The Flying Pig

Mia's stuffed pig from Shanghai is sometimes tossed through the air

Wiesbaden

For a reunion of physics students from the nuclear physics institute in Bonn the organizer had arranged a city tour of Wiesbaden. We all could join because the tour was booked for a much bigger group and met the tour guide at the market square

We were really lucky with the weather. When we started in Heidelberg it had been quite foggy.
One stop of the tour was the opera house

Another stop was the grand main spa building - Kurhaus - that was build when the city was a gathering spot for the rich and famous - including the German emperor and his relatives from England or Russia - around 1900:

Mia was not so interested to hear these stories:

The building still very impressive and used as a casino and for conferences

Mia preferred to read her book:

Then of course we also stopped at one of the hot springs that made the city famous:

One can even drink the water right there

It didn't taste too good - just like warm salty water

The tour ended at the market square with the main church - build from bricks - where we had started

The next stop as the Neroberg - a small mountain with a view of the city:

The Russian Orthodox church there was built in 1855 for the Russian wife of the duke of Nassau

Climbing Course Viernheim

 Mia"s girl scout troop made a Sunday morning outing to the climbing course in a forest outside Viernheim. Mia had been there once before two years ago and aloways wanted to go back.
The weather was not so great with a few rain drops sometimes but it was still fun

T
ime for a little chit chat

Riding down the zip lime

Going Away Card

Mia and her friend put together a self made card and some chocolates for a school librarian from her school who will be leaving soon

Neustadt an der Weinstrasse

Neunstadt an der Weinstrasse - the main town at the foothills of the Palatine Forrest - has one of the biggest old towns in the area. We never went for a visit but a warm late summer day was a good opportunity to take the one hour S-Bahn ride there.

 
We also went for a little walk into the hills outside of town

Back in town we looked for a restaurant for dinner

Bike Tour to Neckargemünd

On a sunny but a bit bit cool day we tried out the new bike route along the river Neckar to Neckargemünd where one lane of a four lane road had ben converted into a bike path.

Mia"s friend came along

It was not too cool for ice cream

Some crackers for a swan

Evening sun on the ride back