Category: Travel

Gimmeldingen Mandelblütenfest

Timothy Price34 Comments

Pink was the theme at the Gimmeldingen Mandelblütenfest

Despite Freyja blocking the way, we rode the train to the Gimmeldingen Mandelblütenfest (Almond Blossom Festival).

Atlas thought it looked like fun

On second thought…

Graffiti along the way

Vineyards, almond trees and towns around Gimmeldingen

There were a lot of people, kids, and dogs celebrating the Almond Blossoms.

Roasting salmon on planks

There were all kinds of food and drink available as we strolled along the roads

Mandelblütenfest Chicken

This is an interesting building. It seems like a place for pilgrims to stay.

Castle at Frankenstein through the train car window.

Wheelchair or Rolser access?

The Cutest Chapel

Timothy Price38 Comments

Tristan Pointed out this really cute chapel…

…looking over Landstuhl from the Schlossruine Nanstein Castle

Landstuhl

Atlas thinks the chapel is cool, also!

Knight in the pavers

Fountain with a Camino de Santiago symbol

The oldest houses in Landstuhl are from around the 16th century.

Atlas wants to hire the maid on the van.

On to Ehemalige Festung Homburg

Homburg

With castle ruins comes more tunnels and stairs

A scratching of the 250-million-year-old ichthyosaur remains they found in the limestone in 1968.

The sign says it’s dangerous. I had to check it out. When I stepped on the floor and started to sink in the much, I decide the sign was not kidding.

Another danger sign

Where I would have come out if I have ventured past the muck

Atlas eared me that I was a wimp for not going through the dangerous tunnel.

I came across a wheelbarrow on a landing looking for the restroom at an Asian restaurant. I got confused. It could have been from jet lag, the Dragon Fruit drink, or the pole dancing. It’s hard to say.

Atlas giving me an ear up for getting lost trying to find the restroom at an Asian restaurant.

Hotel Giles

Timothy Price51 Comments

Hotel Giles at night

At this time last week, we were staying at the Hotel Giles in Comfort, TX (https://www.hotelgiles.com/). We had driven 687 miles to Comfort to experience the total eclipse of the sun. Comfort, TX, was in the direct path of the eclipse, so we got around 4 minutes and 20 seconds of totality. Hotel Giles is a wonderful hotel that was perfect for viewing the eclipse with its large open space behind the hotel. The owners and staff were friendly and went out of their way to make our stay pleasant and memorable. They kept us informed on what was happening in Comfort, arranged for lunch, and made the guests dinner for a reasonable price on Monday since most restaurants were closed on Monday. A delicious home-cooked breakfast was included in the price of the room, and the coffee was excellent. If you are in the area, I highly recommend staying at the Hotel Giles.

The Hotel Giles was originally Hotal Faust, designed and built by architect Alfred Giles for Paul Ingenhuett in 1880. Alfred Giles was an English architect who moved to San Antonio, TX, in 1875 for health reasons and became a well-known and influential architect in San Antonio, southwestern Texas, and northern Mexico. He was also involved in ranching near Comfort. You can read more about Alfred Giles at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Giles_(architect).

The room we stayed in.

Interior stairway and the Parlor where guests gather. They have jam sessions on Friday nights.

This guy had been waiting for years for the eclipse.

The courtyard and gazebo at night.

The Cottage, a covered deck, and the Cabin.

The barn and a Tesla charging station out front.

Santa Fe Riot 2009

Timothy Price32 Comments

Farm and Ranch Graffiti on a beached box car. In 1980, a riot broke out at the New Mexico State Penitentiary in Santa Fe, NM. It turned into the most deadly prison riot in U.S. history. The graffiti on the box car is a rather bold reminder for us folks who remember the Penitentiary riot.

Another Old School

Timothy Price63 Comments

White Oaks Schoolhouse was built in 1895. It’s only open on weekends, so I did not get to go inside. White Oaks, New Mexico is 17 miles northeast of Carrizozo, New Mexico. The White Oaks webpage is at http://whiteoaksnm.com/index.html. There is also a wiki on White Oaks, NM: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Oaks%2C_New_Mexico.

It has a three-hole outhouse.

A safe from the old post office and bile of mystery metal. Although there is an old tricycle on the concrete slab.

View from the west side of the school.

The south side of the school.

The east side of the school.