Sopron Hungary

Eric and I finally had some time to ourselves in Sopron, Hungary. We got there new years eve. Our hotel was on top of the hill so we had an amazon view of the fireworks. Unlike our safety conscious American version of fireworks, in Europe everyone apparently sets off their own fireworks display. And not little ones either. So Sopron is a smallish town, but there were spectacular fireworks in every direction. We drank our $2 sparkling wine (that was actually really good, go Hungary), and watched fireworks till we froze. it was fun.

New Years Day we went in to the old town of Sopron. It is one of the few towns in Hungary that wasn't destroyed in the war, and it is charmingly shabby. On New years day though, it was spookily empty.

Hairstylist

Sopron's iconic fire watch tower. Under renovation, of course.

A cool alley

a short door

One of the cool things about this town is that it still has its ancient town wall. And here is an excavation of the old Roman town that started at this site.

The main square, empty empty empty

Fun street views

the old city wall, from outside this time

Munich

After Schaffhausen, we stopped in Munich to hang out with Gudrun and Sebastian, who you may remember from my trip to Africa

I didn't really get any pictures of Munich, just these 2. but that's ok

Walk to the Rheinfalls

Eric and I took a walk to the Rheinfalls. We started in a really cool old monastery in Schaffhausen. They had gardens divided up into the different periods of history. It was winter, and I can't read german, so it wasn't so informative. but with a guide, in summer, I bet it is super cool.

Then we went for a wonderful walk to the waterfall. This bridge spans the top of the falls.

An old mill converted to a tourist center

Hotel overlooking the falls.

Sunset and waterfalls, pretty cool

Back in Schaffhausen.

Stein am Rhein

Thomas took us to Stein am Rhein for a bit of tourist fun. It is a famous town due to all the painted buildings. This church has a super high, skinny tower (the picture really doesn't show) that was last reproofed by a single man and some ropes. He apparently did a hand stand on the little gold ball on top. yikes!

Its an adorable little town

And the paintings are very grand

Overly touristy of course, but hey

watering trough

Pretty buildings

St. George, the patron cain, guards their sewers. fun for him

more paintings, blow them up and look at the stores, they are odd

Castle on the hill

Eric and Thomas

Just cause I like it

Part of an old monastery, I think

View from the castle

and the castle itself

More of Thomas and Denise's house

Thomas's office

The garden from the living room

A tiny door, saved for the pure oddity of it

The second floor room that Eric and I are staying in.

The next door bedroom. The oddest long skinny room I've ever seen. All 3 main living floors were divided up like this

Christmas lights in town

Schaffhausen

Eric and I have started our winter European trip in the Swiss town of Schaffhausen. We are staying with his friends Thomas and Denise who live below the castle.

The town of Schaffhausen is pretty cool. It has been rather foggy since we got here, so not the best views, but pretty.

The castle has its own resident deer

They live in the moat

The rest of the castle is surrounded by a vineyard where they grow all the grapes for the town's wine.

And they are protected.

Going up into the castle, we first passed through the stables which was a wonderfully cavernous place.

It's a pretty simple castle. This winding ramp takes you up the tower to the battlements.

Eric at the door to the caretakers place on the top of the tower. It's a tiny bit small

Not a bad place to live, no?

The view over town and the Rhine

Thomas and Denise's house, from the castle

Schaffhausen in the fog

On the way back into town

The town has wonderful lights strung up for the holidays

A moment of pretty light, this was the coolest building around

I like this style of building for some reason

The church square

Thomas and Denise have a lovely old house in the middle of town. It is something like 600 years old.

The bottom floor used to be a wine bar or something. The stories of the 6 centuries of smoking stench are wild. It smells ok now, after a lot of hard work. or it did till my curiosity got the better of me and I opened up an old closet. oops.

I swear there isn't a right angle in the place, or even a strait line.

they have a lovely garden, quite big for an old city.

Thomas's machine shop, which is the old cellar

I will eventually take more pictures of this lovely place.