Heidelberg

Made new travel arrangements. Oliver is coming home a few days later so I'll fly in at the same time more or less and then we can drive home the 5 hours together. Much better than me spending 10 hours in the car to pick him up, that's why I decided to fly somewhere on mileage with AA. So now I'll fly out of Milan Italy, which was far cheaper and better timing than from the Northern countries. I'll get to spend a few days in Schwartzwald, the black forest, in the city of Freiburg.

Got out the door and up the hill to the famous castle of Heidelberg. I lived here from 1979-81, it's interesting to be back, so familiar and there's so much I forgot, it's been 43 years. Did the cold walking tour in the afternoon, not that is truly cold it's just bitter the way that it feels. Fascinating history in a town I once knew.

Caught up on my photography edits and I'm out the door again for gluewein with Jurjen from the Netherlands and Mohammed from Egypt. After they go back to the hostel I go to the St Peters Church for a concert, they sing unknown to me Christmas music in a choir, harmonizing between twelve male and female voices that ring and echo through the church. Beautiful harmonies but not melodic.

The restaurant with a typical meal of egg spatzle, lentils and wurst is beckoning. I sit down at the counter and meet up with a metal smith, Werner, who likes to talk. I listen to his heavy southern German accent, barely understanding enough to nod along and keep him going. It's highly entertaining given that we are both on our third or more drinks. Fun times. The meal is excellent.Read more