Stockerkahns and Bebenhousen

My second morning in Tübingen saw a mix of the Edinburgh gang meeting up with some locals for a breakfast cruise on a Stockerkahn (punt boat) on the River Neckar.  Despite all my fears, we did not capsize, and my sandal that tried to drown itself was rescued.  However, because the river was still so swollen and the current so fast, we did not get very far from the Stift (former Augustinian monastery, now a theological student residence) before we dropped anchor.  No photos of this adventure because I was afraid of dropping my camera into the river. 

That afternoon we were off to Bebenhausen. We met up with the rest of the Edinburgh gang to hike into the idyllic valley where the the town and the former Cistercian monastery can be found.  Highlights were the horses on the way there and the novelty masonry pretzel we found in the monastery!  It is not every day that you find a pretzel commemorated in stone, but Bretzels were invented in Swabia, so they are pretty chuffed with themselves.  :) So much fun and so exhausting!

This is a Stockerkahn.  It is about 3 times as long as an Oxford punt boat and the pole is around 18 feet long.

The Edinburgh gang before heading off.

Horses!  I am such a city girl that any signs of country living thrill me.

The descent to Bebenhausen begins.

Our destination.

Walking through the valley to the monastery, we came across some very pretty gardens.

Upon arrival at the monastery, we discovered yet another covered stairway.

Who goes in this high-up door?

In the gardens of the Cistercian monastery.  It was roasting outside but freezing inside the stone rooms!

There were a lot of really beautiful ceilings.  Some of them restorations of Medieval ones, some of them Victorian.

Matthew in the gardens.

Matthew chilling with the monks.

And for la pièce de résistance - a masonry bretzel!

View from the monastery.

More sleepy-looking roofs.

German Holiday

My first day in Tübingen blew me away. For one thing, it was sunny and warm so we spent the entirety of it outside.  :)  Everywhere Matthew took me in the Altstadt ('old town') had to be captured on film.  This is because I fell instantly in love with German architecture.  How can one not love actual Medieval buildings that are so colourful and cheerful and look like layer cakes?  Pink, orange, yellow, blue, green - colour everywhere!  We started out day by having tea and traditional German cakes with a German friend we had met while she was in Edinburgh doing an Erasmus exchange (which is the same exchange that took Matthew to Tübingen). 

After exploring the Altstadt on foot a bit we ate lunch on a patio overlooking the Neckar River, which was near bursting its banks.  This meant that the swans were able to plow their way through the current, but the poor coots were peddling hard and only managing to move laterally across the river!  I had Tübinger Käsespätzle (which is a Swabian dish, so it is über local), finished off with lemon-basil ice cream and a walk along the island in the Neckar.  Then we walked up to the Schloss Tübingen, which is the castle at the highest point in the city.  It is open to the public to come up for a look round, but the buildings are Uni faculties.  Lucky students! Everywhere we went, I felt like a German fairytale could be taking place at any moment

Tea and cake with Anik.

Happily surrounded by shutters and sunlight!

Fun little 'twiddly bits' on the roofs.

The Neckar river complete with a Stockerkahn, colourful Medieval buildings, and locals sunning themselves along the wall.

Lemon-Basil ice cream perfectly paired with a hot summer's day and a walk along the river.

Germany is full of great doors.  We stumbled upon these two sets walking up to the Schloss.

Shutters, window boxes, a Vespa... if only I spoke German, I may have never left!

Covered exterior stairways seem to be a recurring feature.

All the buildings are pretty friendly with one another.

Merrily standing tall amidst all the crazy, sloping alleys.

These roofs made me think they were winking at me after a long doze.

Market!  Asparagus season is apparently a big thing in June.

Fell in love with this lemon-yellow building!

Were these lines supposed to be parallel with the ground?  Or no?

Can't get enough of the beautiful German architecture!

Window boxes.  Shutters.  I want them.

Matthew and the view from the Schloss.

Entrance to the Schloss (Castle).

Poking around the Schloss.

Stadtsmarkt - one of the many beautiful squares in the Altstadt. Perfect setting for a fairytale!

Royal mail through the Royal Mail

I am fairly certain that most everyone knows that I am a Royalist.  I am a big fan of the monarchy and was really excited when the Earl and Countess of Strathearn* announced that Kate was expecting. Shortly after the birth of their wee son George, I sent a wee card and pair of hand-knit booties to Kensigton Palace congratulating the couple.  My big surprise came a few weeks later when I received a very Royal reply through the post!  I hadn't expected any thank you in return so it quite made my week.  :)

*The Scottish titles for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge

The booties and card I sent to Kensington.

I nearly had heart failure when I saw this awaiting me on my return from work.

I know it is a bit blurry, but the seal says Buckingham Palace!  And I now have their post code!

This is William's personal cipher.

The thank you note was written on the back of this photo.

The text of the thank-you reads:

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge

were most touched by the thoughtful gift

you so kindly sent on the occasion

of the birth of their son,

Prince George.

Their Royal Highnesses have been

overwhelmed by all the wonderful messages

and gifts they have received and send you

their warmest thanks and best wishes

HRH Prince George Alexander Louis of Cambridge

22nd July, 2013

Creeping through Corstorphine

One of my favourite Edinburgh neighbourhoods is Corstorphine.  It has a very different feel from the city centre, with a mixture of cute cottages, and grander homes set back from the road.  I wanted to see all the quaint parts of this village-within-the-city, so a friend and I did a walking tour, again from 24 Great Walks in Edinburgh.  Below are some of my favourite shots of the delights we found.

Corstorphine Old Parish Church

The discovery of a ball in the churchyard is a beautiful thing!

Is it just me, or is everything just a wee bit crooked in the churchyard?

Green Man tombstone!

Tombstones make the perfect picnic spots.  :)

Another exciting grave marker.

Corstorphine Doocot (Dove cot) is all that remains of the former Castle.

I think I would like a bright, sunny door like this someday.

Corstorphine Museum