New Road Trip thread ...

[wurlycorner]

Another vote for butter here...

[Sailor]

Day 10
Nabburg to Markneukirchen [2032M to date]

I couldn't believe this one is not butter ...



It was nesting on the 16th century town hall in Weiden, a market town in NE Bavaria.
The town also has a church with unusual art nouveau decoration. Much more impressive than the photos I was able to take.



The area around the baptismal font is particularly Klimt-like.




Up closer to the Czech border, we came across another church. In a field near Waldsassen, the Holy Trinity Chapel looks crisp on the outside ....



... crisp on the inside ...



... and then turns out to be baroque after all. Typical!




We dropped into the Czech Republic for a quick look at Cheb before heading north again.

[mercutio]

I miss driving all over Europe

[paul bristol uk]

Especially when you have to go home to Manchester!

[Sailor]

Day 11
Markneukirchen to Augustusburg [2134M to date]

It is said that the musical instrument makers of Markneukirchen can between them kit out an entire orchestra, so diverse is the range of things they build. I can believe it. The museum there has everything you'd need, including more than few oddballs.

A violin made of matchsticks



A three-necked guitar



A UK-marketed Elvis toy, plus a clever auto-chord device for your guitar



A thing pretending to be an auto-play trumpet but is actually a tape-driven harmonica



and the biggest violin in the world (it takes 2 to hold it, 2 to work the bow and a 5th person to actually finger the strings)




I used to work for the family who'd owned DKW before WW2, so we went to Zschopau to track down some bikes. All gone. The place to see them and their MZ successors is the palace at Augustusburg. We started with a quick look at the weird stuff in the dungeons:-



... and then went on to see Europe's biggest bike museum (allegedly). Nearly everything in it is of German origin, including this MZ that was good enough to take on the Japs.



Some history here, too



and the famed Suzuki Wankel-engined RE5, the only Japanese bike in the collection.

[Donald]

Nice stuff

The weird thing in the dungeon is a shaming mask. I'm not sure what the ears/bells mean precisely, probably an eavesdropper, but the tongue is to signify the person is a gossip

[Sailor]

The things you know, Donald! No doubt you've got one in the cellar?

[Sailor]

Day 12
Augustusburg to Koenigstein [2226M to date]

The people of the Erz Mountains are known for woodworking. In particular, they specialise in all sorts of knick-knacks for Christmas decorations, toys and stuff. The touristy centre is Seiffen, which takes it to another level:-




Our day's destination was further on, in the Elbe valley. We got there in plenty of time to sit outside with a cold beer and watch the sunset.



This part of the country is hilly. It also has impressive sandstone mesas.



Many of these massive rock piles have been used for fortifications over the millenia. One such is Koenigstein, a huge fastness overlooking the valley.

[wurlycorner]

You've taken some great pics Sailor

[Sailor]

You've taken some great pics Sailor

Ta!

Most were taken with a little Sony Cybershot point and squirt. A few with Ricky's phone.
And we mustn't forget having the luxury of not posting the hundreds of duff ones!