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Post by JustJohn or JJ on Oct 11, 2013 10:33:00 GMT -7
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Post by pieter on Oct 11, 2013 13:52:43 GMT -7
Wonderful, magic place in a wood in the Schwarzwald in Baden-Württemberg, southwestern Germany. I like the autumn colors, the special light and the delicate and refined green of the small plants. I love those places in nature which have the freedom of fresh air, wildlife and absense of city smog, traffic, crowds (masses of people) of a artificial civilization. Maybe that is typical 19th century German romantic thinking, but I don't care. I love trees (especially large and old trees), special plants, fern and the angelic thin forest grass. John, When I think about the Black Forest I think about my fathers story about his only holiday to Nazi Germany in the summer of 1935 as a 7 year old boy. He spend a summer holiday wit his parents and sister in hotel-pension Ruhestein in the Black Forest. Both my father and an Amsterdam friend of mine stayed in the same hotel, but only 50 years between each visit.    His parents (my granparents) had German bonds (stocks) and the only way to use those bonds in that period was to spend a holiday in Germany. They were early tourists and had long walks in the mountains. There was a huge Nazi flag on that hotel. Not all the locals seemed to be Nazi's. Some visitors, a few stif German ladies, greeted with Sieg Heil, other local farmers, lumberjacks and workers greeted with Grüßgott, it was ofcourse a Roman-Catholic and traditional area. Cheers, Pieter |
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Post by JustJohn or JJ on Mar 7, 2014 13:09:32 GMT -7
The Black Forest in Germany  |
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Post by karl on Mar 7, 2014 20:21:34 GMT -7
J.J.
Very beutiful photographs, thank you kindly for presenting. Also was I to enjoy Pieters discreption of his father as a young man on a holiday trip. Reminded my self of as a young fellow into the near by forest in the winder mist off the sea. In summer, some times if the wind was correct, in evening the mist would come up and into the trees as to be so mysterious to a young emagination. To then search out the fairy rings in hidden open spaces between the trees and wait for the little ones to come out and play. Of course this never happened.
I was once so engrossed in this emaginary world, I covered my self with leaves and fell asleep whilst waiting to suprise a little fairy..Not sure the length of time sleeping, my two loud cousins found me and whilst kicking off the leaves, darn near broke my ribs. I had missed supper, caught a heck of scolding from Auntie was condemed to washing dishes, and not just washing, but drying. All this time, both dear cousins were sticking their tougns out and hissing. It was all very mortifing.
The lesson: It is ok to watch for fairies, but do not go to sleep and do not miss supper.
Karl
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Post by pieter on Mar 8, 2014 6:31:21 GMT -7
Dear JJ and Karl,
Now this reminds me of the many walks I had in the Belgian Ardens woods in my youth (between 1978 and 2002). In the summer I was back in the wonderful German (Eupen) part of the same Ardennes. It are melancholic and nostalgic memories, because I have spend so many holidays and long weekends in those Belgian mountains, and for sure the autumn and winters experiences there were as important as the spring and summer holidays there. It rained a lot there in the mountains, and fog and dew in the early morning created wonderful misty and farytale like sensitive (to a young boy's opinion) landscapes in front of your eyes. I liked to get up in the early morning to go walk in those moments between dark and light when nature has something magic. The animals of the night go to rest and the day animals start living. This red color of leaves I remember too. There were a lot of Fagus sylvatica's, the European beeches there, both green and red, very large ones. Next to them oaks, tilia's and other kind of trees. Like many boys I liked to climb the trees and rocks next to them. Mountain life was healthy and I am greatful that I was able to spend so much time in them, thanks to my parents, who bought ground there, built a house and created a wonderful garden together with me and my sister. I have a lot of fond memories. And whenever I see images of mountains or mountainwoods like this one, I think about the Ardennes.
Ofcourse the Black Forest in Germany is larger and different, but both mountain area's have large forests and thus a lot of natural environment. We people love it.
Cheers,
Pieter
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Post by JustJohn or JJ on Apr 14, 2014 11:48:24 GMT -7
Purple Haze, The Black Forest, Germany  |
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Post by Jaga on Apr 14, 2014 22:42:37 GMT -7
John,
beautiful pictures of Black Forest (Schwartzwald). I always wanted to go there for a trip and I was in this region, but never really had a chance to venture.
I like your new nick with a cat!
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