Hotel und Restaurant Ochsen Villingen-Schwenningen

... and friendship)
- For all other not mentioned friends and travelers who had helped or supported me.



A VERY SPECIAL THANK TO:

All those many unknown people in this world, who had showed me one important thing: If you need help, help will be given you anywhere, anytime, anyhow - regardless of politics, language, skincolour and religion.

Thanks all you guys out there!!!

Primer contacto con Alemania. Ciudad universitaria por exelencia, donde la bicicleta tiene la prioridad absoluta, el centro es enteramente peatonal. Una de las ciudades mas animadas del viaje, su ambiente nos recargó las pilas después de muchos dias de viaje.
Su catedral es especialmente destacable, y tiene una torre muy recomendable, aunque se encuentra actualmente en obras. Por la mañana estuvimos en un mercado artesanal muy, muy completo.

... would wait at a garage for us just the other side of Hausach.

The bodge was bodged in about an hour, and we started off again, but, just as we joined the main road, back on the roadbook, the bodge came unbodged. We stopped just off the road, to find that the rope had shredded with the friction, and Gaz & Derek went about re-bodging it. This time, they decided to use a jubilee clip ...

We caught the wrong train and wound up in Gengenbach. While we were waiting for a train back we met a lady who told us the town had a beautiful old-town section. So we went discovering again. After a good look around we stopped at a pub while we were waiting for the next train and got talking to the owner. Turns out he'd been to Australia on holiday, so we had a good time talking to him until it was time to go.

Day trip from Villingen. Wolfach has a factory cum tourist attraction where they blow the glass manually. It was good to watch them making vases etc. in the traditional way. The highlight for me was dobbing Roz in to get up on the stage and blow her own vase. She did a good job, and we bought the vase and brought it home. A very special souvenir.

Home of the world famous Hubert Herr clock factory. Met Reinhard Herr, Hubert's great grandson, who still owns and runs the place. The clocks are still handmade and handcarved in the traditional designs. They even make their own clock movements. Spent an hour or so talking to the gentleman, and he explained ...

Just a day trip to see this old city. Lots of brightly painted buildings with ornate oriel windows. Most of the windows were carved with scenes or fancy designs, sometimes painted, sometimes both. Lots of fountains and statues. Found a chocolate shop and pigged out.

Stayed here a couple of nights. Just a really pretty place in the heart of the Black Forest. Got my first look at a woodcarvers shop and was blown away by the quality of the work. The fine detail has to be seen in person to be truly appreciated. Snow everywhere ...

... with costumes and masks and bands. Damn near froze standing still for that long, but I had a good vantage point for the pictures so I wasn't going to move for fear of losing my spot. After the parade we got stuck into the gluhwein and some hot food then went back to the hostel for a hot shower, then out for dinner. We went to a local brewery that had a restaurant incorporated and had such a good time that we made it a regular while we were there.

... the time being, when I say "we", I'm referring to the group of five Americans (including myself) doing this exchange program in this area. I believe there are two other girls in the Heidenheim area, but I haven't seen them on this side of the Atlantic yet. Anyway, on Wednesday, we had gone to what seems to be the only internet cafe in town, and then we met up with the program coordinator on this side of things, and ...