Kentish Countryside

Kentish countryside
In the last couple of days Jean has been marvellous and driven me all over Kent to visit all old villages and scenic countryside.    They call it the Garden of England and no wonder!    On Tuesday we wandered around lots of typical English villages where lots of tearooms beckoned invitingly - but we resisted the temptations!   Many old Churchyards, with gravestones so old and bent with the writing on them almost unreadable - but all ancient.   We went to Rye which is the most fascinating old town, almost on the sea but not quite.    It was all marshland originally in that area, with the villages built up a bit higher so the sea didn't encroach, but it was a great haunt of smugglers in the old days.   The houses in Rye were just gorgeous but having lost them on my camera (and then found!), and transferred to my computer - I now can't find them again!    If Tony manages to locate them for me at the weekend I will post a couple of photos so you can see the gorgeous village it is.  

Yesterday we went to Leeds Castle - which to my surprise was NOT in Yorkshire, but just down the road from Lenham, here in Kent.   Jean says it is her favourite castle, and although I don't have much experiences of castles, I have to admit it could well be mine too.    So perfectly preserved and also so ancient.    The original manor was built before William the Conqueror arrived, but I don't think there is much more than a wall and a dungeon from this era now.   But the main part of the castle definitely dates from the early Middle Ages, and was the "Retirement Home" of many of the Queens of England in the 12th to the 15th centuries.   The gardens were fabulous, with lots of areas where families could picnic on vast sweeping lawns, and children could fossick around in shallow streams and mini waterfalls.   Some were looking for tadpoles - but I think it was a bit late in the year for "taddies"    We saw some white swans, lots of ducks and geese, some peacocks (including a protective peahen and her baby) - and some black swans (imported from Aus).  

Last night we went out to dinner in a lovely old restaurant which was very civilised and pleasant.   Today Jean and I are going up to London (but not before I go to the post office to send off yet more unneeded stuff back home!) and we will stay overnight there, hopefully visiting Kew Gardens during the day.

Probably won't get the chance to post more until the weekend or early next week, when I will be with Lisa and Tony inLimnos.    I am sure the weather there will be much warmer than here which although very pleasant (especially for sightseeing), is much much cooler than it was in Germany.
  

                                                                        
                                           A water lock on the Thames River at Teddington

                                        
                                        The next few shots are of typical Kentish villages

One of the waterfalls in the grounds of Leeds Castle

Leeds Castle and the moat

Another shot of Leeds Castle

English country garden at Leeds Castle

It's now Tuesday morning, in Kent - the Garden of England.   The last few days in Germany were crammed full again.    Gabi, Isi and I met for lunch on Friday then went to Franzi's garden allotment which is about a 10 minute walk from her home.   We had a BBQ there and it was a beautiful warm evening.   On Saturday Michael took Gabi, Isi and myself on a drive through the Swiss Jura - what lovely countryside it is.   Everything so green and I am continually amazed at how many fields there are full of corn (maize) - and most of it is grown to feed the animals!    I have been thrilled down here in Southern Germany to see COWS IN THE FIELDS.    In Bavaria 99% of cows are kept in sheds.   We had lunch in a small village with surely the most expensive menu in all of the Jura - but we enjoyed our "Flambes" anyway.    They are a type of extremely thin pancake, similar in diameter to a pizza, with usually just cheese, bacon and sometimes onion on it too, although Isi had one with apple slices and cinamon, liberally doused with some type of liquer!!

On Sunday Michael and a friend took me to a Trash & Treasure market in France which was very interesting, although quite similar to similar ones at home.   Then in the evening we had a big family  night out at a reasonably local restaurant, high up on a hill.    It was called Eulenberg and the owner collected owls of every shape and size.   I was fascinated by them all.    After the family photo had been taken we came back to the table to find Michael had organised a HUGE Schwarzwaldkuchen (Black Forest Cake) for me.    See the photos below to see how luscious it was!!!    No doubt another few kilos packed on.  

Monday morning was my farewell to Germany and I can only say such a HUGE thank you to all of Roland's family who have made me so welcome and yes, it is such a pity he wasn't able to experience it all himself also.   I hope to have lots and lots of visitors from Germany so that I can repay the favours from my time here.

Isi & Franzi took me to the train in Basel and bade me a tearful farewell.    I managed the transfer at Mannheim with little difficulty with the exception that I sat myself down in a First Class compartment and had to  be told by the conductor I would have to move two wagons further down!!   Frankfurt airport is enormous and they keep changing the gate numbers where flights will depart from, so three times I had to go from one end of the Terminal to the other before my flight took off for London.     And Lufthansa has redeemed itself in my eyes!    The plane was nice fairly new Airbus, the Flight Attendants were very helpful and even managed to serve a quick snack on the short trip to London which lasted about 1.25 hours.   And Immigration in London was a breeze - the only problem being how to explain Australia's very average performance in the medal tally in the Olympics to my chatty Passport Control officer!!    Jean and Angus arrived only a couple of minutes after I got through Customs and whisked me off through London evening traffic to dinner at a Club in Teddington, which is on the banks of the Thames.    There is a lock there for barges and other boats going up and down the river which was more than interesting.    Jean and I are planning another overnight stay there later in the week so we can visit Kew Gardens and (perhaps) Bushy Park.

Sorry but I've inserted a couple of photos twice and can 't get rid of them!!!

Check out the Schwarzwaldkuchen!

The whole family group

Isi (the Firebrand!) and myself at a German BBQ

With Isi, Gabi & Kersten

Isi with her cousin Julian

Old town in Swiss Jura

Old wooden bridge in Swiss Jura

Isi & Gabi

Isi with --- Lucy??????

More old homes in Swiss Jura

Schwarzwald, Colmar & Alps

Friday morning - and back at Isi's!!   What a week of experiences this has been.   Franzi drove me around the southern part of the Schwarzwald (Black Forest) on Monday afternoon.   Although the weather was not brilliant, it was wonderful to see all the small villages and lovely old typical Black Forest houses.    I could have spent a fortune on all the souveniers but I restrained myself a bit (bearing in mind my weight limit for my flights!)   On Tuesday we were up bright and early on a glorious sunny day and we caught a tourist bus to Lake Constance (Bodensee) and an island called Mainau where there is the most beautiful exhibition garden.   They employ 60 gardeners and when you see the garden, it is no wonder so many are required!    It was actually quite hot but I loved it!   We spent the day wandering around the garden, and admiring the views of the lake and having another typical (lovely!) German lunch.     Back on the bus by 3.30 for the journey home, over the second biggest mountain in the Schwarzwald, with glorious views of deep valleys and always the beautiful Black Forest houses.

Wednesday saw Gabi (Franzi's daughter) and Isi picking me up early and we went to Colmar in what used to be Alsace but is now part of France.    It was quite strange in the shops to hear French spoken instead of German - but English usually gets you by!!   It is another historic old medieval town with lovely timbered buildings - and masses of tourists.  And another hot day!  We took a ride on a tourist train so we could see which parts of the town we would like to explore more, and then had some lunch before wandering around the old streets and into tourist shops.    Also (apparently surprisingly) the clothes were very reasonably priced and the three of us went a bit crazy buying things.   In the late afternoon we crossed back into Germany and made our way back to the "Three Countries Corner" (which is what Weil am Rhein is called), via an old Roman villa excavation site, and an evening meal at a typical family "Wirtschaft" (Family pub) in a village not far from Weil.

But then comes Thursday - and the promised trip to the Alps.    Needless to say - another gorgeous sunny day.   Michael and Isi arrived to pick us up early, and we were off.    Bruno (partner from Franzi) came along, and also Julian (younger son from Michael).   We drove through Basel, and Bern and on to Interlaken where we could see the Alps already.   Then we drove deep into the Alps.   Our first stop was for coffee and the best Brownies I have ever tasted, then on to the  Glazier near the Jungfrau mountain.   We went in a type of  Funicular railway right up inside the glazier and then climbed a long winding staircase which had observation points every so often so we could see the water thundering down inside.    We climbed right to the top and made our way back down by all the stairs to the bottom so we could see the different vantage viewing areas.    What an experience.   I have never seen anything like that before and was amazed by it all.   Unfortunately my photos of it don't do it justice so you will just have to imagine what it was like!

After leaving the Glazier we drove a short distance to the Schilthorn which is a very famous mountain with a restaurant right on the very peak.   The James Bond movie "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" was filmed on this mountain.   We took a Gondola up to the first stop on the mountain and had lunch surrounded by typical Swiss Chalets and glorious mountains shining in the sunshine.   Quite a lot of snow still lies on the mountains.   Then after three more Gondola rides we were on the very top and at the restaurant - but unfortunately the top was covered in mist which swirled around us and now and then gave us tantalizing glimpses of the views of the mountains around.    We saw a Steinbock (a type of goat with long horns - and not domesticated) and also an Eagle sitting beside a nest on the top of the mountain.    After waiting a while for the mists to clear we decided to return to the valley below.    The trip down was more adeventurous than the one going up and Isi laughed to see me taking photos out of the window but looking in the other direction!    The drop was so enormous you can't believe it.    And down below in the valley the houses were so tiny.   

We drove back to Thunersee (Lake Thun) via Interlaken and stopped for a cold drink in the grounds of an old castle there.   Lake Thun is a summer sports area with lots of yachts and other boats and many people making the most of the hot sunshine.

What a wonderful day it was - and a thousand thanks to Michael for giving me such an experience.   To be right high up in the Alps right amongst the peaks is something I will remember always.

Today is a more peaceful day after the hectic times of the past few days and tonight it is to be a BBQ in Franzi's garden with quite a number of the family there.

The photos are a bit out of order but I can't get them into the right order!!   My next stop is England, on Monday, and after a few days there it is off to Greece.  

An old house in Colmar

A typical Schwarzwald house

Thunersee

High in the Alps

Typical Swiss village

More of the Alps

View of the Schwarzwald

Looking down to the Valley in the Alps

See how far down it is!

Isi made this photo from a postcard!   It is of Lake Constance and the Island of Mainau

One of the amazing flower exhibits on Mainau

Germany

I wasn't able to reach an Internet connection all last week, and (thanks to Isi!!) I am able to update my Blog with the first post from my trip.    My trip to Bangkok with Thai International was so relaxing - I had three seats all to myself, the plane was fairly new and immaculate.    I can't speak highly enough of them - but then came Bangkok Airport!    Never have I seen such a huge airport.    It was literally more than a kilometer from the Airbridge to the main part of the Terminal.   Trying to find where the Lufthansa flight would leave from was quite an experience but eventually I was on the flight to Germany.    After the Thai flight, what a contrast.   Crowded.    Dingy.   Poor attention from flight attendants.   Poor food.    Etc. Etc. Etc.    Eventually we arrived in Frankfurt at 6.00 am.    It was bedlam in the Immigration area but finally I was able to collect my bag and meet up with Heidi & Wolfgang, who were starting to think I had maybe missed the flight!!

It was raining heavily but by the time we crossed into Bavaria the sun was shining and it was a beautiful day.    We made a small pause in Ochsenfurth so I could take a few photos then it was off to Bad Windsheim.    Heidi and I explored the town all afternoon and it is a beautiful old town, well known as a Spa area.    Just think, Germans are entitled (under Medicare!) to two weeks every three years in a Spa - you drink the water, relax in the thermal pools etc. and it is all paid for!!!  

Over the next few days we visited relations out on the Czech border, drove around some beautiful areas near Bad Windsheim, took the train to Bamberg and on Friday Heidi dropped me off in Fuerth with some friends from many years ago.    Christl and I walked all around Nuernberg and had some Bratwurstl with potato salad for lunch (a Nuernberger speciality).    Then it was off to Schwabach to stay overnight with another old friend.     All these old towns in Germany are so beautiful, all in the medieval style, and so well cared for.    I will try to upload some photos so you can see the lovely old buildings.    My friends from Schwabach drove me back to Heidi & Wolfgang.    On Sunday they took me to the train to cross Germany.   I even managed the two platform changes at Karlsruhe and Freiburg with minimal difficulty, and finally arrived in Weil-am-Rhein in the afternoon, to be met by Isi, with her mother and grandmother, waving a big sign "Welcome Sandie" !!!   How nice it has been to catch up with Isi and to see Franzi face to face instead of over the telephone.   Her son Michael was waiting at home, so after coffee & cake (I can see the kilos I have shed creeping back on!) he drove us around the general area.     There is one spot here where you can stand in France,  take a few steps and you are in Switzerland then take another few steps and you are in Germany!!   

The weather has been hot all week, with lots of sunshine (around 28 to 30 degrees), however last night we had a thunderstorm so thankfully today is a bit cooler.    I believe we are off to the Black Forest this afternoon, and tomorrow we are going to Lake Constance.   Later in the week Michael is promising to take me to the Alps - won't that be an experience.    

Everyone here is so welcoming and generous and anxious to show me so many places that I am quite overwhelmed.    To any of them reading this blog - a thousand thanks.

It will probably be much later in the week when I put another post on, as I think we have a few things planned, but definitely before I leave Germany (and Isi's expert tuition!).

My journey

Well, I guess it is time to start with my first post!!!    My trip is going to last eight weeks and cover several countries (or rather, parts of several countries).   It all starts on Sunday 29th July when I fly via Bangkok to Frankfurt in Germany, there to be collected by two most obliging cousins from my late husband's family.   I'm looking forward to meeting them again as they spent some time with us probably about ten years ago, here in Victoria.   Visits to other cousins out in the Bavarian countryside, plus some planned meetings with old friends not seen for many years will no doubt fill the week so it will speed past too quickly.

I will then travel by train to another part of Germany, just on the Swiss border, where I will stay with yet another cousin.    I am quite apprehensive about my German, as to say it is rusty is a gross under-statement.   But I guess I will stumble along somehow.   Having made many hilarious gaffes in the past with my spoken or written German, I know only too well how easy it is to say the wrong thing!!!

After Germany comes a visit to my oldest friend, who lives in Kent - we have been friends since we were about 4 years old and have met as adults a number of times on my previous trips to the UK.   She lives in a beautiful area in the Kentish countryside and my visits to her family are always a highlight.

The next stop will be the island of Limnos in the far north Aegian Sea - hmmm!   What effect will the present troubles in Greece have on inexperienced tourists??   My son's partner is Greek and I will be joining the two of them for a few days staying with her father before we fly to Scotland.   Tony has never visited my home town on the east coast so it will be good for him to see a part of his heritage.

Two weeks in the UK visiting relations and going back to favourite haunts "up the Glens" (Angus is one of the beautiful counties in Scotland - but I am not prejudiced!!) and then I am off to a small village about an hour south of Toronto in Canada to visit very good old friends.   Will the Fall colours be out by early September?   I would like to think so, but somehow I doubt it.   I remember on our honeymoon we travelled by train (the California Zephyr!) from San Francisco to New York, and the colours in Colorado were stunning.

A quick visit to Wisconsin to renew a friendship which has lasted, in spite of not having seen each other since 1967 (will we still recognize each other at the airport??) and then I am off on the final leg, which is to travel from Winnipeg to Vancouver by train, before starting the long flight home over the Pacific, arriving back in Melbourne on 1st October.   An epic journey but one I am looking forward to immensely.