Wedding in Germany

During the last weekend in May, we were in the Black Forest area in Southwest Germany for my good friend Bettina's wedding! It was a UK Bank Holiday Monday, so we extended it for 4-day weekend, and it was fantastic. The weather was great - mostly sunny, warm, but never too hot. It was a lush, green area, reminding us of both Oregon and Northern Minnesota mixed into one (so Brian was in heaven). I've always said, Germans are so nice and friendly and helpful. And frankly, in some ways, I think Americans have more in common with the Germans than the Brits.

We flew into Stuttgart, and took an hour taxi ride winding through the Black Forest to the spa town, Bad Wildbad. This is where the wedding was, and where Bettina's husband Stefan's family is from. I think the population is around 10,000, so not huge, but a nice size for such a gorgeous little town tucked in the forest, along a small river/creek, in between these two huge tree-covered hills. It's so picturesque and stunning, and exactly as you might imagine it to look.

As you also probably are aware, the Black Forest area is known for its proper, Black Forest Cake (Black Forest Gateau as the Brits call it) and sorry I can't write/speak in German for the proper translation. Also Black Forest Ham - yum. And nice red berries mashed with sugar to make jam and conserve (which I bought a jar of sour cherry conserve, and literally eat it just by the spoonful - super yum)! And I was on a mission to buy a huge authentic, hand carved Cookoo Clock, but got the kebash on that one!

Back to the trip, we arrived late at night on Thursday, so crashed at our hotel, called the Hotel Sonnenhof. It was run by this great, younger couple, and of course knew about the wedding, as the whole town did. We didn't stay at the same hotel as the wedding group, mainly because it was bit too posh and spendy for us, but we were just down the street. We loved our hotel anyway, since it was more like really nice bed and breakfast with a local feel.

Friday a.m. we got up, and had yummy typical German breakfast (bread, cheese, meat slices, toast, granola, yogurt, yummy fruit mash, boiled eggs and proper coffee, although not very proper British tea). The thing we noticed right away as we entered the breakfast room (have to admit, always a bit intimidating at first when you realize neither of you speak a lick of the language) but that everyone says good morning (Gut Morgan)to one another, even if you're all strangers. They are so friendly!


Then off the two of us went for a day trip to Heidelberg, supposedly the most beautiful, typical German town. I had actually been there before in high school during a band trip, but really didn't remember anything about it. Of course, it was great, with the huge Schloss (castle) tucked up to the right in the hills overlooking the old city center. We took a great walk along the "Philosopher's Walk" on the hill across from the castle, for some great pics. And of course we stumble across Heidelberg University's Physics department on the Philosopher's Walk! We then found ourselves a table at the outdoor cafe in the market center, and plunked ourselves down for a good couple of hours, enjoying the sun and German brew! It was a happy, happy place. :)