Nesslau and Bühl, Switzerland - photos a la Finnian

Säntis, with the tower, finally out of the clouds.

Martina & Martin—the Swiss wedding celebrations (not in order, alas)

Nessslau and Bühl, Switzerland...a rainy walk up to the top of a nearby ski area for local apfel cider, games outside and in, the civil wedding and celebrations with Swiss and Bavarian friends and family of Martina and Martin, a long and sunnier walk along the Thur River, with the hope (and final success our last evening) of seeing the fogged-in and elusive Säntis.

European return - Ulm, Germany

Inspired by the invitation to the two weddings of “cousin” Martina (I met her mother, my 3rd cousin, when I traveled in 1990, and Martina and Finnian were both born in 1992, 3 months apart; they share a great great great grandmother, Kathrine Hofbauer Sr.), Paul and I have returned to Europe, this time without bicycles, but with Finnian. The first wedding (a civil ceremony and celebration, photos to come) was in Nesslau, Switzerland, on Friday, 6 September, and the 2nd wedding (a church service followed by another celebration) will be in Aidenbach, Bavaria, on 5 October. Before, in between, and after we will travel by train, bus, car, and foot to explore as much as we can.

We began in earnest—after 3 flights between Bellingham and Frankfurt, with some long layovers and a cramped overnight on the long haul section—in Ulm on the Donau, where we enjoyed a lovely afternoon walking the old town, including a visit to and up the Ulm Münster (Paul and I stopped there  by bike in 2015 also).

Finnian has much better photos, which we’ll try to share as well...if we are able.