29.07.2010
Soooo, we are now in present Germany time and into our first free weekend!! The last little bit in Poland was spent walking around the city visiting various churches that were erected between the 11th and 13th centuries. Each of the three churches we walked to were very quaint and nestled in between houses or businesses on the streets. Gothic style architecture was very prominent during this time and so these churches were constructed in this style. It’s hard to even describe how neat they were! The ornate frescos in each of them were just amazing and the stained glass! It’s amazing to think that these structures were made nearly a thousand years ago!
In the afternoon we were free to roam around the city. Most of us ended up back in the old city to buy last minute souvenirs, dinner, ice cream! Oh, and high on the list was breakfast for the next morning since we had to be up and on the bus by 3:30 am for our flight. That was not fun to get up that early, although I should be used to it by now…
The flights to Germany were probably the worst I’ve had, not in terms of landing but the pressure changes didn’t sit well this time for some reason. Maybe because the flights were too short to really adjust to the change, but either way my ear drums and my head definitely felt like they would surely explode! Even after we landed and were on the road to Altensteig, the pressure in my ears remained. Now, after a few days in the Black Forest, my ears are back to normal.
The Black Forest is just as amazing as I remember!! Much more hilly we where are than when I was in Deiβlingen, but absolutely wonderful. The first few days we were here, we got to lay low for a while, which was heavenly after being on the go for 10-12 hours in Poland. Sleep was a definite part of the routine those few days! The staff at Burg Hornberg gave us a very warm welcome and a short history of this area. They have been feeding us really well also! I almost forgot how wonderful the food is here too!
Our first real day here we received a lecture about the history of management in the Black Forest and Baden-Wuerttemburg’s practices in general. Common knowledge goes that Germany tends to be very utilitarian in many of their practices and kind of machine-like in terms of turning out. Forestry is definitely no exception. Management is practiced with utmost care to the outcome of good profits. In the states, we have this side of forestry as well, but most people tend to associate forests with preservation, especially when thinking of the west. It’s interesting how different our view can be. The trees here are HUGE!!! Some more than 200-300 years old! Natural regeneration of seedlings is also preferred over planting, very different from Poland, and even in the US.
After our lectures we walked down to the nearest village, about five miles away on foot. And when I say down, I mean up and down and in between a few narrow valleys before finally descending into Altensteig. Altensteig is a very quaint little village, actually fairly good sized, not too small or big. All the villages we’ve driven through are sort of isolated, but not at the same time, since roads are connecting them, but each of them are distinct in their own way. It’s neat.
The last few days were spent traipsing through and around the Black Forest at various locations, mostly nature centers and today at the Max Planck Institute of Ornithology along Lake Constance. It was awesome being back to Lake Constance! I only wish the weather was a little nicer. We have been either been drizzled or rained out the last few days. We woke up to raging thunderstorm this morning! I saw the lightning flash behind my eyelids and thought in my dream induced state that someone was taking a picture (not all that uncommon of late) :) The weather managed clear up just in time as we left though!
This is a random thought that I have to get out of my head: SLUGS!! I just have to say a word on slugs because I’ve never been faced with them as often as I have in the last week and a half. You may have seen the blue slug picture? Well, other than the blue slug, there have been 3-5 inch black, brown and orange slugs in between. Maybe I just don’t look hard enough when I’m home, but here I have to dodge them like earthworms on the road!
Well, now that it’s the first of the free weekends we have. I’m taking it easy hanging back at the castle. Oh yes, did I mention we are boarding in a castle? Well, it’s not really a castle. There is the tower that’s left, and then the main building, not quite as old, but still neat! The tower dates back to the 13th century. It has a neat view from the top, once you get there! Anyhow, yes, I’m staying at the castle this weekend to explore around the area and to save a little moola. For or next, longer weekend, a few gals and I are flying to Ireland!! I am super stoked for it and can’t wait! We are going to have an awesome time!
Looking forward to sleeping in tomorrow! Woot! Good night friends!
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