Fried in Freiburg - Saturday June 28

gargoyle on Munst


top of the Munster - you can't kill the rooster


Funny looking little house-like things (chimneys?) seen from the top of the Munst.

Johanneskirche


Beautiful bee door handle

yufka-doners





Munster Marktplatz

Site of the original Katzentor (Cat's Door!)

The Dreisam




Today I have been married for HALF OF MY LIFE. Happy Anniversary, Pat - miss and love you. Wish you could see the outfits carpenters (Zimmerman) are required to wear. More about that later, and we shall try to get some pictures. (Picture added - Pat - how would you like to HAVE to dress like that guy in the picture? But wait until you hear about the required Walz.)

We actually got up early and were out by 10! We had rhubarb pie and coffee on the balcony and set out for the Töpfermarkt (hand-crafted pottery market and which we referred to as the "Pottery Barn") which was in Freiburg close to where Jane used to live in Lorettostrasse. There was a fresh fruit and vegetable market as well, and about 25 or so potters with their wares, including sculptures, fountains, even jewelry. Lots of bowls & cups too. We didn't find anything we had to have. Walked back to the car and to a Konditorei (bakery, aka "Commandatore", said in Paulie Walnut's voice.) We had coffee and some awesome quiche.

We drove a few blocks closer to Freiburg center, parked the car and walked the rest of the way into town where we did a lot of window shopping, walked around the market in the Münsterplatz and tried to score some fresh dates. (They are only fresh in September - who knew?)

Walking through the downtown area there are always a lot of street performers, but this was a new one on us - an old guy KNITTING. He had a crowd of small girls around him watching him and he was just charming. I bought 2 potholders from him, one a cool coral color, the other turquoise.

I found two bead shops. One had a fair variety of Turkostan pendants and unusual beads, the other mostly had jewelry made by the proprietor's girlfriend. Very nice stuff. At a toy store we found a cool little viewer-thingy that allowed you to see to the side. Of course, because of our brother, we had to say, "side-a-ways." He's never far from us.

As always, there were many street artists, including painters, musicians, an organ grinder and two horrible rappers. (Sorry for being redundant.) There is a movie of the rappers. Sorry again.

We also stopped into a uniform store, where you could buy chef's clothing, etc. We got to see the official clothing of the Zimmerman (carpenter) - black corduroy bell-bottom trousers, a black vest with silver buttons, very natty-looking, no plumber's cracks allowed.

We stopped at a fan shop because tomorrow we are going to the Euromeistershaft - the big football (soccer) finale between Germany and Spain. We needed to look like locals. We ended up buying ball-style caps in the German flag colors. A little farther down we went into a toy store so I could buy a Pippi Longstocking card and the proprietor was so impressed with us that he gave us German flag pins and soccer-ball lollipops.

Everywhere around the Münst they were setting up tables and kiosks. Turns out there was to be a summer fest that night.

We intended to visit Jess & Lynn, but got sidetracked (just like last Sept) at Euphrat, the best Middle-Eastern restaurant in Freiburg. We had FABULOUS yufka-doners and sat and people-watched while we ate. It was a near-tragedy when I left my hat there, but Jane ran back and made a save.

We walked back over to the Münsterplatz and climbed all the way to the top of the cathedral - first to the area where the bells are, then up almost to the tippy top. The tippy top is closed right now because they are working on it. It was a beautiful view, a gorgeous day. And always interesting to see graffiti from the 1400s. We spent quite a lot of time up there enjoying the view.

We decided to hang out for the summer fest, but it was fairly early so we walked over to the side of the mountain behind the Münst, took the elevator up to a bier garten, grabbed a couple of Radlers and read our books for a while. Jane even took a nap. Later we walked back down to the center of town where hundreds of people had started to gather. We talked the Shalimar (Indian restaurant) kiosk guys into making us a platter with saffron rice, chana masala, chicken kurma, pakora and samosas, grabbed a few more Radlers and had our dinner. The town was teeming with people and it looked like there would be music, but we were bushed so we walked back to the car, drove home and watched The Fully Monty (with subtitles.) I got to open one of my birthday presents (Janet Evanovich's Fearless Fourteen.)

Mom had left us a Skype message that she needed to talk to us, which freaked us out at first. We called and she put us on hold, then we were talking to Mikey! He was back from his vacation with Don. It was nice to talk to my boy.

We finally went to bed around 12:30, thoroughly sunburned.

This post also has some pictures of Jane's apartment, including her "garden" and the tomatoes we got to eat while I was there.





This is what the carpenters have to wear - how about it, Pat?