Fahren fahren fahren auf der Autobahn

Today we left Ludwigshafen and we chased the sunny holes in the clouds down to Freiburg, a picturesque town in the Black Forest (Schwarzwald). We saw the spacious cathedral in Freiburg and shopped at the farmer's market. Most people ate some delicious Wurst from street vendors, and the chaperones tried donkey salami (no joke). Then we saw a cuckoo clock demonstration, ate a good meal and enjoyed a traditional Black Forest cake (Schwartzwälder Kirschtorte) for Emily's birthday (Herzlichen Glückwünsch zum Geburtstag, Emily!). We read the original text of Hänsel und Gretel by the Brother's Grimm in a small chapel with a creepy pile of human bones in the basement (a graveyard had been dug up years ago and the bones moved to the chapel). We hit a bonus country -- Switzerland! We ventured just over the border to view the Rhein Falls and play on a rather unique playground (other blog post to follow). Then we traveled to the city of Konstanz on Lake Constance (Bodensee) for a bit more shopping and exploration. The streets and architecture were beautiful; there was so much to look at. Finally, we checked into our hotel in Singen, and it is modern and comfortable. We are pretty much past our jetlag and the students are adapting very well. The German people have been very nice and everyone is having a great time. I'm still working on uploading photos -- our tour guide Kris has posted some at the Explorica site, but we'll get some up here eventually! All the best, Ms. Nak

Freiburger Münster (cathedral)

Outside the cathedral



Inside the cathedral in Freiburg

Wurst (including donkey!) at the market in Freiburg

Cuckoo clock shop

Emily eating Black Forest Cake in the Black Forest for her birthday

Small chapel near cuckoo clock shop