Seven goofy people, one fun trip.
No such thing as 'safe ice' here.I was invited to go to a cabin deep in the Schwarzwald (Germany´s famous black forest) for Silvesters Tag (aka New Years day). The cabin was located on a hill in a tiny village called Schonbrann. The road into the village is one I am not likely to forget as it was wide as a half a car and steep as a mountain cliff. I thought we were going over the edge at any moment.
The plan was a quite simple one. For the three days that we were there, we hiked for four hours a day, came back, relaxed, played games, ate, and drank beer. I really liked the hiking, but I have to admit, without my german guides, I would have been lost a kilometer into the forest. There was trails in every direction, some marked, some were dead ends. We had to traverse half frozen rivers, and slippery water-slicked rocks that some of the trails were made of. We made our way into a foggy valley, and somehow we found ourselves out again. I seen one deer, but not much more wildlife than that.
I thought I would be smart and take my waterproof US Army grade boots, and ended up with blisters all over my feet. Next time I try to break them in a little. The rest of the time I walked around in my street shoes, which were about as waterproof as a screen door. Oh well.
The midnight countdown had a little twist than what I am used to. I was with three couples, so finding a random person to make out with at midnight wasnt going to happen this year. Instead, around midnight, it seems all of Germany goes outside to light fireworks off. It is the only day of the year they are legal. So it seems everyone goes crazy and upon looking up, one sees quite the light show wherever you look. I even let off some bottle rockets and a Roman candle.
So my traveling has been a bit limited lately with not too many stories to tell. But the future holds hope. In February, I goto a 10-day workshop on nanoparticles in Saarbrucken, Germany. It is a city very close to the French and Luxembourg border, so I will try to make visits to Metz, France, and of course the huge county of Luxembourg. I wonder what language they speak in Luxembourg? I bet its not Spanish.
In March I have tentative plans to visit Paris. I'll see if I can get a travel partner to go with me. April should be a busy month. I have a week long scientific meeting in Barcelona and maybe a trip back to the good ol' USA. I wonder how I shall get any work done this year?
