The Caribbean

Emily, an old friend of mine, currently works on a boat. A big boat. Let's call it a ship. She invited me to come sail with her for a week, and, as it is summer, I joined her.  We made a few stops at some islands in the Caribbean, and enjoyed some really pretty sunsets.   

Students, you won't believe it. There was a decades party on the ship. Unfortunately, I didn't have Rosie the Riveter with me, but I think we did ok.  Name that decade!

 

When traveling, always remember your camera and a map.

Charleston, South Carolina

What could be more patriotic than Charleston, South Carolina for the 4th of July?  Charleston doesn't get a lot of attention in Miss Davis' classroom because, unfortunately, early American history (including Civil War) is covered in 5th grade.  Despite this grave misfortune, however, Miss Davis fell in love with Charleston when she visited at the age of 8.  Miss Davis doesn't know why she proceeded in third person, but she will discontinue now.  

To my great delight, one of my dear friends in Birmingham grew up just outside of Charleston, and invited me to spend the 4th of July with her family. What a treat it was.

I love the architecture in old cities. It's my favorite part. 

 Really long bridge. 

Sailboats!  I love sailboats!

Carriage ride through the city. 

Happy 4th!

Old canon. 

Around Lörrach

Lörrach is a very special place to me. I love it. And I love the people there. The following are some photos of my favorite places and activities around the city, and some straight up great photographs :)

From the castle, Rötteln 

 From my favorite view.

 Castle ruins. 

 Biking: best way to see the city.

These are from the tallest building downtown.

Early morning bike ride. 

Bike ride through the park. 

Bike ride home one evening. The Wiesse is the river that runs through Lörrach, down to Basel, and into the Rhine River. 

Freiburg

Freiburg is one of my favorite cities in Germany. This was my third time to visit, but the first time to visit in the summer. Freiburg is very unique in that there are small, man made creeks running through the city that actually flow from a natural creek outside the city. The water moves quickly and is very clean, so on a hot summer day you will see people slide their shoes off and sit down to cool off. Or, you might see moms out with their kids playing in the creeks. My favorite are the kids pulling their toy boats and ducks behind them in the creek. 

The local tradition is that if you accidentally fall into one of the creeks that you will marry someone from Freiburg.  No accidents here, but I did have a nice iced coffee with Ramona while sticking my feet in the water. The creek ran right by the cafe.

Hartmannswillerkopf - WWI Battle Field

WWI was not as long as many wars throughout the history of the world, but it was one of the most brutal. We study the trench warfare and the military changes that occurred during WWI in 6th grade every fall.  As often as I've visited Germany this was actually my first visit to a WWI battlefield.

Hartmannswillerkopf (sounds like: Heart man's viller copf) is at the top of a mountain on the old border of France and Germany.  The region is called the Alcase, and it was fought over between French and German many times before WWI.  For 4 years French and German soldiers fought for control of this mountain top, which became French with the Treaty of Versailles. 

Memorial. 

 

Barbed wire from WWI still standing on the French side. 

French bunker. 

 German bunker.

 French side. 

100 year old barbed wire. 

View from the top. 

Memorial

 

Farm next to the battle field. 

Backyard Cookout and Concert

I love good music.  I also love a nice, summer evening cookout. This was nice little trip down to Switzerland for just that with Ramona and Larissa to see Chasing Summer. http://chasingsummer.us/

I've never had motion sickness in my life... until this particular evening. 

Tour de Rhine

Every year I teach about the Rhine river in multiple classes.  The Rhine divides Germany from France along Germany's western border, it flows from south to north, and has been an essential part of trade in Western Europe for centuries. Today there is the natural Rhine and the canal alongside it that is used for shipping.  Ramona grew up very close to the river and so she took me on a bike tour.  During the world wars Germans were set up on one side of the river and French on the other side.  There are still a few bunkers left that you can see, and according to Ramona's dad there are more that still remain on the French side.  

This is the Rhine canal used for shipping.

And, parallel to the canal is the natural Rhine river.

Ok.  Bike tour pictures:

This was not the Rhine, but Ramona took us through a creek to get to the trail.

Along the river. 

It's a little high right now. Really was wishing I had my canoe. 

And then lunch. This is my favorite restaurant in the area: Fünfschilling. That is fresh apple juice you see.  They made it from the apples out back.