PapaMarshall

Day 3 – 7/3/2019 – Black Forest & Colmar

Up at the crack of dawn (not really, but we’re on vacation so 7:15 seems like it.)

Greeted this morning by swans

After a quick breakfast we got ready and got on the bus for a scenic trip into the Black Forest.

Oldest building in the Black Forest still in use
Old barn, new solar panels – Just sayin’

90 minutes later we arrived in a small “settlement” (read “tourist trap”) where we had options. We started by participating in the guide-led hike into the forest (lions and tigers and bears – Oh My!).

Looks like an ancient Roman aquaduct. Actually it’s a train trestle and it dates to post WW II – Because the Germans blew it up so the Allies couldn’t use the train tracks.
Old multi-blade log saw
Babbling Brook

Eventually the guide turned us loose. Cheryl and Madeline returned to the settlement to see the demonstration of making Schwartzwalder Kirsch Tort while Bill and I continued up the trail to a waterfall that we were assured would be worth the effort. Not that I’m whining but I’ve seen better. recently.

Returning to the settlement Bill chose to rest while I went in search of the womenfolk. The guy making the cake was a crack-up. I’ll let Cheryl comment further.

They also had ccokoo clocks for sale
And Scary marionettes
And beer steins
And guides dressed in traditional clothing

Then it was time to reboard the bus and head back to the boat for…THE SAFETY DRILL!

Then it was time for lunch.

Following lunch we rested for a bit before Cheryl Madeline and I left Bill to catch up on some sleep and…got back on the bus – this time to head to the French town of Colmar Arriving in the town our busses parked next to 27 other busses and we split up further. Cheryl and Madeline boarded a “tour train” while I joined a group for a walking tour of the medieval town center. I don’t have a “fun fact” for today (unless you are into art history or the work of the artist Hansi).

You may recognize Hansi’s work from children’s book illustrations. He also did store signs – with significant (anti-German) political messages included.
Gondola on the canal
Stork nest on the cathedral
Smallest house in Colmar (the rust-orange brick one. They use a borrowed stairway to reach the street.
Bartholdi sculpture in the courtyard of his house. (He’s the guy who did the Statue of Liberty.)
Oldest house in Colmar. Note the Roman arches on the ground floor, the Gothic arches on the second floor, the Late Gothis arch on the third floor and the half-timbered fourth floor. Looks like they couldn’t make up their minds.
Blue-eared horses

We finished our respective tours in time to enjoy a refreshing adult beverage before heading back to the bus for the return trip to Germany and the boat.

Not wanting to  end the adventure we dropped by the “cookie station” to snag fresh made ginger snaps and the bar to snag Gin and Tonics and headed up to the sun deck to enjoy a bit of afternoon cool before…

Putting green separated from the shuffleboard court by the herb garden.

Then it was back to the lounge for the daily preview of tomorrow’s activities and excursions.  Tomorrow will be somewhat less strenuous than today.

For dinner tonight our new friends from Arizona joined us again and we had a great time – lingering until they kicked us out.

Then it was off to bed (Cheryl, Bill, Madeline) and the lounge (me) to write this up.

Tomorrow we’re back to France (Strasbourg) and another “early” morning.

Till then, Nite all.
R