Tomatoes on my balcony

This year I took on the adventure of planting tomatoes on my balcony. I bought a box with six plants. Two of them I planted in a bigger pot and the other four in a flower box (Blumenkasten). The ones in the pot really grew tall and slowly some tomatoes started growing, and grew bigger.

Unfortunately because of windy weather the pot fell and with it some tomatoes. :-(
 However some fruits survived and grew nicely. I already harvested them and they tasted very good in my salad. And now there are more tomatoes growing again ...

Summertime - Vacation time

Finally the summer has hit Europe and the temperatures are more than what most people might have hoped for. ... We had around 30 C and even up to 38 C. Even though it cooled off the temperatures will rise again.

I'd enjoyed  my summer trip.
First point: Saarland

The famous "Saarschleife". The river Saar makes a loop. There is a view point up by Cloef which offers a beautiful view from top onto the river's loop. Of course you can also climb up but need proper closed shoos because the way is slightly dangerous, some loose stones etc. For us for a hot day and we didn't wear proper shoos, therefore decided to drive up to enjoy the view. The Cloef Atrium also offers a place for events and a restaurant. It so happened it was a tour of COBRA and lunch time for the drivers. The cars were on exhibit.

Next point: France... Vive la France!  Metz

Metz

The Saint-Stephen Cathedral 

 La porte d'Allemande

 This petite train takes you around the city. With the help of an audio set you'll get some information about the city. Was kind of fun, especially on such a hot day. :-)

On our route to Strasbourg we stopped for a coffee in this sweet little place Saverne

 Next point : Strasbourg
Strasbourg
The tower of the  famous cathedral can almost be seen from anywhere, so tall it is. Inside are two beautiful rosette window designed and a complicated astronomic clock.

 At Kleber place

 And la petite France

Next point: Wine route in Alsace

It's extremely beautiful to explore the route du win but not so easy. The sings are small and sometimes not visible on the first view.

More to do in Spreewald

There is more to do in Spreewald than boats tours. Of course you can canoe but you can explore on land as well. We didn't go hiking because we went swimming in the Spreewelten Bad in Luebbenau and visited the Penguins. It's a fun swimming pool with a wave pool, stream channel, giant slide, sauna village with many different saunas outside and penguins, Yeah real ones. From the water outside you can see them behind a glass and twice a day they get fed. I don't know why but penguins really look cute.

                       Look at these penguins :-)

We also had a look at the Cucumber museum (Gurkenmuseum). It's small but cute and showing the traditional old style and some information about Spreewaelder life and cucumbers.

 Gewuerzgurken

 Senfgurken