We really regretted not being able to see them this trip, but they were dealing with some family issues, and Otto had just changed jobs, so it just didn't work out this time. Next time we will spend some real time with them, I hope. But I did bring them a Papa's mug, hoping we would at least see them and have dinner. But our schedule got filled up and there wasn't time for even that, so we tried to find Otto on our way out of town... we wanted to at least give him the mugs for he and Harald.
Jan looked hard in front of the city building where we thought Otto might be known...
And Michael acted like a scarecrow, hoping to attract Otto's attention...
Finally, we happened into a pharmacy down from the city building, and the gals there were very helpful, finding Otto's number in the phonebook, and even letting us use their phone to call him. Otto wasn't home at the time, but his son, Jonas, was, and told us we could come over to drop off the mugs. We had been to the house in 2006 when Otto was building it, but had no clue how to find it now until we got some help. And there it was!
We left Papa's mugs for Harald and Otto with Jonas...
It was nice to meet you, Jonas. Harald & Otto, I hope we get to meet for some quality time on our next trip to Europe. Cheers!
Every Papa's player on the trip got a Papa's mug, including Harald & Otto...
We were right across the street from the town's namesake hot springs, our reason for coming here. Well, by our standards, it was rather a disappointment. We like just casual soaking in a natural hot spring pool that is at least 104 degrees. This bath, directly across the street from us, had only a 17 step, very regimented routine that they put you through to get all the healing and cosmetic effects... blah, blah, blah. The other one, right next to this one, had a regular pool for soaking, but it was only about 100 degrees, and the changing/showering areas were very strange and, again, regimented. Jan went here for a short dip, but I went back to the hotel and did some Internet instead.
Still, we had a relaxing couple of days here. We thought about going to an opera since they were having an opera festival in town, but our choice would have been Faust, and we've seen it, so didn't feel like the effort.
At our favorite Czech restaurant...
Well, it was a great little restaurant near our hotel... we liked the food and the casual, almost bohemian atmosphere, and so went back a second night for a simple repast. Mostly though, I just wanted to say "our favorite Czech restaurant!"
And who doesn't like Donkey Jaws Salad, Tripe Soup, or Edible Snails...
This was about the only time on the trip that Jan drove, to go get our car from the parking when we were ready to leave Baden-Baden. We do great - usually - with me driving and Jan navigating.
Then on to Carl et Elisabeth's... with a stop for a bite somewhere in France...
Give me liberty or give me a GPS!
Somewhere in France...
Somewhere in France...
I won't recount our last attempt to find Carl's place, in 2006, except to say that finally we had to call, and Carl had to come pick us up in Colmar and guide us. No problem though this time... in the daylight and with better maps... and actually, Carl's directions that Jan still had from 9 year ago!
Colmar is where our Statue of Liberty was conceived and built.
Colmar is where our Statue of Liberty was conceived and built.
