Auf der Insel Reichenau im Bodensee

Die Insel Reichenau ist ein Juwel im Bodensee! Sie ist seit dem Jahr 2000 als Ganzes auf der UNESCO Liste als Welt Kulturerbe geschuetzt.
Am 17. Juni haben wir eine eintaegige Busreise dorthin unternommen, es war toll, auch mit dem Wetter hatten wir Glueck! Es war der sonnigste und waermste Tag im ganzen Monat Juni!

Die Bodenseeinsel Reichenau im Untersee (Teil des Bodensees) wurde erst im Jahr 1838 durch einen Damm mit dem Festland direkt verbunden. Lange Zeit lebten die Reichenauer Bauern hauptsächlich vom Weinanbau. Mittlerweile stellte der Obst- und Gemüseanbau an erster Stelle. Die Genossenschaftsbauern der Insel liefern Frischgemüse nach ganz Süddeutschland Daneben bietet der Fremdenverkehr einigen Inselbewohnern ein zusätzliches Einkommen.

Recap from 2008 - Trachtenfest in Ulm

Die Schwabenmetropole Ulm an der Donau. Als Nicht- Schwabe muss man sich erst dran gewoehnen, besonders an die Sprache! Wie heisst es so schoen im Volksmund:

Mir Schwobe kennet alles, nur koi Hochdeutsch!

Nach einer Zeit der Eingewoehnung kann man sich aber hier durchaus heimisch fuehlen.

Im vergangenen Jahr waren Rima und Ioannis aus Miami Beach hier bei uns zu Besuch, bei Rima hat's alte Heimatgefuehle geweckt, ihr Freund Ioannis aus Kuba hat es ebenfalls sehr genossen und will wiederkommen, vielleicht schon im kommenden Sommer - die Alten wuerden sich freuen!

Hier ein paar Fotos vom beliebten Trachtenfest an der Donau.

Back Porch party March 26, 2009

It was an enjoyable party with lots of food, some beer and mixed drinks, and great guitar playing by Dick.




Here is (from left) Joe from Massachusetts, Florindo, originally from Italy, and Loretta, his wife.


Dick's guitar playing was great entertainment.
Listening, or getting ready to take a photo, are Lita from the Philipines, Roy, her husband, a former Air Force officer, and Wilma, the guitar player's wife.



Terry, Joe's wife, is always ready for a joke.


Petra's glass art works were much admired.


Terry in action.
Food was in abundance.
There's always a topic to discuss.





All of these guys are avid dancers, meeting at least once a week at Joe Cotti's dance afternoon.
The hosts in original Bavarian outfit.



A week later:
Our Chinese-American friends at a dinner party of the same group in the former NCO Club at Patrick AFB.

Trip to Sierra Madre and Copper Canyon

We were on a tour organized by CARAVAN, an American tourist organization we have already done 2 other trips with and liked the way they handle it.
Our mode of travel from the point of departure was bus from El Paso, Texas, to Creel, and by train from Creel to El Fuerte and back to Chihuahua , from Chihuahua back to El Paso again by bus. Everything was well organized, the hotel accommodations and - in Creel - the cottage, was excellent and the tour director, Manuel, very experienced, a nature lover and history buff (Mexican history).

Here is a 5-minute brief about Mexican history:

Mexico is a North American country and reflects a vibrant blend of Spanish and native cultures and rare natural beauty. Since 1994 it has been a member of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with the US and Canada.

The most prominant cultures - before the arrival of the Spanish Conquistadores in 1519 (Cortez) - were the Maya and the Aztec. Their legacy is reflected not only in the restored historic monuments which bear witness of a high degree of civilization, but also in the faces of an enthusiastic and optimistic nation.

In 1821 Mexico achieved independence from Spain, and underwent a revolution under the leadership of Francisco "Pancho" Villa. The new constitution drafted at that time was the most advanced in the world, e.g. abolition of slavery, no death penalty, and much more! The constitution is still in effect now.

A little further down I will give you some more details of our trip.
First the train trip with the Chihuahua - Pacifico railway, called CHEPE, CHE for Chihuahua, and P for Pacifico. I took almost all of these pics from the train while travelling.












Here are some pics of a Mexican fashion show which was staged for us in our hotel.























Our hotel accommodations.













Hotel in El Fuerte, mit Pool und Kolibris



Here in the town of CREEL we were accommodated in log cabins - very romantic - and comfortable inside.