Germany 6-11 February 2008

Oh Germany, oh bliss. I stayed with the incredible Jen, Andy, and Davin during my visit to Baden-Wurrtenburg, Germany. I was lucky enough to meet Jen in 2005, as we taught English together in Taiwan. I have enjoyed our friendship ever since. Her husband works at the University of Stuttgart, which is why they live in Germany! They are so wonderful and were so good to me! We enjoyed superb weather as we travelled, especially as it was February! Mild and sunny. These pictures are in Calw, relatively near Stuttgart. It was the home of Herman Hesse. He described it as "the most beautiful place he knew" (or something like that).

Tubingen

This is Tubingen, an ancient university city tucked in the mountains about 30 miles from Stuttgart--the thoroughly German equivalent of Oxford (in my mind). It was incredible! I fell in love with the city. The University of Tubingen began in the 13th or 14th century in a fortress completed in the 12th century. This fortress is featured in the 2nd photo. (Sorry...my camera is rubbish at night shots!) 3rd shot: I have a thing with graffitti...I love it. I find it fascinating. Man has always felt the need to scratch his name in a place, to make a statement, to prove and preserve his existance. I have found graffiti from the 1700s etched in Cathedral walls and other such places. I especially find it fascinating when it is in other languages. See if you can decipher some of the graffitti featured on this very cool door on the University of Tubingen campus! The bottom picture is the Rathaus, I believe, the main government building (??). Both Calw and Tubingen possessed that wonderful old worldy feeling of comfort and crookedness.

Featuring the Delicious Davin

The top picture is of me, Jen, and Andy in a cool tunnel on the University of Tubingen campus. Little Davin was asleep for much of our trip (bless him, he is such a good traveller!), but these are awake pictures of Davin! The 2nd and 3rd pictures are of us playing in the train station, awaiting our train back to Stuttgart. The last features Davin in his stroller (affectionately termed "the cadillac" because of its size and comfort level!)Isn't Davin such a handsome little bloke?

More to Come!

More coverage of my trip to Europe will come shortly... :)