Baden-Baden

Before leaving Talheim, we wanted to locate a friend if possible, and give him a couple of Papa's mugs.  Otto is the brother of the friend I worked with to develop my chess website.  We visited Harald and Otto last time we toured Europe, now already 9 years ago.

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...

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.

Frank

We first met Frank on my friend Harald's chess website.  Then we met in person at a lunch with Harald and his brother, Otto, and their families, in 2006.  Now Frank graciously invited us to stay with him for a visit on this trip.  We stayed with Frank for two nights, and had a good visit and a fun time.  Thank you, Frank, for your hospitality and discourse.  We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves!

Frank has a lovely house, and was a consummate host...

Paul and I doing some computing...

It was early spring, but Frank's yard was awash with purples and yellows and whites...

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Maulbronn Monastery Complex
UNESCO World Heritage Site

Maulbronn Monastery (German: Kloster Maulbronn) is the best-preserved medieval Cistercian monastery complex in Europe. It is situated on the outskirts of Maulbronn, Baden-Württemberg, Germany and is separated from the town by fortifications. In 1993 the monastery was made a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The monastery was founded in 1147 under the auspices of the first Cistercian pope, Eugenius III. The main church, built in a style transitional from Romanesque to Gothic, was consecrated in 1178 by Arnold, Bishop of Speyer. A number of other buildings — infirmary, refectory, cellar, auditorium, porch, south cloister, hall, another refectory, forge, inn, cooperage, mill, and chapel — followed in the course of the 13th century. The west, east and north cloisters date back to the 14th century, as do most fortifications and the fountain house or lavatorium.

Frank explained the different architectural influences present in this old monastery.

The monastery, which features prominently in Hermann Hesse's novel Beneath the Wheel, was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1993. The justification for the inscription was as follows: "The Maulbronn complex is the most complete survival of a Cistercian monastic establishment in Europe, in particular because of the survival of its extensive water-management system of reservoirs and channels". Hesse himself attended the monastery before fleeing in 1891 after a suicide attempt, and a failed attempt to save Hesse from his personal religious crisis by a well-known theologian and faith healer.

The Maulbronn Monastery was the perfect choice for the time we had!

Spring was in the air... even at the monastery...

Thanks for a great visit, Frank!

Mario und Family

Jan and I met Mario, who is from Germany, on a dive boat at the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, in 2010.  We took an instant liking to him, and chatted frequently on the boat, and finally parted ways after reaching shore... with the usual sentiment to come visit us sometime.

Mario did sign up on my chess website, and we have been playing chess ever since.  And, a year after the Australia trip, Mario was turning 21 and wanted to go to Las Vegas to celebrate,  So we invited him to stay with us for a while too, since we're not far from Vegas.  And he did.  And we had a good time, even if some it involved me at my desk, and him on the couch in the living room, making chess moves on a computer!  We took Mario up in the mountains, and showed him where our cabin is, some elk, and a natural hot spring that we took a soak in.

So, with this visit, we've now seen Mario on 3 continents!  And all from a casual chat aboard a boat in a country that was foreign to all three of us!  Small world, indeed.

Somehow I didn't have Mario's address.  I had a phone number, but was getting no answer.  So we headed toward the center of town, parked, and found a cafe with coffee and Internet.  I asked the waitress if she knew of a Mathes Clothing store.  Sure thing, a literal stone's throw from the cafe.  So we had a cup of coffee outside, about a half block from the store.  Then we went into the store and asked about Mario... it's truly a family-run business, and everyone there is family.  Mario was at home waiting for us, so we asked his dad if Mario could just come and lead us to the house.

The clothing store is just to the right of the decorated fountain in the square...

Right there...

We couldn't have found it any easier had we known what we were doing!

Once at the family home, I made an immediate friend... well my tablet and I did...

Meet Chelsea.  This girl can swipe!

A panorama of Buchen from a place overlooking the city...

One of our traditional 'feet up' photos in front of the Buchen Tower...

At the kitchen table for a late breakfast...
Everybody else was already at work!

Mario and his dad, Peter...
We enjoyed some bountiful meals at that table!

Peter wrote down some of the dishes we had.

Maultaschen, Spatzle, Kartoffelsalat, und Rindsrouladen

All delicious... Karen is a great cook!

Thank you, Karen!   Vielen Dank

Tyler serenaded us with some mouth harp....

Mario and Fabio are twins...

We visited this church in a nearby town.

And the family clothing store in Buchen...

The clothing store is multi-generational, family-run business.  Mario and his sister, Christina, work at the store, as do Mario's parents.  And Mario's grandparents work there every day too... I wish I had as much energy as they do!  They even close the store for lunch, so they can all take time to eat together, usually at Peter and Karen's home.  They're successful.  They're happy.  It was a pleasure to meet them all.

Mario's Grandfather above, and Grandmother below, Peter's parents.

Water attraction in their back yard... rather unique... looks great at night....

The oldest restaurant/hotel in Germany...

Miltenberg is a beautiful historic city, established in the 13th century.

And Mario took us to a fabulous bird show in Haßmersheim...

Jan took the photo below... it looks like a watercolor painting... photography imitating art...

Remember, click any photo to see larger high-res version.

This dude just knows he's cool...

And he is!  Check out the short video below...

This video was actually taken by Jan a few weeks after we returned, but whatever...

We also walked around Buchen some with Mario...

Me and my friend...

Christina, Fabio, Mario, Chelsea, Tyler, Karen, Jan, Peter

Fabio, Mario, Peter, Chelsea, Karen, Jan, Michael, Tyler

Three generations of Mathes...

Many shops, especially restaurants and hotels, have these suspended signs indicating their service.

"You can't change my love for the rose."  ~Willie Nelson

What a loving, interesting, industrious, & happy family!

We felt right at home here.

Thank you for sharing your home and table and stories with us!

Vielen Dank für Ihr Haus und Tisch und Geschichten mit uns!