Category Archives: Travel

Travel

To Market, To Market to Buy a Fat…Horse?

February is Horse Market month!

Does this bring to mind a day in the country? A trip to the fairgrounds? A roundup on a ranch?

Not in Germany. Here the horses come to town for market day.

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This tradition began hundreds of years ago as a way for communities to boost their economies.

Once upon a time, all the king’s horses and all the duke’s men would attend these markets to buy and trade military horses.

Today, the horses are bought and sold mainly for leisure and recreational use. (A dream come true for any child who has ever wished for a pony!)

A PferdeMarkt (that’s horse market in German) offers more than just horses. It also has food, rides, shows, ribbons, and even a parade!

These photos are from the Leonberger Market near Stuttgart:

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If only I could have fit one in my suitcase!

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Travel

Travel Funnies 2

A little humor to brighten your Friday…


Feel free to copy and share!

“Like” my facebook page to see photos as soon as they’re published!

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Travel

Travel Funnies

When you travel to new places, you can’t help but notice things that seem…well…different. Some things tickle my funny bone, so I’ve decided to share them here. If any strike your fancy, feel free to copy and share!

 

Want more? “Like” my facebook page to see photos as soon as they’re published!

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Travel

Castle of the Weird and Wild

If there’s one thing Germany does not have a shortage of… it’s castles. Nearly every place on the map has a relic perched on a nearby hill or crowning the center of town.

One thing I’ve discovered since my first castle tour is that every castle is unique in an often weird and wild way. But the castle I visited the other day takes the cake.

The Guttenberg Castle is located in the Neckar Valley about an hour from Stuttgart. The castle was built around 800 years ago to protect an imperial palace located in the nearby town of Bad Wimpfen.

Ownership of the castle changed hands over time until it was converted into the present day museum. But the legacy of the colorful previous owners of the castle still linger.

Take these hunting trophies that adorn the library…

Now, I don’t know about you, but these are unlike any hunting trophies I have ever seen. There is only one word to describe them…weird. I mean, what exactly are they supposed to be?

Medieval emoticons?

Laugh Tongue

Then there’s the matter of the castle’s torture chamber…

When you leisurely stroll through the museum and stumble into this room, as if suddenly seeing pictures of people being tortured isn’t creepy enough, your presence trips an invisible sensor and you’re treated to a medley of torture chamber sound effects…just perfect for a nice Sunday in the country.

As for the castle’s wild side, the Guttenberg Castle presents a daily raptor show featuring some very deadly predators. This program is not a watered-down we’re-afraid-of-getting-sued animal show. In fact, if you’re faint of heart, this show might not be for you.

The trainers think nothing of tossing lunch out over the heads of the audience for the razor-taloned birds to catch. I’d hate to think what would happen if this eagle missed!

And if you bring an umbrella, watch out. You’re certain to become a perch when the raptors mingle with the audience. Just remember…if you’re lucky enough to meet one of these amazing birds in person…don’t forget to lift your feet!

So welcome to the Castle of the Weird and Wild. Before you go…let’s take one more walk on the the weird side.

While strolling around the castle grounds, you might come across this sign…

Is this really a problem???

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Travel

To Pee is Not Free

Growing up in the United States, I always knew I had certain unalienable rights: life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness, and the right to pee for free.

Not so in Europe.

Many establishments, such as grocery stores, don’t have public bathrooms at all.

Other places, like restaurants, have attendants sitting outside bathrooms with a little dish where you’re expected to leave a tip.

Still other places have completely commercialized the whole process. If you stop at a rest area on the Autobahn, expect to drop a few coins into a turnstile before you will be permitted entry. Instead of a train ticket, you get a voucher you can use towards a cup of coffee…talk about job security.

The going rate for pee breaks in Germany is 70 cents (in Euro), so if you’re planning to travel here, be sure to budget in potty tolls because to pee is not free!

P.S. Take a good look at the photo above. Does this mean you’re only allowed to pee between noon and 1pm?

See more on this important subject:

First You Pee, Then You See

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