Back in Vancouver

I made it through the quarantine in Germany, spend some time with Sheila and my parents there (distanced until I had another negative test), and we returned to Vancouver together. We have to spend another 14 days in quarantine here (the picture is taken from the internet). We have to stay in our apartment, but have organized delivery of food, wine and internet. The weather is cold and mostly cloudy or rainy, so we should be fine. Unfortunately, it looks like it will be May or June until we can get our vaccination here, but we are glad to be back anyhow.

Armsheim

We came south again as Sheila has an appointment for follow up in Frankfurt. We are staying in a small village in the Rhenish-Hessian Hills, close to Mainz. Today we enjoyed a sunny morning and hiked for a couple of hours through vinyards and woodlands showing beautiful fall colours. Due to rising Covid infection numbers we have reduced social contacts very much, but visited my parents yesterday (sitting outside with masks on).

Hamburg

We are spending a few days in Hamburg and visited the beach in Altona today. Nice sand, but the weather prevented any Caribbean feelings.

East Frisia

We headed north and are spending a good week in East Frisia. The apartment we rent is in an old ferry house (renovated), and quite isolated. The ferry is hand operated by the user, carries people and bicycles across a small tidal canal in front of the house.

Handoperated bicycle ferry at our current residence

We are exploring the surrounding area and spent a nice day today on the island Norderney. The weather is cool, but today was sunny and I walked about 12km while Sheila was exploring the town of Norderney.

Along the North beach of Norderney

Lunch in a “Strandkorb” (beach chairs) after playing tourist

Freiburg

This week we are spending time in Freiburg, enjoying the car free inner city and excursions into the neighbouring areas. Yesterday we went into the Black Forest for a short hike and a long lunch. The weather was windy, cold and wet.

Black Forest on a cold day (and not a cake in sight)

Today the weather was much improved and we went to the Kaiserstuhl for a nice hike (and another lunch, this time outside in the sun). On the hike we passed an old castle that sits on a Roman fort built to defend the much fought over border between Romans and Alemanni in the third and fourth century AD.

Burkheim in the Kaiserstuhl

Burg Sponeck

Bad Vilbel

We are spending a few days in a nice apartment in Bad Vilbel close to Frankfurt. Sheila underwent some neck surgery in Frankfurt two days ago, it all went well and she is back in our place now. There are some nice walks to do here and a couple of good restaurants. Unfortunately, the weather turned rather cool and grey, real autumn.

Tief im Pfälzer Wald

After a second negative COVID Test we came to the Palatinate and are visiting my parents now. We are staying in a holiday home about 30 min drive away, deep in the woods. Andrea is staying in Siegelbach. Today we all met at our place for a nice lunch and a short walk up the creek behind our house. The creek is quite small, but was used to send logs down to the river Rhine up to about 100 years ago.

Our location is where the hiker is shown

Nice walk after lunch

Hiking in the Spessart

We have arrived in Germany and are staying in a little holiday flat in the Spessart, northeast of Frankfurt, but situated in Bavaria. Andrea joined us for a few days and we spend our time hiking and enjoying the local food. The weather is hot and sunny with cool nights, perfect. All of us got tested yesterday and are Covid free.

Walking in the German woods

Back home, virus free

We made it back to Vancouver, just in time as it looks like. Canada now recommends against any non essential travels. We are feeling fine and had no contact with anybody infected with the Corona virus as far as we know. The weather here is cold, but sunny and should warm up over the next few days. The magnolia bush on our patio is starting to blossom and there are flowers on the ornamental fruit trees in our street, feels like spring is coming.

View from our patio

Trier

We are meeting with friends from our time in Heidelberg this weekend. We picked Trier to meet as a convenient location for all. This is Germany’s oldest city, founded by the Romans over 2,000 years ago and for some time was the largest city North of the Alps. The river Mosel has very high water right now, and the weather is a bit chilly, but we are enjoying our time together and catching up with news.

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Porta Nigra, the Roman city gate

Viewing the Mosel from our temporary home