A Weekend in Alsace – Part 1

My very last Vacation, before I retire, I spent with my Daughter and her Family. Besides staying with them in Frankfurt, we spent the Weekend in charming Alsace, France.
 
The Car was fully packed
 
Alsace is widely know for it’s food and Wine
 
We stayed in the small village of Saint Hippolyte, at Logis Hotel le Parc. We all were very satisfied with our stay.
 
And the food: Excellent. Here Pigeon stuffed with Foie Gras.
 
Very close to the hotel is a playground. Here Leander with local girl:-)

We bought Wine here

Some typical Alsace style houses in Saint Hippolyte
 
Wineyards everywhere
 
A rest is good from time to time. From here it is several footpaths up to the Hills and Chateau Haute-Koenigsbourg and along the Wineyards.
 
Leander is very interested in Water;-)
 
You can’t go to France without having a Crème brûlée. This one was brilliant.
 
Well, this was some glimpse from St Hippolyte.

More from Alsace to come…..

Papa and Anna will travel across the Pond

Hi dear Family and Friends,
we are just about to travel again. Crazy Vikings – they did travel as well – even to North America. So will we for the 2nd time this year.
 
Meeting Friends in Lago Vista, TX.
 
Our Cats are well taken care of this evening and our Car as well.
Here  you see Felicia’s kittens

Here are Rosa and Felicia – sisters born Oct 31 in 2002.
Still one more Day of hard Work before leaving Saturday morning.
We need to pack and check Tickets and Passports and Visa and all we need for an Intercontinental flight.

My Skywatch is here

More to come so stay tuned….

Texas Hill Country -leaving

Hi, this is the last post from our visit to Texas Hill Country and wonderful Irene and Stephen in Lago Vista
( In fact – I post it backwards, so you will see the last report first).
 
We will miss our friends in Lago Vista. We learned a lot.
It was with a great sentiment we left.
Here Anna had to read a book in the Sunshine.
It was too hot for Nina (The Dog) to stay in the Sunshine.
 
Beautiful Buddy was in his House when we had to say Farwell.
Have a good training Buddy. We’ll meet again.
You are a good boy.
We miss you.
 
S and I drived us to the Airport and helped us with all the baggage.
We came down with allmost empty suitcases and went home with new clothes.
 
Ready for Take-off from Austin Airport
 
Looking down at Austin – with the reflextion from the Aircraft Window.
 
Here is wonderful Lake Travis as seen from Air.
We went on Boat down at the Lake.
More to come…

A Day in Saint Tropez and around – Southern France – even Plage Tahiti

 
Saint Tropez used to be a small, sleepy fishing village in the southern part of Provence in France. Until it was discovered by famous movie stars that would hide away from fans and the more mondene Cannes and Nice and the small neighbouring towns around the French Riviera.
 
I did visit St. Tropez first time in 1966. Still a small village at that time, but we remarked the coming of larger yachts anchering in the secluded harbour. And the fact: We could buy “used” jeans, they looked like that, for a price 4-fold of new ones. We found that stupid – or decadent.
 
During Summer Season, do not go to Saint Tropez by Car, unless you like to spear most of the day in your car. Rent a Bike or go by a boat. Or simply walk. The last 1 hour. It takes longer by Car anyway.
 
This year we went there in October. On a Tuesday. Still trafic jams and lot’s of tourists. This Boat is from Oslo, Norway.


Here are some photos more. Sculptures made by Fernando Botero, from Colombia.
All over the village we found them.

 
Anna has her own Villa in St. Tropez

View from the Molo
.
We crossed the Peninsula and went south to Tahiti Beach.

Tahiti Beach was once famous for Topless Women. Which for years has been no sensation in France.

 
A French Lunch is what wee needed.  At the Beach front. Local salade. Typical Provence.

 
We returned after swimming and Lunch and passed a sculputer park in the Woods.
 
On our way back to the other side of the southern peninsula of Provence – takes around 90 minutes if the trafic allows -  we passed a Wineyard. My Mother has the same name...
 
We stopped and ...

... bought some Wine – which is normal here. If you enlarge by clicking on the Photo, you will see a description of tastes on the Glasses. Interesting what you can have of a variety of tastes by mixing from these 3 diffent bottles.
 
We brought the Wine back to Claudie and Pierre of course. And as you see, when in France we not only eat, we share our moments, discuss and talk and enjoy the marvellous food and wine – and life. Here is Cheeze and Wine. And Pierre and Claudie.
 
As usual, we had a very good meal and wonderful time this evening as well, as we did all the week we were so lucky to stay and beeing guests chez Claudie et Pierre. Just look at the reflections from the Crystal Glasses. Shining

… More to come from France

Here is Claudie’s blog

Where is this? Answer and you can Win 3 Days free Transportation and admittance to Museums etc

This view is known by only those who have been there.

The Woman traveler Teachers from Asia, were there on Saturday, Feb 27 - 2010. They loved Anna's dress. Bought in Hong Kong. So, where are we now?

May we see You in August?

PhotoHunt -Feb 7 - 2009 - Bridge(s)

Hello all PH friends, I did avoid playing Bridge this weekend. My stock of Cards remains in the Summerhouse. LOL.
In fact, I spent my time to find some Bridges from here and there in my different files on my computer storages (yes. I have several) . Alle the photos in this post are taken by me or Anna.

(Yeah, we have crossed this famous bridge - photo taken by Anna)

Bridge for me means building/creating connection. From end to end.
I ended up with physical connections. Some very old.
Please take your time, even this is a Photo Hunt. You can learn something that most of your friends and neighbours did not know. By clicking on the Links given. You have the whole Weekend. To enjoy. Your comment will be of less value than your curiousty to learn more.

The first one is very old, build by the Romans. Le Pont du Gard. In Southern France. Orginally it was a Water Bridge, but also for people and horses to cross over the River Gard. Yeah. The Water canal is on the top. Suplying stabel fresh water to the crops year around.
Anna is there. How come?

And here too, Anna.
This is the Bridge to the Bath in one of the most renowned fiords in the World: Geiranger Fiord. During the very short Summer season, more than a hundred Cruise ships do visit each year.

This Stone Bridge is not that far away from the Photo above. With other words, it's from Norway. All the Stones are locally picked and shaped. Several hundred years ago.
I'm amazed by the effort and planning and will to build a Bridge like this, you can see the local stones at the Riverside. They, who build the Bridge had to, and did find the right stones. Impressing.

Can you see Anna? Click to see the spectacular Mountains in the background. There is a peak, that are next to unclimbable.

From Mountains in Norway to New Holland, Dutch Village, in Michigan, USA. Here you see a fishing enthusiast fishing from a tiny Bridge.

Well, going into the Nature is not allways easy for People who are dependent on Wheel Chairs. This is from the Music and Instrument Museum at Ringve in Norway. A Bridge to the Museum.
OMG. It seems like Anna has been there as well. Can you please join my next Bridge, which is on the intellectual side:
And interview with Mrs Lifecruiser .
Then Mrs lifecruisers's blog about the interview .
We have created bridges across borders.

More Bridges here at Photo Hunters.