Days in Freiburg before Vienna, Next Stop

Monday and Christoph picked us up at 13:30 which is a bit late but unavoidable due to a problem with the train system, late because most restaurants close at 14:00. The real problem is that it was Monday though and many close after being open for the weekend. So we went to Breisach am Rheine instead and had a nice lunch sitting along the river. Large cruise boats and scows went by on their way into France.

Then we drove into Neuf Breisach, France which is an armoury town, built to protect France from Germany in the war(s). Once again I am gobsmacked that we are close enough to drive into another country, different language and ways of doing things. This is the Alsace region and they speak Alsacian and French, frequently switching between in one sentence. Had coffee at a small restaurant who’s proprietor greeted Christoph warmly, he has taken his sons there on occasion and she has always been good to them. Back to Breisach to pick up some things from Christoph’s apartment and while waiting I found the same store I buy my T-shirts from so bought two more in different colours. There were fire trucks and police on the main street, apparently a fire in a building next to Christoph’s. A bit worrisome for him until he found out it was next door, not his place. He’s a volunteer fire person as well but missed this call, being with us.

While waiting I overheard an English couple speaking so I asked where they were from, Blackpool. They are on a driving tour around Germany for a few weeks. They, like us, like to stay in self-catering accommodations and are enjoying their current spot in Freiburg, should have asked them where!

Stayed in the community, bought supper and cooked it. Meat on the grill and broccoflower, it’s a mix between broccoli and cauliflower looking a light green and leaves like cauliflower. It’s pretty too with the colour and interesting nodes. I’d never had it before and found I really like it. We were looking for green asparagus but when the season’s over, it is! None to be found in four locations that sell veggies in this berg.

Having drinks at a bakery, just to be outside on a lovely day and next to the Optometrist shop, he’s outside for a smoke and comes over to talk. We’ve bought quite a bit from him because he’s local, caring and generally just a nice fellow, plus, he speaks English. It was nice of him to come over and chat with us, made us feel part of the neighbourhood.

We walked, rolled, back through the green park in the middle of the neighbourhood and enjoyed looking at the different plants we don’t see in Canada. In Canada I would pick a bit of something to find out what it was by smelling but think it’s dangerous to do so here, or elsewhere in Europe, not knowing if the plant is poisonous or not. I’d rather not get a case of stinging nettle or something like that to satisfy my curiosity.

A discount store has closed here, second one to go, we have one left. Here’s hoping something interesting goes into that spot. As I’ve said before, in a small community I don’t understand why there are multiples of small businesses, it doesn’t make sense to me, but there you have it. I should have asked the Optomitrist what was going on, he would probably have known.

Day with Christoph - lunch out at Zum Ochsen (Oxen), Schallstadt, where our partners stay when they are here and not in the flat. Bruce ordered carpaccio and it came not looking like any he’d ordered before, tasted like sawdust. Wrong type, they make one out of dumplings and that was served. It’s mushroom season now so they featured.

Went into St. Gallus Church in Ebringen to view it’s Baroch(ness), again I am amazed at the detail of these village churches and the money that has gone in to restore them.

Beautiful Statue in the church

Christoph said German churches in this area have mostly been restored but he said they will decline in twenty years because of generational changes. He also said churches in France are not as well kept and needing refurbishment but unlikely to get.

Then we drove up to the Markgraefler vine farms, with 360 degree views of the countryside. Much like the Kaiserstuhl only a different area.

Official View Point

We met a woman named Adelheid as she was coming out of the physio place in our building when Bruce was. She has ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease and has the same type of wheel chair Bruce does. We went for coffee and got to know one another a bit. They live here in Rieselfeld and own a fav shop we’ve been to a number of times on Konvikstrasse downtown Freiburg. http://5810966.swh.strato-hosting.eu/hp/index.php/das-team.html  Interesting lady who studied Fine Arts in Florence early in her life. She paints now with acrylics because they dry fast and has offered to take us to her art shop because you need to be an artist to shop there, or registered I imagine. Lovely woman and nice to have another connection here.

Back into the Kaiserstuhl and we drove all around it to Emmendingen for lunch. Coming back Christoph pointed out a large chair sitting on the top. We could see it well from a distance so must be very large! Of course, as said before Kaiserstuhl means king's chair.

We're packing up to head to Vienna or Wien as it's called here. We'll be there for July and August while our partners use the flat, will stay in touch.

Cheers, Bx2 & Lexi Cat