Michael had a four-day weekend, so we decided to set off on our first excursion. We had our sights set on somewhere big-- London perhaps, or Paris? ... but soon realized that these types of trips typically have to be planned in advance, unless you want to pay four times the amount. Lesson learned.
We decided to explore the southern part of our country, the famed "Black Forest," the inspiration behind the Brothers Grimm, cuckoo clocks, and a beloved dessert of cherry chocolatey goodness. Only a quick train ride away, we found ourselves amongst centuries-old buildings and quaint, quintessential southern German culture.
Our first stop was in Freiburg, a 'college town' known for its grand cathedral and canals throughout the city which once brought fresh water to the townspeople.
Reminiscent of Venice?
It was a sleepy, relaxing town... the only sunny day of the weekend yet to come. We walked around, ate typical food (sausages, spaetzle, which is like a cheesy fried noodle dish, all my favorite things, yes.) And we found the neatest bar which made phenomenal drinks, all on an illuminated ice bar (Hemingways.)
Our second day brought us to Triberg, renowned for inventing the cuckoo clock and for hosting Germany's 'biggest' waterfall.
Even sleepier than Freiburg; might have made a better stopover than a place to spend an evening. While absolutely beautiful, we felt like we were in a retirement community... it was empty. Granted, it was cold and rainy and a place made for biergartens and the like. It was beautiful, anyways, and the hotel we stayed at was cute, in a old-beach-hotel-run-by-cute-elderly-people kind of way. Even the Black Forest cake we consumed was done so in a quaint cafe setting run by cute old grandmas, with fake flowers and china and other old people filling the tables. I felt like I was in Melbourne, eating a slice of French Silk pie at "That Little Restaurant."
The cuckoo clocks were incredible; I can't believe I didn't take any more pictures! Hand carved wood, different animations (my favorites were the ones that had beer wenches coming out to serve the gentlemen in leiderhosen, pounding their empty glasses on the tables...)
The Black Forest itself is beautiful-- I want to come back to hike, or to see it covered in snow!
The squirrels are strange, with long pointy ears (and they're red!) I have the best picture, but apparently it didn't upload and I'm too lazy to do it right now. Will add later.
My morning's coffee view
The trip was beautiful, relaxing, albeit slightly wet. We eventually tired of walking through the rain, so our trip was cut a day short in favor of sleeping in our own beds.
The right choice it was, for Sunday was sunny and full of festivals!
But that's another post for later.
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