Although Mark pops in to see us from time to time when visiting the UK, it's a number of years since we have been to Germany, where he has lived for over 20 years. Jamie joined us this time too, since he had never been.
Mark collected us from Frankfurt airport, mid afternoon Tuesday. Very soon we joined a horrendous very slow moving traffic jam on the Bundesbahn (for mile after mile), due to major roadworks nr Wiesbadden, which have apparently been in place for months. But once we left the motorway, the rolling countryside, with endless fields of Rape crop, wheat and corn was looking amazing.
Cuppa tea, then Mark announced he had a bit of finishing off of cooking to do, so the 3 of us left him in peace, while we had a stroll around the local village of Buch. We were instructed to leave the village then turn left, heading for a blue horse.😂
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| Tall buttercups Ranunculus acris. |
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| Found it. It just a shame that the post is so prominent. |
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Continuing along the path next to this stream, the Dandelions
were huge. Much bigger than ours at home. |
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| Crossing a road, a track took us past these birdboxes. |
I thought I spotted a scarecrow just ahead in an allotment, but then it moved. 😁 I said Guten Tag, and then couldn't get away, as an elderly man continued to talk to me. I explained that I spoke English, and since the village is very small, mentioned that I am a friend of Mark. Ahhhh. He said Mark! We suspected that he thought we had got lost, and next thing he called Mark on an ancient Nokia phone. We knew Mark was cooking, so would probably ignore the call..... which he did. But this old guy persisted and called him back, and they had a conversation in German of course. The guy insisted that we take a bunch of spring onions from his allotment, before releasing us.😄
A very nice meal of home made pear, cheese and walnut tart, followed by fish pie. Delicious, and at least 3 times as much as we needed (so more tomorrow). A chicken breast for Jamie who is scared of fish.
DAY 2 WEDNESDAY
John and I joined Mark pre breakfast to give Bala her morning walk. A cool morning, but we kept warm enough since there is a bit of a rise to leave the village. I took my Fuji camera with me for the walk.
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Leaving Buch behind, we are quickly in the countryside.
These log piles as a beautifully arranged, ready for winter. |
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| Looking back to Buch, with a patchwork of rolling hills beyond. |
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| Purple Ajuga amongst other wild flowers. |
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| We had not long spotted 4 Hares dashing off in the long grass, |
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I liked this little composition, and when I looked
through the lens another hare wasright in the middle of the path.
(camera stuttered so missed it in the shot.) |
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Through a locked gate, and into Mark's field,
aka golf course. |
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Bala the old dog, as we pass the old war time trailer-cum-lawn mower shed.
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| On our return, we passed the blue horse once more. |
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| The back of an traditional old house with wattle and daub. |
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Back and now for breakfast.
We will soon go out using the car on the left 😊. |
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Jamie up front of the 1950's Bentley.
Beautiful interior and very comfortable.
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The next few hours were spent in Nastatten, a village not far from Buch, with explanations of "future plans" for several properties, as well as a new hotel. Hidden within garages of some of those properties we enjoyed a tour of some "Old Timer" cars.
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| This property ripe for development. |
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| The built in toolkit in this old Jag. |
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| Rolls Royce Silver Cloud ( I think) |
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Moving on to another "secret" location, where we
found a few more garages with interesting contents. 😉😂
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On the left is "Maggie" the MG who starred in my film
"Hide and Seek". |
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| Austin Seven |
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| MGA Coupe |
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| Jaguar E-Type in an Pastel Green. Very classy |
There were many more, which proved a bit of an art to get into the driving seat!!! But for some better photos of each car, the link to the collection on this website.
Bulldog Motors Collection.
Time seemed to run away, and at 4pm we bought some lunch from the supermarket to eat at home. 😁
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An evening dog walk, with Jamie and Alison
whilst John chilled back home. |
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This "Old Forge" in Buch painted with the appropriate
artwork, a common scene in the villages. |
We polished off last night's tasty left overs and a quiet night in catching up.
THURSDAY
Today we drove through beautiful countryside to the city of Koblenz. A stroll alongside the Rhine where there was some beautiful planting next to a cafe area.
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We parked next to this tree, which I didn't recognise, so Googled.
It's an Elm Tree, which of course in England we don't see anymore,
due to disease. |
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A brighter day today in Koblenz.
(a cable car in the distance will take us over the river) |
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Nepeta and Iris in full flower,
with Pink Persicaria to join the scene later on the front edge.
(the silver modern building is the cable car station)
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A walk through the church yard
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| Kaiser Willhelm Monument.. it was HUGE |
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Looking down from the top of the monument,
the shape of a ship, as the Moselle and Rhine rivers meet. |
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| The light just catches this little church as we go up on the cable car. |
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| The river confluence. |
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| Up to another viewing platform |
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| Colourful planting again. |
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| A "whirlpool" sculpture |
I didn't take any photographs of the old old Fortress mainly because they were setting up a huge market for tomorrow, with loads of white tents, and vans. Pity. We had a look in the museum first, then a wander around the grounds before finding a lunch stop of a traditional German hot dog... with a sachet of mustard. lol. The boys all had a beer too.
A lovely route back following parts of the River Lahn, and a drive through a very pretty town I think called Bad Ems. Some evidence of Russian occupations too with Gold topped "onion" rooves. A couple of snaps as we drove through.
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| Hackers Grand Hotel in Ems Bad on the river Lahn. |
For dinner this evening, we drove to FETZ restaurant, about 30 mins from Buch, and where John and I had stayed a couple of times when visiting previously. A very nice dinner. A good choice.
FRIDAY ALREADY!
We were dropped off at the entrance to a park in Wiesbaden, whilst Mark and Alison attended and appointment, and met up again later. A beautiful parkland full of pathways and trees and a pink "Schloss", called Biebreich. Alison lives near here so frequents it often.
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Terrible mobile phone shot, but there was an Egytian
Goose with NINE goslings following her on left edge of the pond. |
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This is the Back!!
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| The pollarded Plane trees, with interesting shadows. |
A drive of around 30 mins to a wonderful lunch stop of an old Monestary /vineyard, Kloster Eberbach. As we parked up, some very dark clouds gathering. 😕
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Loved these "eyebrow" kind of slate around the windows,
which are a common site in the towns and villages. |
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| We climbed higher to the restaurant entrance. |
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| Delicious lunch. |
All too soon, time to head for the airport, and knowing what the traffic would be like, we were very happy to be dropped off at Wiesbach station. (some assistance to buy our tickets first 😂)
A trouble free journey and flight left on time. Thank you Mark for looking after us, and your generous hospitality. A fun few days together. Happy memories.... if I remember! lol.
