Since it's Sunday - I'll show you a church

Asam Church Munich
If by chance you get carried away by the opulence of baroque church interiors, please take a look at this one.
A small church in the heart of Munich. Once you see the photos you may want to read a bit in the link.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asam_Church,_Munich

The entrance to the church is next to this facade. I could not believe it housed the jewel you are about to see. I missed taking a photo of the entire structure. I suspect this means I have to go back to handle this oversight.

A not so gentle reminder of the task ahead

Once more with feeling: Please enter the contest, "where we eat"

Ran across this one just now while editing photos

The ruins of a monastery in Hirsau Germany

When I was in Germany recently my brother loaded his family and my traveling companion into a vehicle he had “ordered” on line, given the specs for size, and picked up within a short bike ride from his house.
He locked up his bike, put the code into the lock of the vehicle and came back with it having rented it for the day.
(he has three almost grown children, and both he and his wife work. They all have a bicycle, he has one that is also motorized, and they have the streetcar stopping within a 3 min. walk from their house, and it takes them to the main train station that connects them to all other cities in about 10 min. The family owns / needs / no car), money has nothing to do with it).

I say all this because I have a pet peeve each time I’m visiting, and this time it is the paucity of options we Americans have about getting around.

Now,
to the subject matter:

https://www.calw.de/Monastery-Hirsau

On our excursion the most interesting stop was the old monastery in Hirsau. It is in ruins. People hang out and visit, walk around, have coffee and sumptuous cake at an outdoor cafe, and study a bit of the history.

Here are some photos.

Entering, wondering what’s to come



Jaw is now dropping and I’m getting a clue



Getting closer





and a few more shots of detail
















At the end of our day my brother disappeared with the car, and within 10 minutes was back riding his bike.

Tempting? Restaurant Entrance in Belgrade. Please enter your own photo in the contest

Drumming up entries for "Places to Eat" continued

As I edit and throw out much of the wealth of my photos of my recent long trip - I run across photos of eating establishments. This one is in Novi Sad Serbia

Bratwurst --- I want to encourage submissions to the "places to eat contest"

In anticipation of our next contest

Sunday sweet Sunday with nothing to do but look for the last time

Biking again. It was a glorious Sunday. My last day, unless I miss the plane in the morning.
Instead of Berlin, I decided I wanted to more thoroughly see Potsdam, and save Berlin for the next time, if there is one.

My DU friends, I thank you! Your responses have been great and encouraging. It’s been fun to show and tell, and I will continue in a more measured way to reach back and present some things I got to experience, it's my plan to make some threads over time, as long as the interest continues.
I took those photos for me, and also for you.

Here is a grand and unusual sight I saw in one of the huge parks around the Cecilienhof Castle, just traipsing through the meadows, one on a leash, the other just lookin’ at me:





Not the greatest photo, but I loved the backlit basket. It was hanging in front of 13 Russian houses built by King Frederick William III - in 1826 - In memory of his friendship with Tsar Alexander I of Russia



This is one of them, which also has my borrowed awesome red bike in front. Note the low entry on that bike. I LOVE it.





Some light play in the castle.



Riding back to my friend’s house along the way there was this summer scene, take a closer look and see the teapot. Also, I tell you, along that stretch there was an area of "no clothing" called FKK in the German vernacular, and it stands for Free Body Culture.



And finally a proud and huge “Gartenzwerg”

Cecilienhof Castle / Potsdam - important history took place here. July 1945

The scene of the Potsdam conference where the allies met to carve up Germany after the war which is known as the Potsdam agreements.
Berlin was too bombed out to be used as a location, and the decision was to hold the meeting of the big 3, Stalin, Truman and Churchill, in the Cecilienhof Castle in Potsdam.

Each leader had his own entrance to the conference. Stalin entered by the East door and Truman by the West while Churchill entered through the central courtyard. The Soviets controlled this area and Stalin had the flower bed in the centre of the courtyard planted with red geraniums in the shape of a star.

The castle (now a museum) has the original furniture used at the Potsdam Conference so it feels like walking in the past.

Two shots of photographs that are in the conference room, showing you the table in use for that critical conference where the signing took place.





The table today, with the original furniture



The stairway in the room, in front of the table



Outside, one of the entrances. Couldn’t get up high enough to get a good shot of the planted star