Early last week, we got the cabin fever and wanted to get outside for some fresh air. It was Reunion Day, our national holiday, and a gorgeous late summer afternoon, so we decided to go on a hike in the beautiful Altmühltal, a nature park just around the corner from my home town. The river that used to meander through the valley has in part been replaced by the Rhine-Main-Danube Canal, and with it a lot of the endemic species of both plants and animals went away. However, parts of the old river still remain; squeezed in between a former branch and a formation of impressive limestone cliffs is the medieval village of Essing – a scenery right out of a movie set.
Located on the cliffs above the village is the Castle of Randeck, which dates back to the 10th century. Monday, October 3, 2011.
The old city gate of Essing with the wooden bridge across the Altmühl river.
Fall has colored the trees lining the historic Ludwig's Canal southeast of Essing.
Bicyclists ride past a pedestrian underpass on the Altmühl bike trail.
The historic houses near the market square in Essing are dwarfed by the limestone cliffs that tower over them.
The sun sets over the historic Ludwig's Canal near Essing, the 150-year-old predecessor of the Rhine-Main-Danube Canal.
October 10, 2011
Beth and I just went on a walk into the Kellnau, the fields behind our house in Abensberg. Sure enough it started pouring while we were out there, but we found shelter in a field of reed and managed to stay dry. On our way back, there was some amazing light when the sun broke through the clouds:
October 8, 2011
Last week, Beth and I went on a short trip to Elba with my family. The small island in the Italian Tuscany region is something like my second home, because my family and I vacationed there almost every year of my life. However, I hadn’t been there in almost four years because of my stint in the States. It’s hard to describe how much I missed this place and how excited I was to finally go back there. I was so busy enjoying the experience that I hardly took any pictures, let alone good ones. Beth did a way better job, which you can see here (and at the end of this post…). In the meantime, here are a few of mine:
The early morning sun shines on the village of Capoliveri.
An Opunita bears rich fruit near the village of Ripe Alte. The figs from this cactus taste delicious, but picking them without gloves is a bad idea...
An old man climbs the stairs to his home in the mountain village of Marciana.
This winery between Chiessi and Colle d'Orano on Elba's wild West Coast is one of my favorite places on the entire island.
October 2, 2011
