Pfingsten Bank Holiday

Bamberg

Last Monday was Pfingstmontag (Pentacost)

We made the most of it being a public holiday and travelled 35km North to the city of Bamberg.

It was beautiful weather and a charming medieval city.

Boettingerhaus

(High Official's first palace 1707-13)

The Imperial Cathedral

River Regnitz

Row of one-time fisherman's houses

known as 'Little Venice'

Old town Hall

The Old town hall

is built on an artificial island on the River Regnitz,

connected by two bridges on either side.

Bergkirchweih

Erlangen Bergkirchweih 2010

Last Thursday saw the start of the annual Erlangen Bergkirchweih.

Meaning literally 'Hill Church blessing' it is the local beer festival ,when the hill between here and Erlangen hosts over a million visitors for 10 days.

Almost to the minute of the official opening the sun came out after weeks of grey and wet weather!

We went with the children on Saturday morning before it got too busy or rowdy!

Of course we had to ride the centre-piece 'Big Wheel'

 

have all the fun of the fair

and sample some food and drink!

Cheers!

Elijah's day trip to 'Afrika!'

This morning an excited Elijah and about 100 other preschoolers met at Bubenreuth station to go by train and Underground to a to special 'senses experience field' (literal translation, not sure exactly what it is!) where they are having an 'Afrika day'.

As you can see he arrived quite early!

His teacher Anke, tied white ribbons around their wrists and stamped their arms with the Kindergarten stamp!

Elijah with his friend Hendrik. Just after this he got a bit tearful , worried that he'd miss me!

Ready for the off.

Hurray! the train is here.

All aboard!

Return train due 15:15pm ...

May Day

Saturday was May 1st and so a public holiday here in Germany.

We began by watching Jonah and his football team play nearby in Baiersdorf.

Score: Baiersdorf 5 Bubenreuth 6.

Although Jonah still doesn't start the game he is becoming more part of the team and is substituted on during the match. He didn't add to the scoreline on this occasion but still has scored 6 goals over the past 6 matches.

Then we met up with a family of a friend of Jemima's and walked our second Mayday hike in the

Frankische Schweiz (Franconian Switzerland).

 

Clara, Jemima and Elijah

and of course it wouldn't be a German day out without a beer! Supped during a stop for rain!

We began at 12 noon and did not finish until 7pm! I'd like to complain at how tired we were , but the German family's nearly 2 year old walked most of it , so feel I can't say much! Needless to say we wandered when we would get back to our cars!