Walk on New Years Eve

Foggy weather created some frost on the trees in the mountains around Heidelberg. It looked really beautiful from the distance so we took the bus on top the Königsstuhl to see this close up - and also hoped to see some sun on top of the mountain above the fog.
The first orchards we passed on the way up already looked very beautiful

On top we really saw the sun - and a colleague from work with his family

 The we started to hike down into the fog

It became more and more white and the frost was glowing in the evening sun

Mia found a stick for "cigaretting" - as she calls it

With the fog it also looked beautiful

The needles created by the frost were really long

The last part down when it got almost darkwe took the funicular to the old town

A great way to end the year. Stayed up till midnight and watched the fireworks from our living room window

Brühl

On our way back to Heidelberg we stopped in Brühl to meet our old friend and colleague from the Washington DC who was spending the holidays with his family and friends in his hometown
We met in the center of the town and walked to the baroque castle which has a nice park

It was pretty cold but sunny

Some of the water was frozen and of course Mia had to play with the ice

Then it was time to warm up in a cafe before continuing our drive back home

On the drive back the Autobahn A61 crossed a few river valleys that were covered in fog - a beautiful sight

Wuppertal

Wuppertal is an old industrial town at the river Wupper and about one hour northeast of Porz. That's were we were visiting some very old friends - and to see the brand new Schwebebahn.
First we had some home made pizza for lunch and then Mia got a quick piano lesson

Then we walked to the next Schwebebahn station

For most of its course it follows the river

We missed the brand new train that is painted in a light blue and has a huge panorama window and the rear

But even the older trains have a nice view from the back which was a favorite spot for younger children

After  all the excitement it was time for a little break - conveniently parts of the Christmas market were still open

We walked back in the dark and had some nice views of the city

The after Christmas Trip

On the 26'th we headed towards Cologne to see family and friends. On the drive there it was raining very hard but later we had pretty nice weather - and a clean car

Oma had made a Sunday roast

When we met a friend by the Rotter See the next morning there was a nice playground in walking distance

We also went for an afternoon walk in Zündorf (Groov) were we found of course another plyground

Uncle Stefan we had to see a day later because his two daughters were sick