Testing the new hiling shoes

To try out Mia's and Ji's new hiking shoes before our trip to the Alps we took the bus to the highest peak in our neighborhood: The Königsstuhl. Before we hit the trails Ji showed us the telescope of the institute of astronomy up there which she had been shown on a tour with her book club just a few days earlier.

The resident guide spotted us and since she remembered Ji from the tour two days earlier she showed us the more than 100 year old telescope

Then we were off to the woods

The shoes worked well

A fter a long hike a bit of meditation at the Pegasus statue around the corner

Andreas in Town

This year Andreas and his family were visiting Germany again and after stopping in Cologne and Nürnberg they also came to Heidelberg.

After a walk along the river we stopped in Neuenheim for ice cream and a break at the playground

Then it was time for dinner at the marekt square there

And back to the Neckar at sunset

The castle at sunset

Last Day of School

Like the year before the last day of school ended with a little party with food from different countries - a bit like St. Charles in Arlington

Iphofen

Ute - an old friend from Washington DC - is visiting Germany right now with her grandson and we decided to meet for a day in a village outside Würzburg. It was a bit like old time when we met for weekend touts in the countryside in Virginia.
Meeting point was a farm that had some events for kids and food and beer for the parents

 Kross had gone to German school for a few years with Mia

With the daughter of Ute's cousin Mia tried out most of the kids activities

At one station the children could explore their senses

There were also many farm animals

In a nature preserve close bye a tour of the beaver habitat there was offered

With safety googles  the children could experience how beavers see: So so well and in black and white. Their hearing and smelling is great though

Schlossbeleuchtung

On three weekends every summer there is a big firework over the Heidelberg castle and the old bridge. Four weeks ago when the first Schlossbeleuchtung was schedules it was hazy and cloudy but this Saturday the weather was perfect. So we went on our bikes and had a look from the river bank.
The fireworks show was pretty impressive and lasted 20 minutes

Cooling off in the Bahnstadt

Our friends fom Washington DC have moved to the Bahnstadt - a huge new development at a former train yard on the other side of the main station. They have many nice playgrounds and a little spray park were children can cool off on a hot summer day

Unfortunately the water at the little spray was shut off at 7 pm sharp after only 15 minutes there. Luckily there was some water at another playground.This kept everyone entertained for more than an hour