I can't get enough of these colours!
Spring and summer over here were rainy, stormy and too cold. But this autumn pays back with lots of sun, light and barely rain. Golden!
A few weeks ago, a squad of loggers thinned out the woods below a landmark of Blaubeuren: The Schillerstein-monument above Gerhausen. For the first time in decades, as a neighbour told me, the specific rock ("Hörnle"), on which the Schillerstein was built a 100+ years ago, is visible again from the valley. And even better, the view from up there is not disturbed by tall trees anymore!
What a weird winter this season! It's already the second week of February and the snow and the cold are back again. One week ago, we were strolling in the sun, enjoying the first breeze of spring...
After three years of renovation, the "Rusenschloss" above Blaubeuren was finally reopened in October 2020. Originally, it was built in the 11th century, extended, later torn off and partly rebuilt in the 1970s. Although the castle itself is only a ruin nowadays, it is still impressing. And the view is amazing, even in the winter fog!
What an unomalous phenomenon: The wheather was so hot and unusual humid today, that Blaubeurens swelling pot "Blautopf" and the "Blau"-creek literally started to sweat when dusk set in. The steam and fog gave the impression of a grey and cold autum day, like November - while actually we mark the beginning of August!
Blaubeuren celebrated its 750 year of existence as a city with a big parade through the medieval old town, featuring marching bands and historical figures of the city's past.
So this morning we used the given hour after the time change for a stroll around the local karstic spring Blautopf ("blue pot") in Blaubeuren. The sun light, the autumn colours and the atmosphere merged into an overwhelming natural wonder. My eyes rested on this magic!
We were strolling through the woods near the local restaurant "Schillerstein", when we suddenly detected something "artificial": an old, deserted lodge. Even more gripping: nearby we found the entrance to that old tunnel. Later, the aged owner of the tavern told us, that this tunnel once was used to transport abort from a stone quarry, that was abandondend around the year 1900. Fascinating!
Maybe we should check, whether the tunnel today is already used for geocaching?!
For the second time within a few weeks we experienced a fascinating stone landscape in Blaubeuren-Gerhausen. 14 days after visiting the "Jurassic Alb" within the old abandonded quarry of our village, we went to see an art exhibition in the "new" quarry (- the one which is still in use). The exhibition took place the third time since 2010 and was featured throughout the local media as a "high-caliber project under the open sky". Decide for yourself!
Adventures, right on your doorstep (II): Two years ago, an abandoned old quarry near Gerhausen was transformed into a sort of private wildlife reservation. It hosts wild horses and wild cattle, both species new cultivars of extinguished savage animals. The parc is a state-wide model project, with the concept of species conservation by grazing and well supervised by nature conservation authorities. It's not open to the public, but since we know one of the owners, he took us for a private tour across the area and within three hours showed us almost every corner of the 75 hectares (185 acres) large property. We were just stunned: We'd never assumed so much beauty of animals and landscapes alike!
