CI, did you take any photos from the auto interior on your speedy ride through Germania? she says, picturing unfocused streaks outside side windows...
I mention this as a somewhat practiced car photo-er.
My business partner has this annoying, over time - stepping aside, understandable - need to be in control, so of course she likes to be the driver. Fine with me, I'd hate to have her in the passenger seat counting off steering errors, especially going through my favorite forest.
So, I have as a slightly trapped passenger who happens to paint tried to photo this place or that. Hard to stop, as the highway doesn't allow for that all so much.
I quickly learned that the photos out of the front window turned out better than those from the sides.
I did get a painting out of a photo like that, some time ago...
as my exhub drove over the bridge to Hemet (dammit) around the year end holidays, we were near the last over a bridge in a wild and wooly rainstorm before it split apart. My out of focus out of window was a neg I had blown up into an 11 x 14 and eventually did a painting of. No big deal except that I liked being there and doing that.
Professor Walter was our driver-guide from Amsterdam to Lippstadt.
Walter arrived at the Eden Hotel at 9AM as he said he would. I trudged with my carry-on luggage and a triangular box that held the poster I bought at the Van Gogh Museum of the "tree blossom" about an hour before our meeting time.
We loaded up our luggage in his car, and were on our way. Dys and Diane sat in the back, and I took the passenger seat in front with Walter.
As we left Amsterdam behind us, Walter pushed the gas pedal a little harder, but it was still at moderate speeds. As we crossed the border from Holland into Germany, it was nice we didn't need to stop for customs. But this is where Walter pushed the gas pedal to the floor, and we were zipping towards our first stop at over 200kph.
Our first stop was at a restaurant on the Rhine for coffee. We saw several barges plying their way on the river towards some unknown destination. The scenery was excellent; the blue water with greenery all around gave it a tranquil feeling. It was a nice rest stop. Our next stop was at a man-made lake resort area. Very few man-made constructions could be seen from our vantage point, and it was one of the most serene scenes during my 30-day journey. It was just beautiful. Our last stop for lunch was at a place with a profusion of restaurants, and we went to the brewery-restaurant, one of the largest there.
Walter took us to his home to introduce us to Ulla, and to serve us some refreshments, before he dropped us off at the Jonathan Hotel to freshen up before dinner.
During the mean time, Walter went to pick up McTag at the airport that was delayed, but we all met at the restaurant a few blocks away from the hotel. I only remember that the specialty was white asparagus which most of us ordered. It was delicious!
This was the first time I had met Urs in person, although I knew of her trips to Florida for a couple of a2k gatherings at Rae's hometown. She was not only delightful, but pretty as well. I was happy to finally meet her.
The folks at this a2k gathering were, Urs, Walter, Ulla, McTag, Clary, dys, Diane and your's truly. It was a truly excellent group for so many to come together like this to be able to enjoy each other's company with good food and drinks. Ulla even mentioned the fact that she first questioned how so many from a2k could come together like this and get along so well - like we?'ve known each other as friends for a much longer period. The discussions, food and drink were all excellent.
For the next day, Walter decided to take us to Munster on tour, so we jumped into two cars for our journey.
As we drove out of Lippstadt, Walter shared with us his family history, and the street named for an ancestor.
Walter started to hint that there is something extra-ordinary in Munster that we must see. As the landscape of rapeseed passed by, I must have dozed for a few minutes.
After Walter parked the car in the garage, he walked us to the surprise - a bicycle garage. The bike garage had hundreds of bikes on two levels of racks. One section had locked doors where the bike owner leased their space. First time I ever saw a bike garage.
We walked through the downtown area of Munster and went to the history museum or Westfalisches Landesmuseum fur Kunst und Kulturgeschichte on Pferdegasse Street about five blocks from the parking lot - in the rain. The museum has some interesting sculptures from a much earlier period, and what seems like a government hall. I'm sure Walter told us what it was, but I forgot.
We found our way eventually to a small shopping mall where we were able to find seating to have a snack. The place Walter wanted to take us was full.
The streets of Munster were filled with people because they were having some kind of festival. We saw food booths, and I was tempted to stop by one with sausages, but we had to find shelter from the rain.
I'm glad we made a visit to Munster, because it gave us a better feel for Germany. The big cities like Frankfurt or Berlin are too cosmopolitan, and feel like any big city in the world - except for the unique architecture of Berlin. I thought it rather interesting to see Asians in Munster, and wondered if they were residents or tourists? We went to Walter's place for drinks and snacks after our trip to Munster, and some got on to post onto a2k.
We had dinner at the Jonathan Hotel that evening, and some of us enjoyed the asparagus soup. We also enjoyed some wine with dinner.
The following morning was a late start, and it was my day to leave Lippstadt for Berlin by train. Walter played driver-guide-host again, and drove dys, Diane and I through downtown Lippstadt after we stopped at an old church façade. Fortunately for us, they were having some sort of antique auto show, so we were able to see some old cars in mint condition. The square in downtown Lippstadt also has a unique set of sculptures where one can shake the hands. Walter drove back towards the hotel to gather the other folks before I was delivered to the train station, but Clary somehow missed the signal Walter gave her, and she just disappeared in her car. Walter drove a few blocks, then turned back, but Clary was nowhere to be found. Since it was getting close to my departure time, Walter headed for the train station.
We waited about 15-minutes for my train to arrive at 2:28PM, and after I boarded, everybody waved goodbye. It was really a very nice get-together, and I'm glad I was able to spend the two nights in Lippstadt to enjoy all of their friendships.
I had to transfer at Hamm for my train to Berlin. When I arrived at the Berlin Zoo (train station), I just flagged a taxi for a ride to my hotel in the Mitte District where most of the museums are located. But Berlin is for another day.
Our hotel in Lippstadt, the Jonathan.
Walter and Ulla. Some of the nicest people I know on this planet.
Don't ask me about this 'strange' couple at our gathering in Lippstadt. I think his name was McTag, and her name is Urs.
The bicycle garage in Munster.
Remain of church in Lippstadt.
Browsing at the museum in Munster.
Recognize anyone? On the left seated are Urs and Walter. Standing in the middle are Clary, Diane and McTag.
And finally, the group of the Lippstadt a2k Gathering.
Okay, I got the dope on what "that" gerbera flower is from a very good source - a botany professor.
"It is a Transvaal Daisy, a native of South Africa. Actually it is a cultivar developed from crosses between Gerbera jamesonii and Gerbera viridifolia. It seems to be the cultivar called Brigadoon Red."
Raise your hand if you already knew that!
Good pix, and good flower research!
Good botanical research. And the breeders were probably right nearby. I found the photo of the red tulip with the white tulips in the background to be smashing! Caught my breath as it suddenly popped into view.
sumac, Glad you thought that photo was "smashing." Made my day.
I knew, and within the same timespan dys knew, that it was gerbera. Jamesonii is the cultivar we see here in the western US, but the leaves differ, which perplexed me.
I'm glad there is eventual identification as a mix, thank you, CI.
On the delightful photographic ride - I loved it.
My favorite is the fuzzy photo of McTag and Urs with the contrasting backgrounds. I enjoyed all of the photos immensely.
C.i., your journal is bringing back some treasured memories. Dys and I didn't take good notes, so you are our travelogue and diary rolled into one.
The photos are gorgeous. Have I told you yet how sweet and cute you are?
Thanks for the photos, c.i.!!!
(The one above the group, in Münster, is not from the museum but from the 'peace hall' in the ancient Münster Town Hall'.)
