Hinaus, Hinaus zum Hambacher Schloss! and Life in Haßloch

This morning we traveled to the Hambacher Castle. This castle is seen as an important symbol of German democracy because of the Hambacher Fest in 1832. The gathering was a time of brotherhood and speech making about the importance of democratic rights such as free press and speech, etc. The symbol of the movement itself was the Schwarz-Rot-Gold flag (which later was adopted as German colors). Feeding off of the French Revolution movement, this Fest would later help influence the Revolutions of 1848/49. Here are some pictures from the castle which, even in the time of the Fest, was basically ruins.

View from the schloss. Fyi, all castles are built on hills so you can shoot cannonballs at everyone below and make them pay taxes.

A lot of this farmland consists of vineyards. The area we are in is the Rhineland-Palatinate and it is known for its wine.

Medieval Times? I bet on the White Knight!

Big German plaque that says why the castle is important

Really thick walls

Someone left a heart wreath in one of the schloss Konferez-Saal (halls)

I told Hans that if I can't get a picture of him, he doesn't exist. Always behind the camera, now in front.

Of course, I must take a picture of anything that has my name (Schäfer aka Schaefer)

Life in Haßloch

The Weidenbach residence

Leberkäse is a German staple. Basically a giant fried bologna sandwich. Oh and bread. Immer brot.

How do you know you live with boys? Is it the urinal in the bathroom? The many bottles of Axe? The swimsuit calendar? No, it's the barbed wire toilet seat.

In the old cemetery, this is a memorial to the WWII dead of Haßloch

Walking through the cemetery

Old houses

More old houses

Germany is very into solar power and other green energy. The Weidenbachs sell some of their solar power and get to use the rest.

Grapes grow in the backyard

Käthe finally let me help make dinner. She insisted I wear this apron.

Tonight we had flammkuchen, almost like a German pizza...ish

That white sauce is fresh cream and plain yogurt and God knows what else. CREAM CREAM CREAM.

Of course some kind of ham goes on this.

And pepperoni (remember this means little peppers) and onions

Hans made this wood oven

I surprised Florian by taking a picture. He HATES getting his picture taken and refuses to smile, so this is a good as it gets.

Right now, I am bummed because Haßloch is literally starting it's hugh Andeckser Bier Fest tomorrow and I am leaving in the morning for Salzburg. The Bier Fest is going to be so enormous, Käthe and I took a walk through the streets and already so much is being set up. I cannot even imagine how many people will be here because it seems like almost every street of the town is involved. Dominik says that all of his friends come back from wherever they are just for this event. Hopefully I will get to have a little taste of this kind of fun at Oktoberfest in München (Munich)!

Off to Salzburg!