Dresden Sept 11, 2010

This was my second trip to Dresden on a beautiful fall day.  We came out into a platz with a huge fall market going on and had a good time shopping around before viewing the rest of the city.

 Brats & Bier

Deutschland Staples

 Apfel Krappfla

My new favorite dessert:

Fried apple slices and topped with

cinnamon sugar and vanilla eis!

 Polish Pottery Stand

 Apfel Saft (Juice) Press

 I like this as much as I do cider!

Ampelmännchen:

 Little Traffic Light Man

These pedestrian crossing street lights are left over

from the days of former East Germany

 Part of the original wall of the Frauenkirche

 Dresdener Frauenkirche:

Church of our Lady

It was basically leveled
during the firebombing of Dresden.

The black stones are original and they can be seen throughout the building.

 Fürstenzug 

Procession of the Princes of Saxony

The Next 3 pictures are of Zwinger Palace:

Rampart Pavillion

built for Augutus' (16th/17th century)

fruit trees & parties

 Glockenspiel pavillon

 Crown Gate

 Theater Platz

 Hofkirche

Church of the Royal Household

Kurbisfest, October 3

Kurbisfest is held every year in Altendorf,  a cute little Bavarian town about 15 miles from Bamberg.  Kurbis means pumpkin.  My friends & I rode our bikes there and had a good time walking around.  We tried pumpkin brats, pumpkin Secco (champagne), zwiebelkuchen (an onion tart) and then rode back.  It was a beautiful day and a lot of fun!

Painted on this pumpkin it says:

Herzlich Willkommen

(A heart-felt Welcome)

Zum Kurbisfest

(to Pumpkin Fest)

 Every town & village in Bavaria has a church in the center,

along with a fountain,

and then the houses are clustered around them.

There will also be a crucifix statue, Mary, 

and several on the sides of buildings as well.

In addition every town has a Herzlich Willkommen sign

welcoming you to their town 

and an Auf Wiedersehen sign

saying good-bye as you leave.

 Many people just opened up their garages 

and put some tables inside for the fest.

 Noah's Ark

The Juror that Wasn't

So, I've been waiting for like Forever to be a juror.  I would like to serve as a juror on a BIG murder trial......
I've never been picked.  At least, not until now.  Now, that is, that I am in Germany and am unable to do so.  Ah, well, that's another thing to add to the list I have to give up to live here!
I guess Deutschland's worth it though :o)

I See the Moon

And 

The moon sees me

God bless the moon

And

God Bless me

Sunday Afternoon at the Schloss Seehof

This schloss was built as a summer residence for the Prince Bishops of Bamberg.  We wandered around, had lunch at the bier garten and happened to hit the right timing for the fountain as well!

Hiking at Burg Rabenstein

So, I took a hiking trip back in the beginning of March and it really was fun.  A little delayed on posting the pics, but still fun to see.  It looks colder than it was.  Winter is pretty mild here.
This particular region is in Franconia and is known for it's mountains, cliffs and caves.  Burg Rabenstein is this castle.
One of the delights of living here is that there castles are everywhere in Germany.  You are constantly discovering a new one as you drive along.

Bamberg Field Trip

On a military base students are leaving and entering into the room all year long.  This picture is minus a few boys.  I started with 25 students this year, lost 8 and gained 5 at different times throughout the year.

Morgan's Wonderland

I cry each time I watch it.....

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/morgans-wonderland-theme-park-special/story?id=10321763

http://www.morganswonderland.com/

Love at First Sight!

One of these cars is not like the others...

Saw this on my way to my parking spot yesterday!

Snow Day

Sometime back in middle Janurary, we had this beautiful snowy day and a few of us decided to walk up to Altenburg Castle which sits on the highest hill overlooking Bamberg.  Here are some fun views of my new home away from home!

On the way up

My backyard/ courtyard area

The view from my front window