lit up like a Christmas Tree and he said (in german)..."Come on in, we'll just make room". And so we did. We had a great meal and he had me drink some rare Italian liquor that I can't even remember (that's how good it was). I think I have a picture of the bottle.... I think. It was a great night. Cheers.

Alps

Not a whole lot going on as we recover from our great-grape-picking episode so I picked a photo from our Austrian Alps trip. It was beautiful beyond description. Here's a picture of Trixi hiking in the high-country. What a memory.

Grapes And More Grapes

The grape picking was just beyond description. The vineyard belongs to a friend's father and he needed help to get the crop in. It was a small vineyard and there were a total of 10 of us picking. It only took three hours. After that the pickers (all friends and relatives of the owner) were served home-made cakes and coffee and beer and wine. After that we took what turned out to be about 3000 pounds of grapes to the winery and watched the process there. Of course we filmed and took photos of the whole process and we'll get those produced and posted when we have time. After our return from the winery it was a full course meal and more wine and beer and schnapps and great camaraderie. It was so not American. I loved it. Kind of like Thanksgiving on steroids. Then, just as we were leaving, the owner of the vineyard gave me some schnapps glasses and a great old beer mug to take back to American with us. What a day. This is a culture that remembers what life is supposed to be like..

Our Neighbors

In case you wondered, our grape picking adventure was put off until tomorrow, Saturday October 6th because it rained like it often does in Germany and we all expected to see Noah gather up animals at any moment. The rain stopped but the vineyards were like giant mud-pots and the grapes were like sponges..... Sooooooo, we will try it again tomorrow. The photo above is of Alex, Jennifer and Manuela our neighbors. They treated us to Onion Cake and Potato cake...Eeee-gads... Delicious. You can see the cakes in the background..

Our Friend Alex

I would like you to meet our very good friend Alex. He and his wife Manuela and daughter Jennifer live next door to us in Germany. Alex knows everything and everyone and is a great friend to have, particularly when you are a doofy American who can't even speak the language. He is the local volunteer fire-chief and here he demonstrates his skill at walking on a rope in the Austrian Alps. I'm not quite sure how valuable this skill really is, but it was fun.

Going To Pick Grapes

News flash!!! It's harvest time in the German wine country. Our neighbor's parents own a vineyard and just found out they don't have enough help tomorrow to pick the grapes. Trixi and I have volunteered to help.... It's old hat to Trixi who has done it many times before since she was born and raised in the wine country. But it is entirely new to me.. So, anticipate a tired dumb American to do the best he can and report tomorrow night..... Hopefully I'll have time for a photo or two for the blog. Isn't life just such an adventure?

Mushroom City

We went hiking in the woods here just outside of Heilbronn after a long day. The hike was wonderful. It was like walking through an enchanted forest. Then, there it was.... Good Grief!! It was mushroom city. Here is the photo but it was even more amazing in person. I have never seen anything like it. I guess it's probably magic...

Harvest Time

Today we took a two-hour hike through a local vineyard. It is grape harvest time in Germany and everywhere you look these big trailer full of beautiful grapes are headed for the wineries. The harvest is largely done by hand, and these tiny narrow tractors haul the hand-picked grapes to the waiting trailers. Pretty slick! Can't wait for the wine.

Nose To Nose

OK.... This image is a little out of order since it was taken several days ago by our friend Alex Benz who helped us out and showed us around in Austria. This is me, nose to nose with a cow. (The cow is on the right). If you look below a few photos (sept. 22) you'll see the view of the cow I got. Each year in the fall the Austrians bring their cows down from the high country for the winter. We were there to film it. Alex snapped this picture from another safer angle. Thanks Alex....

Hike To A High Mountain Ranch

We hiked to a place called the PinnisAlm. It is a very old farm high up in the Alps. It is still an operating farm but also serves guests at its restaurant. Above are two photos we took during the hike. Obviously fall has arrived as you can see in the one photo. In the other photo I can only say "Jule Andrews, where are you?"


The remaining photo is the small outdoor restaurant where we had lunch before we hiked back down.

Music On Top Of The World

We enjoyed a wonderfu lunch and some real Austrian music on top of the world. This is the top of the "Schlick 2000". We wimped out a bit here and just took the lift. We were pretty sore after all the hiking so this was a "down" day. Pretty high for "down" huh?

SennJoch Hutte

Our very good friend Alex Benz came to Austria for a couple of days to show us around. He lives in Germany and is Trixi's neighbor. This is a photo of the SennJochHuette (try to pronounce THAT one) where we hiked to. It was a long hike down but we were super-powered by the fuel at this great mountain restaurant. You want to eat here??? You hike!!

The Cows Come Home

During the fall of each year the Austrians have a festival where they bring their cows down from the high alpine meadows in preparation for the winter. The cows are dressed up, the Austrians are dressed up and it is quite a show. We were there to watch it, photograph it, video-tape it and really enjoy it. A full video, slide show and travel-book will follow when we have time to put them together. The above photo demonstrates what happens when you kneel down and get too close to a curious cow. Wait until you see the movie!!

Elferhutte Hike

Well my dear friends I just have no words to describe the Alps to you. Our hike to the Elferhutte (pictured above) is typical of the incredible beauty all around us. It only took us a couple of hours to hike there and the view was worth it. Once there we had an Austrian lunch (see our travel book link below) and then set out back down the mountain. What a day. Thanks for joining us...
Click For Our Travel Book Hike To The Elferhutte!

Stubai Valley

We spent most of the day hiking in the Alps. We came home sore and tired and with smiles that could not even be surgically removed. The beauty and majesty are beyond description. This is a photo we took of the Stubai Valley where we are staying. The view is from a hut we hiked to. Just incredible!

Austrian Alps

We just finished up our second full day here in the Alps. Austria is completely awesome. We are surrounded by just incredible beauty. It has been a little rainy and cloudy but today it cleared for a while and we went on a short hike. Here are a couple of photos we took just a stone’s throw from where we are staying..... Just breath-taking!

Austria

Click Here For Road Trip To Austria Book


We made it to Austria and it is awesome. There are more photos to come... Check our travel tour book link above.

Austria Trip

We are trying to get out of here for a little R&R. A friend of ours has made arrangements for us to stay at a little farm in Austria for a couple of days. It is only a few hours drive from here but knowing us and our cameras it will be considerably longer than that. After all, it is the journey that counts, not the destination. Anyway, it is in a little town called Telfas and is in the Stubaital area of the alps. Below is a photo of the area. It is just south of Innsbruck. We are planning on leaving tomorrow (Monday).

Rhine River Cruise

Not really much going on today in the way of new photography so I put together this movie of our last trip here. It is a rhine river cruise. I think you'll like it.... I sure did! Turn up the sound, the music is really nice.

LIttle Germany Movie (Turn Up Sound)

We created this little movie just to say hello to friends back in the United States. It's only about a minute long so don't worry about having to watch a family movie that will put you to sleep. Turn up the sound it has music. Then drop me a note and let me know how YOU are doing!

By the way, it's harvest time here in Germany. Your first clue might be the photo below. This cute couple along side the highway are made entirely out of hugh rolls of hay... pretty nifty! They are also about 30 ft. high.

German House

We saw this wonderful German house on a drive yesterday. It is just a typical home, nothing unusual for here but how amazing is that? We spent today doing yard work, sanding and painting and since there was no chance of anything that was worth photographing I decided on these nice images from yesterday. Who wants to see sanding, painting and yard-work anyway?

Breakfast

Yes, that's right "Breakfast". We went to breakfast today at a great old "coffee house". As you might be able to tell, ALL things in Europe just have a touch more class than in the United States. If you don't believe it, take a look at the above breakfast photos and then visualize Denny's. I rest my case.

German Saturday Night

Link To Latest Train Slide Show...(Turn On Sound)



OK dear friends. This is how a real German Saturday night begins. I don't really remember how it ends but everyone tells me I had a REALLY good time. I woke up with a lampshade next to my bed and it curiously fit my head perfectly. I don't want to know.

Wilhelma--The Zoo In Stuttgart

The zoo in Stuttgart is marvelous. Click the photo above for the full slide-show with music. Enjoy!

Of Castles & Haystacks

As you drive around here you feel mystical. The countryside is dotted with farms, haystacks, castles, vineyards. No wonder people love to live here. It really is like a little bit of magic!

Rain--Uggg

For all of our friends currently basking in the Southern California sunshine. I thought I would add some moisture to your day. I am here to tell you this is a beautiful, friendly, wonderful country here in Germany, but damn is it wet!! I think I could use some sunshine. Good Grief. Anyway, enjoy this little wet driive photo in Heilbronn Germany.

Railroad Museum

Click On The Train To View Our Museum Book (turn up sound)




Today we explored the railroad museum that is just a few blocks away, walking distance. It contains at least 25 fully restored steam driven locomotives and many more in various stages of being reconditioned. It was like stepping into a time machine and, poof, there you were in a world of trains from yester-year. The old baggage here just makes you want to step aboard the orient express and head off for adventure.

Click On The Train (above) To View Our Museum Book (turn up sound)......Bret

NEW!! Link To Latest Train Slide Show...(Turn On Sound)

Ravensburg Castle

We took a short drive today to a castle called Ravensburg. It was built in the year 950.... It was beautiful beyond compare. For a better look, click the photo above and make sure your sound is turned up. Join us for a quick look at the castle from the vineyards beneath it.

All Smiles

Hey, we went to the Stuttgart Zoo today (Wilhema). We were all smiles, as noted below.

On And Off

So, we were out driving around and we were very near a field where a farmer was putting bails of hay on his wagon to take them away. Below is a photo of how putting it on the wagon should be done.


Moments later we got a photo of the same wagon demonstrating how NOT to take them off.