Mercure Freiburg Panorama 4m Freiburg im Breisgau

... but we decided we had done enough walking for the present so chose not to continue the 3km to the top of the hill. We took another path down the hill, through the edge of the forest and returned to the shops next to Helen's college, from where we caught a tram into town.<br><br>We got off at Johanneskirche to look at the church then walk into the centre of town. We went under one of the two old gates that marked the entry to the old city and looked for somehwere ...

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 ...

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 ...

This was what I really came to Europe for. Freiburg was just the beginning of an awesome adventure for me. The mountains and the forest and the cake. We caught a cable car up to the top of the mountain and wandered in the snow. Got some great photos. We made Freiburg our base and toured a fair bit around the region. Spent a night here and there and came back to Freiburg for the festival. Took about two hundred photos in two hours one day; they had a ...

... Cape Town, South Africa and Mauritius. Yes, I know, awesome chances as well but I am still so sad and bitter. However, I have already decided that when I one day have the money, I am going on a trip to Italy, Greece, Turkey and Egypt myself now! One day... :( Anyway, on to finals and then home! It has snowed today again. Makes getting out in the snow to have lunch with my German class not look fun. Oh well. It is only an hour.

... the plentiful tea shops, the two giant gates, the little sidewalk canal/gutter things, and the university were all great. It also happened to be something along the lines of Partner City Day, because near the Rathaus (city hall) were flags and information about all of Freiburg's sister cities. A jazz duo (sax and bass guitar) were making music, and they mentioned (in German) that they were from Madison, Wisconsin, and they were pleased to be playing in their sister ...

... very nice to have a week with no new major events. I finally feel like I'm getting to know the city and my way around. It's nice to feel like I actually live here and I'm not just visiting. I never knew that going abroad would be such good training for being a housewife. Strangely enough, of the people who I have met outside of IES, most of them have been americans. A lot of the people from academic year freiburg go to a lot of ...

We traveled by train to the Black Forest region of Germany to a town called Freiburg. It's cute little town and we're using it as a base place to take day trips... yesterday (in the pouring rain mind you so I'm back to wearing that sweater and scarf) we went to Heidelberg and visited its famous castle. This afternoon we're headed to one of my favorite towns in eastern France called Strasbourg. Monica and I had ...