Hansel and Gretel and their Ginger Bread house!

cable car uppppp upppp uuuuupp
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Our train arrived, deep within the BLAAAAACK FOOORREEEESSSTT just as a dark and low cloud was moving in quickly. The idea of camping was laughable so we decided to stay in the hostel. Unfortunately our phone card was kaput so we had to take the tram alllll the way across town to the hostel, as the thunder and lighting is getting strong, only to find out they are booked.

HECK!

So we went back into town and as we were wandering around in the rain (but at least it was really warm rain)looking for a hotel, this girl came up and asked if she could help. she gave us directions and told us that if she still lived there, she would give us a place to stay because she just got back from the Santiago de Compostela pilgrimmage where the pilgrims depend on the kindness of others, but sadly she was visiting a friend. Oh well, it was nice to have the help and the gesture!

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We found a hotel just as it was getting frighteningly dark and lightningy and thundery. It was called the Sonne hotel and had an extremely nice man running it.  It was exactly the kind of hotel Barb (aunt) talked about- reasonable prices (more reasonable for her than for our budget!!), amazing beds with GOOD sheets and feather pillows and duvets, but no other frills. AMAZING breakfast.  Very good.

The next day, we brought our stuff to the campground (weather was better) then took a cable car to a height of 1302m- the peak of the nearby mountain! In the BLACK FOREST!!! We talked about hansel and gretel while we walked through the woods.

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But stupid us, we didn't think of the altitude cold! so there's us, huddling close in our shorts and tees, trying not to think of how cold we were, while the clouds are literally descending upon us!

As we took the cable car down we actually saw the cloud line far below us and then we passed it!

There was a wine festival going on so we went there, though we didn't buy any of the 3euro/glass wine! We just strolled and people watched and brass band watched!

Camping was much more enjoyable there than in Sweden andwe woke up refreshed and ready to go the next morning!

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We took all our stuff to the train station and checked it, then walked around the very 'german' looking town. We tried some authentic

Black Forest Cake

Black forest ham

Black forest camembert (? who knew?)

black forest cake in the black forest
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and bought some Birkenstocks (early anniversary present)

Before taking our train out of there!