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Published: July 15th 2011
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Blog note 6/29-7/15:
Today we will be headed toward the Bodensee or Lake Constance, as it is commonly referred to. As we continue our adventures in Germany the weather has changed considerably, thanks to thunderstorms that welcomed us to Meersburg with torrents of water cascading down the street. Firemen and police were stopping traffic and clearing drains from the steep hillside roads. Walking through this quaint and steeply situated town, was cut short by recurrent rains, but the following day we were able to take full advantage of castle turrets and ramparts to observe the gorgeous green waters of the Lake.
July 1st sees us enjoying Biberach, with temperatures falling from 37-39C to 12.4C during the night. We utilized the motorscooter to explore the town and while photographing the Minster, we were treated to a wonderful organ concert. The stellplatz here is full of cars and motorhomes and a soccer game (football) has attracted a crowd. This is the City of the Sparrow, according to legend, and we have enjoyed the open air concerts adjacent to the Rothaus and Astronomical clock as well as the village market place in the Minster platz. It's also been fun to enjoy the
local shops and foods as we travel on toward Esslengen.
The buildings in the Esslengen's Old town or Burg are architecturally Germanic and tell their own interesting stories. The motor scooter was again essential for traveling around this very special place, located in the valley, next to the Nekar river. Our next focus is getting to Stuttgart, where Jan will travel to Paris to join her family for a ten-day trip to Brittany and Guy's grandson will join him for a trip thru
The 6th of July saw me dropping off Jan and picking up Jake at the airport in Stuttgart. Jan and I actually slept over in the parking lot which had the facilities to accept mh’s. Even to the point of having signage. How courteous.
Jan took a subway from the airport to the main station where she picked up a TVG to Paris, to be picked up by family. Jake actually arrived a bit early. After we left the airport we traveled to the Porsche factory in Zuffenhausen, Stuttgart. We were luck to get in on an English speaking tour which lasted for over 2 1/2 hrs. Very interesting it was. Heard about
their “on time” assembly line and went from the receiving of all parts to the final built cars. Over 500 are built each day completely to a customers order. After lunch, and a fading Jake, we took in the Porsche museum. From the earliest to the latest cars were shown in a very unique way.
Pix’s will be uploaded at some point. That night we stayed at a Stellplatz in Waiblingen and had the heavens open up just as we were getting parked.
On Thurs. the 7th. we traveled to Ludwigsburg to see the Residenzschloss and view the extensive gardens. The castle tour, which was in English, was interesting and was several hours long. We only got to see about 70 rooms of close to 200 rooms Founded in 1704 on the initiative of Eberhard Ludwig, Duke of Wurttemberg it is known as the Versailles of Swabia. That evening we stayed a Stellplatz in Heilbron .
Friday saw us traveling to Heidelberg. Not many Stellplatz in the area and so we took a site (paid) along the Nekar river about 8 km from the city. Have decided to stay here for 3 nights. Saturday we left mid morning
on the scooter and traveled into the Aldstat. Bit of a palaver in finding a place to park but finally did in a motorcycle dedicated place just under the bridge. The tram up to the castle was a relief. A very hot day. Took in the sights, had a lunch at the castle and then set off for the other side of the river as the bridge was going to be closed at five for the evenings fireworks. Got a bench with a good view of the bridge and castle and waited for darkness. It did not get dark enough for the fireworks until 10:30! We then had to find our way down the path to the bridge which was still closed. They finally opened it up and we had a cool ride back “home”.
Sunday and we are still here but with far fewer fellow campers and not very much traffic on the river. A day to get up late, do some laundry, down load photo’s, and write some emails.
Tomorrow we shall travel to see the gardens at Schwetzingen. Jake has evinced an interest in gardens.
Wednesday sees us traveling to Bavaria and to Fussen.
Home to the most visited castle in Germany, if not in Europe. This of course would be Schloss Neuschwanstein, the King Ludwig castle after which the Disney castle is copied from. A very rainy day prevented us from enjoying it.
Friday night we shall park at Stuttgart for Jakes flight back home on Saturday morning. I shall drop him off and drive to Strasbourg, France to pick up Jan.
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